The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 24 Issue 02

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE

24

02 25.09.17

ISSN NO. 0218-7310

Lifestyle special: Asian makeup looks

A letter to Singapore’s new president

“Athletes-only” gym opens at The Wave

Korean, Japanese and South Indian students show you their countries’ hottest makeup looks

Chief Editor Dewey Sim shares his hopes and fears following the presidential election

Non-college athletes question the need for newly opened gym at The Wave

>> Lifestyle Page 10

>> Opinion Page 18

>> Sports Page 21

DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam on education:

The biggest mistake is to think that ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’ >> News Page 3

Surging ahead with Singapore’s swimmers

Sisters share their journey as getai performers

>> Sports Page 22

>> Spotlight Page 14

News

Pioneer Hall food court to reopen end-September The new food court will offer a range of local cuisines and vending machines dispensing hot food

vendors’ standards.

“We had quite an authentic Korean stall set up by a Korean couple, and we also had the Fried Yong Tau Foo stall come over from the Quad,” said the 23-year-old.

“I hope the new stalls can match the popularity and quality of those old stalls,” he added.

Jasmine Hoe RESIDENTS of the Pioneer and Crescent Halls of Residence can look forward to new and more convenient food options with their food court scheduled to reopen at the end of the month.

Chief Housing and Auxiliary Services (HAS) Officer Jimmy Lee said the food court, which will be run by a new operator Food Haven, plans to offer Chinese, Malay and Western cuisines.

HAS is also looking at installing vending machines that dispense cooked food such as the Japanese oden — a one-pot dish with assorted fish balls, fish cakes, tofu and eggs — and ramen for a trial period, he said.

The canteen closed during the summer holidays, taking many residents by surprise.

Mr Lee said the initial food court operator had ceased operations in May after more than 2.5 years. He did not give a reason why.

“I hope the new stalls can match the popularity and quality of those old stalls.”

Stall shutters will finally open when the food court reopens in end-September.

Pioneer Hall president Aaron Phua said the hall office did not inform residents of the canteen’s closure. He only found out about it from some residents who were in school during the holidays.

When school reopened in August, notices were put up informing residents that the canteen would reopen within the month. However, its scheduled reopening date was later changed to end-September.

Residents the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to were glad about the food court’s reopening.

Third-year National Institute of Education student Jaclyn Marissa Watson, 21, said she was relieved that she will no longer have to walk to Canteen 1 and 2 for her meals, which can be tiring after a day of lessons.

Crescent Hall resident Veralynn Gan, 20, said she is looking for-

PHOTO: CHRISTY YIP

ward to having weekly meals with her hall friends again.

“It’s quite hard to find a common place to meet (without the hall food court) because some of them don’t want to travel too far,” said the second-year School of Humanities student.

Neo Zhi Ming, a third-year School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering student, hopes the food will live up to the old

Neo Zhi Ming, 23 Third-year student School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Others felt that having vending machines will be a convenient alternative to regular food options.

Crescent Hall resident and thirdyear Asian School of the Environment student Seah Cheng, 23, said it will allow him to get food when he is “desperate”, such as when he comes home late from lessons after the food court has closed.

Follow-up measures after LT1 ceiling collapse Lecture theatres have been inspected and given the all-clear, amid regular safety checks on buildings Wee Rae FOLLOWING a partial collapse of its false ceiling last month, additional measures have been implemented to ensure the structural integrity of Lecture Theatre 1 (LT1) and its surrounding lecture theatres, according to a spokesperson from the Office of Development and Facilities Management (ODFM).

So far, all lecture theatres in the academic complex have undergone inspection and no significant defects have been found, he added.

As an added precaution, the school is engaging professional engineers to conduct more detailed checks on the lecture theatres.

This is on top of the routine ones

Maintenance is ongoing to replace the LT1 ceiling.

that take place every two months, where reported defects are highlighted and addressed immediately.

Lessons conducted at LT1 have since been redirected to

other venues.

Prior to the incident, no noticeable faults in LT1 were detected nor reported.

To address the ceiling collapse,

PHOTO: CHRISTY YIP

the spokesperson from ODFM said the entire ceiling will be replaced.

Maintenance works are currently ongoing.

Students the Nanyang Chron-

icle spoke to expressed concern over the structural safety of buildings in NTU. Crystalbel Khoo, 20, a secondyear student from the Nanyang Business School, said: “I hope the school will conduct more checks or maintenance works for the older parts of the school to ensure that we’re all in a safe environment and that this doesn’t happen again.”

Third-year School of Biological Sciences student Alexis Lau added that while it is good that the school is building more halls and other facilities, they should also constantly maintain and upgrade current school facilities.

According to the ODFM spokesperson, safety checks of buildings on campus are already conducted on a regular basis.

All buildings in NTU are inspected by a structural engineer every five years to ensure that they remain structurally sound, as mandated by the Building and Construction Authority.

VOL. NO.

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03

THE NANYANG

02 CHRONICLE

Embrace change or end up on the wrong side of history, says DPM Tharman

DPM Tharman speaks to students at the Majulah Lecture about how strategic shifts in education will shape Singapore's future.

Speaking at the inaugural NTU Majulah Lecture, DPM Tharman stressed the need for constant change and experimentation in our education system to tackle future challenges Dewey Sim Natalie Choy THE mantra "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" cannot apply to Singapore’s education system, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam last Wednesday.

Instead, change and experimentation are needed to prepare Singaporeans for future challenges.

“In education, more than in any other field, we will only know how well we are doing 20 or 30 years from now. If we don’t keep changing, we will end up on the wrong side of history,” said DPM Tharman, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies and chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

He was the guest speaker at the inaugural NTU Majulah Lecture — a new initiative that aims to address

the uncertainties that Singapore faces in a globalised world.

The annual event also seeks to inspire NTU students by inviting public speakers from the government, business and civil sectors to share their ideas and experiences.

Speaking to a 1,500-strong audience at the Nanyang Auditorium, DPM Tharman said that Singapore faces the challenge of developing an innovative society while retaining a sense of togetherness.

He listed five key measures that our education system must adopt to prepare Singapore for the future.

“As some would put it, you've got to mitigate the 'lottery of birth'. People are born with advantages and disadvantages.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam

The first measure is to give every child in Singapore a fair chance at success early in their education and help those who “start off with a disadvantage”.

“As some would put it, you’ve got to mitigate the ‘lottery of birth’.

People are born with advantages

and disadvantages,” said DPM Tharman. “Fortunately, and this is the silver-lining, neurological studies show that neural growth is malleable to intervention, if it takes place early enough.”

The four other measures include creating “fluid and flexible” pathways as children grow up, reducing academic workload, promoting lifelong learning as well as reinforcing Singapore’s multicultural identity in our youth.

On his point about multiculturalism, DPM Tharman said co-curricular activities in Singapore are too “ethnically-defined”.

“Football today is different from what it was in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

You look at our national team, all very good players. But it used to be a much more multiracial team in those days. Volleyball, basketball, table tennis – the first thing that strikes people – ‘Chinese' game," he said.

But DPM Tharman is hopeful about improving racial diversity in our co-curricular activities.

He mentioned that Dunman Secondary School and Jurong Secondary School have put in effort to make sports such as volleyball more multiracial.

“Always lovely to watch the

PHOTO: YEO WEI LUN

school dances, like a Malay dance,” DPM Tharman said.

“But when you look closely and see there are two Indian girls, or two Chinese girls, that’s when you get ‘geteran jiwa’, the stirring of the heart,” he added.

Despite the slew of initiatives introduced to improve our education system, some NTU students feel that Singapore will continue struggle to cope with challenges in the global economy.

Wu Yan Long, a first-year student from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, attributed this to Singapore's small population size.

“My main concern is that we don’t have the critical mass to compete on a global scale,” said the 19-year-old. “You can get as many foreigners as you want, but other countries can do that too. There’s no comparative advantage.”

He added that Singaporeans will still lose out to bigger countries such as China and the United States, who have more resources.

Lin Yi Chao, a second-year exchange student from the School of Computer Science and Engineering, is supportive of efforts to reduce workload in school.

Speaking on the education system of Singapore and China, the

“Every so often we need that new spirit in our society, and that is how we go forward together.”

DPM Tharman

20-year old from Xiamen University said: “I think it is a good idea to reduce academic workload because it creates more space and room for us to be creative.”

Lin added that cutting down on academic work to spur innovation will be beneficial in China as well, where its education system focuses largely on mathematics and computer science.

Concluding his hour-long speech, DPM Tharman reminded the audience to think about the National Anthem when reflecting on the new spirit in education.

“When you think of our Anthem, remember ‘Mari-lah kita bersatu, dengan semangat yang baru’ (with a new spirit),” he said.

“And that new spirit was not intended just for the day we became a new nation 52 years ago. Every so often we need that new spirit in our society, and that is how we go forward together.”

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NEWS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

24

CHRONICLE 02

More shared e-scooters on campus by year-end

There are currently eight e-scooter stations on campus, with plans to add five to 10 more.

SMRT, JTC and NTU partner with local startup Telepod to encourage shift from personal cars to shared transportation Adele Chiang NTU will see an increase in shared e-scooters by the end of the year as the University serves as a test bed for integrating shared modes of transport.

A total of 100 e-scooters will be available on campus by the end of the year after a successful e-scooter sharing trial with 15 e-scooters that started on 22 Aug. The e-scooter sharing service is run by Telepod, a local transportation and tech start-up, and is similar to bike-sharing services such as oBike and ofo. Telepod also provides e-scooter rental and delivery services.

The e-scooters are currently docked at eight stations on campus: Lee Wee Nam Library, the Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC), North Hill residences, Halls of Residence 8 and 12, Canteen 2, Research Techno Plaza and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences building.

An additional five to 10 stations will eventually be added to accommodate the new e-scooters, said Telepod’s chief operating officer Louis Goh. The 27-year-old added that the response to the trial was “overwhelming” and proved there was a demand for the service here.

Telepod aims to see 20 per cent of the school’s population getting the chance to try out the service once all 100 e-scooters are available, he added.

Students who have used the service said it is a convenient means of transportation.

Second-year School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Seet Cheng Xiang, 21, said this is especially so after 9pm, when the campus buses arrive at lower frequencies of 18 to 20 minutes.

The Hall 14 resident once rode a Telepod e-scooter from the SRC back to his hall at 10pm. This took him seven minutes compared to the 20 minutes he usually spends on the campus bus.

Ahmad Rabani, a second-year School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering student, has taken the e-scooter once. He said he will use the service again.

“I can get to my destination without having to wait for the bus or struggle to squeeze onto one during peak hours,” the 22-yearold said.

“I can get to my destination without having to wait for the bus or struggle to squeeze onto one during peak hours.”

Ahmad Rabani, 22 Second-year student School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

But others found the service expensive. Users are charged $1 for every 10 minutes.

First-year Masters of Science in Technopreneurship and Innovation student Low Hong Liang said: “I would want to use the e-

PHOTO: HAKIM ZULFADHLI

scooter (service) again only if the cost is lower.”

The 24-year-old, who has used the service twice, added that he would rather take the campus bus since it is free.

Telepod CEO, Mr Goh, said the e-scooter rental rate is “quite competitive” compared to bike-sharing companies, which charge an average of $1 for 30 minutes of use.

He added that this is because bicycles take 20 to 30 minutes to travel the same distance that escooters would in 10 minutes.

Promotional codes will also be made available on Telepod's social media sites in October to encourage e-scooter use, he said.

Telepod is a partner of jalan.sg, a route planning mobile application that seeks to integrate various transportation options like e-scooters, bicycles, shuttle buses, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) networks and eventually automated self-driving vehicles.

Mr Stanley Ong, lead of service and experience design at jalan.sg, said NTU is a test bed for their Mobility as a Service (MaaS) initiative, which promotes the shift from personal cars to shared modes of transportation.

“We hope to not just implement this in Singapore but across Asia too,” the 35-year-old added.

Jalan.sg was launched in midAugust and is a collaboration between Singapore Mass Rapid Transit (SMRT), JTC Corporation and NTU. To use the application, users input their starting location and destination. The app will then display a list of possible routes. For example, for a shorter travel time, it may suggest that the user take the campus bus before switching to an e-scooter or bicycle.

Users can then book and pay for the e-scooter or bike-sharing ser-

GRAPHIC: REYNARD ADRIANTO

vice through the app.

The app was launched for trial on 21 Aug and is currently only available on Android. It has since been downloaded more than 600 times, said Mr Ong. He added that it will be made available to Apple users

by November.

More than 1,200 students have also indicated interest in it, based on a survey carried out by jalan.sg in August.

When first-year Nanyang Business School student Tan Si Wei learnt about jalan.sg, he said the app would be useful to him since he is still unfamiliar with the campus.

The 22-year-old added that using it would save him the time spent on planning his routes beforehand and

getting lost on campus.

Automated self-driving vehicles may also one day be part of the MaaS concept as jalan.sg partners with Dutch company 2 Getthere Holding (2getthere) to test out automated vehicles (AV).

An AV test bed has been stationed in the carparks between Halls 12 and 14 since 21 Aug. “It is definitely not a full service yet, we are still collecting data in this experimental stage,” said Mr Leong Wei Yang, 24, an operations executive at jalan.sg.

If successful, the use of AVs will eventually be launched nationwide to complement bus services and bring commuters from MRT stations to their homes or workplaces more conveniently, said Mr Ong.

VOL. NO.

24

THE NANYANG

02 CHRONICLE

NEWS

05

No more chit-chat with NTU bus chatbot Previously used to check bus arrival times on campus, the NTU Bus Arrival chatbot has since ceased operations Xu Qi Yang STUDENTS have not been able to use the NTU Bus Arrival chatbot since its creators graduated in August this year.

Launched in January, the chatbot had allowed students to check the arrival times of NTU campus buses, as well as Singapore Bus Service Transit bus services 179 and 199.

It was available on social media messaging services Telegram and Facebook Messenger.

Creators Yap Deep and Marcus Tee, both 23, decided to stop managing the chatbot after they found full-time jobs.

Mr Tee, who graduated from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, is currently a pre-sales consultant at Microsoft while Mr Yap works at Mediatek where he designs computer chips and circuits.

When asked the reason behind pulling the plug, Mr Yap, who graduated from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), said the chatbot required routine maintenance and updates to improve its accuracy and efficiency.

He added that they were not confident of performing routine maintenance outside of campus.

“Bus stops are increasing in numbers and we don’t want to screw up the timings since we’re not in school,” said Mr Yap. Mobile applications NTU Bus, NTU Go! and NTU Campus Bus as well as the official NTU bus arrival website (https://baseride. com/maps/public/ntu/) are the remaining services used to check bus arrival times.

To date, no one has shown interest in taking over the chatbot even though the link to the programme code is on the chatbot’s official Facebook page, said Mr Yap. The chatbot’s programme code gives one access to tools and commands needed to operate it.

Last semester, Mr Tee approached the Students’ Union to enquire if the information technology committee would be willing to take over the chatbot.

But the committee was busy revamping other applications at that time and was unfamiliar with the chatbot’s coding language.

When interviewed by the Nanyang Chronicle, President of the Student’s Union Gan Rui Yun said that the Office of Housing and Auxiliary Services had already commissioned the existing NTU Campus bus app.

“There is no need for an app of

The NTU Bus Arrival chatbot was a popular app among students to check for bus arrival times, receiving an average of 2,500 queries daily.

duplicating function which may cause inaccuracies in information if uncoordinated,” added Gan. This was disappointing news for Mr Yap and Mr Tee. Mr Yap had hoped that someone could take over the chatbot as many students relied on it for bus arrival times.

The chatbot received an average of 2,500 queries daily when it was in operation.

Second-year EEE student Gregory Yee said he misses the convenience of the chatbot.

“Having it on a messaging app was more convenient and interactive. It saved me the trouble of downloading another app,” said the 22-year-old.

Others miss the chatbot for its entertaining responses.

The chatbot could identify photos, analyse emotions and respond to queries in a conversational tone.

“Initially, I thought I was talking to a real person,” said Jasmine Lim, 20, a second-year student from the School of Social Sciences.

For Mr Yap and Mr Tee, creating and managing the chatbot was a fulfilling learning experience.

The duo, who had no programming knowledge before building the bot, had some parting advice for students.

“Don’t be daunted by the complexity of stuff that might not be related to your studies," advised Mr Yap. "Get your hands dirty when you still can. Master your field, but learn other stuff too."

PHOTO: CHRISTY YIP

GRAPHIC: REYNARD ADRIANTO

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NEWS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

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CHRONICLE 02

Hall participation remains high despite guaranteed two-year stay

GRAPHIC: AMY ONG

There may be less need for first-year students to participate in hall activities to keep their residency, but this has not stopped students from stepping up Jasmine Hoe Wee Rae WHEN the announcement was made in March that first-year students would be guaranteed a twoyear residential place on campus — up from the previous year — concerns were raised by seniors that students would be less motivated to participate in hall activities.

But as the Nanyang Chronicle found out, this has not been a problem in NTU’s Halls of Residences — overall sign-ups for hall activities have not declined.

Previously, first-year students had to join at least three sports or recreational games, and either one main committee or two subcommittees to vie for a place in the same hall the following year.

With the new scheme in place,

students only need to join a minimum of two committees, such as the Freshmen Orientation Programme (FOP) and Dinner and Dance committees.

For Hall 13, sign-up rates for this year’s Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC) elections in August were more than satisfactory.

Twenty-four people ran for 16 positions in the Committee this year — an improvement from the previous year when only 20 people came forward, said President Soh Wan Fang, 20.

“Most of the people who ran (for JCRC) wanted to try something new, and (they) have a genuine interest in the role,” added the second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Hall 14’s JCRC elections were equally promising this year.

“During my year (2016), there were 21 candidates who signed up but seven of them pulled out,” said former President Goh Voon Jin, 23.

None of this year’s 17 candidates dropped out from the elections.

The final-year student from the School of Biological Sciences said that 11 out of the 17 candidates were first-year students.

JCRC involvement aside, partici-

pation in other hall activities, such as sports and recreational games, also did not differ much from previous years.

Former Hall 1 Sports Director Matin Nordin, 23, said overall signups for sports remained the same.

“Popular sports like badminton and netball had a high sign-up rate while less popular sports like squash and touch rugby had fewer sign-ups (just like previous years),” said the second-year student from the School of Social Sciences.

For recreational games, former Hall 3 Recreational Games Director Calvin Goh, 22, said there was a 20 to 30 per cent increase in sign-ups this year.

“Even traditionally unpopular games like contract bridge and Weiqi saw a significant increase as compared to previous years,” said the second-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

A second family

To many first-year students, hall is more than just a place of residence on campus.

The guaranteed two-year stay does not necessarily discourage them from wanting to participate in hall activities.

“It’s important for residents to have a sense of belonging to their hall. It’s like a second family,” said Regine Sim, 19, a resident of Tamarind Hall.

“The efforts of the current JCRC in providing a more vibrant hall life makes us want to pass down their legacy to future residents as well,” added the first-year Sports Science and Management student.

Hall 8 resident Jake Lee participates in hall activities to spend more time with his friends.

“Hall activities allow you to take your mind off studying and enjoy the company of your fellow hall mates,” said the 21-year-old from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Seniors are important

Tanjong Hall president Thomas Lam said seniors play a crucial role in ensuring that participation in hall activities remains high.

“Seniors will have to go the extra mile to share their experiences and love for their hall clubs and activities through channels such as the FOP and resident welcome events,” said the third-year student from Nanyang Business School.

Lam hopes that doing so will encourage first-year students to par-

ticipate in hall activities.

The 23-year-old added that seniors need to be patient when approaching their juniors.

“For example, there are those interested in dance, but are afraid of dancing in front of others,” he said.

“Seniors have to come in to guide these freshmen to ensure they come back for practice, improve, and continue joining the dance crew next year.”

Hall 14 resident Eunice Seah stressed the necessity for seniors to facilitate bonding between new and current hall residents.

“Since most people participate in hall activities because of their friends, rather than for the hall stay itself, seniors who know the freshies (through) orientation can always ask them along for events,” said the third-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

The 21-year-old believes that this would help students feel a greater sense of belonging to hall and hence be more willing to participate in hall activities.

“Of course it’ll be good if the freshmen can take charge of their own activities, but if the seniors are there to encourage them to do so, that’ll be even better.”

Lifestyle

In the bloom of campus artistry From workshops to large scale art projects, the NTU Museum has been actively cultivating a greater appreciation for the arts on campus, despite not having a physical location. Dayna Yin looks at the museum’s latest initiatives, and how art can enrich the NTU community

FOR a museum that turns 10 next year, it may come as a surprise that the NTU Museum is not a destination on the campus map.

Rather, it is a team of artists, trade professionals and coordinators that conducts workshops and creates artworks together with the University’s staff and students.

Currently, the NTU Museum’s team is developing an NTU art trail guide for staff and students that will be ready in the first quarter of next year. The art trail is expected to showcase over 20 large artworks and 150 paintings located around the main NTU campus and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine’s (LKCMedicine) campus in Novena.

“Art is not something restrictive because it can come in any form,” said the museum’s deputy director Faith Teh. To create the art trail guide, students from the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) were tasked to design a series of themed maps, complete with innovative signposts and markers to guide visitors, under the mentorship of ADM Associate Professor Laura Miotto.

An augmented reality version of the guide online is presently in the works, and is slated to be completed in the third quarter of next year.

A new installation The latest addition to the NTU Museum’s collection is Bloom — a spectacle of light and motion unveiled at LKCMedicine’s Clinical Sciences Building at Novena, on 28 August this year.

The three-metre tall installation comprises 18 flowers of various sizes. Built-in motion sensors trigger the flowers to “bloom” in the presence of visitors, while the light-

The Fern situated at North Spine offers users – and their devices – a place to rest and recharge.

emitting diodes (LED) outlining the flowers and vines change colours based on weather conditions.

The project is powered by solar energy harvested through on-site solar panels. Inspired by the colour changes in Chinese honeysuckle flowers, the installation features LEDs that tint the white flowers with different colours when there is a change in temperature at the Novena campus.

In the second phase of the project, which will be completed in April 2018, the LEDs are set to be programmed to react to weather conditions on NTU’s main campus.

“By creating Bloom to react to the changing environment on the main campus, and seeing how the artwork responds to it, it symbolises the connectivity between the two campuses”, said Ms Teh.

Designed by five ADM students and former ADM faculty adviser Fabrizio Galli, Bloom was set up with the help of a team of scientists and engineers from the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N).

“We had to come up with art installations that were inspired by modern technology,” said one of the students, 23-year-old Ms Ivana Goh, who graduated from ADM last July. “Most of the projects were based on renewable energy, so the sustainability aspect is key.”

Commissioned in 2016, Bloom is the fourth installment in NTU Museum’s Renewable Energy Art and Public Art initiatives, which aim to create sustainability-themed art by bringing experts from different disciplines together.

The previous three installments were also by Mr Galli’s ex-students.

PHOTOS: BELICIA TEO

“We try to combine art and technology to stimulate an appreciation among students for art installations,” said Mr Galli, who collaborated with ERI@N on a module about creating art with renewable energy technology during his time at NTU. Currently, he is working with NTU Museum on their next project — two outdoor sculptures for the new North Spine Learning Hub. Hands-on approach Aside from art installations, the museum conducts workshops to give students a chance to unleash their creativity and learn different art skills during the semester.

At the Wearable Art: From Toys to Accessories workshop last month, which was jointly organised by local art studio Kult Gallery

and the NTU Museum, 20 students learnt how to recycle old toys into colourful pieces of jewellery.

The workshop was inspired by a previous toy exhibition, Choking Hazard, held by Kult last February at its studio space at Emily Hill. The toy exhibition showcased over 30 artworks made from old toys and packaging materials, depicting an exploration into the social implications of mass production.

Four months after the exhibition ended, Ms Teh found out about the exhibition online, and invited Kult Gallery to adapt their workshop for students here.

“For this particular workshop, we were very interested in the concept of upcycling — the repurposing of old materials — and artistic creation,” said Ms Teh. At the Wearable Art: From Toys to Accessories workshop, Kult’s assistant art curator Tulika Ahuja encouraged participants “to take high art into their own hands”. Her demonstration of how to dismantle and remodel old figurines into pendants and badges impressed Yang Kaiyi, a first-year School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering student who attended the session.

“It was really fun and I have so many old toys at home too, so it was quite useful,” said Yang, 19, on how she has been inspired to declutter her room by turning unused items into accessories.

Whether one is a veteran or amateur, the NTU Museum believes that making and appreciating art can forge meaningful bonds between people through creative expression.

Ms Teh said: “Art gives you another perspective of what others are thinking and broadens a person’s experience.”

About NTU Museum In 2008, the NTU Museum was established to develop a greater appreciation for art and heritage within the University’s community. In line with NTU’s sustainability research and efforts, some notable works under the museum’s Renewable Energy Art and Public Art initiatives include: Reaching High — the first renewable artwork displayed at the NTU Sports and Recreation Centre ​​ Dandelion — a five-metre-tall solar-powered light installation located outside the School of ADM Fern — an installation that serves as a 12-seater bench and solar-powered charging station located at the North Spine

Ms Ahuja (right) assists a participant in remodelling old figurines into artwork at the Wearable Art: From Toys to Accessories workshop.

Aside from physical installations, the museum also conducts virtual ‘tours’ of past exhibitions online. This includes last year’s Trees Upcycled project, where Pioneer and Crescent Hall residents used wood reclaimed from campus to make handcrafted art pieces.

08-09 LIFESTYLE

Home away from home Living in hall can be one of the most memorable aspects of university life. Clara Lee talks to some first-year students who have made a home out of their hall rooms

WITH the introduction of three new residential halls this semester and two years of guaranteed on-campus accommodation, many firstyear students have secured themselves a place in hall.

While some have spruced up their rooms with a more conventional photos-on-the-wall aesthetic, others have chosen to take it to a whole new level, taking advantage of their freedom to decorate their personal space without limitation.

The Nanyang Chronicle went door-to-door to visit some of NTU’s budding interior designers, who showed us how they have revamped their rooms.

Gone are the Monday blues Step into a sea of blue at 21-yearold Rishi Ramathas’ double room in Hall of Residence 16.

Two blue Chelsea flags hang on the wall, with the words “TOUR OF THE CHAMPIONS” screaming in bright yellow on one, alongside posters displaying this season’s line-up. A large teddy bear blanketed by a checkered blue banner and adorned with several scarves sits on a shelf.

Framed photos of Rishi when he visited the Stamford Bridge football stadium in London — Chelsea’s home ground — line the space above his desk.

The first-year School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student is a die-hard fan of English football club Chelsea, and took his favourite’s team’s slogan — “Keep the blue flag flying high” — quite literally when decorating his double room.

“It’s nice to have merchandise because it makes you feel closer to your team. It also contributes to the club’s revenue so it’s a win-win situation.”

Rishi Ramathas, 21 First-year Hall 16 resident

“I wanted the room to be a little livelier so that I could look forward to going back after a mentally exhausting day at school,” said Rishi, who purchased the souvenirs from the 12,500 square feet Stamford Bridge megastore, which sells a wide array of official Chelsea football club merchandise.

He added: “It’s nice to have merchandise because it makes you feel closer to your team. It also contributes to the club’s revenue so it’s a win-win situation.”

Besides displaying his precious Chelsea possessions in his room, Rishi also decorates his space with personalised Chelsea gifts from friends who know about his passion all too well.

One of his most prized items is a framed photo of Frank Lampard — his favourite Chelsea player — gifted to him by his friends, who photoshopped his face onto Lampard’s body.

“Growing up, I idolised Frank Lampard. I believe he is the greatest Chelsea player of all time and one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen,” said Rishi.

With so much of the room decked out in Chelsea’s home colours, one might be surprised to learn that his roommate does not share the same fervour for the football team.

Rishi stays with first-year Sport Science and Management student Martyn Danial, who is in fact a fan of Liverpool, another club in the English Premier League (EPL).

Though the two clubs are fierce rivals in the EPL, the two room-

“Growing up, I idolised Frank Lampard. I believe he is the greatest Chelsea player of all time and one of the best midfielders the world has ever seen.”

Rishi Ramathas

mates maintain that whatever happens on the field, stays on the field.

Aside from making threats to tear down Rishi’s Premier League Champions flag in jest — Chelsea are the reigning league champions — Martyn has no issue in living with the Chelsea fan. He also does not have any Liverpool merchandise displayed in the room.

“It’s clear that making the room Chelsea-themed makes Rishi especially happy, so I’m cool with it.

We don’t let such things affect our friendship, it’s just not worth it,” said Martyn.

TOP: Martyn Daniel (left) sets aside his allegance to Liverpool to let roommate Rishi Ramathas (right) decorate the room in Chelsea blue for the sake of their friendship.

ABOVE: Rishi’s large collection of Chelsea merchandise include a flag, a football, and many more.

RIGHT: Ameya Subodh shows off his collection of aromatic candles, along with an air diffuser and a mini disco ball.

EXTREME RIGHT: Aside from sharing a name, Valerie Wong (right) and Valerie Lim (left) share their many kitchen appliances, creating a well-stocked pantry of their own.

PHOTOS: BELICIA TEO

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CHRONICLE 02 Hall 16’s “common room” In the case of a food crisis or emergency, one can always take shelter in the double room of Valerie Wong, a first-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student living at Hall 16.

Together with her roommate, first-year School of Civil Engineering student Valerie Lim, the two 20-year-old girls have stockpiled so many items and necessities that fellow residents have dubbed their living quarters as the hall’s unofficial “common room”.

Each compartment of their fullypacked shelves is organised to hold everything that two girls, or perhaps an army, might possibly need.

One section of their shelf is stocked with toiletries and soap refills that can last them over six months. Daily breakfast is also taken care of, with another section filled with an assortment of spreads, Milo tins, dry cereal and even pre-made tortilla wraps.

“Hall is my second home, so I definitely want the most comfortable and convenient experience possible,” said Wong.

At first, both girls may appear to be over-zealous hoarders, but their neighbours and friends certainly do not complain.

Armed with a host of kitchen appliances — they have brought from their homes an oven, rice-cooker, blender, portable grill and waffle machine — the girls often whip up elaborate feasts that can feed a party of 10 at any hour.

“Hall is my second home, so I definitely want the most comfortable and convenient experience possible.”

Valerie Lim, 20 First-year Hall 16 resident

They particularly enjoy making fresh “Krispy Kreme waffles” — placing Krispy Kreme doughnuts into their waffle iron until the sweet treats turn golden brown.

Curry is also a hot favourite with their visitors, a dish they cook easily with the help of a wide range of pots and ladles in their room.

Wong said: “It gives me great joy to cook for people, so having a well-stocked pantry of my own lets me feed my hungry friends.”

Apart from the MasterChef-worthy cooking sessions they regularly hold in their room, friends from all across campus also gravitate to their cozy space for midnight chats.

For nights like these, Wong even has extra blankets and sleeping bags stocked up in the room to make her guests feel as comfortable as possible.

The girls may have everything they could possibly need now, but moving all these items into their room took an arduous two weeks — even with the help of family members and willing neighbours.

Large plastic boxes have proven to be important assets when it comes to organising their knickknacks, something they do regu-

larly to prevent cluttering.

“We use Toyogo boxes that are easily kept under the tables and can be moved around. Smaller boxes are used to hold medication and skincare products,” said Wong.

Despite having to move so many belongings over to hall — and back home again once semester ends — it is a hassle that Wong finds

especially worthwhile.

The multitude of items she has amassed in her room remind her of home, and even more so with the companionship of her friends and neighbours, she said.

Wong added: “It gives me encouragement to cook and improve my recipes when I see them enjoying what I have made.”

“There’s a reason why aromatherapy has been popular for centuries.”

Ameya Subodh, 20 First-year Pioneer Hall resident

regularly and clean the edges of any dried wax, as these routines will allow the candles to burn to their maximum potential.

The science student in him had always been fascinated by the idea of using fragrances for healing purposes. But it was in university when his workload became hectic that he began to actively dabble in aromatherapy — the practice of using essential plant oils to improve one’s physical and mental wellbeing — by burning candles.

“It’s a gentle and intimate process and it’s really soothing to be the one lighting up the candle.

There’s a reason why aromatherapy

Lighting up the world For those looking for a respite from their busy schedules, first-year Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) student Ameya Subodh’s single room at Pioneer Hall may be your idea of paradise.

A refreshing peach scent permeates from his room, drawing in visitors from the outside.

They are immediately greeted by the sight of three large fleece carpets lining every inch of the room’s floor, in calming shades of cream and maroon.

Candles in glass jar bottles neatly line his shelves and along the edges of his desk.

A string of twinkling fairy lights hangs across the wall, completing

the room’s dreamy ambience.

The 20-year-old owns a collection of 15 candles, spanning a variety of scents and sizes. Most of them were purchased from Yankee Candle and The Body Shop, and emit fruity fragrances.

Like any dedicated collector, Ameya practises good candle care.

He makes sure to trim the wicks

“It’s a gentle and intimate process and it’s really soothing to be the one lighting up the candle.”

has been popular for centuries,” said Ameya, adding that he always has extra candles stashed away in his storage for emergency, in case they burn out too quickly.

His interest in aromatherapy does not stop at Yankee Candles.

Investing in a luminous air diffuser has been one of the best decisions he has made in university thus far, said Ameya.

The sleek object brings his workspace to life with a spritz of fragrance and its changing hues, from blue to pink to turquoise.

To complement the therapeutic atmosphere of his room, Ameya also brought three fleece carpets from his home to place in his room.

Adorned with elegant designs, these carpets keep him from being homesick, he said.

Last, but not least, is a trendy mini disco ball, which he brings out occasionally to illuminate his room’s surroundings.

Ameya said: “I use it when I have friends over and when we are just chilling, maybe over a beer or two.

It makes for quite a nice and relaxed atmosphere.”

10-11 LIFESTYLE

BEAUTY AND THE E A S T From extended cat eyes to colour palettes inspired by fruits, the Nanyang Chronicle steps into the world of makeup and explores the trends of three Asian countries rich in culture WITH the likes of Rihanna and Kylie Jenner launching makeup lines boosted by their star power, makeup trends from the West have extended their reach into Asia.

The soft, dewy look commonly associated with Asian makeup has given way to the bolder, brasher styles popularised by Western pop culture. Think thick, matte lipstick, smoky eyeshadow, and extended cat eyes.

The Nanyang Chronicle recreated three popular looks from Japan, South Korea, and South India, and spoke to three students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information who hail from these countries on how they put their best face forward.

ART DIRECTION & STYLING: Esther Soh, Roy Tan, Stephanie Wong PHOTOGRAPHERS: Hazim Zulfadhli, Yeo Wei Lun MAKEUP: Seow Yun Rong MODELS: Asaki Kaminaga, Park Yi Bin, Pranamika Subhalaxmi Shridhar

“In the past, Koreans didn’t use a lot of makeup, but with American trends, everyone suddenly began putting on thicker makeup to make their eyes and lips stand out.”

South Korea - Orange-tinted nude makeup, freckles - Bushy brows - Soft brown eyeliner, yellow and orange eyeshadow - Bold coral lips Park Yi Bin, 20 Seoul, Korea When did you begin to use makeup?

YB: I started in secondary school, but I only started using makeup daily last year.

What is your most important makeup item?

YB: Blush, but I use Estee Lauder’s Pink Eyeshadow on my cheeks instead.

Which facial feature do you focus on the most?

YB: My eyes. Using eyeliner enhances your features and it’s actually not challenging to apply. I think it’s a piece of cake.

What is a Korean makeup trend that you remember most vividly?

YB: The current trend in Korea is gua jeup, or “fruities” makeup – inspired by the shades of fruits, like pink and orange. Koreans are now more inclined to use pastel-tinted shades like pink instead of brown.

I think fashion goes around in a cycle. In the past, Koreans didn’t use a lot of makeup, but with American trends, everyone suddenly began putting on thicker makeup to make their eyes and lips stand out.

Japan - Igari (hangover) makeup, heavy blush under the eyes - Soft brows - Brown eyeliner pink cheeks - Strong glossy lips Asaki Kaminaga, 19 Tokyo, Japan When did you begin to use makeup?

A: Around 16. I used lipstick when going out with friends.

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Pranamika Subhalaxmi Shridhar, 19 Chennai, India

South India - Extended cat eye, bronze smoky eye, nude lips - Warm reddish-brown/bronze eye, false lashes, defined brows - Strong contour and highlight - Defined crease, cheekbones and nose bridge

“In Japan, the most important thing is how natural you look, even if you have makeup on.”

What is your most important makeup item?

A: Definitely my eyebrow pencil, because I have to do my brows every morning.

Which facial feature do you focus on the most?

A: In Japan, the most important thing is how natural you look, even if you have makeup on.

What is a Japanese makeup trend that you remember most vividly?

A: Two years ago, there was this trend of really heavy blush on the cheeks. But the most recent trends are US-inspired – Kylie Jenner’s thick lips and matte lipsticks.

Makeup products in Japan are quite expensive, but South Korean products are usually cheaper. South Korean makeup store Etude House is one example.

When did you begin to use makeup?

P: I started wearing lipstick when I was 14. I would do very crappy eyeliner and immediately cover them with my glasses. I first used foundation when I was 16, but I only started regularly wearing makeup last year.

What is your most important makeup item?

P: Lipstick – I really love Kat Von D’s Vampira (liquid lipstick), but it’s so expensive. I recently got a Colourpop LAX (liquid lipstick).

I’m trying to find red lip gloss – it’s a very 50’s pin-up look. Right now, I’m just wearing red lipstick with clear lip gloss over it.

Which facial feature do you focus on the most?

P: If I could do good eye makeup, I would focus on my eyes. People tell me I have large eyes because I’m Indian, but I don’t know how to take advantage of it.

What is an Indian makeup trend that you remember most vividly?

P: My mum was never big on makeup, so I can only think of lipstick and smudged eyeliner kohl (traditional mascara). I always see it on all my aunties. For me, it’s a look I’m most familiar with and it feels like home.

12-13 LIFESTYLE

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14-15 SPOTLIGHT

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Getai myths debunked

Myth 1: The performances are for ghosts Getai , which translates to “song stage” in English, is prominently featured during the Hungry Ghost Festival but it is not synonymous with it alone. It is performed throughout the year whenever there are Chinese festivities such as the Mid-Autumn festival.

Myth 2: Only dialect is spoken Mandarin songs are sung as well. While getai is a Chinese tradition, the younger generation of performers like the 2Z Sisters has taken it up a notch by performing pop songs - even in Korean.

Myth 3: The performers are uneducated or have bad upbringing The 2Z Sisters said they are the living antithesis of this myth. More youth are also entering the scene.

3 1. The 2Z Sisters kick off the night’s performances with a Mandarin song, Xiao Ping Guo ­— a crowd favourite.

2. Backstage, Jia Xuan does a quick glance through her scores before beginning their first performance. The family’s beloved chihuahua, Girl Girl, is never out of sight.

3. In preparation for their first performance of the night, Jia Xuan (right) touches up her makeup while Jia Wei (left) does a final scroll through her social media pages.

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4. The girls were set to perform at 8.20pm, but were delayed en route to their second venue in Ang Mo Kio. Jia Xuan had to write their setlist in the car, a routine she would usually do backstage. The second-year student said they have rarely missed a show in their 10 years of performing.

5. Unfazed by the rush, the pair take to the stage with their usual confidence. The gridlock at the carpark had the girls running a good 300 metres – in heels – as they wound through the crowd who had gathered to catch celebrity hosts Liu Ling Ling and Wang Lei. 6. Jia Wei, the more outspoken of the two, cracks a joke before beginning the last perfor mance for the night.

7. Putting up a skit alongside other getai veterans, the girls liven up the show at the show organised by the Yun Yin Dian Association.

Growing up with getai There is no sugarcoating how tiring it is. Sisters Pek Jia Xuan and Pek Jia Wei give Christy Yip the inside scoop on the life of a getai performer Follow the Nanyang Chronicle’s Facebook page for behind-the-scenes footage of the sisters’ getai adventures

ONCE the clock strikes 5.30pm, Pek Jia Wei is the first out of the classroom. The 19-year-old only has about an hour to reach home, get dressed and made up, along with her 20-year-old sister Jia Xuan, for their getai performance.

The pair, with their parents and chihuahua, Girl Girl, in tow, will then set off in the family’s vehicle – a red taxi that their father Benson Pek drives – for the shows.

An intense night of performances typically ends around 10.30pm, and the girls arrive home close to midnight.

They then swap their glittery dresses and microphones for papers and pens to revise their schoolwork until the wee hours of the morning, before starting their day again at 7am.

For the last decade, this has been a daily occurrence for getai performers Jia Wei and Jia Xuan during the annual month-long Hungry Ghost Festival.

The pair – known as the 2Z Sisters – debuted when Jia Xuan was 10 and Jia Wei was nine, with the encouragement of their father’s friend. The girls discovered their

love for performing through the singing and dancing classes they attended from a young age.

Aside from performing during the seventh month, the 2Z Sisters also put on shows on other occasions, such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

With such a hectic schedule, ge tai has become a family affair. Mrs Linda Pek, 59, the girls’ mother and manager, arranges their performances throughout the year, while Mr Pek, 64, chauffeurs the family from one destination to another.

On some days, they host the entire show at one stage. On others, they perform all around the island.

It is 7pm on a Thursday evening.

At a multi-purpose court in Jurong West, all eyes are on the 2Z Sisters, who begin their show by having a friendly banter in fluent Hokkien with the host.

Next, they belt out Hokkien and Mandarin songs, accompanied by synchronised dance moves and multi-coloured strobe lights.

The sisters may make performing look effortless, but balancing between ge tai and university life

has been anything but. Those who know them may be surprised at their boisterous onstage personas, which are a complete change from their quieter personalities in school, said Jia Wei. Besides having to put on an energetic show after a tiring day at school, it is also challenging dealing with the pressure of rising fame, they said.

Jia Wei, a first-year student at Nanyang Business School, said: “A lot of people don’t understand how hard it is. Sometimes, we would cry to ourselves and wonder why we chose this.

“But my sister and I will tell ourselves to resign to fate. Our name is known already – all the uncles and aunties know us. We can’t just disappear.”

Jia Xuan, a second-year student at the School of Physical and Mathematical Science, said the satisfaction from performing is what keeps them going.

“It is something that we love. We just have to encourage each other not to give up.”

She said: “The smiles on our audience’s faces make it all worth it.”

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Breaking down the walls with virtual reality

The Perspectives Film Festival turns 10 this year.

Tiong Linshan uncovers how the festival is pushing the limits of the movie-going experience by screening virtual reality films for the first time WSCI student in 2010, described the practicum as “one of the most invigorating and enlightening” courses he had ever taken during his time in university.

The practicum got Mr Tan familiar with a different aspect of the film industry, since it allowed him to experience the planning and marketing process behind a film festival, he recalled.

“That opened the doors for me to do what I’m doing right now, so it was an important course,” said Mr Tan, who is the co-founder of film education institute The Filmic Eye. In addition, he curates programmes for film festivals in Singapore, such as the annual LGBT Love and Pride Film Festival.

Through Perspectives's screening of three-part VR film short Dolphin Man, audience can experience getting up close and personal with marine life — without getting a single hair wet.

PHOTO: MK2 FILMS

IN LIGHT of its 10th anniversary, the annual Perspectives Film Festival — Singapore's only student-run film festival — is pulling out all the stops to ensure that its upcoming edition will be the most memorable to date.

Perspectives 2017 will be holding free virtual reality (VR) screenings at *SCAPE on 15 Oct, marking the first time a local film festival is organising a showcase dedicated to VR in film.

This year's event will also present a record line-up of 11 international films showcasing breakthroughs in cinema, in line with the festival's theme, “Rebels”.

Films will be screened at three locations — the National Museum of Singapore, Shaw Theatres Lido and the Alliance Française — across two weekends, from 20 to 22 Oct, and 26 to 29 Oct. Tickets are on sale now on the film festival’s official website. General admission tickets are priced at $13, with concession tickets being priced at $11.

This year’s festival is organised

by Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) final-year students Matthew Chew, 24, and Tiffany Soh, 22.

Launched in 2008, the Perspectives Film Festival is an annual film festival organised by undergraduates from NTU, as part of a practicum course.

An immersive experience Both festival directors Chew and Soh hope to make waves in Singapore’s film festival scene, by weaving the use of VR in filmmaking into the event’s narrative.

“We cannot talk about rebels without talking about people pushing the new frontiers of technology.”

Tiffany Soh, 22 Perspectives 2017 festival co-director WKWSCI

They drew inspiration from global film festival heavyweights like the Cannes Film Festival and New York’s Tribeca Film Festival, both of which screened VR films in their 2017 programmes.

Soh said: “We cannot talk about rebels without talking about people pushing the new frontiers of technology. VR can really expand the horizons of the potential of filmmaking.”

The one-day Perspectives VR event is free for members of the public. Six VR short films will be screened across two afternoons.

There will also be a panel discussion with local VR experts in between, including Singaporean

film-maker Mr Lionel Chok, who founded VR technology start-up iMMERSiVELY. Samsung Gear VR wireless headsets, which can be easily set up with smartphones, will be provided to participants at the event.

According to Head VR programmer Gabriel Goh, a final-year WKWSCI student, audience can expect an “entirely different film-going experience”, as they will be able to experience a deeper level of interaction with the films.

The 24-year-old added: “With VR, the depth of the narratives remains the same as their traditional flat screen counterparts.

“But what VR does is bring the audience right into the story world.

And whether they like it or not, the audience is immersed in the proceedings and does not see the story world from a cinematographer's perspective, but from their own.”

10 years of Perspectives Over the last decade, the Perspectives Film Festival has become a mainstay in Singapore’s annual film festival calendar, with screenings selling out in most years.

It also remains one of WKWSCI’s most popular practicums to this day, and is mentored by film educator Eternality Tan and WKWSCI senior lecturer Nikki Draper.

Mr Tan, who joined the festival’s third edition as a second-year WK-

“With VR, the depth of the narratives remains the same as their traditional flat screen counterparts. But what VR does is bring the audience right into the story world.”

Gabriel Goh, 24 Final-year student WKWSCI

Since the inaugural Perspectives Film Festival in 2008, more film festivals have emerged locally, resulting in a “very crowded” calendar, noted Mr Tan. At least five film festivals debuted in Singapore this year alone, including national film festivals such as the Finnish Film Festival, the Malaysian Film Festival.

Going against the grain Perspectives 2017 presents works from daring and unconventional filmmakers, whether it is defying social norms or going against institutional systems.

Opening the festival is Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director Matthew Heineman’s City of Ghosts.

This 2017 documentary follows the courageous journey of Syrian activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, a group of citizen journalists who have risked their lives to expose the atrocities of ISIS in their homeland.

From restored 1960s classics to Singapore premieres, festival codirector Soh hopes that Perspectives 2017 will leave audiences with a nuanced understanding of what it means to be a rebel — one that goes

Diving with

Dolphin Man Tiong Linshan gets a sneak peak of Perspectives 2017's new VR experience — experiencing the world of Benoît Lichté’s Dolphin Man through a VR headset.

Once I put on the VR headset and headphones, I found myself immersed in record-holding freediver William Trubridge's world — the great blue sea.

Viewers get to explore the ocean with three freedivers in Dolphin Man, a three-part VR documentary directed

by Benoît Lichté.

I found this VR film viewing experience more immersive and enthralling, compared to watching films on a typical theatre screen.

The surroundings changed according to the movement of my head and body, making each scene seem particularly realistic and vivid.

Watching Trubridge in action was mesmerising, as he weaved effortlessly through the great expanse of blue. When he came up to shore, the beach that appeared before my eyes looked like something out of a travel magazine.

Experiencing the film in VR made it a more dynamic experience for me - I felt like I was a part of every scene.

What I saw before me was no longer confined to what a character or an omniscient narrator would see, but rather, the view from my own perspective.

I have never dived, but until I take the plunge and get a scuba license, experiencing diving in virtual reality will suffice. beyond physical appearance.

She said: “Generally people think a rebel is someone who is heavily tattooed, maybe an ah beng, somewhat like a gangster. But we want people to rethink and relook at their concept of what a rebel is."

"We want to celebrate Perspectives’ breakthrough legacy by going back to its essence — being fresh, unconventional, and rebellious.”

Opinion EDITORIAL

EFFECTIVE SHARED TRANSPORT SYSTEM ONLY POSSIBLE WITH RESPONSIBLE USERS

SINGAPORE is striving towards an integrated shared transport system, where train and bus networks link up with shared bicycles and e-scooters to bring us to our final destinations.

Earlier this year, bicycle-sharing companies like ofo and oBike were introduced in Singapore and their services have quickly gained popularity.

But since the bicycle-sharing system has been introduced, countless cases of bicycle abuse and vandalism have surfaced on social media.

In these online posts, bicycles are seen with their parts missing or damaged.

In one extreme case, an oBike bicycle frame was found at Sims Drive with its wheels, pedals, seat and handlebars removed.

Some users park and chain these shared bicycles outside their homes, preventing others from using them. Others chuck these bicycles carelessly aside after they are done using them, or even throw them into canals.

Even on campus, it is common to see these shared bicycles with missing pedals or spoilt handlebars, left lying on grass patches and footpaths.

It is a sorry sight that reflects a lack of consideration for others.

For everyone to enjoy the convenience of a shared transport

system, the users of the system must be responsible.

If every other shared bicycle or e-scooter is damaged or not parked properly, we will not be able to reap the full benefits of a shared transport system.

Bike-sharing companies are now developing more stringent measures to curb irresponsible behaviour.

Channel NewsAsia reported earlier this month that three of the bike-sharing companies – Mobike, ofo and oBike – have plans to adopt geofencing technology to create virtual geographic boundaries that ensure that users park in designated areas, or be slapped with a fine.

Needing penalties to elicit good and considerate behaviour speaks volumes about our poor attitudes.

As with other shared modes of transport like trains and buses, we should acknowledge that all of us have a shared responsibility to maintain these services.

In April, Mothership reported that Twitter user @qlhbusyra spotted a damaged ofo bicycle and brought it home, where her father helped to fix it.

While this act is commendable, we do not need to go this extra mile. The least we can do is to ensure that we handle the bicycles with care and return them to their stipulated parking points.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

LAYOUT SUPERVISOR

MANAGING EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

PRODUCTION SUPPORT

SUB-EDITORS

ONLINE EDITOR

Dewey Sim Paige Lim

Adora Tan Ignatius Koh

NEWS EDITORS Gracia Lee Natalie Choy

Khairul Anwar Candy Choo

PHOTO EDITOR Christy Yip

Yeo Kai Wen Joe Tok Kenny Wong

FACULTY ADVISORS Wu Shangyuan Zakaria Zainal

GRAPHIC EDITOR

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Alicia Teng Jovi Ho

Chloe Then

Reynard Adrianto

BUSINESS MANAGERS Vanessa Tan Vinice Yeo

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GRAPHIC: AMY ONG

Children with ADHD are diamonds in the rough Xu Qi Yang THE child cowered behind the table, shouting: “No, I don’t want to have tuition,” over and over.

He got agitated, tearing up his homework into pieces while hitting his mother as she tried to control her child.

That was the first encounter with my former tutee, a then sevenyear-old boy.

His mother later explained to me that he has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Because of this condition, he faced difficulties in regulating his emotions and reading simple words like “red” or “cat”.

He was also hyperactive, clearly reflected in his inability to sit still throughout his examinations.

Even over trivial matters, he risked turning violent and throwing his chair against the wall.

Though I had no prior experience coaching students with learning disabilities, I was assigned to him by a tuition agency, and was not informed of his condition.

My tutee had an extremely low self-esteem because of his academic struggles.

To encourage him to learn, I found that it was important to lavish praise on him or get him small gifts when he encountered failures.

In an interview with the Straits Times in 2016, the President of the Disabled People’s Association (DPA) Nicholas Aw said not all teachers in mainstream schools may be adept at recognising ADHD in children due to the less visible signs of disability.

An ADHD student fidgeting with staplers in class is one example.

When situations like these occur, the child is punished and made to stay behind in class during recess,

Mr Aw added.

I agree with Mr Aw — ADHD is often a misunderstood disability as these children are mostly governed by their uncontrollable impulses and unregulated emotions.

Without a doubt, steps have been taken to support these children.

The Developmental Support Programme (DSP) is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

DSP seeks to support children with learning disabilities by fostering their communication and motor skills through on-site intervention in childcare centres and kindergartens with the help of therapists, psychologists and facilitators.

Additionally, every mainstream primary school has an attached Allied Educator who provides support for children with special needs whilst helping them integrate more seamlessly into their schools.

While I am heartened to see these initiatives, we should, as fellow Singaporeans, individually contribute to these integration and inclusivity efforts.

For a start, when we notice children launching into an outburst in public areas, maybe we should stop staring and judging.

Instead, we should be tolerant, and understand that they do not mean any harm nor do they intend to cause any disturbance.

But if we choose to adopt a closeminded mentality where we are unable to empathise with children with ADHD, our selfishness might cause them to retreat further into their shells, and make them even more reluctant to partake in social and learning activities.

Moreover, the World Health Organisation believes that an inclusive environment is crucial for

“nurturing the growth, learning and development of children,” especially those with learning disabilities, as mentioned in a 2012 discussion report.

Empathy does not come naturally, but it can be nurtured through volunteerism.

Social support organisations provide platforms for volunteers to freely interact with children diagnosed with ADHD. These volunteers can then better understand the behaviours and challenges that the children face on a daily basis.

It is easy to assume that children with ADHD will be limited in their achievements, even as they go on to become adults.

Even so, many who have overcome their learning disabilities have gone on to do great things.

For example, James Carville, an American political campaign manager, who has ADHD, initially dropped out of college due to his lack of focus in his studies.

Passionate about politics, he became former US President Bill Clinton’s campaign manager and helped him win the 1992 elections.

These examples illustrate that with emotional and academic support, ADHD kids can become experts in various fields.

For my tutee, patience, optimism and love went a long way.

After six months, he was able to read complete sentences on his own, and even managed to pass a few tests in school — a milestone for him.

By being patient with children with ADHD, and giving them our time and love, I am confident that we can mould them into the next generation of possible scientists, creative leaders, and entrepreneurs.

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A letter to Singapore’s new president

GRAPHIC: AMY ONG

Dewey Sim Chief Editor DEAR President Halimah Yacob, Just a month ago, I remembered expressing my excitement to my friends that I would be able to vote for the first time as a 23-year-old Singaporean.

I looked up past presidential election statistics and researched on the other candidates who had thrown their hats into the ring — I was thrilled to be a part of this election.

But my chance to vote this time was denied by an announcement by the Presidential Elections Committee that your fellow presidential hopefuls, Mr Farid Khan and Mr Salleh Marican, did not qualify to contest the election.

Unlike in 2011, Singaporeans did not get to vote this time.

A walkover meant that Singaporeans were denied the chance to take ownership in the democratic process.

Many citizens voiced their displeasure over this election — the first that has been reserved for the Malay community.

They framed it as a compromise of meritocracy as other qualified candidates were not eligible for the position by virtue of their race.

To assert their point, citizens

staged a silent protest at Hong Lim Park, and took to social media, speaking up on Facebook and Twitter under the hashtag #notmypresident.

That said, much of the vitriol was not directed at you.

As you assumed your position undeterred, you rallied us to work with you towards a “much stronger Singapore”.

You also mentioned that one of your top priorities as President would be to unite all Singaporeans.

Even though the Singapore president is largely a ceremonial head of state with a few key powers, I hope we can count on you to guard the interests of the people.

In particular, the election this year has shown that race and religion continue to be sensitive topics in Singapore.

On one hand, Singaporeans fiercely guard their racial and religious harmony, with an example being the arrest of Amos Yee. Yee was charged with making insensitive remarks about race and religion, and later sought political asylum in the US. Yet on the other hand, the very essence of the current election – the

first reserved one — has thrown up what exactly it means to be “Malay”, as presidential candidates have to be assessed by a panel to determine if they belong to the Malay community.

In addition, a Channel NewsAsia-Institute of Policy Studies survey on race relations last year cast a harsh light on the undercurrents of this racial harmony.

It revealed that respondents preferred a president of their own race.

In fact, only 59 per cent of the Chinese respondents said they would accept a Singaporean Malay to be their president.

This is worrying.

We have long prided ourselves as a nation of differences, and we have also been praised by foreign leaders for being able to set aside our differences to live harmoniously together.

Just two years ago, former US President Barack Obama commended Singapore for its racial inclusivity and social cohesion, adding that it has led to the Republic’s growing success.

It is exactly because of this diversity that our country needs a leader who can bring us closer together.

This includes Singaporeans of all ages, races, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, education backgrounds, income levels — the list goes on.

Because of how diverse we are, we need a leader who can stand firm when faced with external pressures to make decisions, which might potentially harm a certain community.

Dear President, I hope you’ll be this leader.

I hope that you will have the moral authority and courage to fight for our rights; not just for the majority, but also for the pockets of minority groups, whose voices have been silenced and muted.

I hope you would, when making decisions on behalf of the country, have the citizens’ interests at heart.

Above all, I hope you will have the far-sighted vision to help shape Singapore into a nation that all Singaporeans can proudly call home.

By now, your portrait would have been hung around all government offices and polyclinics, and in schools across the country.

In fact, I am thrilled that your term as president has finally begun.

You are the Republic’s first female president, and I hope that this “non-election” has not clouded the fact that this shows progression in our little red dot.

Just five years ago, there was no woman in Cabinet. But today, there are not just two female ministers — Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Josephine Teo — but there is also you, our new president.

I hope that you will continue to inspire the next wave of female leaders, both in politics and in the workplace.

An article by The Straits Times aptly puts that maybe this spells hope — that every child, of any gender and race, can grow up believing that anything is possible under the Singapore sky.

As a Singaporean who has witnessed the country’s ups and downs over the past decade, I hope the next six years will be a time of breakthrough and progress for us, and a period that we can all look back fondly on and be immensely proud of.

Your Excellency, the stage is now yours.

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Speaking up for our mother tongue

When Singaporean youth are unable to speak their mother tongue, they risk losing touch with their cultures too Clara Lee

WHEN I was young, I remembered listening to my grandmother rattle off in Mandarin, while I struggled to decipher this strange and unfamiliar language.

Whenever she paused and looked at me expectantly, waiting for a response, I would turn to my mother for help.

“Ma, how do I say this phrase in Mandarin?”

As I grew older, this became a common occurrence whenever I visited my grandparents.

Holding a proper conversation with my elderly grandparents became cumbersome because I always needed someone to play the role of a translator.

This language barrier grew apparent at family gatherings, widening the already-burgeoning generation gap between us.

This is a serious problem. When communication breaks down, so does the opportunity to pass on age-old cultural traditions and values to the younger generations.

This problem is not unique to my family. According to the Census of Population 2015, an official publication disseminating Singapore’s demographic and social data, English became the most spoken language at home among the younger age groups.

Among residents aged between five and 14, English was the language most frequently spoken at home for half of the Chinese and Indians here. For one out of four Malay individuals, English has also become the most frequently used language at home.

This is a huge jump from the same survey conducted in 2005, where the figure was only one in 10 for the Malay population.

The English currency

In a country as pragmatic as ours, it is not surprising that much has already been done to groom bilingualism among our youth.

For instance, students must take their mother tongue as a compul-

sory subject until they complete secondary school.

That said, students only need to get a minimum grade of D7 (C6 is the passing grade) for Higher Mother Tongue at the O-level examination before they can chuck their dictionaries aside, and bid farewell to their tuition teachers.

Without much of an academic weightage in the first place, it seems like such a system only serves to arm our youth with the bare minimum, allowing us to sound just proficient enough to converse in our mother tongues. English, however, remains the preferred spoken language among the youth.

Preservation via education

But there is hope in knowing that steps toward a truly multilingual nation have been taken.

Last year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) raised the funding for the Mother Tongue Language Learning and Promotion Committees from $12.5 to $25 million.

The three councils representing the Chinese, Malay and Indian communities are now able to develop more long-term plans with funding for about 80 per cent of

GRAPHIC: DIANE LIM

their programmes over the next five years. Initiatives that would focus on cultural and linguistic education for the young.

Without doubt, the mere increase in funds does not equate to concrete change.

On our end, we can also make it a point to expose ourselves more to our mother tongue, be it through books, movies, or television.

We should also put in more effort to converse with our elders in our mother tongues - I believe they would have many interesting stories to share, if we just take the time to listen.

And when we see exchange students on campus that share our mother tongues, why not offer up a greeting in our common language?

Perhaps a new friend can be made in the process.

If we all put in the work, perhaps we can be optimistic about the future of our mother tongues after all.

For now, I will continue trying to remember the Mandarin phrases that my grandmother has been teaching me.

And the next time she asks me how have I have been, I’ll be sure to respond in Mandarin, “I have a lot to tell you, Grandma.”

Seeing the meaning behind art Kimberly Kwek IN THE past few months, my social media feed has been flooded with posts of colourful dots, flickering lights and infinity mirror rooms.

These were installations from renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s Life is the Heart of a Rainbow exhibition, a self-exploration and self-expression of her experiences with nervous disorders and hallucinations.

As I was talking to a friend who attended the exhibition, she lamented over how attendees were focused only on taking photos with the artworks, and were not fully appreciating their meaning.

Being a huge fan of Kusama’s works, my friend had been anticipating the arrival of her exhibition in Singapore. But her experience was disrupted by other visitors who were only there to capture the right photo for their Instagram accounts.

Truth be told, there is nothing wrong with wanting to take pictures at exhibitions. In fact, Kusama personally embraces the concept of spreading art through social media.

In her opinion, social media has increased people’s understanding towards contemporary art by exposing them to it.

When Kusama first started out as an artist in her hometown Matsumoto, she did not gain recognition for her work, because of people's lack of understanding towards the

art form.

In recent years, however, her work has been receiving international acclaim due to her honesty in expressing her failures and fears.

They have been widely discussed, especially on social media.

Interestingly, social media has created not just a heightened awareness for the arts, but it has also increased people’s awareness of their own “branding” and identity online.

Through carefully curated social media posts, we are now able to control the image we leave on others. A selfie at an art gallery may allow us to be perceived as cultured and appreciative of the arts.

The danger in this is that we gloss over the real meaning behind the artwork in pursuit of that perfect Instagram selfie.

More than serving as a mere photo opportunity, the art is in fact an experience that is provocative; one that challenges and enriches our understanding of the world.

If we focus only on the appearance of art, we will miss out on the stories or the messages that the artists are trying to convey. As the French artist Edgar Degas said: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Museums in Singapore are capitalising on the potential of social media to promote art through adopting immersive and visually spectacular exhibitions.

Besides Kusama’s exhibition that

GRAPHIC: DIANE LIM

ran at the National Gallery, the ArtScience museum also curated an array of high-tech interactive art pieces as part of the Future World exhibition, which is now part of the museum’s permanent collection.

To address concerns that the Singapore art scene is floundering, the government is taking steps to develop the country into an arts and cultural hub by providing grants and venues for local artists, and bringing in the works of world-

renowned artists.

Since its inauguration in 2008, the Singapore Night Festival, organised by the National Heritage Board has seen an eight-fold increase in attendance, raking in more than half a million visitors in attendance in 2016.

But a rise in attendance does not necessarily mean greater appreciation for the arts. Exhibition-goers need to understand that art is more than just another post among a

grid of photos.

To better appreciate art for its true beauty and meaning, perhaps it is time to sign up for an art gallery workshop or a guided museum tour as well.

So the next time you go for an art exhibition, don’t just whip out your phone camera to take a photograph — stay a little longer, go for a guided tour, read the booklet, dig deeper, and admire the art in its entirety.

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Regardless of race, language or dietary preference Ginnette Ng

GRAPHIC: DIANE LIM

A SINGAPOREAN’S first love has always been food.

In this melting pot of cultures and cuisines, whether you are craving hot or cold, dry or soupy, sweet, spicy or both, there is always something for everyone.

But this is easier said than done for vegans.

More than going meatless, vegans have a stricter plant-based diet that excludes all animal products — eggs, milk, and even honey.

While this dietary preference may have originated in the West, veganism is not far from vegetarianism which is practiced by some Hindus and Buddhists here.

Yet, it is still a challenge to find vegan food options in Singapore.

Animal products are commonly used to add flavour into our local dishes, even when they are not the hero of a popular dish like in bak kut teh or rendang.

Rojak may be known as a South East Asian salad but belacan (shrimp paste) is part of the sauce.

Similarly, some shops stir-fry vegetables with lard or make roti prata with ghee, instead of using regular oil.

While the rest of us enjoy our hawker culture for its variety, vegans have to think twice before they join the queue.

Another issue is to ensure that vegan options remain nutritious.

Asking the uncle at the noodles stall to replace chicken with more kailan is not good enough for your body system.

Instead, another protein like tofu should also be made an option.

With these challenges that veg-

ans face, Consider Veganism SG, a Facebook page of 2,800 strong, shares tips, hosts events and recommends vegan-friendly restaurants to encourage the local vegan community.

A community-led forum and mobile application, HappyCow, also lists more than 650 veganfriendly eateries in Singapore.

Instead of heading to the newest cafe, try a vegan restaurant if you want to discover something healthy and delicious.

VeganBurg’s Creamy Shrooms burger, my not-so guilty pleasure, is so delicious it constantly surprises me that neither butter nor cheese is used in its preparation.

For local favourites, Genesis Vegan Restaurant serves up their own version of “chicken” rice, but with tofu skins instead.

While meals from these restaurants may cost a few dollars more, your vegan friend could do with a break from eating the same dishes from that one caifan stall.

Vegans may be a small community in Singapore but they should not be neglected in our vibrant food culture.

Do not confuse them with the overzealous activists on YouTube, or the health-obsessed dieters out there.

In fact, many vegans adopt this lifestyle because of their love for animals and the environment, and because they believe it is right.

Much like the dietary preferences of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Catholics, veganism is linked to a set of beliefs that we should learn to understand and respect.

louder than words

GRAPHIC: AMY ONG

GRAPHIC: DIANE LIM

Sports

Mixed reactions to “athletes-only” gym The new gym at The Wave is only opened to college athletes, prompting some students to question if this is a necessary move Darren Ching

THE opening of the first-ever “athletes-only” gym at The Wave – the University’s new Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC) – has ignited controversy among the student population, particularly non-college athletes who are denied access to the gym.

Unlike the recreational gyms at the various Halls of Residence and North Hill, students must present their matriculation card with the “NTU Spirit” sticker to enter the gym at The Wave. This sticker is only given to college athletes.

“If the university uses funds contributed by all undergraduates to maintain the sports facilities in NTU, why don’t normal students have access to The Wave’s gym?”

James Ding, 21 Second-year student Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine With four power racks and 10 benches, the set-up at The Wave’s gym puts the hall gyms’ limited equipment in the shade.

Vanessa Teo, a final-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and a member of the NTU dragonboat team, said: “The facilities at The Wave are more elaborate than the others.”

The 21-year-old added: “My hall’s gym is much smaller with a limited number of weights.”

But cheers from student athletes on the gym’s opening have been met with criticism from noncollege athletes, particularly when they found out that the equipment at the old SRC gym had been moved to The Wave, thereby phasing out the former.

“As this gym is unmanned, non-athletes may risk injuring themselves or others from poor handling of the equipment.”

Mr Jimmy Lee Chief Housing and Auxiliary Services Office For bodybuilding enthusiast James Ding, a second-year student from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, the old SRC gym was the go-to place for his workouts.

“With the movement of equipment from the old gym at SRC to The Wave, the only legitimate gym is the one at North Hill, which makes it inconvenient for those staying in halls further away,” said the 21-year-old, who is a Pioneer Hall resident.

Chief Housing and Auxiliary Services Officer Jimmy Lee explained that the gym was built to better suit the needs of the University’s athletes.

“The equipment there is intended to prepare varsity athletes for sporting competitions or post-injury rehabilitation,” said Mr Lee. “As this gym is unmanned, nonathletes may risk injuring themselves or others from poor handling of the equipment.”

Despite this, many students feel that NTU gyms should be made available to everyone as all undergraduates pay an annual sports fee as part of their tuition charges.

Ding said: “If the University uses funds contributed by all undergraduates to maintain the sports facilities in NTU, then why don’t normal students have access to The Wave’s gym?”

Currently, besides the gym at The Wave, there is only one other gym on the NTU campus that has restricted access – the National Institute of Education (NIE) gym.

There, only staff and students of NIE can access the gym.

NIE technical specialist Mohammed Ali, who helps to manage the facilities and equipment under the Physical Education and Sports Science department, said the gym at NIE is primarily used for learning and research for students about

Currently, The Wave’s gym is the only NTU gym restricted to varsity athletes.

PHOTO: CHRISTY YIP

“This exclusivity helps teams get their planned workouts done, thus contributing to the enhancement of their performance and benefitting NTU when teams win medals.”

Jade Rivera, 21 NTU floorballer Sports Science and Management sports science, and not for weight training or body building.

In addition, Mr Ali, who has been working at NIE for 16 years, said: “The fund from the annual sports fee does not go into maintaining the NIE gym, so it is difficult to open it for public usage.”

The athletes respond

Though the exclusivity of the gym at The Wave seeks to benefit varsity players in general, the move has drawn mixed responses from them.

NTU floorballer Jade Rivera, 21, described the exclusivity as “great”.

The final-year Sport Science and Management student said: “This exclusivity helps teams get their planned workouts done, thus contributing to the enhancement of

Varsity athletes have the NTU Spirit sticker pasted onto their matriculation cards, and will exchange it for a yellow wristband to enter the gym.

PHOTO: YEO WEI LUN

their performance and benefiting NTU when teams win medals.”

While NTU rugby player Ng Wei Meng, 22, appreciates that the University is giving college athletes priority in using the new gym, he feels that the exclusivity should be periodical.

“It is such a pity that not everyone is able to use these amazing facilities. Nearing the periods of competition, IVP (Institute-VarsityPolytechnic) players can be given priority. But for the remaining time periods, the gym should be open to all,” said the second-year Nanyang

Business School student.

When asked if the current ruling on The Wave’s gym can be changed to allow IVP teams to book the gym instead of closing out the place entirely to the average NTU student, the SRC management said they would track the situation closely.

“We are aware that some students may want to use these specific equipment,” said Mr Lee. He added: “The SRC management will monitor the demand during off-peak periods, before considering opening the gym to general users.”

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Swimming in the right direction NTU’s SEA Games swimmers believe that global success is attainable for the sport after Team Singapore smashed 18 records at the 2017 Games Kimberly Kwek WHILE Singapore has long established itself as a regional swimming powerhouse, recognition on the international stage is still lagging behind. A change, however, may be on the horizon.

Joseph Schooling gave the Republic a glimpse of global sporting success when he won Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games last year, pipping the United States’ 23time champion Michael Phelps in the 100 metre butterfly event.

Following that success, expectations were high for both Schooling and national teammate Quah Zheng Wen at the 17th FINA World Championships in July. But they fell short, with Schooling only managing a bronze in one of his three events, and Quah failing to get a podium placing.

But the duo picked themselves up at the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and were part of the team that brought home 19 gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.

SEA Games medallist Amanda Lim, 24, a final-year Sports Science and Management (SSM) student, believes team spirit was the reason for their recent success.

Lim, who won the women’s 50m freestyle for the fifth consecutive time and bagged a gold medal in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, said: “We are always cheering each other on and depending on one another. This was quite different from the previous few SEA Games that we had.”

National teammate and finalyear SSM student Pang Sheng Jun, 25, explained this difference: “Last time we used to just be individuals training, trying to be better by ourselves.

“But now, the national training squad is trying to get better together, and that is our biggest strength that we have moving into 2018.”

Pang, who won three medals — a gold, silver and bronze — at this year’s SEA Games, said this was the result of combined training at the National Training Centre (NTC) at OCBC Aquatic Centre, which is located at the Singapore Sports Hub. Since January 2015, national swimmers have been training under a single team of coaches, as opposed to before when they trained individually at different clubs under different coaches.

This move has resolved conflicts of personal interest that used to exist among coaches from the different clubs, said Pang.

He added: “Right now, the coaches are united as one Singapore to try and make our swimmers better.”

“But now, the national training squad is trying to get better together, and that is our biggest strength that we have moving into 2018.”

Pang Sheng Jun, 25 Team Singapore swimmer

Team Singapore swimmer Amanda Lim celebrating her 50m freestyle win at the SEA Games 2017.

Head coach of the NTC, Mr Gary Tan, is someone who is familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the Team Singapore athletes. The two-time Olympian has overseen the training of local athletes for nine years.

Mr Tan currently works with newly-appointed national head coach Stephan Widmer, who has groomed Olympic swimming champions Libby Trickett, Leisel Jones and Jessicah Schipper.

Mr Widmer, an Australian, started his tenure in Singapore in July and will take a more active role in training Team Singapore swimmers after their post-SEA Games break.

Lim said: “He has so much ex-

perience and he has been saying that we have a lot more to learn, so much more room for improvement, so I think under his guidance we can definitely move on to the international level.”

Lim also stressed the importance of developing the right mindset, which they have been working on with psychologists.

“The mindset last time was that we’re such a small country and we can’t improve and compete on a global level. But that’s not true now because we’re actually moving in the right direction,” she said.

She added: “We have to think and believe that we can do it because once we overcome the thinking that we can’t, it’s 50 per cent of the battle gone.”

“We have to think and believe that we can do it because once we overcome the thinking that we can’t, it’s 50 per cent of the battle gone.”

Pang Sheng Jun on the podium after winning the 400m individual medley bronze medal.

Amanda Lim, 24 Team Singapore swimmer

PHOTOS: ADRIAN SEETHO

While the government has provided national athletes with a lot of support, there are still steps to be taken to keep Singapore in the lane towards international success.

“I think people are still afraid to try the sporting path because the safest way would just be to study, get a piece of paper and a normal job,” Pang said, adding that he considers himself lucky because his parents have always supported his sporting endeavours.

For Lim, excelling in both swimming and studies has always been a priority for her, which means some sacrifices have to be made.

She had to spend an extra semester in NTU because it was difficult to cope with her workload on top of her swimming duties.

“It was really hard to see all my friends graduate last year and I still have one semester to go. But in order to have the best of both worlds, I need a way to go about doing it,” she said.

Despite the challenges, the future looks bright for the Team Singapore swimmers.

At this year’s SEA Games, Team Singapore fielded young up-andcoming talents who exceeded expectations, including 14-year-old Gan Ching Hwee who clinched the bronze medal for the women’s 400m individual medley.

“The kids these days definitely have very high pressure on themselves, which helps them with their performance. They want to train harder,” said Lim. “We’re definitely moving in the right direction.”

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Keen for Kin-Ball

outwit and ‘outfun’ your opponents,” said Mr Yong, 40.

“The game, through its design and rules, also teaches respect and encourages inclusion. Seeing the potential, I decided to formally start an association to develop the sport in Singapore," he said.

Starting out

Students from NIE's Physical Education and Sports Science Club try out Kin-Ball for the first time.

Kin-Ball has been making waves in Singapore with its unique format of three teams competing simultaneously Adeena Nagib RUNNING around to catch an oversized ball before it touches the ground might seem like child’s play, but it is a sport that is fast gaining popularity in Singapore.

Kin-Ball is the only sport in the

world where three teams compete at the same time to keep a large, lightweight ball from touching the ground.

The sport originated in Quebec in 1986. The Kin-Ball Association of Singapore (KBAS) was founded in 2014

by Physical Education (PE) teacher Yong Tze Woon, who discovered it after attending a private workshop in Singapore organised by the International Kin-Ball Federation.

“At first, we did not think much of it, and it was silly playing with a big ball. But after trying the game, we immediately understood the attraction of Kin-Ball – it gets you to outplay,

PHOTOS: PESS CLUB

“At first, we did not think much of it, and it was silly playing with a big ball.”

Mr Yong Tze Woon, 40 Founder Kin-Ball Association of Singapore

Kin-Ball is played with a nylon ball that inflates to 1.22 metres in diameter and weighs one kilogramme. The game can be played indoors or outdoors, on any flooring, in a 20m by 20m court.

The three teams, comprising four players each, are assigned a colour of either blue, black or red.

A match lasts for three periods of 15 minutes each, and the team with the most points wins. In the event of a tie, the game continues until the next point is won.

Kin-Ball has come a long way since the KBAS was established three years ago. The Association has introduced the sport to more than 8,000 people in Singapore through engagement programmes, according to Mr Yong.

“At first, it was difficult booking venues as the court managers didn’t know the sport and didn’t want to risk any damages,” he said.

Funding was also an initial hurdle, with players having to finance for themselves to play and compete.

But with the income from conducting external workshops and PE programmes in schools, Mr Yong said that they now have the funds to conduct more programmes.

He has since brought the game to community centres around the nation such as Pioneer Community Sports Club (CSC) and Jalan Kayu CSC, and has even partnered with ActiveSG to hold weekly sessions at the Singapore Sports Hub. Mr Yong also introduced Kin-Ball to NTU by organising workshops and refereeing courses for the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) Club at National Institute of Education (NIE), in conjunction with the KBAS. In 2015, Kin-Ball was included in the annual PESS Sports Carnival.

Chairperson of the PESS Club, Mohamed Sadiqin Subhan, 25, said this would help the sport gain more traction on campus and give students more opportunities to play the sport

competitively.

The second-year student from NIE dscribed the sport as “fun, easy to learn and safe for all”, regardless of one’s physical ability or age.

In March last year, they organised the first invitational Institute-VarsityPolytechnic (IVP) Kin-Ball Championships, with 13 teams contending.

The second championships was held this March and saw 14 teams competing, including Singapore Polytechnic and National University of Singapore.

NTU emerged as the overall champions this year.

Tan Sze Teng, a second-year Asian School of the Environment student, participated in the second IVP championships despite not knowing how to play the sport.

The 20-year-old, who plays floorball for the University, found Kin-Ball an interesting sport that demanded “speed, control and cooperation”.

“Fun, easy to learn and safe for all.”

Mohamed Sadiqin Subhan, 25 Second-year student Chairman, PESS Club “I thought it was quite easy to pick up and it required a lot of focus and body control,” said Tan, adding that she hopes more students on campus will pick up the game.

Going forward, the KBAS hopes to further promote Kin-Ball through PE programmes in secondary schools and even conducting a primary school tournament next year.

“I would like to see the formation of clubs and a vibrant local Kin-Ball scene, with tournaments all year round for different age groups,” said Mr Yong.

A first for Singapore, the national women’s Kin-Ball team will be competing in the Kin-Ball World Cup 2017 in Tokyo in November. The Republic will face the likes of seven-time world champion Canada, as well as South Korea, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Japan.

Mr Yong said: “Hopefully in the future, we will see a Singapore team in contention for a Kin-Ball medal.”

, Singaporeans are now able to try Kin-Ball at community centres around the island.