First ever Monday Monthly hits the streets

Students dig into the first edition of the Monday Monthly while enjoying a cup of coffee on campus Picture by Michael Hammond Story by staff reporter

Today marks the first ever edition of the Monday Monthly, a print publication that takes an in-depth look at news, research and opinions from the University of Cape Town. While it follows in the footsteps of the former bi-monthly Monday Paper, the new publication is more about making in-depth information accessible and interesting.

Some highlights in this first edition include:

• A hundred years after the notorious Native Land Act, what has really changed in post-apartheid South Africa? UCT academics from different disciplines share their views.
• Cheetahs are fast, but springbok are faster over the long haul. Why? And do East African runners win because of how they train or because of their muscle make-up? An expert shares his astonishing findings.
• Obama's visit to Cape Town stirred up some memories of a student leader who brought Robert Kennedy to the same podium in 1966. So what impact did the two American politicians have - with almost five decades between their visits?
• If pain is such a problem for people living with HIV, why is it not being treated? A researcher spells out her opinion.

Says the paper's editor, Tanya Farber, "Since the university is such an astounding incubator of research, thought and action, it would be a missed opportunity if we didn't make clear the direct link between the lived reality of people in a country, and what happens in the halls of academia. But, without a bridge of information between those two worlds, the links are invisible. My aim with the Monday Monthly is to spell out in the clearest terms what innovations and research from the campus are of interest and importance to all at UCT and our society at large."

According to Gerda Kruger, executive director of the Communications and Marketing Department at UCT, "The Monday Monthly is an important vehicle for UCT to communicate with a wider audience both locally and internationally. This is a very special moment and we celebrate it with the team. Congratulations to the newsroom!"

Copies of the Monday Monthly are available across campus today. Read the online version.