Click here to view the full investigation, written by Karl Kemp, that appeared on page 4 of Die Matie on 15 May.

Sy voer aan dat studente se onbewustheid van die negatiewe konnotasies en stereotipes van die woord “dame” gepaard gaan met ’n algemene onkunde oor genderkwessies. “Jong mense is uitgelewer aan groter kragte in populêre kultuur wat universeel tot ’n backlash teen feminisme lei,” beweer Booyens. “Op kampusse loop vroue wat op ’n haar na Barbie-ewebeelde lyk en wat nie skop teen die druk om aan onrealistiese standaarde van skoonheid te voldoen nie.” Booyens meld dat baie jonger vroue nie vertroud is met die stryd wat feministe gevoer het om gelyke regte vir vroue te realiseer nie, en dat “die deursneestudent se idee van feminisme beperk [is] tot harige mannehaters wat hul bra’s verbrand”.

Die kwessie van geslagsgelykheid het onlangs op Stellenbosch ook onder bespreking beland na ’n paar gewaagde spading-praktyke deur dameskoshuise. Daar is uiteenlopende benaderings wat onder dameskoshuise gevolg word – sommige word deur hul grondwet belet om hul koshuis deur middel van spading te bemark, terwyl ander met groot moeite en onkoste, maar heelwat entoe­siasme, die tradisie van jaar tot jaar laat voortleef.

Professor in Politieke Wetenskap aan die US en bekende strydvegter vir vroueregte, Amanda Gouws, het aan Die Matie gesê daar is verskeie koshuistradisies waar “studentepret” moontlik kan indruis teen menseregte. Hier het sy ook spesifiek verwys na die reg op geslagsgelykheid. As daar egter gekyk word na die standpunt van manskoshuise teenoor spading, en die feit dat die grootte van ’n dameskoshuis telkens die bepalende faktor in ’n manskoshuis se besluit op voorkeurvennoot vir MAD² is, kan die gevolgtrekking gemaak word dat dames spade omdat hulle wíl, en nie omdat dit genoodsaak word nie. Booyens noem ook in haar skrywe dat dit “veral in die kultus van koshuise [is] waar jy sien hoe jong mense gebrein­spoel word om ’n sekere kultuur te aanbid en neer te sien op ander gebruike”.

Dit sal interessant wees om te sien hoe die tra­disie van spading beïnvloed sal word deur die nuut-aanvaarde koshuisplasingsbeleid.

The Championship was hosted by MJ Taekwondo Corps based in Pretoria. About 350 Taekwondo practitioners from South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana converged on Rustenburg for this tournament and represented all different age groups and ranks.

The championship offered competition in three disciplines, namely breaking (Kyopka), forms (Poomsae) and sparring (Kyorugi).

Breaking required of participants to break boards with the highest and farthest flying kicks possible.

The forms competition was judged by having participants execute prescribed forms, at the end of which three referees selected a winner.

Sparring was conducted in different weight categories and required of participants to compete for two full contact rounds of one and a half minutes each per match.

The participant that scored the most points at the end of the match was declared the winner.

On the first day Gert Young won a gold medal in the black belt senior forms competition, narrowly defeating another 3rd degree black belt.

Unfortunately organisational difficulties resulted in the championship falling behind schedule on the second day, forcing the Riaan Lubbe to withdraw from the sparring event in order to make it back to Johannesburg for the team’s flight home. The next event that Maties Taekwondo will target for participation is the annual Ambassador’s cup held in October.

Taekwondo has been an Olympic medal sport since 2000 after it was introduced to the Olympics as a demonstration sport in 1988.

In 2010 it also became part of the Common Wealth Games and is at present also included in the All Africa Games.

As a sport it offers the practitioner the opportunity to develop high levels of fitness and functional strength.

As a form of self-defence it offers the opportunity to develop the skills, focus and mental strength required to deal with confrontations (violent and non-violent).

Maties Taekwondo trains every Tuesday and Thursday from 19:00-20:30 in the Sports Hall.

For more information contact Jacques du Toit (*protected email*) or visit student.sun.ac.za/taekwondo.

By: Gert Young

Photo: Supplied

Seven surfers from each respective university paddled out to show off their prowess in front of supporters gathered in the Llandudno surf club amphitheatre, an ideal setting from which to watch the action.

To their delight, competitors were greeted with clean and contestable 6-foot conditions; however this greeting was extended to a whole range of free surfers too, throwing the pressure of a crowd into the mix. As the sun rose, so did the level of surfing and the two Western Cape rivals were neck-and-neck in achieving points throughout the day.

It is well worth a mention that the Maties surf team has enjoyed a rapid improvement over the past year, boasting an impressive two competitors in the men’s final, a step up from the disappointing all UCT surfers final this time last year.

Maties’ girls’ team saw disappointment this year, handing the glory to the UCT women.

The Maties mens’ team this year included the likes of Devon Ramages, Peter Thorpe, Gabriel Botha, PK Pratt, Aaron Core and Tim Mcdonald; all of whom managed to surf well when the time came. The womens’ team lacked numbers but included Lisa Auditore, Beaulah Buitendag and Monique Gresse.

This specific contest was not run in the usual team against team contest manner. Instead, each surfer was scored individually in their respective heats and all competitors fought fiercely for places in the finals. At the end of the competition, the collective scores were added up and the university with the most points walked away with the gold.

The level of surfing was very high and the mens’ final certainly did not disappoint onlookers as local boy and captain of UCT Logan Eales used his knowledge of his home break to pick some great waves and enticed judges into writing frantically on their scorecards.

Despite his graceful surfing, Logan was pressed into a corner as Maties surfer Devon Ramages gouged his way along the face of a number of perfect waves to keep up in points until the very end, when Logan snatched back the title.

Maties surfer and finalist Gabriel Botha also did particularly well in finishing fourth.

UCT walked away with the bragging rights after collecting an impressive 3250 points throughout the day, Maties on their heels with 2995 points.

Being the final event of the overall Intervarsity, UCT took their total event wins to 23 against Maties’ 21.

By: Peter Turner

Photo: Henrique Cilliers

The Varsity Hockey Challenge was introduced this year, and takes place over four rounds at four different South African universities.

The second and third rounds of matches took place this past week at the University of the Free State and the University of Johannesburg respectively.

Maties, after a mediocre first round with one loss, one draw and one win, found their winning touch in their first match of this weekend, beating Cape rivals, UCT, 3-1 at UJ’s AstroTurf on Saturday. They then crushed NMMU 7-0 before Monday night’s victory over round-hosts UJ.

From the start, Maties had the upperhand, as Farah Fredericks had the first attempt at goal with a backstick effort which went just wide of the goal. Soon enough, Maties were able to convert their pressure to something tangible, as Ilse Davids gave Maties a 1-0 lead, finishing from close range after a penalty corner.

Although the goal did serve as a wake-up call to UJ, they were unable to breakdown Maties’ defence despite a period of possession in Maties’ half.

Soon, UJ found themselves two goals behind, after the ball deflected off a defender into her own goal. As a result, Maties took a 2-0 lead going into the first break.

In the second chukka, Maties continued to dominate, but were unable to extend their lead as UJ scrapped well with their goalkeeper, Robyn Ormond, pulling of successive crucial saves.

Eventually, at the start of the third chukka, Maties were able to extend their lead through Ilse Davids, who finished a counter-attack well to register her second goal of the match. This gave Maties fifteen minutes to try find a fourth, bonus-point goal.

It was UJ, however, who were able to claim a bonus-point, as they scored two late goals, first off a penalty stroke, and then through open play, for the match to end at a slightly misleading 3-2 scoreline.

Maties’ win leaves them 8 points behind log-leading Pukke, but with one match to go, they will be aiming to catch second-placed Kovsies in order to get a place in the final.

Kovsies, who are one point ahead of Maties, face UJ in their last round robin match, while Maties will face lowly Wits.

The final round of matches, as well as the playoffs, will take place at the University of Pretoria this weekend.

By: Ricky Klopper

Photo: Supplied

Die Barbarians en Medies sou in die vierde rondte van die kompetisie teen mekaar gespeel het, maar die wedstryd is uitgestel omdat Medies teen UCT se mediese fakulteit sou speel tydens die Intervarsity.

UCT het op die nippertjie onttrek en die twee spanne speel later in die seisoen teen mekaar, met die wedstryd wat op díe stadium lyk of dit bepalend gaan wees in wie as die topspan in Matieland gekroon gaan word.

Ten spyte van die feit dat hulle dus ’n wedstryd minder as die spanne onder hulle gespeel het, het albei spanne hulle posisie op die punteleer behou. Medies is vir die eerste keer die seisoen beproef deur ’n taai Elsenburg span, en dit is interessant dat die twee kapteins, Le-Roux Viljoen vir Medies en Philip Viljoen vir Elsenburg, nefies is.

Die eindtelling van 15-10 illustreer dat die wedstryd kliphard was en ook die eerste geleentheid was waar Medies nie ’n drie kon druk nie, nog minder hulle gebruiklike bonuspunt verwerf.

PSO het egter nie veel gesukkel om Majuba te klop en die maksimum punte te versamel nie, en is daarom met ’n enkele punt voor die manne van Tygerberg. PSO se oorwinning van 25-15 beteken ook Majuba is die enigste span wat nog nie ’n oorwinning behaal het nie, en die span sal vinnig ’n plan moet maak indien hulle van die voet van die punteleer wil af beweeg.

Helshoogte het hulle veertigste bestaansjaar reünie gehad en het teen Huis Marais gespeel in ’n wedstryd waar daar aansienlike eer op die spel was. Hellies het nie hul toeskouers teleurgestel nie en het 10-8 geseëvier om die skare in ekstase te stuur. Huis Marais het moedig gespeel, en die verskil op die dag was ’n enkele doelskop wat mis was.

Die ander groot wedstryd op die Vrydag was die derby tussen Simonsberg en Helderberg, met die twee kos­huise wat die hele week aan ’n reeks ander aktiwiteite en sportsoorte deelgeneem het.

Simonsberg het uitstekend begin en was 15-0 voor op die tellingbord, voordat die Republiek begin terugveg het. Teen die eindfluitjie, was die telling gelykop, 20-20, met albei spanne wat sal voel hulle kon die oorwinning gebuit het.

Daar was ook ’n ander geskiedkundige gebeurtenis tydens die rondte van wedstryde, met Dagbreek en Wilgenhof wat die eerste Saterdag-wedstryd gespeel het.

Dít vorm deel van Maties Rugbyklub se inisiatief om vir elke span die geleentheid te gee om op die heiligdom van die Danie Craven Stadion te speel en ook om meer toe­skouers te trek na die Maties en die Victoriane se wedstryde.

Die oudste koshuise op kampus het mekaar gepak met die Craven-Snyman Trofee op die spel. Die wedstryd is goed ondersteun en die toeskouers is beloon met ’n klassieke, taai derby.

Wilgenhof het 10-0 gewen te danke aan ’n drie en doelskop naby aan die einde van die wedstryd en sal baie tevrede wees met hulle ysere verdediging .

Eendrag het ook ses drieë gedruk in sy oorwinning teen Academia, en dit lyk asof die Draggies nou momentum begin optel in hulle veldtog.

Deur: Dorfling Terblanche

With five key members of the side returning from their involvement with the SA Universities team, along with coach Chris Rossouw, Maties were always going to be much better. How big an impact the first loss of the campaign had made would be seen when they ran out to welcome Belhar to the Danie Craven Stadium on Wednesday 8 May.

The home team was in a dominant mood and scored 6 tries before halftime, with winger JP Lewis scoring a hat-trick. Lewis added a fourth and Maties another four tries after the break, with flyhalf Dean Grant kicking 7 conversions on route to the 64-7 victory.

While Maties were hosting Belhar, the Victorians travelled to the Green Mile to face a pumped-up UCT side, riding high after their victory over Maties. If the Ikeys thought they were going to get an easy game, they were in for quite a shock.

The Vics led 12-3 at one stage in the first-half, and again 17-12 in the second half. With virtually no time left on the clock, and the two teams locked on 17-17 the Ikeys managed to score the winning try to deny the Vics a famous victory.

The Vics did however do the Maties a huge favour in denying UCT a bonus point for scoring four or more tries, which may be vital later in the season.

The next round of games were the following Saturday, with Maties travelling to Bellville and the Victorians hosting SK Walmers. The Vics had edged Bellville 17-14 earlier in the season, so the Maties knew they had to pitch up for the game.

The first-half was a tense affair, with the Bellville team really taking it to the Maties in the physical confrontation and not giving an inch in the loose exchanges. Patience on attack and composure on defence saw the Maties lead 28-7 with 10 minutes gone in the second half. For a second game in a row the Maties first secured the win and bonus point before putting the foot down to run off winners by a score of 40-14.
SK Walmers are a tricky side.

When they decide to play some rugby they can mix it up with the best teams in the league. Coach Louis Blom and his team went into the shed with the Vics having a slim lead of 16-12, and knowing they were going to have to up their intensity to take the points on offer. An exchange of tries saw the score change to 23-19 going into the final quarter of the match, where two tries saw the Vics claim the victory 35-19.

This result also meant that the Vics are actually higher on the log than the Maties, but having played one game more due to scheduling issues. Maties host Helderberg on Wednesday 15 May with the Vics having a bye.

Both teams then play again on Saturday 18 May, with Maties travelling to Tygerberg and the Victorians welcoming Hamiltons to Stellenbosch.

By: Dorfling Terblanche

Photo: Supplied

Some films, especially those based on a literary saga, tend to get better and better as the sequels roll in. Others, like Pirates of the Caribbean, should have stopped while they were ahead.

Sadly, when Hollywood produces a popular, and thus profit-bearing concept, it gets milked for all it has. The Iron Man concept is no exception.

You’ll leave the cinema with a racing heart and a hunger for more, but when you think about it later on, you’ll come to realize that this appetite the film had created was not because of how great it was, but rather how unsatisfying it was.

Much like a push-up bra, Iron Man 3 is a marvel to look at, if you’ll pardon the pun, but once one grasps it tight, it is always a bit disappointing to realize that it was an illusion all along.

The film’s enormous budget allowed for brilliantly done special effects and luxurious misé-en-scene to act as padding, propping up the empty shell that hides beneath.

Almost entirely composed of clever one-liners, the film lacked some flesh in the text department, giving it a teasing preview feel.

However, the script offered generous helpings of humour. The tongue-in-cheek play at America’s obsession with Eastern terrorists and man’s desire to control everything, provided a well-constructed backdrop for all the film’s sequins and glitter

Humour, definitely this film’s biggest selling-point, was also the chain around its foot in some parts. The one incredibly tragic moment in the film goes by without much notice as one is still blinded by the humour.

Then later, when this tragedy turns out to be favourable, the surprise is not as satisfactory. The humour also neutralizes our experience of Tony Stark’s internal struggle throughout the film, which then makes the ending feel unmotivated, although it is not.

By: Lounette Loubser

Photo: Supplied

3rd World Spectator is the ultimate celestial boy-band, celebrated and awarded all over South Africa.

Despite Aandklas’s grimy interior, vocalist Peter’s fabulous stage antics and vocals made for a stellar atmosphere. They played an impressive set, channelling Matt Bellamy, who is obviously a muse of theirs, and doing a swoon-worthy cover of Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees.

The only black hole in their repertoire was the single Ambulance from their debut album.

It may have put them on the charts but it was formulaic and they have thankfully moved on to a more visceral and experimental sound with their newer material.

Following 3rd World Spectator, headliner Jack Stone and his band kicked off their national album launch tour titled “Heartland Tour”. The quintet has a bohemian, folksy look and feel that harks back to the Travelling Wilburys and ignites a sublime nostalgia for the rock ‘n roll lifestyle

Lead singer Jack, boasting facial hair popularized by Jesus of Nazareth, croons about Jericho and his old man, and is as much an intimate story teller as a dynamic front-man.

However, his narrative lyrics and stage presence speak directly to a genre and an archetypical aesthetic that we’ve seen before in rock ‘n roll and one wonders whether they aren’t erring on the side of caution.

But, Jack says: “For us it truly is about the music and the lyrics rather than the fame and the fortune, the songs are about events and emotions.

“The idea is not to preach but to rather give the listener a viewpoint on which they could make their own opinions.”

3rd World Spectator will be releasing the music video shoot for their latest single Once More, With Feeling in June and are preparing to release a second album in October. You can expect more gigs in Stellenbosch and Cape Town in July and August.

Jack Stone continues on their “Heartland Tour” of the country promoting “Walk On” and will be back in Stellenbosch mid-June.

By: Isabella Kuijers

Not initially, anyway. Here Lara Croft is 21, she has just graduated and she is still very naïve. In the opening segments she is insecure and is afraid of her surroundings. She freaks out the first time she shoots a man. She finds a dead body disturbing and feels guilty for killing wildlife for her own survival. Her wit and training are the only abilities she possesses to try to survive her harsh environment.

The setting for her first encounter with survival is extraordinary though. Lara and her team have set off to find a long forgotten island, called Yamatai, in the Dragon’s Triangle, an area off the coast from Japan. They are looking for the ancient kingdom of the queen Himiko, a female ruler who was feared by all in the surround.

En route to the island, their ship is hit by a massive storm and breaks in two on the rocks surrounding the island. Lara is stranded on her own after falling over board during the destruction and is then forced on a quest to find her friends, obtain help and get off the island, whose inhabitants tend to be less than friendly.

The island itself is beautiful with very lush terrain, dotted by little villages and ancient shrines. The weather also constantly changes and it is pleasing to see how blood washes off Lara’s body when it starts to rain. Little details like that populates the levels and make playing it a joy for the eyes, as one never seems to spot everything at first glance.

The sound quality and choice is also quite pleasing, as one is forced to sit on the edge of one’s seat with tension in the most peaceful looking environments.

In terms of gameplay, there is no fault either. One obtains a bow early on and other weapons further down the line, all of which are upgradable. Combat is clean and intense, though the cover system is a tad tricky and confusing, but it’s only a slight irritation. Other than combat there is a lot of exploring to be done. There are lots of collectibles distributed on levels and trying to find all of them is a pleasant time consumer.

In conclusion, Tomb Raider is a genuinely fun and intrusive game. The campaign reportedly lasts between 10 and 15+ hours, which is exceptional when one looks at games these days.

If you have a soft spot for Lara, a need for some exploring in an action packed and rich story line or are interested in a straight up bargain, Tomb Raider should definitely be on the short list for consideration.

By: Wihann Dannhauser

Photo: Supplied