Thursday, 4 July 2013

Equator News


Peer counselors' launch constitution

Peer counselors launch new constitution
It’s a new dawn for Maseno University Network of Peer Counselors, MUNPEC after they launched their newly drafted constitution on 1st July at Trinity Fellowship.
This exercise saw a landmark change as new objectives and laws will shape how various activities will be carried out in raising change of behaviors and personal attachment of social mobility to rally improvement of moral standards.
Speaking after the launch, Director of Students Welfare Services, SWS, Erick Nyambetha noted the improvement of the network since its formation as new screened members can now counsel their peers and interact freely to different levels of training namely silver, bronze and gold.
Through sensitization of sharing ideas ad getting solutions to issues affecting the society, peer counselors agreed to abide to the new rules of operatives. They also applauded the management for their continued support in helping the network achieve its mandate.
Dean of students Edward Olela during the launch  in  Trinity  Fellowship

“Abiding to laid procedures and maintaining a chain of rules is of great essence in improving ones well-being ”, the director added.
He also said that the network is made for all members of the university to help in refining skills and mentorship which are a key determinant of the three levels of training.
According to article 5(a) on membership, one is expected to undergo a screening exercise to be able to hold a certificate of silver level of training.
On the other hand, active participation and maintenance of a high level of discipline makes one qualified to engage in the democratic process of Student Organization Maseno University, SOMU elections.
How to handle a client
“Romantic relationships are invalid during counseling of clients and these can automatically lead to loss of membership” said counselor Rispah Ochola.
She also added that, having shaped how new laws will work, penalties remained supreme. A committee of experts is mandated with authority to expel members whose conduct would scratch the dignity expected according to article 5(d).

The office of students’ guidance and counseling is also expected to serve a watchdog role over gender balance in annual general elections. The members who should vie are also expected to be active in Networks activities.
Equator News has also learnt that quorum of MUNPEC meetings shall not be less than one third of the registered members and that the agenda will undergo previous communication through circulars of notice.

By Brian Ochieng



Monday, 1 July 2013

Who will be moved to City Campus?

When you can guess who will be moved to City Campus

Plans are underway to move some students to Kisumu City Campus come September, the Deputy Vice chancellor academic affairs, DVCAA, Prof Madara Ogot has confirmed.
In an interview in his office, he said that they are working on various details to determine who will be moved. He also said that the final decision which will affect only third and fourth years will be reached at before the month of July.
Prof Madara said that the decision to move students is based on decongesting the main campus as more than 3000 students will be admitted on September.
Speaking to Maseno Equator News he said that the departments to be moved will be picked under the criteria that they are less than 100 and they have no laboratory practicals.
“The lecture halls in Kisumu are small and thus the departments which will move must have, not more than 100 students”, said Prof Ogot.
He also added that those to be moved must have no laboratory practicals as there are no labs in city campus.
Prof Madara Ogot, DVCAA, file photo

Kisumu City Campus where students from Main campus will be moved  to  avoid congestionfile photo
The academic division is to go through various stages before arriving at the final decision. 
This includes meeting student leaders-SOMU, the city campus management and landlords in Kisumu to discuss various logistics which surround this plan before the month ends.
If students’ leaders fail to approve the plan, all students will remain in main campus but they will be slapped by various consequences.
“If the idea fails, Saturday classes will be introduced and more temporary lecture halls will be created”, said the DVCAA.
This will otherwise help cater for the many of students who exceed the number of available lecture halls.
Prof Madara however said that the option of Saturday classes was not a welcome to the lectures. He also added that it would be tricky as students who fellowship with SDA, would be disadvantaged.
Upto now, three departments have expressed their wish to be moved but they stand to pass the test. These include the the school of Urban and regional planing, Eco-tourism, school of Business and Economics and Hotel and Institutional Management 
In the long run, the school is in the process of renovating city campus so as to accommodate large number of students. 
This will result to decentralization where various campuses of Maseno university which will handle specific programs.

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 By David Mwaura and Benson Gitau






Saturday, 29 June 2013

Maseno University hand in mater heart run
Mater hospital held their 8th Mater Heart Run event at Mumias Sports Complex on Saturday 25th May raising 3.09M in which Maseno University contributed kshs 45,800.
Maseno University was represented by the school of medicine students, Public Relations, Maseno University Media Association (MUMA). Other participants were St. Mary’s Girls Mumias, Booker Academy and Mumias Central primary school.
The chief guest was Rt.Rev Beniah Salala Anglican bishop ACK Vihiga County who stood in for the Kakamega county governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Among those who graced the occasions were the Vihiga county director medical services Dr.James Onyango, District Officer Paul Langat, Ruftone among other music artists. 
Millions flock every year in support of children with heart diseases:
File photo

Rt. Rev Beniah Salala thanked the participants for their willing support and urged the community to embrace the need to help out heart patients. The participants were issued with certificates of participation.
“It is my prayer that we will continue with this spirit even to our neighbors”, he concluded.  Six Maseno university students managed to be among the top tens who finished the race ahead of others.
Speaking to Maseno fraternity, the gospel artist known by many as Ruftone appreciated their presence as the only university which took part in the run. In addition, he promised to undertake his future plans of studying Business Management in the mention university.
‘I am planning for a comeback to school for a degree in business management and I know Maseno will be best for me’ he added.
The main sponsors for the event were Capital FM, Safaricom, National Security Social Fund (NSSF) and The Standard. Mater heart run is an organized annual race for the solid purpose of raising funds to support the surgery of heart patients mostly the children with the motto ‘I touched a child’s heart ’.

By Ruth Nderitu




Pregnancy crisis in campus

Pregnancy in campus
Relationships in campus are most often a state of bliss until something unexpected happens, a case in point being, when a lady becomes pregnant. It’s no lady’s wish to get pregnant before she’s done with her studies unless she is ready for it.
However, as recently witnessed, many ladies are falling victims of this. What follows are the numerous challenges that one encounters while juggling between being a mother and a student.
In an interview with students’ counselor, Rispa Ochola, she revealed the pain and anguish a girl goes through on becoming expectant. However, she insisted that men should also take responsibility.
“Men who plant “seeds” should take care of them.” she added.
Equator Weekly managed to speak with students who are mothers.
Speaking to Jane* name changed, she revealed her pain during her time of pregnancy and even after giving birth. She said that at first the boyfriend denied the pregnancy and called her names.
“He called me unfaithful and I can remember how much I cried for all my love was his”.
Moreover, the man was not supportive in terms of the company I needed during the trying times and also during delivery.
“This is the time when I needed someone closer than ever and he wasn’t even concerned”.
The lady recalls that till today, she is bitter with the man when she remembers the time they spent together. Jane however regrets the day she said ‘yes’ to the boyfriend and added that for now she does not have the heart to trust another man anytime soon.
In another scenario, a lady who sought anonymity said that she was dumped the minute the man realized she was pregnant. She bitterly remembered of how the man started cutting ties and reducing the time they used to spend together.
The same happened to Patience* name changed, whose friends started drawing away from her as soon as they realized she was expectant. The painful part was when she lost her male friends as many of them feared to be mistaken to have sired the child.
Attendance of lessons is also a major challenge and they sometimes end up getting low grades as they can’t concentrate on their studies.
Pregnant lady: Many university ladies face  a  headache  after  a pregnancy  crisis.

A lady is also not entitled to get a hostel upon getting pregnant, these among other social challenges of walking to lecture halls when the morning sickness is prevailing, are quite a challenge
The school is also partially supportive and only gives pre-natal medication and checkup. However upon arrival of the newborn, the support from the university diminishes.
According to statistics gathered from the health clinic, 10% of the students are married and hence pregnancy is expected, 60% is out of ignorance and the rest is accidental.
In an interview with Rispa the Counselling department is looking at ways in which they can help student-mothers. This is by registering them in a support group which will be a platform for sharing their challenges, a plan which is underway this semester.
Moreover, she labeled them ‘star-students’ as they take on double responsibilities.

 By Miriam Nyamira, Moreen Nkonge and Benson Gitau

The first ever class representatives workshop

The first ever class representatives workshop
Maseno university class representatives had an opportunity to lick knowledge in a workshop organized by the Counseling department in conjunction with the office of the Students welfare services, SWS.
The event which was held in Trinity Fellowship on 20th June was graced by the university counselors, the director of SWS with his personal assistance and the university legal officer.
Speaking to the over 60 student leaders, Rispah Ochola, one of the university counselors, said this was the first ever event for the class representatives and was focused on polishing leadership skills.
“This is an event organized to help open a platform to grow leadership in students”, said Rispah.
The student leaders took solomonic tips home in various topics ranging from law and class leadership, university structure and leaders, time management, exam and academics and conflict management.
The topics were merged to cultivate team spirit, enhance leadership capabilities and implore skills relevant to achieving efficiency in class leadership.
On time management, counselor Lucy Ngutiku advised the student leaders using a 10 commandment rule where she gave the mistakes people make when managing their time.
Some of the mistakes outlined were failure to keep a-to-do list, not setting personal goals, procrastination, failure to prioritize and management of distractions among others.
“It is interesting that some students use the shtuka method and do not plan”, said counselor Lucy a word that cracked the ribs of many.
Elizabeth Ayoo the university legal officer tackled a topic on law and leadership revealing the upcoming Congress in the student leadership system which will act as a Student organization Maseno University, SOMU watchdog.
Ms. Ayoo said that the Congress will be composed of a representative from SDA, CU, YCA and any other religious group, two representatives from each faculty and residential halls representative.
The Legal officer also stressed that the government had adopted a policy where university admission will not be pegged to the number halls of residence. This was in response to why the university was admitting a high number of first years on September.
“The university is expected by the government to have a population of 17,000 students in 2017”, said Erick Nyambetha the director SWS during his speech. He also added that the population had doubled within the two years he had been serving in the office.
Counselor Rispah covered a topic on Conflict management and advised students against locking hatred in their hearts but instead find a solution in a peaceful way. She also appreciated that conflicts are natural as they occur due to the diversity and different tastes people have in life.

By Benson Gitau
bensongitau9@gmail.com

Benson Gitau, Equator News reporter