UCT, race, and the seductive moral outrage machine
The UCT student newspaper, Varsity, ran a story that included a graphic showing how “UCT” voted on the “most attractive race”. This time, it wasn’t only Marius Fransman who let hysteria triumph over common sense in reacting to this graphic.
On that “most attractive race” thing in the UCT student newspaper
The UCT student newspaper, Varsity, caused a Twitter-mob to mobilise in publishing a graphic regarding the attractiveness of “races”. But doing so isn’t itself necessarily racist.
University of Cape Town march: #WeSayEnough
#WeSayEnough was by all accounts the largest protest march in the University of Cape Town’s history, and UCT has had its fair share of protest marches. I don’t know if these marches serve any purpose, but I think – and hope – that my cynicism is misplaced.
The 2012 TB Davie lecture: Introductory remarks
On August 1, 2012, Ferial Haffajee delivered the 47th annual TB Davie Lecture at the University of Cape Town. As chair of the Academic Freedom Committee, I had the privilege of introducing her. This is the text of my introductory remarks.
Pastor Michael’s apology
I’m not sure I understand what he’s saying, but it seems that Pastor Michael has finally seen the error of his ways, and is now walking with the Lord once more. Letter of Apology addressed…
Burning the closet
The burning of The Closet makes at least one thing clear: Being a student at a top university in South Africa seems to offer no guarantee of enlightened attitudes, or an ability to see outside of the closet of your own prejudices.
Shock and horror as it’s revealed that students have premarital sex
How sad when, after 4 years of expensive education at the University of Cape Town, some students never shake the narrow-mindedness and bigotry displayed in this rant about the evils of pre-marital sex.
The future of South African tertiary education?
Increasing numbers of students arrive at university, only to find that they don’t have the basic skills they need. Numeracy is the issue most often identified here, but the problem is deeper than that, and relates to most forms of critical engagement with any type of data.
Sax Appeal 2010: on causing offense
Following the controversy caused by last year’s edition of Sax Appeal (see here and here, if you don’t know about this), the editor asked if I’d be willing to contribute a column. I was, and here it is, for those of you not in Cape Town (or those who simply ignored the pleas of those desperate students at the traffic lights).
Frontline Fellowship: Lying for Jesus
These 100 students will no doubt undergo rigorous training in hyperbole, hysteria and deception.
