Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
#illstudywithyou initiative grows
UNIVERSITY students, lecturers and members of the public have come together online to find novel ways for students to prepare for their upcoming exams under the banner of #illstudywithyou.
The hashtag movement was launched on Wednesday by UCT Economics lecturer Katherine Eyal, who uses the Twitter handle @katrinayellow.
She told Weekend Argus yesterday that “everybody loves a good hashtag”.
“It’s a lovely idea and there have been lots of concrete offers,” Eyal added.
It remains to be seen to what extent the campaign can give practical help to students in need, however.
“Time to share resources. Leave no one behind!” Eyal tweeted, added that there had been hundreds of offers on social media of mentoring, exam coaching, free wifi and even offers to use laptops.
In a tweet, Eyal compared the #illstudywithyou campaign to that of #illridewithyou, an Australian campaign launched via social media in 2014. Against a backdrop of intolerance against people in Muslim dress, Australians offered to ride along with them.
As the # illstudywithyou campaign grew, users posted how they could help and near which universities they were based. “Anyone at UCT in need of help, especially with history, anthropology, sociology, literature, linguistics, archaeology,” posted historian Eve Wong, who is studying towards a PhD in anthropology.
“Dear UWC UCT student in media studies/journalism – I’m more than happy to help wherever I can,” wrote journalist Miriam Mannak.
While some offered mentoring, others offered the use of a computer. UCT students who use Telkom, MTN and Cell C services can go online to access university resources for free. But some students complained of not having smartphones or computers.
As a result, some social media users offered help.
jan.cronje@inl.co.za TIDES High today ......... 8.03pm, 8.43pm Tomorrow ........ 9.36am, 10.21pm Low today .......... 1.42am, 2.39pm Tomorrow .......... 3.07am, 4.21pm Spring tides ....................... Oct 30 ......................................... Nov 14 Neap Tides ........................ Oct 22 ........................................... Nov 7 SUN/MOON Sunrise today .................. 5.56am Sunset today ................... 7.04pm Moon rises today ........... 12.51am Moon sets tomorrow...... 11.33am Spring Tides: Nu + Full Moon Oct 30 Nov 14 Neap Tides: 1st + Last ¼ 22 Nov 7 Oct