A blog dedicated to scandal and ‘skinner’, RU Scandalous asks the question, “Have you heard?”

By Cat Pennels

When you arrive at RU Scandalous’s doorstep, you are confronted by a large white photograph of the Rhodes University clock tower swathed in pink and black swirls. To the left of the screen a woman’s lips pose as if to whisper something sultry into your ear. This is clearly a blog that serves up sizzling stories - but with a Rhodes flavour.

Expecting a blog that dealt with petty Rhodes gossip, I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful and challenging writing I discovered. While RU Scandalous certainly provides analysis on trends and issues at Rhodes University, it does not focus on the frivolous and mundane as I had braced myself for. In fact, a witty post written by Aimee Caulfield and entitled "Scandal only exists in the thoughts of the beholder", critically examines "the media deluge of petty celebrity fights and irksome political figures pretending to be something a lot better than they are."

Other interesting posts deal with the 'death of music', the Caster Semenya debacle and Mia Farrow's work with Gaza victims. Perhaps one of the most interesting and relevant posts is one that delves into homosexuality and the Rhodes drama department.

RU Scandalous is a blog that very successfully combines thought-provoking journalism with the latest news from around campus and the world. It stands tall among other South African blogs of its kind, such as GOSSIPS, which lack intellectual analysis. RU Scandalous is a blog that is well worth a visit.