the edge five

Quarterly Magazine Issue No:1 September 2012

coolness

steps to exam

making it big at the movies.

pg 1

DUT students talk about their experiences

exam stress

hot tips on beating

pg 3

Go Green @ DUt
edge talks to emmy award winner about his path to success
pg 2

DUT

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY

PG 1

edge exclusive Making it big at the movies

DUT Students were making waves at the 2012 Durban International Film Festival. Students from the Department of Journalism have been integral in the work done for the documentary Confessions of a Turtle Butcher
The story takes an intimate look at the life of Jabulani Zikhali, imprisoned for 5 years after killing an endangered loggerhead turtle in Northern KZN. Though the story had been covered many times in the media. The team working on the documentary aimed to profile the man dubbed The Turtle Butcher and uncover the circumstances that led to him commiting the crime. The students were introduced to the project during Journalism Internship at Roving Reporters, an investigative journalism-training agency directed by award-winning journalist, Fred Kockott Makotikotis story is about ongoing issues that have escaped the attention of the mainstream media. We wanted to find out more, and we certainly did. This case highlights issues of worldwide significance, including the need to protect endangered species while also taking into account the rights of vulnerable people, said Nosipho Mngoma who, along with fellow journalism students, Kabelo Mohlohlo, Sandile Gumede, Sabelo Nsele and Joel Burton as well as Video Technology student Sbu Ndimande were all keen on the task on working on such a large project which has made its debut at this years Durban International Film Festival as a work in progress. Mngoma went on to say that she was privileged to be on location for the shooting of the documentary. I got to see the splendour of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. I took a drive along the untouched pristine beaches and trekked along the beach sand pathways, she said. On the other hand, she also saw the suffering of the local people. It was a very valuable experience, having the opportunity to conduct in depth interviews and really hear the issues rather than just asking a few questions to get a quote then rushing back to the newsroom to file a story, she said. The Production team hopes to get the final cut of the documentary screened at various festivals abroad. Which will mean that the students hard work will be paid off with international exposure and recognition.

PG 2

whats new at the library

As hip-hop culture spread from America, graffiti became a worldwide phenomenon, emerging in the 1980s as the symbolic artistic language of young people everywhere and one of the most potent influences on youth-oriented marketing and design. With more than 2,000 illustrations by over 150 artists from all over the world and interviews with many of them, this visually explosive book is the most comprehensive survey of graffiti art ever published. This hot new title can be found with a host of similar books on alternative street art at the DUT library.

no batteries required

stay in touch 4 life

DUT 4 LIFE is a new student centered communication channel from the DUT that allows you to access email, blog, send instant messages and share pics with your friends all from one web application. Check it out at:

As students, staying connected is a must. Take a look at these two hot new services from the DUT that will keep you in touch and up to date. keep your student life at your finger tips

http://dut4life.dut.ac.za
Need to access your student records? iEnabler allows access to all your financial and academic records hassle free., View your admission status and proof of registration, all with a few clicks. Check it out at :

http://student.dut.ac.za

Go GREEN@DUT
You dont have to be a neat freak to join the green movement at dut. After all, we spend a good part of our time at university; why not make sure our space is clean and green.
DUT students have begun to think Green when it comes to their University thanks to the Go Green@ DUT project. Launched in July this year, Go Green@DUT promotes a sustainable solution to deal with litter at DUT. The movement was started by DUT staff members and students and has been implemented in both Ritson and Steve Biko Campus. Students from the department of Environmental Health studies have been instrumental in creating awareness and informational posters and assisting in groundwork for the project. They insist that students should be taking pride in the fact that DUT is going green. Recycling stations have been placed throughout the two campuses for students to use. The project was also kicked off with students and staff members making pledges ensuring that they would be proactive towards keeping their campuses litter free.

You can make your pledge and join the Green Movement at http://www.dut.ac.za/go_green

PG 3

DONT panic!
We speak to Naseem Haniff, Director of Student Counselling and Health for some tips and tools that you can arm yourself with to make sure you enter your exam cool, calm and collected.
Almost every student experiences feelings of anxiety or stress before writing an exam, especially if its major one. Even the most confident student will have questions such as have I prepared adequately? Will I be able to cope with exam questions? or will I pass? While anxiety can help you do better in your exam by keeping you on your toes, it can however become a problem if it causes you to blank out during a test or cause you to make a mess of the answers. Though exams are a generally stressful period, this does not have to be the norm. DUTs Student Counselling and Health Centre have strategies to help students curb stress anxiety.

step1: STOP!
Mentally shout stop when you start to feel anxious. Eliminate negative self-talk and replace it with positive statements like: Im studying and I did possibly well during the term and should do well in this exam. This may curb your anxiety and bolster your confidence. Expect to come across questions that you cant answer during tests. Dont feel anxious and upset, said Student Counselling and Health Director Naseem Haniff.

step2: focus
Haniff also warns against last minute cramming, saying that this is guaranteed to increase ones stress and anxiety levels. Spend the time right before your exam in a quiet comfortable space. Entering the exam venue with positive and calm manner can help in keeping you focused throughout the exam.

step3: eat healthy

Eat food with nutritional value. Never diet on the day of the exam. Limit your intake of harmful substances such as alcohol, nicotine and other harmful drugs as these negatively impact on your concentration.

step4: go to sleep
Get enough sleep. Lack of sleep will impact on your concentration and memory. Focus on the task at hand. Focus on studying for and responding to questions on the exam rather than potential negative consequences, said Haniff.

step 5: eyes on the prize

Identify those questions you are able to answer with ease and answer these first. This will boost your confidence. Examine the marking scheme and divide your time accordingly. This will give you the opportunity to answer all questions. At all times focus on the goal of answering your questions rather than the end result. Shut out the world. If you feel like you are about to panic during an exam, put down your pen, sit back and relax, close your eyes and shut out the world. Think of nothing. When you have calmed down sufficiently, resume your exam.

5 steps to exam coolness

PG 5

the faces
BEHIND THE BRAND
DUT has truly been putting its money where its mouth is. The university has always been about work integrated learning and bringing industry experience to its students. a perfect example of this is the team at workspace, a graphic design team that has become the official advertising agency at dut.

The new DUT brand has been a great success, says Yoshen Nair, one of the BTech Graphic Design students who have been working as interns at Workspace, the Work Integrated Learning Studio that has been that has become the official advertising agency of DUT. In late 2010, DUT decided to change its branding and marketing strategy. Rather than look to an external advertising agency, they turned to the team at Workspace. Lead by creative director and DUT lecturer; Rowan Gatfield, this team of dedicated BTech students have been working hard on implementing the DUTs strategic marketing decisions. Though we are all trained as graphic designers, working at Workspace has really expanded our portfolios. In a short space of time, we have all had to learn to

become copywriters, photographers, marketing consultants and creative strategists, says Wendy Yang, a designer at Workspace. Whats great about Workspace is that we are a team. We have each been able to see what our strengths and weaknesses are before we go into industry and together we have begun working as a well oiled machine, says Yang. Though Workspace has been working with the DUT for almost 2 years, the current team of designers have only been with the Design Studio since the beginning of the year. Though Workspace is a full time job, what many people dont know is that these interns are also full time students studying for their BTech degrees in Graphic Design and will be leaving the Workspace Studio at the end of the year once their internship is over. Though its been a lot of hard work and late nights, It truly has been the experience of a lifetime says Agrippa Hlophe, another intern at Workspace. I have learnt so much with regard to strategic marketing and advertising. When looking at the year ahead, many of the students at Workspace have agreed that the practical experience and varied portfolio that they have gained through working as interns will definitely help them in the future.

PG 6

edge PROFILE
sihle mthembu
A journalism graduate with humble beginnings, Sihle is taking Durbans contemporary creative scene by storm.
In developing a passion for writing that developed at the tender age of 10, recently qualified Journalist, Sihle Mthembu is making his mark in the media arena and will stop at nothing to succeed. He is the editor of MindMap-SAan online-based social commentary and arts magazine, a features writer and an art critic simultaneously. Mthembu said he never allowed his surroundings to limit him, nor did he conform to any social expectations. I grew up in a township so I am very weary of social nuances but I read the New Yorker and Monocle. I also love Woody Allen and Mamet. His philosophy is to work hard, stay humble and be influenced by other positive people. Inspire and be inspired, that is all that matters in the end, he says. He draws his inspiration from Roger Young who says, Art is the process of finding your message. But thats not all; Mthembu is also a budding filmmaker and is preparing to shoot a short documentary series. This documentary will focus on artists in Durban, getting a peek into their mind-sets and looking at what inspires them and their work. Mthembu is also a co-creative director of an agency called Coolab, a think-tank for artists based in Durban. After completing his BTech in Journalism at DUT, Mthembu plans on growing the MindMap-SA brand and due to a growing demand, plans to put together a print edition of the online magazine.

You can join the creative buzz at www.mindmapsa.com

bongiwe msomi

aiming for the stars

Msomi was invited to selections following her stupendous performance in the 2011 Singapore Netball Tournament, which saw her winning a gold medal. The gold medallist, as well as three fellow members of the SPAR national netball squad, was then chosen to represent South Africa at the World University Netball Championships, held at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town. Being selected to represent my country and DUT in an event that is in its 25th year, was an honour. For my team to be in the championship all the way to the finals was even greater. Although we didnt win we did very well, said Bongiwe. According to her, the formation of USSA was the best thing that could happen because it promotes education and sports, it is a great platform for talent to be recognized and it gives many opportunities to aspiring sportsmen. With little time to rest, Msomi is still happy to teach her fellow university team members and coach the children in her community.
Keen on sporting activities? find out more at www.dut.ac.za

DUT student Bongiwe Msomi is moving higher and higher up the ladder of success, recently being selected to represent South Africa in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) netball team.

PG 7

the immersive experience

A Video technology Btech student has brought us DUTs very first exclusive cinema theatre experience, made for DUT students, by dut students.
Trevoulin Govender was inspired to work even harder at his BTech Degree after he graduated Cum Laude and received the Deans Merit Award for his National Diploma in Video Technology last year. His latest project, The Immersive Experience - is a cinema exclusively for DUT students and staff. The movies were screened free of charge at 6pm every Saturday in the Video Technology Departments BTech Lab until August 18 2012. From a selection of 28 classic films, compiled by Govender, eight were screened over an eight-week period. The audience chose what it wanted to see by voting on the official website before each screening. Every week was dedicated to one of the following genres: Action, Horror, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Documentary, Television and Reality. The atmosphere you watch the film in was inspired by the genre. On introducing this genius initiative Govender said, I wanted to try something completely new, something that has never been done before. Govender also treated the audience to popcorn and other refreshments each week. When he was in matric, Govender produced a self-documentary, titled Live to fight it, which focused on his last few months in high school and his friends. From then on, the BTech student knew he wanted to be a filmmaker. When looking at future, adding on his aspirations, Govender wants to own a chain of cinemas which he said will give an experience to the viewers and approach the way to watch films differently. Although Govenders initial intent with this cinema was to help with his studies and especially the research project, the positive response from the audience has motivated him to carry the idea further.