Ubuntu … it’s about working together

A project that is aimed at the "we"

For the most part, today is something of a me-myself-I world. How gratifying then to be a part of something bigger in which the “we” overrides the ”I”.

We’re seeing the “we” at work in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s clothing drive for charity, Hangout4Ubuntu, now happening on Friday 3 October from 7am.

(The event had been scheduled for 1 October but the rain is going to keep us all away, so Friday it now is).

It’s a “we” that embraces the benefits of coming together to serve others because in coming to together we can do a much better job.

Ubuntu is one of NMMU’s six values.

My understanding of this African philosophy, which revolves around respecting and recognising our fellow man, has been magnified in the build-up to Hangout4Ubuntu when we’ll be pegging collected clothing along 400m of fencing leading into our North and South campuses in Summerstrand.

Very briefly, the aim of the project is two-fold:

· to raise awareness of the value of ubuntu among staff and students

· to support the clothing needs of others whose needs are greater than our own

But I have also learnt through discussions between various groups at the university, that Ubuntu is also about togetherness. It’s about the “we”, and not the ”I”.

That’s why a suggestion for the residences and student societies to compete against each other in terms of collecting the most clothing for charity, was gently pooh-poohed.

“Ubuntu is not about competition. It’s about working together for the benefits of others – not for ourselves,” a wise 20-something person gently remonstrated.

And that’s the essence of it all really. It’s about making a difference together. It’s about working as a team for the greater good and not for individual glory.

It’s not an easy notion for those raised to compete, achieve and be successful, to easily grasp. But once you do start to understand and appreciate the bigger benefits, it’s quite liberating … and ever so satisfactory to be part of something bigger – a part of something in which the “we” overrides the “I”.

Thank you for teaching me (us) more

about achieving common goals together!

It's how you handle things that counts

Bad things happen. It’s how you handle these bad things that really matters.

Bad things have happened to each one of us. We’ve let a friend down and caused them harm; failed to hand in an assignment; missed an examination even; forgotten to feed the dogs; been injured in a sports event; we’ve hurt another in a silly fight; lost a loved one …

The list of bad things – be they trivial or traumatic - is never-ending. It is a part of life. Often these bad things are beyond our control – like a taxi accident that leaves us physically scarred or a parents’ retrenchment that leaves us without funding for our studies.

Plain, bad misfortune.

What is in our control however, is our response to these bad things.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University has had its fair share of bad things as reported in the local media from late 2013 and this year: its apparent refusal to admit blind students; the alleged plagiarism and fraud by a professor and now, as was shared at the weekend, staff who took bursary money that was not theirs to take …

So what is the university’s response to all of this?

NMMU has a responsibility to its staff and students to do the right thing.

In the case of the apparent refusal to admit blind students, NMMU welcomed the visually impaired students, going out of its way to accommodate them with new facilities, training staff and ensuring these new students received other specialised support.

The former Dean of the Faculty of Arts is no longer in the employ of NMMU and the staff members who took bursary money have returned it with interest. To be fair, there had been “no dishonest intent” by these staff members, who unwittingly took up an offer by the former head of the student finance division.

NMMU has tried to do what is right even though it may have initially erred in turning away the blind students; failed to do more stringent checks of the professor’s CV and perhaps not acted swiftly enough regarding the bursary allegations.

And for these shortcomings, I believe NMMU would do well to say it is sorry. Staff and students might appreciate an apology that acknowledges failure (even perceived failure) and gives an assurance that the University wishes to make good.

After all, it’s how you handle things that really matters …

Spring cleaning benefits everyone

Living out the value of ubuntu

You ignore it for days, weeks, months even … the reality that your wardrobe, cupboard, room is a mess and in desperate need of a spring clean.

But when you finally get to it and complete the task, you feel so much better. The health professionals have a scientific explanation for this feel-good factor, thanks to the release of endorphins, but the endorphins are only a third of it.

You see your revamped wardrobe, cupboard, room or whatever it is, also looks great.

Now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) wants to take these two factors – you and your wardrobe are both better off than you were before – and improve matters even further.

NMMU wants your spring cleaning efforts to benefit the lives of others.

So enter Hangout4ubuntu – NMMU’s shared response to living out its value of Ubuntu.

Simply put, Ubuntu is about recognising our fellow man; being compassionate and ensuring that our caring is not confined, but shared.

That’s what NMMU will be endeavouring to do on Wednesday 1 October.

In a visual display of this value, staff and students will be pegging donated clothing (the spoils of their spring clean) onto the wire fencing alongside the road leading to our North Campus. That’s a 400m stretch.

The idea is that staff and students arriving for work and lectures will see this washing line of donated clothing and be inspired to go home, spring clean and support the initiative, or some other similar project.

After all, as you have read, spring cleaning is good all round.

NMMU’s efforts will benefit the recipients of six charities from throughout the city. These charities are:

• Oosterland Child and Youth Care Centre

Providing quality Child Care Services to children in need of care

• Algoa Frail Care Centre

Providing world-class quality care in a supportive and accommodating environment through a holistic multi-disciplinary team approach.

• Cheshire Homes Cleary Park 

Providing support services in partnership with persons with disabilities, which empower service users and enhance their quality of life.

• Enkuselweni Secure Youth Centre 

Providing a secure space to young people awaiting trial

• Angel Network

Catering for the needs of people in areas struck by disaster

• Healing Hands

Offering hope to people in need

But there’s more …

More will be shared on this project by NMMU staff and students, but in the interim you might be encouraged to learn that the new Madibaz Radio has challenged each of its 80 volunteers to donate at least two items of clothing. That’s already 160 items of clothing to others in need – and a great kick-start to cleaning up and cleaning out, and feeling so much better after a job well done.

Come on, let’s spread that spring-cleaning feeling for the benefit of all.

Madibaz Radio ... all abuzz

Madibaz Radio is now on air! See link below.

The music might not always be to my taste, but I am not the target market … and that’s alright because there’s a new vibrancy in the air at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University! Its name is Madibaz Radio.

The new team quietly went on-air last week so as to explore any technical difficulties before officially launching the new in-house radio broadcast station.

But the whisper was far louder than anyone anticipated and before the week was out lively interaction was evident via the university’s many Facebook pages and Twitter handles and of course, on air.

And fortunately, the technical gremlins are all pretty much under control.

The other gremlins are less technical … they are those “slips of the tongue” and the inappropriate use of language and various other terminology … but nothing, assures Madibaz Radio manager Sakikaya Makapela that cannot be rectified.

This is, after all, still the pilot phase.

“We’re working hard at getting a balance,” says Saki.

That balance extends to music choice, mix of programming and hours of broadcast.

Week 1 in the pilot phase is already sending a clear message … today’s students are still awake at 10pm and so Madibaz Radio is hoping to offer its listeners an extra two hours of entertainment.

“The place is abuzz,” says Saki, a former NMMU journalism student himself.

“We have 80 students already involved in the radio station but the requests have been pouring in from other students too.”

In fact, as soon as Madibaz Radio started its own Facebook page requests from would-be presenters, producers, music compilers, sports and news readers, technical and marketing staff poured in …

Those numbers accelerated when Madibaz Radio quietly went on air at 8am last week Tuesday.

This is hugely satisfying to hear for it means NMMU students are happily getting involved in a voluntary capacity – giving of their time and talents. There’s no money to be made by the Madibaz Radio staff. There’s just the satisfaction of being part of the new station, of something new, of something special.

Oh, and, of course, it also offers students the opportunity to hone skills in preparation for work in the real world.

“The majority of the students have been placed in roles that complement their areas of study, more especially those from the Department of Journalism, Media and Philosophy,” says Saki, adding that the community radio station hosted training workshops in partnership with SABC prior to going on air.

The new station which airs from 7am through to 10pm (but hopefully till midnight soon) is also attracting commercial support.

“Numerous advertisers have been calling in to enquire about the station’s rate card and the like. We’re hoping to convert these enquiries into proper sales soon.”

We hope so too for the sake of Madibaz Radio, whose mandate is to become self-supporting within three years.

But what we especially hope is that those who are part of the Madibaz Radio volunteer team will find the experience as enriching as your listeners.

To hear more tune in via our web link http://video.nmmu.ac.za/jw6t/madibaz.html

Well done team Madibaz Radio!

Why George Campus?

Spring time on George Campus

The bush buck meanders across the lawn towards the surrounding indigenous forest; the softly-scented tree blossoms permeate the gentle breeze as a Cape robin hops beneath its bows; in the distance comes the bark of a baboon under a large African sky...

Welcome to George Campus!

One look at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's George Campus is, to paraphrase a well-touted expression, worth a thousand pieces of marketing material.

George Campus must surely be South Africa's most beautiful campus nestled at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, amidst indigenous forests and commercial pine plantations and less than 10km from the coast on the Garden Route. The campus’s white-walled lecture halls and residences look out onto the majestic mountains, a nine-hole golf course and other sporting facilities ...

Such laid-back, serene surrounds are surely conducive for studying – if you remember that you are not on holiday.

But George Campus has so much more than a prime location and pristine surrounds in its favour.

It has an exciting future too captured in its strategic plan.

A new gymnasium is being build at a growing George Campus 

George Campus is set on becoming – within the greater NMMU brand – “knowledge change agents for a more sustainable future”. In simple language, this means that those who work and study at George Campus will be adding value to society through various “green” initiatives for the long-haul. These “green” initiatives cross all disciplines but particularly within its Natural Resource Management and Business and Economic Science programmes.

And, if all goes according to plan, with Prof Quinton Johnson at the helm as campus principal, the campus will one day be home to the international Global Leadership Institute for sustainable futures.

But let’s not jump ahead of ourselves since much work lies ahead.

In the interim, the plan focuses on increasing student numbers, improving the annual pass rate, improving business processes and increasing grants, publications and postgraduate numbers, strengthening its research and raising the bar for its sport and arts.

Just more than 1 300 students presently benefit from studying at George Campus, some 367km away from Port Elizabeth with NMMU’s five other campuses.

Given this knowledge and that George Campus also offers the following:

* Individual attention in a safe (and beautiful) environment

* close links with industry in providing you with practical experience

* Excellent facilities

* Sporting and cultural activities

* A natural “outdoor classroom”

Why wouldn’t these student numbers increase?

But why take my word for it? Next time you are travelling down the Garden Route, turn off to Saasveld just 7km from the town’s centre and see for yourself and perhaps you will consider becoming an exciting part of the George Campus future too.

George Campus at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains

Don't be nafi

This expression may come from a different generation to those presently electioneering, but the sentiment is the same.

And that, to put it politely, is not to be backward about coming forward for Wednesday’s Student

Elections happen at NMMU on Wednesday

Representative Council (SRC) elections at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Or to use an expression favoured by students who have attended NMMU’s leadership programme Beyond the Classroom – “get off your umtarara”. Which, to the uninitiated means, get off your backside and, in this particular instance, get off your backside and VOTE.

It’s not a difficult thing to do.

Every NMMU student has the privilege of voting (something that was denied to so many people for far too long in South Africa’s past). And that privilege should be used.

Why?

You’ve heard this before, and you’re going to hear it again. It’s because your vote counts, along with your friend’s and his friends, and the vote of any other student who is remotely interested in seeing NMMU succeed and grow. (It’s what being a democracy is all about – having your say!)

This body is elected to represent you, the student – so it’s in your best interest to choose the party you believe will do the best job.

Conversely, by sitting back and ignoring the opportunity, you’re sending a clear-cut message: you don’t care, you’re nafi.

But you should care because “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing", or so says Edmund Burke.

So please be encouraged to vote.

As already shared, voting is not a difficult thing to do.

You simply need to bring your student card to any of the polling stations that will be open from 7am to 7pm on Wednesday 17 September on all the university’s six campuses and chose the party of your choice.

There are four parties from which to choose, all of which are directly linked to existing political parties in South Africa.

They are (with their Facebook links attached for further insights):

SASCO – the South Africa Student Congress  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasco-nmmu-src-elections/219754911416458

DASO – Democratic Alliance Student Organisation https://www.facebook.com/daso.nmmu?fref=ts

EFF – Economic Freedom Fighters https://www.facebook.com/pages/NMMU-Economic-Freedom-Fighters-Student-Command-EFFSC/265866120252613?fref=ts

PASMA – Pan African Student Movement of Azania https://www.facebook.com/pages/PASMA-NMMU/272511336261253?sk=timeline

The former make up the majority of the present SRC, while DASO were in the majority in the previous year … and then there are the newcomers EFF, whose leader, Julius Malema, will apparently be on campus tomorrow evening, and PASMA.

It’s going to be an interesting election, especially if our 27 000 students live out the value of taking responsibility and do the right thing – and VOTE.

Come on make your mark.

Don’t be nafi (Uncle Google will enlighten you in being the concerned, informed and socially just citizens that you’d like to be.)



PS At midday today, there’s a live streaming presidential debate between all the parties on the link http://video.nmmu.ac.za/jw6t/src2014.html

Your/our future looks bright from here

Our future also looks good from here

As the last public relations intern left the interview room, I remembered the wording on a Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University t-shirt: “Your future looks good from here”.

Staff from across all seven faculties wore these navy blue t-shirts at our Open Day when prospective students can check out what’s on offer at the university in a one-stop shop set-up. We wanted these bright-eyed and bushy-tailed school leavers to get the message from the wording that they’re going to be in good hands if they decide to do their undergraduate studies with us.

An NMMU student welcomes prospective students at Open Day

But this week – after five public relations intern candidates completed their interviews to work in our Marketing and Corporate Relations Department next year – I imagined an updated T-shirt. This time the words would read: Our future looks bright from here.

Why?

Because, in the hands of such candidates, we do have a bright future.

These candidates gave us HOPE for our future.

These second-year public relations students, who need to do a practical year in order to complete their three-year diploma, were bright, knowledgeable, well-read, well-dressed and enthusiastic. They knew their stuff and they also know where they want to go in terms of their future.

We were so impressed and inspired by the calibre of the candidates that we’d employ each one of them if we could, but we can’t. So instead we’ve alerted our graduate placement office to recommend these students to those NMMU faculties who recognise the value that PR interns add and hire them.

Bill Gates recognises their value. He once said “if I was down to my last dollar, I’d spend it on PR”.

(As an aside, last week a group of PR students organised a student PR conference in partnership with Absa and what a fine job they did in bringing industry experts together to share their insights.)

(And as a further aside, the student who was eventually selected to join our team in 2015 was the one who knows that success does not come to those who wait. Success comes to those who pursue their dreams. He’d spent a week with us – with no pay and no other expectations – during the mid-year recess to get “a feel for his future”.)

So you have to agree that if these PR students are a barometer for the standard and calibre of all NMMU students, then our future looks bright from here. Not just our future as a university but that of our country too.

Spreading indigenous cheer

Gardens on NMMU's North Campus

Christmas came early for plant lovers today. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Horticulture Department had a sale to raise funds for the Cape Recife Conservancy.

NMMU is part of this coastal conservancy, with its North and South campuses situated in a 720-hectare nature reserve, and so is doing its bit in raising funds to preserve the area’s natural coastal fynbos heritage.

And what better way to do so than by sharing its indigenous plants, shrubs and trees with staff at discounted prices. The general public had their chance at the weekend, but today staff and students received an e-mailed invitation to a 30% off sale at Horticultural Department on South Campus.

Just as birds of a feather flock together, so it seems, do would-be gardeners and gardeners at a plant sale.

Academic and professional support service staff mingled amidst the confetti bushes, agapanthus, gazania and plumbago, catching up with each other, while in happy pursuit of bargains. But from R10 to R45, everything was at a bargain price – and with a 30% discount on top of it too.

Christmas had come early to folk accustomed to metro nursery prices.

Service was equally pleasing as staff advised on the benefits and nuances of various plants, all of which are propagated en site and already beautify NMMU’s six campuses.

Trolleys became the most sought-after item at the lunch-time sale as staff filled their cars and boots with their bounty.

For R100, I’d happily become the steward of eight indigenous beauties and done my bit in supporting the Cape Recife Conservancy and living out NMMU’s value of respect for the natural environment by buying drought-resistant flora.

Well done to NMMU’s Horticulture Department!

PS When’s the next sale?

Aloes

Deserving of recognition

NMMU Faculty of Economic Science award winners 

NMMU Faculty of Science award winners

Once upon a time, and certainly at traditional Ivy League universities, it was the researchers who received all the accolades.

The lecturers, performing arts folk and those who add value to society by sharing their knowledge to improve the lives of others played second fiddle to the rocket scientists in their white coats and their high-brow journal publications.

But not anymore, and certainly not at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Those who educated in the lecture halls, those who enlighten our lives through the performing arts and those who seek to benefit society through engagement are recognized in equal measure at our new generation university.

And yet, those who “measure” the worth of a university continue to use research outputs as the key indicator (which is why you will not find NMMU in the top 100 in the world – yet!)

Anyway, NMMU honours the excellence of its staff regardless of their key focus. It did so at a function at the Boardwalk last night, paying homage to the men and women who go above and beyond to add value to our students and society at large, through their research, outreach initiatives and ability to educate and entertain.

It is gratifying to hear just what these special men and women have achieved, and are still achieving within their spheres of influence.

We heard about lecturers whose classes are so lively that “there’s no chance of sleeping”, of emotional intelligence among leaders, of turtles, of accidentally inventing special cornea replacements, of the achievements of our artists, of research going back to ancient times, of working with rape victims, of new bridging modules, of long hours, of supportive spouses …

And those who were fortunate to be there were proud and humbled at the achievements of these staff members.

Halala. Thank you for giving us reason to feel proud.

Achievers Prof Werner Olivier, Prof Thoko Mayekiso, Prof Khaled Abou-El-Hossein, Prof Prakash Singh and Mary Duker

Faculty of Law winners Lindi Coetzee and Prof Avinash Govinjee with (centre) Dean Prof Vivienne Lawack

Here is a full list of those who received awards:

Researcher of the Year 2014:
Prof Jan Neethling

Research Excellence Awards:

Prof Khaled Abou-El-Hossein

Prof Prakash Singh

Distinguished Teacher Awards:
Dr Andre du Plessis

Prof Ilse Truter

NMMU Excellent Teacher of the Year:
Dr Kathjia Adam

Ms Lindi Coetzee

NMMU Teaching and Learning Excellence: Team Award
First Year Accounting Team

Forestry & Wood Technology Programmes

NMMU Performing and Creative Arts Awards
Ms Mary Duker

Ms Andrieta Wentzel

NMMU Innovation Awards
Innovation Team Award:

Govan Mbeki Mathematics Unit (Prof Werner Olivier and Hennie Boshoff)

NMMU Engagement Awards

NMMU Emerging Excellence Engagement Award:
Mr Kempie van Rooyen

NMMU Engagement Excellence Team Award:
Department of Industrial Engineering

NMMU Engagement Excellence Award:

Prof Werner Olivier

Faculty Researchers of the Year:

Prof Bert Olivier (Arts);

Prof Chantal Rootman (Business)

Prof Prakash Singh (Education)

Prof Rossouw von Solms (Engineering)

Prof Avinash Govindjee (Law)

Prof Richard Cowling (Science)

Faculty Excellent Teachers of the Year:

Dr Diana Ayliff (Arts)

Suné Diedericks (Business)

Prof Patrick Bean (Education)

Johan Terblanche (Engineering)

Prof Mark Watson (Health Sciences)

Lindi Coetzee (Law)

Dr Shawn Gouws (Science)

Faculty Emerging Researchers of the Year:
Dr Marius Crous (Arts)

Dr Michael Sale (Business);

Dr Chris Dali (Education);

Dr Nicky Mostert-Phipps (Engineering)

Dr Portia Jordan (Health Sciences)

Dr Ronel Nel (Science)

Faculty Emerging Excellent Teachers of the Year:
Bianca Whitehead (Arts)

Tony Matchaba-Hove (Business)

Sanet Deysel (Education)

Katharina Herich (Engineering);

Gail Halforty (Health Sciences)

Arisha Prahaladh (Science)

Vote for what's right

So that’s a bland headline. No oomph, no question, no controversy. It’s not an inaccurate heading; it’s just boring and bland. But it’s something we, at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), would appreciate right now – a great big DOLLOP OF DULL, especially when it comes to headlines. Or to be more specific, front page newspaper headlines.

But that’s unlikely to happen because it’s the season of student elections – the perfect time to bad-mouth your opposition.

It’s a phenomenon that occurs the world-over, always at election time.

And it happened to us today with the Herald newspaper headline – “Spending by SRC at NMMU queried”.

In a nutshell, DASO (the Democratic Alliance Student Organisation) is accusing the SASCO-led Student Representative Council (SRC) (they are affiliated to the ANC) of misappropriating university funds, an allegation which has been refuted.

It is also accusing NMMU of slacking in its governance processes when it comes to handling the SRC finances. It claims they alerted the university about its concerns.

Whatever the ins and outs of the accusations and counter-accusations, it’s important that NMMU gets to the bottom of it and implements the necessary action.

Why?

Apart from the fact that the negative headlines are not doing the University any favours, we need to do the right thing. We can be assured come election season 2015 that the muck-throwing will start all over again. It always does.

Why?

Because, whether we like it or not, this is politics.

Opponents always seem to seek the chink the other’s armour instead of taking the high road and inspiring voters with their plans to prosper others.

Anyway, I’m off the politicking bandwagon with one last shot … vote for what’s right, come NMMU student elections on 17 September.

Taking responsibility

Chad was ten years old when his mother died. Chad’s father worked long hours in order to provide for him and his sister, Chloe, 5. Chad was tasked with taking care of his sister during those times his father was working. He helped her dress for pre-school; he packed her lunch; he reminded her to brush her teeth and to pack a costume and towel on fun-day at school during summer. He did the same for himself.

He was a bright, hard-working youngster who understood the need, despite his young years, to take responsibility for himself.

And then there was Jane. Jane grew up in a home where she wanted for nothing. Her parents had a full-time domestic worker and gardener. Financially, her mother did not need to work, and so she stayed at home, preferring to care for Jane. She made her lunch, packed her school clothes, helped her do her homework, fetched her friends, organised her birthday parties and almost every other aspect of her life.

Both Chad and Jane came to university.

Chad sailed through his first year, working hard and completing his assignments. Jane did not. In fact she failed to even finish her first year. Without her mother to pick up the pieces and take responsibility for her daughter, Jane was unable to cope. She had never learnt how to take responsibility for herself – or for others.

Taking responsibility is one of NMMU’s six core values.

Regardless of our circumstances prior to reaching university, it is critical that we take responsibility. Failure to do so may lead us to be like Jane.

Jane had never had to take responsibility. Her mother had always done it for her and she had been unable to cope by herself.

At university – as in life – students are encouraged to take responsibility. From getting to lectures to meeting assignment deadlines, the responsibility lies with them. But taking responsibility goes further … we’re also being asked to take responsibility for others and for our environment.

A big ask?

If a friend has had too much to drink, surely it’s our responsibility to ensure they don’t drive. Similarly, if we see that others are destroying property or natural resources, it’s our responsibility to report that behaviour.

But that’s my take … let’s rather hear from Generation Y, and some NMMU students as to why taking responsibility is their favourite value:

· My favourite NMMU value is taking responsibility. NMMU allows students to take their education and prosperity into their own hands. It teaches students that each individual’s life is their own responsibility, which prepares students for the trials of life.

· Every choice we make has a consequence attached to it, and with that consequence there is some form of responsibility. This value reminds me to take responsibility for the choices I make.

· I like responsibility because success is your own responsibility.

· If each person takes responsibility your goals will be achieved.

· It is vital for leaders to take responsibility, in order to move a group or even a nation forward.

· Responsibility includes being accountable, for the positive and the negative. By taking responsibility for yourself, others and your environment, you will be able to move closer to success and hopefully act as a role model to others in the process.

· Taking responsibility is the most important value and characteristic an individual can have because I believe we are responsible for ourselves, our actions, attitudes and ultimately, the way we live and what we chose to do with our lives. In a way, responsibility ties all the other NMMU values together because we need to be responsible for adopting ubuntu, showing respect for both diversity and the environment, achieving excellence and having integrity. As an NMMU student, it is my responsibility to uphold all the values this institution has.

· This value emphasises the responsibility that every South African has to create meaningful change in their communities.

· All our actions have consequences, whether good or bad, and we must take responsibility for those actions.

· By taking responsibility you won’t be so quick to repeat your mistakes.

· I believe that this is a good value because you should always take responsibility for your actions and be prepared for the consequences that come from every decision you make.

· If you learn to take responsibility for the good and bad, then you can either learn from the bad or acknowledge the good.

· Taking responsibility. In order to adhere to any of the other values, we must first look at ourselves and decide how we can move forward and make situations better. If we cannot take responsibility for our own actions, thoughts and lives, how do we expect others to do the same?

· Taking responsibility is about living honourably, being accountable for your behaviour and being dependable when you have things to do.

What’s your favourite value?

Take the goose bump test with the NMMU choir

Our singing ambassadors

I challenge anyone who has never watched a performance by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) choir NOT TO GET goose bumps!

I challenge you to sit there po-faced, unmoved and goose bump-free.

It’s near impossible.

Well, it is for me and I have watching them perform the same songs in various venues, time and again, over many years and have never remained untouched.

For me, it is goose bumps every time.

Why? What makes them so special?

Personally, it’s something to do with the mastery of their music mix, their vocal range and sheer enthusiasm … somehow it fills me with a sense of hope, of joy and pride all at the same time.

But why take me at my word?

Take the goose bump test.

You can do so this Saturday at the NG Church in Summerstrand where a special 20-year anniversary concert is being held to celebrate the rich history that this special choir has enjoyed. The present 50-odd members will be joined by their predecessors for the performance as they’re coming to town for the reunion party weekend; starting on Friday at 6pm. Tickets are R70.

If you can’t get to the special concert because you live outside of the Eastern Cape, then watch the choir’s hit flash mob sensation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iIFqHMOE1g and the choir’s tribute to Nelson Mandela on in 94th birthday http://ow.ly/AW0Yd

Both videos are YouTube hits.

Why?

I think it’s because they pass the goose bump test. People watch them, are moved by them and want to share the feel-good energy of our multi-cultural choir.

Their tribute – Asimbonganga set on NMMU’s South Campus – to Nelson Mandela has attracted more than 55 000 hits, while the flash mob staged at Greenacres Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth has more than 350 000 hits.

However, there’s nothing like watching them live.

Ask the 10 000-plus Chinese audience who witnessed them at the 12th Chinese International Choral Festival in Beijing last month. They didn’t understand a word of their English, Afrikaans or isiXhosa lyrics, but that didn’t stop them from jumping to their feet at the end of the performance or joining them on stage as they danced.

They took the goose bump test and failed.

But methinks they’re in good company, don’t you?

If you’d like to know more about the choir or the concert/reunion this weekend, contact 041-5044371.