Vol. 25, Issue 6

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

VOL. NO.

25

06 04.02.19

ISSN NO. 0218-7310

NTU’s first Ashoka Fellow NEWS | 2

Staying safe this IHG SPORTS | 17

Fitness and fun with friends LIFESTYLE | 4-5

Carving a career in wood crafting

SPOTLIGHT | 6-7

News

NTU student youngest Singaporean to join prestigious fellowship Sazzad Hossain shares what lies ahead for him and his social enterprise after joining the Ashoka Fellowship – a community for the world’s leading social entrepreneurs YUKI LING

LIKE most students in NTU, Sazzad Hossain spends his week hunched over his laptop and attending lectures.

But apart from being a second-year School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) student, Sazzad has also been the chief executive officer of Social Development Initiative (SDI) Academy for the past six years.

Last November, the 25-yearold earned an additional feather to his cap when he became the youngest Singaporean to join the prestigous Ashoka Fellowship, an international programme that connects some of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.

Sazzad is the first from NTU to achieve that honour.

Nominations for the Ashoka Fellowship are open to the public and nominees go through a rigorous selection process before being selected.

Nominating the best According to Ashoka, nominees for the Fellowship must show they are committed to promoting systemic change around a problem they identify in the world.

Nominees are then evaluated on the novelty and social impact of their solution to this problem, among other criteria.

Mr Rajesh Varghese, cocountry director of Ashoka Malaysia & Singapore, said: “We are selecting an individual whom we believe is dedicated to solving a problem or is very passionate about making a change.”

Since the programme started in 1981, there have been over 3,300 Ashoka Fellows from 92 countries.

But only two other Singaporeans are Fellows – Zhihan Lee and Bjorn Low,

Sazzad Hossain, seen here giving a speech during a Social Development Initiative (SDI) Academy graduation ceremony, is the only Singaporean selected by the Ashoka Fellowship in 2018.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTY YIP FOR SDI ACADEMY

both elected in 2017.

Lee is the CEO and cofounder of BagoSphere, a social enterprise that seeks to equip rural youth in the Philippines with in-demand professional skills.

Low is the co-founder of Edible Garden City, a social enterprise that champions the grow-your-own-food movement around the world.

“I have seen the calibre of the people (in the Fellowship).

“Knowing that such people are part of the network, I felt that it was an honour even to be nominated,” Sazzad said.

According to Mr Rajesh, Sazzad’s age was not a concern for Ashoka during the Fellowship selection process.

“Ashoka does not worry about age,” said Mr Rajesh.

He continued: “We have Ashoka Fellows in other countries, who had been elected as young as 24 years old and as old as 65 or 70 years old.

They always find solutions to solve problems. This is the attribute that matters.”

Expansion plans ahead SDI Academy – a school which aims to empower migrant workers through language,

vocational and computer skills provide support based on what has the credibility, network classes – has trained about they need.” and capacity to push the 7,000 migrant workers to date.

By being part of the larger body out there for a And Sazzad feels that he is prestigous Fellowship, Sazzad policy change.” only just getting started. believes he has the additional “These are the opportunities He intends to train another support to reach his goals. that will help us push to the 5,000 workers this year .

He said: “If we see a gap next level.”

He is also looking to in the community, Ashoka collaborate with national agencies such as the Ministry of Manpower and Workplace Safety and Health Council.

With this Fellowship, Sazzad hopes for future partnerships with his newfound network of social entrepreneurs, bringing SDI Academy to the international scene.

“Ashoka is a lot about collaborating with people from different countries, but with the same thought process and mindset,” he said.

And there are already plans to go beyond Singapore. He is hoping to expand his work to Dubai and promote social inclusion there this March.

Workshops on leadership, personal well-being, impact and investment upscaling are also offerings within the Ashoka Fellowship.

Mr Rajesh said: “The community is built on a very personal context so they write to us when they Sazzad (right) with a student of the SDI academy at their graduation ceremony. have challenges and then we PHOTO: CHRISTY YIP FOR SDI ACADEMY

VOL. NO.

25

NEWS

THE NANYANG

06 CHRONICLE

03

NTU to offer International Trading Programme as a new minor The programme is set to equip students keen on entering the trading industry with the knowledge and skills required in the commodity trading sector

BY JONATHAN CHEW

THIS August, undergraduates from across all disciplines in NTU can look forward to a new minor programme in International Trading.

The course, which is offered by the Centre of Excellence International Trading (CEIT), was once exclusively taught to students in engineering, business and maritime studies, but is now set to expand after positive student feedback.

The International Trading Programme (ITP) will teach students business and technical knowledge in the commodities trading sector, a niche area which has gained interest in recent years among individuals who seek an alternative from the usual stocks and bonds.

Graduates can expect to be skilled in areas such as enterprise risk management, and international tax and trading law. They will also be able to gain employment in firms that specialise in energy, gas, agriculture, as well as metals and minerals.

This programme was originally launched in 2015 as a tripartite collaboration between NTU, Enterprise Singapore and partners from the international trading community. It was only available to students from select specialisations but student feedback prompted it to expand its intake.

Mr Chia Jun Kai, a research associate with CEIT, said: “We received feedback from students in other programmes, such as Economics, that the ITP is quite relevant to what they study.”

Mr Chia believes that the key strength of the programme is its partnerships with notable industry figures.

Some of them are BP and ExxonMobil, two major dividend players from the energy sector.

These industry partners organise talks for students in the programme, providing many opportunities for networking with professionals in the field, said Mr Chia.

He added that a substantial number of modules in the programme are also conducted by external

Students visited a mining site in Perth, Australia last year. These trips are arranged every semester to give students an in-depth experience in the industry.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CEIT

lecturers, such as the industry seminars, keeping the lessons relevant and up to date.

“This is what really makes the programme special, because not many modules in NTU are taught entirely by external professionals,” Mr Chia said.

Students who are participating in the ITP also feel that it has greatly benefitted them.

Ms Hannah Cheuk, 21, a third-year student from Nanyang Business School highlighted the frequent industry seminars and experiential learning trips she has had, which have helped prepare her for the dynamic commodities industry that deals in areas such as agricultural trade.

She added: “For students interested in finding out more about the commodities industry, the ITP will be a great programme to take on to broaden your horizons.”

The ITP also conducts field trips to local companies every

“This is what really makes the programme special, because not many modules in NTU are taught entirely by external professionals. ” Mr Chia Jun Kai, 31 Research associate Centre of Excellence International Trading

semester, which exposes students to issues affecting the trading industry.

Last year, the programme arranged a company visit to Metalor, a gold processing company located in Jurong, responsible for refining about 150 tonnes of gold every year.

To aid in the students' learning experience, the ITP

has organised overseas trips for its students.

Its first overseas venture was two years ago, when students went to Indonesia to visit a palm oil plantation and learn more about the process of manufacturing palm oil.

Such trips also include visits to the headquarters of industry partners, which give students a first-hand understanding of the how the industry works.

For final-year Maritime Studies student, Mr Benjamin Tam, 25, being in the ITP has allowed him to gain new perspectives of the trade.

He said: “I gained a holistic view on how shipping comes into play within the entire value chain.

“It allowed me to learn and understand the maritime industry from a broader perspective and understanding instead of being constrained within my own silo.

"I have been given good exposure to what is out there

in the industry."

Advisory boards are convened every year with the ITP’s corporate partners, said Mr Chia.

These meetings are held to discuss feedback on existing curriculum, which CEIT will then review and make improvements on.

Mr Chia mentioned that students from non-related majors who decide to take up the programme can expect to have new job opportunities open up to them, especially within the trading industry.

From the first intake of students that graduated in August last year, 65 per cent had already secured a job even before graduating.

He added: “The ITP also provides its students with better access to the relevant job markets.

“Once the students graduate, we will help in searching for jobs, and some of them even manage to land jobs with our own corporate partners.”

Lifestyle Having Fun with Fitness Getting fit is now made easier with more workout classes on campus as part of a fitness programme by the NTU SRC and HPB. Fong Yihui speaks to its organizers and participants to find out why this is a fitness programme with a difference

A class of 90 students catch their breath while attempting the tree pose, a foundational balance yoga pose that improves focus. Most participants were first-timers to piloxing.

SOME 150 students and staff streamed into the Sports and Recreation Centre (SRC) sports hall decked out in colourful outfits.

Everyone was in high spirits as the speakers pumped out hit songs

by Korean pop group Blackpink.

The instructor emerged and amid excited chatter, began teaching the dance moves to Solo by Jennie.

This would be the group’s first Kpop x Fitness class this semester.

Just one of the four exercise classes offered from now till 18 Apr at the SRC – the other classes are yoga, pilates, and piloxing or a combination of pilates, boxing and dance – this is part of an ongoing

collaboration between the SRC and the Health Promotion Board (HPB).

The programme, called “Healthy Campus@NTU”, is part of the university’s oneNTU ECHO Initiative.

It was launched by NTU President Professor Subra Suresh last August to promote healthy lifestyle practices and enhance the NTU community’s quality of life.

ECHO stands for “Eco-friendly”, “Connected”, “Healthy” and “oneNTU”.

Participants will get the chance to try different workouts each day.

Kpop x Fitness is offered on Mondays, yoga on Tuesdays, piloxing on Wednesdays and pilates on

Thursdays.

Lessons are held weekly, from 6pm to 7pm at The Wave @ SRC. This is a new selection of exercises compared to the programme’s offerings last semester. There were also fewer classes then, according to Ms Tan Aik Na, Vice President (Administration) of NTU. “To encourage more people to take part this semester, we have raised the frequency from two to four times a week and are offering more popular exercise choices,” she added.

The fitness experience Participants the Nanyang Chroni-

“...we have raised the frequency from two to four times a week and are offering more popular exercise choices” Ms Tan Aik Na Vice President (Administration) of NTU

PHOTOS: AUDREY LEONG

cle spoke to were intrigued by the class.

Chia Ying Ying, 21, a secondyear student at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said: “I liked that we could learn a cool choreography that would cost at least $10 outside.

“The instructor taught at the right pace so beginners like me could follow along, too.”

Another student who enjoyed the session was Ahn Tae Woong, 23, a third-year Korean exchange student at the Nanyang Business School.

He said: “The atmosphere in there was so amazing.

Freelance piloxing instructor Anirah Jaffar demonstrates how to do a jab, a classic boxing move. Piloxing is a high-energy interval workout that incorporates elements from pilates, boxing and dance. This class helps to strengthen participants’ core muscles and improve their balance.

First-year School of Humanities student Chye Ping Xuan puts her balancing skills to the test during her first pilates session. “My muscles were quivering by the end of the session,” she said.

“And even though I’m Korean, there was no chance for me to practise K-pop girl group choreography because I am a guy.”

Ahn, who had arrived in Singapore just one week before, added: “As a Korean in a foreign country, I am able to share my country’s culture here and that experience is so valuable to me.”

Some students, however, quipped that they were less musically inclined, and worried they could not keep up.

Sarah Lanz, a Master’s exchange student from Germany, said: “It was good, just different from what I expected.”

“I expected it to be like Zumba, with easier moves,” added the 26-year-old student from the School of Art, Design and Media.

However, Lanz said she also felt like she “achieved something” by successfully learning the whole choreography for the song’s chorus.

tegral in organising these classes at NTU, at no charge to the students and staff.

“SRC is leveraging on HPB’s Active Youth Workout programme to organise the Healthy Campus mass workouts at no cost, as long as there are at least 40 participants.”

This is not the first time that NTU has collaborated with HPB. Previous collaborations include a oneNTU ECHO Carnival last year at

Workout Wednesdays The piloxing class held on Wednesdays is another big draw, with its lively music and aerobic moves.

Piloxing is a cardio-heavy fusion between pilates, boxing and dance.

The class kicks off with a series of dynamic warm-ups, including squats, single-handed jabs and leg kicks.

The intensity is then amped up, with participants throwing faster jabs while lunging front and back.

Varsha Gurumurthy, 21, found the session to be enjoyable.

The third-year student from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering was one of the 90 participants in the first piloxing class this semester.

She said: “It was very fun, and really pumps you up, it’s pretty tiring but not overly intensive.”

There were also moves that resembled pilates, which involved slower actions requiring more balance and core muscle strength.

After the session, Radin Jan, 22, said: “It was definitely a good workout.

“I would rate the intensity level as seven out of ten.”

The first-year student from the School of Humanities added: “The instructor is very enthusiastic and it’s a good friend-bonding activity.

“It’s okay for beginners because the moves are simple.”

from the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

He said: “It was a very good workout. I enjoyed it as an exercise, compared to running which is very boring.”

“Overall it was fun, and everybody is still quite cheerful after the class even though it was tiring at times,” he added.

More activities in store Ms Tan said that HPB has been in-

the North Spine, and the National Steps Challenge where HPB staff distributed free step trackers to students on campus.

In a separate collaboration between NTU and Abvolution, there are plans to offer classes such as spinning and CrossFit. The classes will be based on signups and on a co-payment basis.

“It was definitely a good workout.

I would rate the intensity level as seven out of ten” Radin Jan, 22 First-year student School of Humanities

Another student who enjoyed the session was Haw Chee Yeng, a second-year student

Anirah uses upbeat pop music throughout her hour-long sessions to keep participants on their toes. She works with the Health Promotion Board to spread her love for piloxing to the masses.

06-07 SPOTLIGHT

1

WORKING WITH WOOD He might have completed an accountancy diploma in polytechnic, but first-year ADM student Yee Chien Ping decided to ditch the numbers in university to pursue his interest in wood crafting. Photo editor Joel Chan speaks to him about his newfound passion A CLOUD of saw-dust looms over Yee Chien Ping as he toils in his workshop on a Saturday morning.

Carrying three blocks of pinewood in his hand, the 22-year-old walks towards a machine with a big circular saw protruding from its middle.

With a push of a button, the equipment roars to life.

“This is a table saw and we use it to cut thicker and wider blocks of wood,” Yee explained.

“I am cutting these blocks of pinewood to make the legs of a coffee table.”

Ever since he picked up wood crafting in 2016, Yee typically spends his weekends making commissioned wood products for his

customers, many of whom were referred to him by his friends, colleagues and relatives.

The coffee table is Yee’s 10th commissioned project to date.

He was first exposed to designing in 2014 after taking a module in Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Known as Idea Blueprint and Launchpad, the course required him to identify an existing issue in Singapore that could be solved by designing a new product and then creating that product to solve the previously identified problem.

Said Yee: “I realised how much I enjoyed the entire process due to the endless possibilities (of wood crafting), unlike accounting which is so black and white.

From then on, I wanted to pursue and explore design thinking to solve everyday problems.”

After graduating from polytechnic in 2016, Yee interned at a local design firm for three months where he learnt metalworking.

In late July, he was tasked to cut some wood for a carpenter who was collaborating with his boss at the time. He began to venture more into wood crafting and fell in love with the process.

“I enjoy the challenge of creating complex projects that I see from woodworking videos on YouTube,” said Yee. “I decided then that I wanted to use wood crafting as a medium to express myself.”

After doing some research, Yee realised that most wood products are mass-produced and lack variety in design.

“I enjoyed the entire process (of wood crafting) due to the endless possibilities, unlike accounting which is so black and white.”

He wanted to inject more value

into wood products, so he makes customised pieces. He believes that this would enable customers to develop a better appreciation and understanding of his craftsmanship.

Yee’s decision to pursue wood crafting raised many eyebrows, including that of his own parents, who felt that wood crafting was neither a stable nor lucrative job.

But he uses their disapproval as a source of motivation.

“People tell me it is dumb to leave the stability of the business world and it might be difficult to support my family.

“I want to prove to them that no matter how difficult it is, anything is possible as long as you love what you do,” he said.

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

25

CHRONICLE 06

4

2

5

3

6

1. Yee spends anywhere between two to 21 days working on a commissioned project. Apart from the labour-intensive nature of the job, the 22-year-old also works in hot awnd humid conditions, which he believes are reasons why many young people are uninterested in carpentry. “They think it’s too tedious and the money is not worth the effort and time,” he said.

2 and 4. Yee uses a table saw to cut up blocks of thick wood to make the legs of a coffee table — his most recent work for a relative’s friend.

3. Yee is the youngest carpenter at XPC, a public workspace in Tai Seng for crafters to build their products. “Carpentry is a dying trade in Singapore, many of the carpenters I know are old enough to be my father,” he said. “This is my way of trying to preserve this trade for the next generation.” Despite his young age, Yee is unfazed by the competition. He makes up for his lack of experience by being more flexible in dealing with unique requests from clients.

5. Doing up rough sketches for each project helps his clients to envision the end product and better communicate their customisation requests, said Yee. “You will never be able to find what I make on the market. By making products that clients actually like, they can get a better understanding of the product and have a deeper appreciation of the craft.”

6. Carpenters often work in dusty environments. Yee, who is asthmatic, is at risk of respiratory complications when he is cutting up blocks of wood or sanding them. Although he wears a face mask to reduce contact with the dust, his mother is still worried about his health.

7. For wood with larger surface areas, Yee would use an orbital sander machine to sand the wood, which helps to even out bumps to create a smooth surface.

7

Opinion EDITORIAL

Showing appreciation towards our bus drivers

Holistic wellness is key BEING healthy is not limited to how physically fit you are.

Rather, as the World Health Organisation constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

In this issue, the Nanyang Chronicle reported on the new exercise classes jointlyorganised by the NTU Sports and Recreation Centre and Health Promotion Board, as part of the Healthy Campus@NTU programme.

The initiative is a step in the right direction, and students, staff and their families on campus can look forward to the different classes offered to vary their personal exercise routine.

But with the Institute of Mental Health announcing last December that one in seven Singaporeans has experienced a mental disorder, it is high time we focus on our mental and emotional health too.

Mental health is one’s ability to process information, and emotional health is one’s ability to express feelings which are based on the information they have processed.

The two are dependent on

one another. An imbalance in mental health will see one’s emotional health deteriorate, and vice versa.

To help cope with such issues, students can look to their support systems for help – their peers and loved ones.

There is also the Peer Helping Programme (PHP) available on campus, an initiative launched by the University Wellbeing Centre (UWC). Supervised by the UWC, the peer helpers are student volunteers who are available to listen.

So head to the Global Lounge at North Spine and look for the PHP Cozy Hub, an area just for PHP activities. You can speak to peer helpers there or de-stress over board games.

Or, you could head to the UWC. They provide a range of professional and holistic services to enhance the personal growth and development of students.

Only by embracing our physical, mental and emotional health and taking steps to improve it can we be truly healthy.

This three-way tag team is the key to holistic wellness we should strive for.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR Khairul Anwar

DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR Natalie Choy

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Edwin Chan

OPINION EDITOR Jeanne Mah

SUB-EDITOR

CHINESE EDITOR

Nicole Lim

Tan Yu Jia

NEWS EDITOR

Deepanraj Ganesan

DIGITAL EDITOR

PHOTO/ GRAPHIC EDITOR

PRODUCTION SUPPORT

Joel Chan

Joe Tok Kenny Wong

BUSINESS MANAGERS

FACULTY ADVISORS

Vanessa Tan Vinice Yeo

Wu Shangyuan Zakaria Zainal

LAYOUT SUPERVISOR Yeo Kai Wen

Natasha Ganesan

A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Facebook: The Nanyang Chronicle Instagram: @nanyangchronicle Website: www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg General Enquiries: chronicle@e.ntu.edu.sg

Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

Signed opinion columns, letters and editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the writer or artist and are not necessarily those of The Chronicle.

Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd, 57 Loyang Drive Singapore 508968

REXANNE YAP IT WAS the first day of the semester.

The Campus-Loop Red bus slowed to a halt at Lee Wee Nam Library and the doors opened with a hiss.

I gathered my belongings and shuffled to the front of the bus.

Reflexively, I smiled at the driver and thanked him.

He shot me a quizzical look when it dawned on him that I was speaking to him.

Feeling the stares of the other passengers behind me, my face flushed in embarrassment as I quickly hopped off the bus.

The habit I picked up from my exchange programme in the UK seems to have created an awkward situation back in Singapore.

A culture of courtesy During my five-month long stint at the University of Hertfordshire, I lived in Hatfield, a little town on the outskirts of London. Buses there were infrequent, costly and limited. Bus waits could last up to 35 minutes, single bus rides could cost more than S$6, and 53 bus routes in the area were cut or rerouted due to a 77 per cent drop in the city’s funding for public buses since 2010.

Despite the low efficiency and costliness of public transport services, the British still made it an effort to thank their drivers.

Almost everyone would thank the driver with an enthusiastic “thank you” or “cheers mate” when they got off the bus. At my host university, students would even shout their thanks as they left from the back doors of the campus’ free shuttle bus.

No matter how packed the bus was, how bumpy the ride was or how delayed their arrivals were, hearing a word of thanks from the passengers always brought a smile to the driver’s face and made the journey pleasant.

A prime example - one night in November, the bus from the

underground station to the university was delayed by 30 minutes, leaving commuters shivering in the cold and dark.

Despite that, nobody kicked up a fuss or blamed the driver when the bus finally arrived. Instead, the passengers were understanding when the driver apologised for the delay, and still thanked him for his service before alighting.

Turning the culture global The culture of thanking bus drivers or public transport workers is so strong in countries like the UK, Canada and Australia that there have been internet memes made about the phenomenon on sites like Reddit. One of the most popular memes, depicting people who thank bus drivers as superior to other humans, garnered over 44,200 upvotes and likes in seven months.

Last August, popular online video game Fortnite also added the ability for its players to thank the bus driver before they parachuted out of the hot-air balloon battle bus and into the battle royale arena, after more than 11,400 international fans petitioned for the change on Change.org.

Intrigued and inspired by the culture of gratitude, I decided to adopt this spirit of kindness.

And so for the five months of my exchange programme, I joined in, showing my appreciation to the men and women who ferried me across Britain’s streets, until it became something natural for me to do.

Graciousness back home Last October, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Culture, Community and Youth Mr Baey Yam Keng paid a visit to the public transport workers at Tampines MRT Station and bus interchange, to launch the Land Transport Authority

(LTA) one month-long Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation Campaign.

The campaign featured walkway banners, outdoor posters and contests on Facebook to encourage the public to greet and thank our public transport workers with the hashtag #ThankYouPTWorkers.

According to a Straits Times article published about the event, Mr Baey said: “When the bus captain waits for you, just say ‘thank you’ as you board the bus. It will really make their day, and these gestures will motivate them to deliver better service to the public.”

To cultivate the value of appreciation among youths, the SBS Transit CARES kindness month is another initiative held in 2017.

The initiative saw 1,200 students from Tampines Primary School writing cards and preparing gifts for 6,000 bus captains. Mr Gan Juay Kiat, the chief executive officer of SBS Transit, also distributed meal boxes to the bus captains.

Why campaigns do not work But such initiatives will need time to hone an appreciative culture in Singapore. Thanking and greeting public transport workers are not yet habits that have been normalised in Singapore, and the short-lived campaign is just one of the many social campaigns launched by the government in 2018.

For a movement like that to kick off, it is up to individuals like us to step up. The habit of thanking the tireless workers of our public transport should start at the personal level, no matter how awkward it may seem.

One brave “thank you” to the unsung heroes in our daily lives could be the start of a longlasting culture of courtesy.

Next Page : Why citizen vigilantism in the Platinium Dogs Club Saga is not social justice GRAPHIC: NUR SORFINA

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: NTU CAREER & ATTACHMENT OFFICE

D

SET IRECTIO NS

Career Consultations for Industry Insights

Career Planning and Coaching

Internship

Focus on the best available and attainable career options for yourself. Evaluate and fine-tune your career plan with our Career Coaches and Consultants.

ACTION

TAKE

Networking Events

Recruitment and Industry

Gain Experience and Exposure

Skills Workshops

Career and Employability

Implement a robust career action plan to gain exposure, enhance skills and connect yourself to potential employers and job opportunities through recruitment and networking events.

SODA YOUR WAY TO CAREER SUCCESS

EXPLORE PTIONS

O

Networking Opportunities with Employers

Alumni Sharing and Networking Sessions

Industry and Experiential Career Education

Explore your full range of career options and understand their requirements through internships, career fairs, talks and networking events.

Not sure how to get started with your career exploration and planning?

Don’t worry. To help you get started, SODA, a simple 4-step career-planning framework by CAO will guide your preparation towards your dream career.

Assess your personal attributes and discover your values, interests, personality styles and skills (VIPS).

Being clear about your VIPS is the first step in planning for your future career.

Career Exploration and Coaching Career Profiling Online Career Modules

S

ELFASSESSMENT

VOL. NO.

25

OPINION

THE NANYANG

06 CHRONICLE

13

Citizen vigilantism may not mean social justice JEANNE MAH OPINION EDITOR IN the past three years, our local media has reported on a spate of citizen vigilantism attempts gone wrong. Just last December, a man was wrongly identified as the cyclist who caused a road accident with a lorry in Pasir Ris, causing him to be harassed online. In 2017, netizens also mistakenly identified a couple as the pair who bullied an elderly man at Toa Payoh Hawker Centre and lashed out at them online. The most recent case was the Platinium Dogs Club (PDC) saga in December last year, when vigilantes gathered outside the house of a dog boarder, believed to have neglected dogs under her care, and obstructed vehicles coming out of the house.

Citizen vigilantes pride themselves on upholding justice when they perceive the government as ineffective in enforcing the law. Once they identify the culprit they believe is responsible for the wrongful act, these citizen vigilantes will try to unearth personal details like the work place of their target. Like an angry mob, they band together to confront the culprit and voice their resentment. This is a problem because they can obstruct investigations by the authorities.

In today’s digital era, the proliferation of social media and smartphones has made it easier for citizen vigilantes to operate. A quick search on Google can reveal one’s personal information and social media profiles. In 2018, it was estimated that the number of smartphone users in Singapore reached 4.41 million – almost everyone can easily take videos of incidents they consider unfair and circulate the clips online.

While citizen vigilantism can empower victims and pressure the authorities to take more action against wrongdoers, acts of selfperceived justice may worsen the situation at times.

In the PDC saga, the disappearance of a Shetland Sheepdog named Prince, who was left in the care of the boarder, prompted 11 people to gather outside the boarding club to support the dog owner’s search for Prince.

While the group was not violent, police classified it an illegal gathering as a group of people were gathered outside the pet boarding centre. In addition, a 40-year-old man in the group had obstructed a car that was reversing out of the boarding club despite advice from police officers to give way to the vehicle. On 5 Jan, Law Minister K Shanmugam wrote in a Facebook post that it was wrong for people to take the law into their own hands, and assured Singaporeans that “anyone who has engaged in illegal acts will face the consequences.”

Dangers of direct confrontation Citizen vigilantism on the roads may backfire as well. In 2018, 12 self-incriminating road rage videos were uploaded onto roads.sg, a Facebook page for netizens to submit their in-car camera videos. One of the most-viewed videos showed a driver alighting from his car to hit a taxi with a thick metal rod after the taxi driver had cut into his lane. Netizens were quick to criticise the driver for his rash act and many said he should have remained in his vehicle.

As a driver myself, I have met my fair share of reckless drivers on the road who had put me at risk of an accident. But instead of taking matters into my own hands, I make it a point to send the video clip to the Traffic Police and leave it to the authorities to follow up on the case. I feel that it is not necessary to confront the driver since I have evidence from my in-car camera and it might worsen matters if I argued with the driver.

In a video titled Are you an angry driver? published by Channel NewsAsia on 16 Jan, roads.sg director Jason Lim said that in road rage incidents, most drivers tend to feel that they are not at fault, which can rile up a lot of emotions.

Drivers should not take it upon themselves to confront the parties involved as this may pose a danger should the confrontation escalate into a fight, he added.

The innocent will suffer Citizen vigilantism has also caused innocent people to get implicated because of their family members’ wrongdoings. SMRT Feedback by the Vigilanteh, an online vigilante group that prides itself as “Singapore’s social media badass”, managed to track down and publish photos of Anton Casey in 2014, a Briton who said that Singapore’s public transport was for “poor people” and wanted to “wash the stench of public transport” off him, and Jover Chew in the same year, who forced a Vietnamese tourist to beg for a refund at his mobile phone shop. Casey was later fired from his job at Crossinvest Asia and his family had to leave Singapore for Perth amid threats. Chew’s wife was on the receiving end of prank calls and online harassment and even had her personal details published on the internet despite being an innocent party.

With over 400,000 likes on their Facebook page, the group has earned the praise of many Singaporeans for calling out bullies. But the danger in being too eager to call out a wrongdoer arises when innocent people

GRAPHIC: NUR SORFINA

get wrongly accused and shamed online.

In the infamous Pasir Ris incident last year that involved a cyclist and a lorry – the cyclist rode in the middle of the lane and threw a bottle at the lorry – netizens wrongly identified a man named Peter Cheung as the cyclist.

The danger in being too eager to call out a wrongdoer arises when innocent people get wrongly accused.

Cheung was criticised online for his physical appearance and poor cycling skills. The company he worked at, DDB Group Singapore, subsequently received many negative reviews on its Facebook page.

In 2017, a video of a couple bullying an old man at a hawker centre at Toa Payoh went viral online.

A man and woman were wrongly identified as the couple by internet vigilantes. As a result, the woman’s employer, UOB, also faced backlash from the public who questioned its hiring practices.

In these instances when innocent individuals become wrongly accused and criticised, citizen vigilantism cannot be tolerated as it causes more harm than good.

Trusting the authorities Singaporeans should have more confidence in the local authorities to uphold justice and dole out punishment when deemed necessary.

As an owner of a beagle, I can empathise with the animal lovers involved in the PDC Saga.

However, these people should not have loitered outside the boarder’s home, potentially creating a messier situation involving trespassing or harassment. The legal system exists so that an official sentence can be passed after investigations have been carried out.

This month, it was reported by The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia that the owner of PDC was arrested by officers from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore. This shows that our local authorities have been taking the case seriously to apprehend culprits of animal abuse. In addition, the Singapore Police Force and Traffic Police have warned that they will not hesitate to take action against drivers who commit road rage. Drivers who are physically violent or intimidating toward other road users will be liable to a fine, demerit points, and even a jail sentence.

In January last year, a taxi driver was jailed six months for assaulting two brothers in a road rage incident. Similarly, in 2016, a pastor who challenged a businessman to a fight and slammed a van door on him was sentenced to two weeks’ jail and ordered to pay a medical fee compensation to the victim.

Citizen vigilantism can only be justified if the existing system of justice fails to address claims made by victims and punish offenders.

Singapore has been consistently ranked in the world’s top five for reliability of police services in the yearly Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum. This shows that our police force is proactive in investigating and solving cases.

There are also several avenues for victims to seek legal recourse, such as the Singapore Judiciary which handles minor civil and criminal cases.

Those embroiled in conflict with their neighbours can take the matter to the Singapore Mediation Centre, where both parties can talk things through with a mediator.

Mediation is a more cost-effective option as compared to going to court. With all these options available, it is not necessary to take the law into our own hands.

However, I do acknowledge that there are instances when citizen vigilantism is effective. According to National University of Singapore media studies instructor Gui Kai Chong in The Straits Times article published in April 2017, netizens who shamed the couple for shoving an elderly man aside and refusing to let him sit at their table at the Toa Payoh hawker centre had “catalysed enforcement action by the police as it set in motion a wave of moral outage at what happened”.

Furthermore, lawyers said that officers may have made the arrest because of the attention the incident received. The man was eventually fined $1,500 for using criminal force by using his body to push against the old man while the woman was fined $1,200 for using abusive words with the intent to cause alarm.

In this instance, citizen vigilantism may have served as an aid to the justice system – but this seems to be a rare exception, rather than the norm.

As humans, it is only natural for us to harbour anger and feelings of injustice when we witness a wrongful act.

However, it is never right to take it upon ourselves to punish others.

Citizen vigilantism is not healthy for society as it encourages mob mentality and may result in the wrongful identification of suspects.

We must have faith that our legal system will see that wrongdoers are brought to justice.

14 OPINION

THE NANYANG

25

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 06

The countries we thought we knew NATASHA GANESAN DIGITAL EDITOR WHEN I told my friends I was going to China for the holidays last year, my friends warned me about the frustrations I would face on the trip. The language barrier would be a key factor — as a Singaporean Indian who cannot speak Mandarin, they warned that I might be treated with disrespect or be yelled at by locals whenever communication broke down.

The travel reviews I read on websites such as Tripadvisor were also concerning. Western travellers warned about being “scammed by locals while shopping” because they did not understand Mandarin.

These led me to think that I too would experience some of these unfortunate situations but I was wrong. During my trip, I actually experienced many acts of kindness.

This trip made me realise that some countries are misunderstood because people form perceptions on them based on what they hear and read, without recognising that these perceptions might be outdated. Experiencing a country for oneself would be the best way to form new and accurate perceptions.

Breaking barrier

the

GRAPHIC: NAMITA KUMAR

language

When I was in Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province, my mother and I could not find the correct bus stop to return to our hotel.

The Google Maps app showed that we were standing at the right bus stop. But when the bus arrived, I showed the driver our destination and he shook his head. He tried explaining something to me, but in Mandarin.

Experiencing a country for oneself would be the best way to form new and accurate perceptions.

Seeing that we were confused, he gestured us up the bus and drove us to a bus terminal, without charge.

He directed us to his colleague, who would be driving past our hotel along his route. Though he insisted that we ride for free, we eventually paid him when we alighted.

We encountered a similar situation while in Beijing, where a middle-aged couple had gone out of their way to walk us to our hotel.

In a separate incident, I was on a sleeper train to Harbin and a group of four boys offered to swap one

of their allocated bunk beds with mine, so that my mom and I could sleep closer to each other.

As the number of tourists in China increased by 24 million from 2013 to 2017, the country has become more welcoming towards tourists from backgrounds different from its own, according to China’s English-language newspaper Global Times. The emphasis on English education introduced in 1978 had also helped the Chinese to better communicate and connect with foreigners.

Beyond a history of drug trafficking Colombia is another country that may often be misunderstood. Its second largest city, Medellin, which was dubbed "the most dangerous city on Earth" by Time Magazine in 1993, was where Pablo Escobar, history’s most powerful drug trafficker, ran his notorious drug cartel.

The city witnessed more than 6,000 killings in 1991 alone, under his ruthless regime, The Guardian reported in 2014.

Following Escobar's death in 1993, the government worked towards curbing the cultivation of coca and banning people from carrying marijuana and cocaine in public.

Today, Medellin is one of the safest cities in Latin America, according to travel guide book The Lonely Planet, because of its modern and efficient public transport system, the MetroCable.

In 2004, the city’s mayors reduced crime and violence rates by more than 80 per cent, by connecting the poorest and most violent neighbourhoods with the city centre using the metro system. The residents in poorer areas could find more reputable jobs in places further away instead of succumbing to dealing with drugs like they used to.

According to a commentary in the newspaper The Telegraph, the metro instilled confidence in the residents that change was possible.

Travellers who have been to Medellin now describe the place as “beautiful and safe unlike how it is portrayed in the news”, and lauds her for “combating crimes such as kidnapping”.

This example of a violent turned peaceful city shows that we should not hold a country’s notorious history against it without finding out if it has developed.

We should not hold a country's notorious history against it without finding out if the situation has improved.

Japan's cultural evolution Japan is one of the most visited countries in the world — Tokyo hosted 11.93 million tourists in 2017.

However, infamous for its resistance towards immigration, many foreigners have described Japan as a “strict, conservative country that is difficult to live in” on GajinPot Blog, a travel blog specifically catered to foreigners coming into Japan.

As reported by international current-affairs magazine, The Diplomat in 2015, the Japanese government has traditionally been against accepting more foreigners, citing concerns such as higher crime rates and fewer job opportunities for its own people.

Japan was listed as the least preferred Asian country that foreigners wanted to work in, according to Bloomberg in 2017.

Expats moving to Japan have been unable to send their children to English-language schools as most classes are conducted exclusively in Japanese. Moreover, most skilled foreign workers are used to job-hopping, a relatively rare practice in Japan. Hence, the inflexible career system can make it difficult for immigrants to adapt to.

Nevertheless, Japan has been repairing its image in recent years, by becoming more welcoming to foreigners.

According to the Japanese newspaper, The Japan Times in

2018, the country introduced a bill to allow foreign workers with specialised skills to live and work in Japan for up to five years.

Japan is repairing its image in recent years by welcoming foreigners.

Expats on GaijinPot Blog shared that Japan is one of those places where “one’s race and skin colour do not determine how people perceive you”, a far cry from the perception that the country is xenophobic and culturally closed off.

Lesson learned We should not blindly believe what we hear about countries before conducting more research.

As much as the history of countries can give us a profound understanding of them, we should be open to forming new perspectives as new policies are put in place and mindsets change over time.

With the decades past, we have seen how Colombia and Japan have more to offer as destinations to travel, live and work, and I learned that firsthand from my experience in China. Being open-minded and looking beyond stereotypes will allow us to experience the history and culture of more countries around the world.

《比悲伤更悲伤的故事》情节催人泪下

— 刊16页

新闻

学生自组财务官训练营

材料科学与工程学院三年级生沈辰在首次的财务官训练营中为学员讲解课程内容，让学员了解社团的财务运作。

图片： 郑雯婕

郑雯婕 ● 报道

如

今，那些对社团财政管 理感兴趣的同学，可以在 南大一个别开生面，由学生主 持的训练课程中得到第一手体 验。 南大中文学会（NTU Chinese Society) 于今年1月26日首次举 办针对学校社团财政运营而设 的财务官训练营 (Chief Financial Officer Training Program)。 不同于以往邀请成功人士 来校演讲的金融财务类讲座， 此次训练营由学生自己主持， 通过项目处理及团队建设等方 式介绍南大社团的主要收入来 源，帮助同学们了解一个社团 的财务运作。 训练营讲授了财政工作流 程、收支报告的撰写方式等具 体内容。在加深学员对高端财 会技巧认知的同时，也希望以 此锻炼学员的领导能力，鼓励

更多学生加入社团的领导层。 活动当天，主持人通过网上 答题等方式，与十五名学员展 开互动。学员们参与度很高， 课堂氛围十分轻松愉快。 相较于校外人士开展的讲 座，学生主讲的课程更贴近校 园生活，互动机会也更多。 中文学会财政组负责执委、 材料科学与工程学院三年级生 沈辰（21岁）是本次训练营的 举办者，也是课程主讲人。 沈辰担任财政执委已有一 年半的时间，相比于请外界成 功人士来授课，她认为自己对 于学校社团方面的运营更有经 验，更合适当主讲人。 在问及举办训练营的初衷 时，她说：“（希望通过训练 营）找到下一届的财政候选 人，同时跟大家分享自己的经 验和知识。”

沈辰表示，在工作之前了解 财务官的工作范围是很重要的 步骤，尤其是需要同时处理多 个项目的时候，因此训练营的 课程也讲到这一方面的知识和 经验。 下课后，沈辰还与每位同学 进行了一对一的答疑，确保授 课效果。 计算机科学与工程学院一年 级生吴思冰（18岁）是中文学 会的会员，也是参与训练营的 学员之一。 她表示在此之前并未参加过 类似的由学生主讲、并且针对 社团财政的课程，前不久从邮 件和中文学会的公众账号中看 到了训练营的招生信息。 她参与这一课程的目的是 希望能学到一些财务方面的知 识，她认为这些内容不仅会对 未来的工作有所帮助，个人生

活中也可以用到相关经验来实 现自我管理。 至于未来是否打算加入社团 管理层，吴同学表示还要看训 练内容和自己的课程来决定。 电子与电机工程学院一年级 生田思明（18岁）是中文学会 的新成员，他虽很少参加财政 讲座，但也说：“这次训练营 对新人很友好，很好懂，而且 内容很有针对性，效率也高， 我也会参与后续的课程。” 他也说，听完课程内容之后 很有兴趣加入财政组的工作。 当天的课程结束之后，沈辰 表示后续课程会帮助学员加深 对财政工作的了解，并通过网 络授课等不同的方式，方便学 员随时随地学习，之后将给所 有学员为期一月的实习机会， 亲自体验财政执委的日常工作 实况。

In summary A NEW student-led initiative at NTU is seeing student leaders offering seminars on financial management to potential office holders in school clubs. Organized by the NTU Chinese Society (NTUCS) and conducted in Mandarin, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Training Programme, which started on 26 Jan, is the first of its kind on campus.

Rather than invite corporations or entrepreneurs to lead workshops, this programme is led by an experienced student CFO who wishes to pass on knowledge to her peers. Held regularly till the end of the semester, the workshops cover topics like financial management processes and budget report writing for student

16

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

25

CHRONICLE 06 言论

其实, 我们还有成绩以外的教育 有

一本新书， Making Sense of Life，收集50多篇新加坡管 理大学生亲手写的文章，抒发 他们的对生命和学习的感受， 其中观点，值得我们思考。 大多学生在谈论到因学业而 感到的压力，只记得科目的各 个别分数，也记得每个学期的 平均成绩表现，但谈论纯粹热 衷学习的学生，可说少之又少。 经历10多年的教育制度，相 信我们也多少有埋怨过教育体 制过于注重成绩，逼使学生只 顾考试而失去对学习的兴致。 然而，本地教育体系近几年 也试着做出一些改变，如减少 考试次数或更注重全方位教育 课程等措施。 我们不能只怪制度。体制变 了，学生也应该改变对成绩的 重视，转而欣赏学习潜在的价 值。 你可能认为，这一论点不切 实际，成绩不好就考不上下个 学期，还能谈论什么学习价值？ 笔者却认为，热爱学习的 人，才是实际的。成绩只是暂 时的成就，把学到的知识缩小 到一个积分的数字，停留在那

张成绩单上。而学习是一生的 成果和个人素质的展现，亦能 扩大视野和使想法成熟，为未 来奠定更稳好的基础。 美国得奖教师艾希礼。兰北辛克莱 (Ashley Lamb-Sinclair) 在 2017年于《大西洋杂志》 (The Atlantic) 的言论篇指出，被成绩 约束的学生，思想水平也受限 制。学生看书时，不再真正思 索内容，只会注重“需要懂” 的范围。只有热爱学习的学

教授反问，“你们真的只在 乎考试吗？”班上顿时鸦雀无 声。 直到有一位同学突然自告 奋勇地追问：“教授，你在写 作的时候有遇到过什么困难 吗？”教授这时才开诚布公， 分享他个人多年来的写作心 得，同学们都开始洗耳恭听， 课室也充满了欢笑声。 这才是教育真正的样貌，不 是把每一次测验只看成是一种 目标，而是充满探索新事物的 乐趣。 同时，过于注重成绩已经对 图片: SORFINA IBRAHIM 我们的精神健康造成伤害。一 项经济合作与发展组织 (OECD) 生，才能更深入地思考。 2017年的国际学生评估 PISA 调 过于注重成绩也会使我们忽 查结果显示，我国学生因考试 略学习的乐趣。人本来有的好 和成绩感到的压力和焦虑，比 奇心因成绩却转变为好胜心。 其他国家平均高多20%。 笔者曾有一位教授，特别 学生普遍认为：“我通常会 在课程腾出时间让我们自由发 担心考试太难”、“我担心考 问，不限制课题。教授是个资 砸了”，流露出对成绩欠佳的 深的媒体业者，我们能从他丰 恐惧。 富经验学到不少新事物，但我 大家也看到，成绩只有两 们问的只是：“教授，你考试 面：不是成功，就是失败。如 会考什么？能讲一下你改卷的 果把成绩当作一切，生活就不 标准吗？” 容许失败，对考取成绩的压力

肯定倍增。 反之，我们可以把学习看作 是一种过程，任何尝试改行再 尝试、再探索的方略。 希望我们不只是变成硬读书 的一部部机器，而是一个个活 生生的学习者。 (文/陈昱嘉）

In summary IN THIS opinion piece, the writer urges students to focus less on grades and more on learning.

Students tend to use grades as a marker for their abilities and to compete against one another, but this takes away the joy of learning and puts a strain on their emotional well-being. Focusing more on learning than letter grades can help broaden their perspectives on life, reinstill in them the joy of discovery and adventure, and strengthen their mental resilience in the face of adversity — all things that cannot be achieved just by having good grades.

娱乐

上演生死离别 情节悲伤催泪 最

近热门文艺爱情片《比悲 伤更悲伤的故事》中男女 主角的悲欢离合，不仅渲染了 观众悲伤之情，也成功打破了 台湾电影在我国的票房记录。 由同名韩国电影改编，故事 讲述了两个身世相怜的K（刘以 豪饰）及Cream（陈意涵饰）走 在了一起，并视对方作自己的 亲人、朋友，甚至是情人。 在往后的日子里，他们相依 为命，过着平凡简单却快乐的 生活。 不幸的是，得了绝症的K，深 知自己将要离开人世，因舍不 得留下Cream一个人，便决定隐 瞒病情，在剩下的时间里，为 Cream寻找一个能让她托付终身 图片： 豆瓣电影 的人。

催泪的剧情、高颜值的主角 担当确实是整部电影的最大看 头，但《比》最让人眼前一亮 的是导演说故事的方式。 电影以倒叙的方式开场， 让观众从牙医杨佑贤（张书豪 饰）的口中认识了 K 和 Cream 的 故事。 再来，导演让K以“受限视 角”的方式，向观众传达出这 样的信息：要在离开人世之 前，为Cream找到幸福。 尽管接下来的剧情桥段看似 有些刻意而又不合逻辑，但故 事最终在导演“切换”成Cream 的视角以后，成功地将一切变 得合乎常理了。 《比》的另一双感情主线， 即牙医杨佑贤及摄影师Cindy（

陈庭妮饰），和 K 及 Cream 的交 织在一起后，也产生了巨大的 变化。饰演摄影师的陈庭妮更 是亲力亲为：电影中Cindy摄影 展的作品，包括她为K拍摄的作 品，都由陈庭妮一手包办。 有别于之前韩版的《比》， 导演走的是相对较为轻松风趣 的路线。 其中喜剧元素的添加，一喜 一悲的剧情呈现鲜明的反差， 益添悲伤的情绪。 显然，《比》所要展现的无 非是人们在面对生离死别前的 惶恐、彷徨甚至是无助。也许 我们害怕的不是死亡，而是我 们死后带给活着的人的伤痛。 不管如何，生离死别，是我们 人生必修的功课。 (文/吴诗蕾)

In summary TAIWANESE sleeper hit More Than Blue is a dramatic mix of tragedy and romance and yes, it will break your heart. The story follows K and Cream, two orphans who grow up together and become would-be lovers, if not for the crippling cancer that strikes K. Wanting to hide it from Cream, he sets about finding her a partner, entirely unaware of Cream’s affections towards him.

Ultimately, it shows the fear and helplessness of hurting those we love in the face of death — a heartbreaking lesson to learn.

VOL. NO.

25

SPORTS

THE NANYANG

06 CHRONICLE

17

Team effort necessary to ensure safety during IHG

Ralph Paul (second from left), 24, from Hall 16 slides in for a challenge during an Inter-Hall Game match.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HALL 16 PNP

Sport safety comes under the spotlight as the InterHall Games (IHG) draw to a close. The Joint Hall Sports Council calls for greater collaborative efforts among student athletes and team captains to prevent injuries JAVIER TAN A CROWD of supporters gathered at the Sports and Recreation Centre’s open field for the highly-anticipated IHG softball quarterfinals.

Mandy Lee, 22, represented Hall of Residence 14 in the match against Hall 6. The score was 2-0, with Hall 6 in the lead.

The final-year School of Social Sciences student sprinted to third base, but a misaimed throw by the fielder flung the ball directly at her face.

Before Lee could react, the ball struck her mouth and knocked her down.

The result was a deep cut on her upper lip and a stream of blood from her wound.

She was immediately brought to the clinic on campus, where a doctor assessed her situation.

Shortly after, Lee was referred to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, where she received five stitches.

The annual IHG adheres to two regulations: the Joint Hall Charter, which details the safety regulations for all games, and the Individual Sports Charter, which defines the

rules for each sport.

Casper Chin, co-chairperson of the Joint Hall Sports Council (JHSC), said sports secretaries of each hall would convene at the start of every season to review existing safety measures in both the Joint Hall and individual Sports Charter.

This is to ensure that the regulations are up to date.

“The mandatory need for on-site first aid kits and personnel trained in utilizing these kits are some of the examples of safety requirements stated in the Sports Charter that is applicable across the board,” said the 22-year-old.

On top of that, some sports may also have more safety rules than others, depending on the nature of the game.

The first-year School of Social Sciences student said: “While safety measures are meticulously implemented across the Games, sports such as hockey require extra care from the players and umpires as contact between them is sometimes unavoidable.”

“There will always be risks involved when we take part in sports but the risks are lowered if rules are properly adhered to,” Chin added.

Mismatch of skills But even with the appropriate safety measures in place, there is no guarantee that games will be accident-free.

Juliet Tan, 22, former sports secretary of Hall 4, believes that one reason why injuries occur could be because of the different

skill levels between players.

“Inexperienced participants of IHG tend to have a higher risk of getting injured, as they are still familiarising themselves with the rules of the game,” said the secondyear student from the School of Humanities.

“For most people, experience and awareness come together. The more you train, the less likely you are to get injured,” she added.

To reduce the gap in proficiency of players, Tan believes that it is important for those with more experience to look out for the newer players, and share their knowledge of the sport.

“Learning to play these many sports didn’t happen overnight,” said Tan, who is not only a college ultimate frisbee player, but is also playing seven other sports this IHG: hockey, softball, tennis, netball, volleyball, track and field and road relay.

“I was taught by players who knew how to play and now I do my best to teach new players the things I’ve learnt so that they feel encouraged to play.

“Being more educated in the game also keeps them safe and allows them to have fun,” she added.

which includes dehydration, lack of nutrition and inadequate levels of fitness for the games.

“With consideration to the hot and humid climate of Singapore, student athletes must take care to have sufficient levels of hydration before, during and after training,” he explained.

In addition, inadequate nutrition will lead to student athletes being fatigued, which can affect their ability to perform their best in the long term and increase the risk of injury.

External factors are environmental and situational hazards such as a slippery floor, the blazing hot sun, and the type of sports gear used.

“People like playing sports with higher risks, simply because the element of risk adds more fun,” said Dr. Teh. “Instead of discouraging participation, encourage them to improve their skill and fitness for the sport, which not only reduces the risk of injuries, but helps to improve performance,” he added.

Thinking fast Teh Kerna, 20, a student athlete, was on the sidelines of the softball quarter-finals when the ball struck Mandy Lee’s face.

The first-year School of Biological Sciences student said: “The game was immediately stopped and first-aiders on standby quickly provided assistance.

“It is such swift response that gives me a form of assurance that our safety is accounted for.”

Hall 14’s sports secretary, Keith Chia, 23, shared that measures are in place to account for the safety of student athletes.

“There are first aid trained personnel on the ground, should any mishap occur. If the situation is beyond their control, an ambulance will be immediately called in,” said Chia.

Chia shared that injury reports were submitted as well, facilitating the process for injured athletes to file insurance claims.

Being safe together Liaw Zi Yang, 22, one of the four co-chairpersons of the JHSC, says that establishing a close relationship between convening halls, sports captains and student athletes is crucial to minimize the risk involved during the annual Games.

Although the convening halls have the responsibility to ensure that the players are safe, this is where sports captains play an integral role.

“Sports captains should help to warn against common injuries or potential hazards in the game as they are either already experienced in the sport and are more proficient in playing it, which means they understand the risks involved better,” said Liaw.

“The guidance of sports captains will contribute towards a conducive environment that allow players to pick up the games comfortably and safely,” Liaw added.

Expert's advice Dr Teh Kong Chuan, a Senior Consultant of the Sports Medicine Centre at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, broke down the causes of injuries into internal and external factors.

Internal factors are a result of a lack of self-care by the individual,

Gerald Goh (left), from Hall 16 attempts a hit at goal.

18 GRAPHICS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

25

CHRONICLE 06

Food is where the heart is All around the world, the start of the new year is a time for gatherings and feasts. With Chinese New Year fast approaching, graphic artists Audrey Leong and Darryl Cheong spoke with six students to find out about the New Year dishes that mean the most to them.

The process of pre lohei, might be a

The Nanyang Chro what to say and simplify your prosper

Tteokguk Seollal

“Koreans believe that having tteokguk, a traditional oyster rice cake broth, during the Korean New Year, Seollal, means adding a year to your age. So we often joke that if you have two portions, you will add two years to your life’.”

11. Plum Sauce Tián tián mì mì (Sweet and loving relationships)

Lee Jiyoon, 21, third-year School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University

Grilled chicken & stir-fried vegetables Songkran “During Songkran, the Thai New Year, my family prepares grilled chicken and stir-fried vegetables and delivers them to the temple at dawn as an offering to the monks for good merit.”

10. Golden Crackers Mǎn dì huáng jīn (To have a floor full of gold)

薄 脆 饼 干

Alina Ho, 22, second-year Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore 9. Sesame Seeds Shēng yì xīng lóng (Prosperity for business)

芝 麻

Dumplings Chinese New Year “For many Chinese nationals abroad, dumplings, even if they are from a supermarket, help to remind them of home and the cozy dinners they had with their families during Chinese New Year.”

Liu Nuo Lin, 21, first-year School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

酸 梅 酱

8. Peanut Powder Jīn yín mǎn wū (Household filled with gold and silver)

花 生 粉

7. White Radish Bù bù gāo shēng (Reaching higher levels with each step) Fēng shēng shuǐ qǐ (Progress at a fast pace)

白 萝 卜

VOL. NO.

25

19

THE NANYANG

06 CHRONICLE

Stir-fried Hakka abacus seeds Chinese New Year “When I was younger, I loved pairing my grandmother’s handmade stir-fried Hakka abacus seeds with her hae bee hiam. But it was only after recreating the seeds myself that I realised how tedious and difficult it was to prepare them and gained a greater appreciation for the seeds.”

eparing yusheng, or a confusing one.

Tan Aik, 21, first-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University

onicle breaks down d when to say it to r next reunion rity toss.

生 鱼

Ngoh hiang

柚 子

2. Pomelo Dà jí dà lì (Good luck and smooth endeavours)

胡 椒 粉 油 青 萝 卜

6. Green Radish Qīng chūn cháng zhù (Eternal youth)

Chinese New Year

1. Raw fish Nián nián yǒu yú (Abundance throughout the year)

红 萝 卜

“Ngoh hiang, a chinese five-spice pork roll made with beancurd skin, chestnuts, stuffed with glutinous rice and chicken filling, is a dish that involves the whole family. Everyone takes up a role in the hour and a half-long cooking process. Every role is crucial in ensuring the end product turns out delicious.”

Theodore Koh, 23, first-year School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University

Teochew kueh 3. Pepper Zhāo cái jìn bǎo (Attract wealth and prosperity)

4. Oil Yī běn wàn lì (Make 10,000-fold profit n your capital)

5. Carrot Hóng yùn dāng tóu (Good luck is approaching)

Text and layout: Audrey Leong Graphics: Darryl Cheong

Chinese New Year “Making Teochew kuehs, made with tapioca flour and rice flour, filled with glutinous rice mixed with other ingredients like hae bee hiam (dried shrimp chilli paste) and boiled peanuts, is a family tradition that brings everyone together, including our extended family. I think a Chinese New Year spent without it would be weird.”

Gwendolyn Yap, 22, first-year School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University