The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 21 Issue 04 by Nanyang Chronicle

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE

04 13.10.14

ISSN NO. 0218-7310

Degree acceleration

Highway to graduation NEWS | 3 No end in sight

Hong Kong’s struggles OPINIONS | 26 Campus cat caretakers

Dressed to scare Covering your costume needs for this Halloween

LIFESTYLE | 6

南大生义务照料校园邻里猫

南苑 | 16

NEWS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 04

The Briefing Room:

Our news editors’ pick of interesting news stories from around the world

Blast in Bukit Bintang

Playing the forefather

A HAND grenade exploded in Malaysia’s Bukit Bintang neighbourhood last Thursday. The blast killed one and injured 13 others, including a Singaporean man. Another bomb underneath a Toyota sedan did not explode. While speculations arose on whether it was terrorism or gangrelated, the Malay Mail reported on Friday that the grenade blasts were allegedly targeted at a top gangster that was part of an escalating war involving online gambling.

VETERAN Singaporean actor Lim Kay Tong, 60, will play the Republic’s founding father and first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in the upcoming local movie 1965. The movie, which will also star Joanne Peh and Qi Yuwu, will commemorate Singapore's 50 years of independence. Said Lim: “Hypothetically, if Mr Lee calls me after watching my performance — and I do hope he doesn’t call — hopefully he is not going to slam me.” PHOTOS: INTERNET

Sexism in focus

Malala Yousafzai wins Nobel Peace Prize

Students spammed

EDUCATION activist Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize last Friday, along with veteran children’s rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi, 60. At 17 years old, she is the youngest recipient of the prize since the awards began in 1901. Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen two years ago for campaigning on behalf of girls’ education in the Swat Valley, Pakistan. She has since moved to England to continue her education, and still receives threats from the Taliban for her continued campaigning. A RELATIONSHIP workshop that recently came under fire will “cease its run by end-2014", said Singapore’s Ministry of Education last Wednesday. The workshop — provided by pro-family Christian charity Focus on the Family Singapore — caused a furore after Agatha Tan, a student from Hwa Chong Institution, shared an open letter she wrote to her principal on her Facebook page on 7 Oct. She described the workshop which was conducted at her school as sexist.

STUDENTS from the United Kingdom (UK)’s University College London (UCL) were flooded with over 3,000 emails last week, after a universitywide spam email was sent to all students. The first message on Wednesday night, purported to be from UCL Provost Michael Arthur’s generic email address, simply read “bello!”. It is thought to be either hacked or spoofed from the university’s email system. The hashtag #BelloGate, which on Thursday morning topped the UK trends on social networking site Twitter, has seen students complaining about the spam from porn site PornHub and matchmaking site OkCupid, among others.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

ON THE WEB

WIN BIG WITH US

Run For Your Lives Giveaway

The Nanyang Chronicle is giving away four pairs of tickets (worth $179.80 per pair) to the Run For Your Lives race. The contest runs from 13 to 17 Oct and winners will be notified via Facebook on 18 Oct.

Video: Man Versus Spicy Food lll

Hot Bods of SUniG 2014

Opinions: The F-Word

Opinions: Dissecting the Hong Lim Park Fracas

Lifestyle Writers Jared Alex Tan and Trisha Lim head over to Wingstop and attempt the Atomic Wing Challenge. These wings are coated in Habanero pepper flakes — the hottest variety of chili pepper. Watch to find out if they manage to complete the challenge. United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson encouraged men to stand up against gender violence and discrimination faced by women in her HeForShe speech last month. Opinions Writer Lo Yi Min shares her thoughts on feminism, and the fight for gender equality.

Ever wonder how athletes who represent NTU maintain their chiseled figures? Sports Writer Nicholas Tan talks to some of them and finds out about their diet and training regimes.

A group of protesters demonstrating against the Central Provident Fund caused controversy when they intruded into a Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) charity carnival and disrupted the special needs children’s performance. Opinions Writer Ng Yi Shu discusses the importance of engaging in civil public discourse.

Herra Heidi Giveaways

One lucky reader will get the chance to select a pair of shoes, worth $45 to $68, from local shoe retailer Herra Heidi. There are also 10 sets of Herra Heidi rose-gold plated heart shaped anklets up for grabs. The contest runs from 20 to 25 Oct and winners will be notified via Facebook on 26 Oct.

Find us at www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg. 'Like' us on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ChronNTU) for more information.

News

National Geographic filmmaker visits NTU — Page 5

Students on the fast track One-tenth of NTU undergraduates are completing their degrees more quickly than their peers, for a career headstart

“Some students prefer to join the workforce earlier as this gives them an edge in their careers, because it means they are better placed for promotions or salary increases.”

A. Preethi Devi Saranya Mahendran

Hariaty Mohamed Senin Senior Assistant Director Office of Academic Services

or Sek Mun Foong, 20, a third-year student from the School of Biological Sciences (SBS), graduation will come earlier than expected. But she is not alone. In the last three years, about 10 per cent of NTU students ‘accelerated’ and completed their degree programmes earlier than the normal period of candidature. These students graduated faster through a number of methods, such as overloading modules, and/ or enrolling in programmes like the Accelerated Bachelor’s Programme (ABP) or the Integrated Programme (IP). “Some students prefer to join the workforce earlier as this gives them an edge in their careers, because it means they are better placed for promotions or salary increases,” said Senior Assistant Director of the Office of Academic Services Hariaty Mohamed Senin. Sek said that she enrolled in the IP not just to graduate early, but also to participate in the research study offered as part of the programme. This helped to give her a broader perspective on what to expect in the future. The programme, which is only offered to select SBS freshmen, allows Sek to graduate with a bachelor’s as well as a master’s degree in four years. On top of her research study which is part of the master’s degree, Sek also takes a Business minor as part of the programme. “The IP fills the gap between undergraduate and graduate studies by concurrently providing the master’s programme,” she said. She added that her desire to graduate early increased after seeing her friends, who were studying in the United Kingdom, graduate in three years.

First pick

Similarly, Gian Adhitya, 20, a third-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is currently enrolled in ABP, an invitation-only programme which enables students to graduate within three and a half years. Students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), the School of Physical

SPEEDING UP: NTU students are finding ways to graduate earlier through a number of methods.

PHOTO: NTU

practical knowledge in her field, she views this as an important goal. Apart from these methods to graduate early, students can now take online modules on the recently launched Massive Open Online Course platform, Coursera. Coursera modules, which are open to all NTU students, are worth three AUs and graded on a pass or fail basis. They can be completed by the end of recess week, giving students more time to focus on other assignments for the remainder of the academic semester. Amanda Huang, 20, a secondyear student from HSS, was enrolled in a Coursera module called Beauty, Form and Function: An Exploration of Symmetry, at the start of this semester. “It helped that we could complete it by recess week and I could focus on my remaining commitments, like leading my hall’s Overseas Community Involvement Programme,” she said.

Some concerns MAKING CHOICES: Students wanting to graduate early have to give up short-term pleasures for benefits in the long run. GRAPHIC: ONG JUNHAO

“You have to find a balance between schoolwork, your family, and other commitments. If you find that you cannot do that, I would rather you not take this shortcut.” Sek Mun Foong, 20 Third-year student School of Biological Sciences

and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), as well as SBS can opt to enroll in the ABP if they perform well academically. Adhitya did not initially enroll for the perk of an early graduation. Being in the ABP allowed him to access the Student Automated Reg-

istration System (STARS) to register for modules earlier than other students in his cohort. “My first intention to enroll in the ABP was for that privilege. I am usually able to get every elective I want this way,” he said.

Piling it on

A more common method students use to graduate early is overloading. Overloading, a common method among many students, involves taking more than the advised number of Academic Units (AUs) per semester. For example, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) recommends that students take up to 15 AUs per semester, and caps it at a maximum of 18 AUs. For students who want to take more AUs per semester, they can request for the school to waive this limitation during the STARS period.

Sacrificing holidays

Others like Nur Hafizah Jasni, 20, spent extra money to clear modules during the special term, which is also another alternative students can consider in order to graduate sooner. Special terms are conducted during the semester or year vacations, allowing students to clear modules during their holidays. They usually fork out about S$600 per module. “Money was definitely an issue, especially since I took two modules during the special term. But I decided to do it anyway — to pull up my Grade Point Average, clear my General Education Prescribed Electives, and possibly graduate earlier,” said the second-year student from EEE. She added that she could use the additional free time to build up her résumé. Given that textbook knowledge differs greatly from

While some acknowledged the benefits of accelerating, they were concerned that their efforts would go to waste if they ended up switching career paths after graduation. “Most of my friends in engineering don’t do anything related when they graduate. Some of them take up business electives, go for business competitions, and in the end, they become an entrepreneur, or a banker,” Adhitya said. Sek also warned that those who opted for an accelerated path would need to make certain sacrifices. “You have to find a balance between schoolwork, your family, and other commitments. If you find that you cannot do that, I would rather you not take this shortcut,” she said. On the other hand, Grace Tan, 22, a second-year student from SPMS, was still open to accelerating despite the possibility of her working in an unrelated field after graduation. “I believe that our career path is never certain. We change our minds as we grow,” she said.

NEWS

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Banking on hands-on work A new financial lab launched by Nanyang Business School will help its students gain practical experience Lim Zheng Wei

tarting from January next year, NTU’s Nanyang Business School (NBS) will launch the Centre for Applied Financial Education (CAFE) for 50 second-year NBS students every year. It aims to bridge the gap between university education and real-world employment. Students will be selected based on their Grade Point Average and academic performance in related business modules. They will use tools in CAFE as part of the module, Issues in Global Financial Markets. Students will also get the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge from the classroom to real-world settings, by publishing a report which analyses business and financial trends. For example, they will analyse pertinent market issues, such as the impact of changes in United States monetary policies on the local

STAYING AHEAD: Learning in NBS is set to receive a boost, with the launch of CAFE next year.

“Students will ... hit the ground running when they start work, without the need for orientation in these essential tools.” Professor Ravi Kumar Dean, Nanyang Business School

economy, and publish these findings in a monthly report. The first report is slated for publication by February 2016 and it will be distributed to banks, brokerages, and other investors. “These reports will be deemed as unbiased, given that students do not have any vested interest,” said CAFE Director Lee Boon Keng. CAFE is equipped with data analysis tools which provide real-

PHOTO: NBS

time updates on financial markets, as well as access to a range of historical financial data, which students can utilise to accomplish their tasks. The centre contains a total of 60 Datastream and 24 Bloomberg terminals, the most in any training facility here. This also makes it Singapore’s largest financial lab. Both staff and students acknowl-

edged the value of the hands-on learning experience that CAFE will potentially provide. NBS Dean Ravi Kumar said: “Students will gain a competitive edge and hit the ground running when they start work, without the need for orientation in these essential tools.” Students the Nanyang Chronicle interviewed said that familiarising themselves with industry-standard practices was one way of supplementing textbook knowledge. Dickson Liu, 23, a first-year student from NBS, said: “It is a chance for us to be exposed to how real-world analysis should be done. Sometimes, we may have the knowledge but we are not sure how to apply it.” Second-year NBS student Jessica Ang, 20, said: “The finance market is always fluctuating. You can’t stay competitive in this field if you just rely on theories in the books. "Practical experience will help us in applying their theoretical knowledge," she added. CAFE’s operations will be advised by a number of experienced players in Singapore’s banking and finance industry, who will meet annually to discuss the centre’s relevance to current business needs.

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Success starts small Adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith, who spoke about his passion for his job, was the second speaker in Asia's inaugural National Geographic Live series A. Preethi Devi

hile it is normal for students to dream of making it big, small achievements like personal projects should also be seen as stepping stones towards success. This was the advice American award-winning National Geographic adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith had for students who wanted to succeed in their careers. “You need to dream big but at the same time, not think too big, because you need to always be happy with small successes along the way. “It’s not about having one big dream to save the world, but about finding small successes that add up to big successes. Curiosity is very important; opening up to the people and things around you will take you way deeper into a subject,” he explained. Mr Smith was speaking to students in two separate sessions on 2 Oct at NTU's Lee Foundation Lecture Theatre and Nanyang Auditorium. He also spoke at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 9 Oct. His personal project, 49 Megawatts, was picked up by National Geographic after it received praise for its eye-catching kayaking foot-

FUELLED BY PASSION: Adventure filmmaker Bryan Smith counts venturing into exotic places and fighting wild animals among some of his experiences on the job. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and son. PHOTO: VICTORIA SIM

age and insightful exploration into British Columbia’s controversial use of diverting river water to produce energy. He also highlighted passion as a key to career success. “Passion is really important, no matter what career path you choose. Without passion, it is very hard to push past the hardships and excel,” he added. The 39-year-old, who has never attended film school, shared his filmmaking adventures in countries

“You need to dream big but at the same time, not think too big, because you need to always be happy with small successes along the way.” Bryan Smith, 39 Adventure filmmaker National Geographic

such as India, Peru, and Russia. In Kamchatka, Russia, he was dropped off by helicopter to one of the most remote places on earth. There, he battled mosquitoes, dodged grizzlies, and crossed an abandoned bridge while a volcano was erupting in the background. He quipped that there was “no such thing as a normal day” for him when he was out filming.

Starting out

Mr Smith, a passionate kayaker,

ventured into filmmaking in 2008, when he protested the controversial Ashlu Creek Hydro Project which had affected his local river near Squamish, Canada. Now, he inspires others by using his kayaking skills to reach inaccessible areas, where he captures stunning photographs and videos. But Mr Smith insisted that shooting a film was not all about technical know-how, adding that having a meaningful story to tell was just as important. He again referred to his experience in Kamchatka as an example, where he investigated the peninsula’s declining fish population as a result of human activities. He also attributed the success of his films to a relatively large “suffering coefficient”, a term that he uses to describe the risk involved in exploring harsh environments for his work. “No expedition, adventure, or film comes about without a little bit of suffering, but the suffering coefficient is my key to success,” he said. Mr Smith is the second speaker to speak in NTU for the inaugural National Geographic Live Singapore series, after underwater photographer David Doubilet, who was here in August this year. NTU Provost Freddy Boey said that inviting these individuals to speak on campus provided students with rare and inspiring real-life experiences, and a deeper understanding of various subject matters. “It nurtures students’ enthusiasm and taps into their interests across multiple disciplines,” Prof Boey added.

Driving farther Muhammad Zailani Ismail A TEAM of NTU scientists and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have invented a two-in-one electric motor which increases the driving range of electric vehicles by an additional 15 to 20 per cent. The invention will free up space for an extra battery in an electric car by merging two components. This extra battery allows the car to run for greater distances before requiring a recharge. “By merging the motor and airconditioning compressor, we can save space in the car itself,” said Mr Satheesh Kumar, a research scholar who worked on the invention. “This would enable us to put in an additional battery to increase the (driving) range, mainly to drive the air-conditioning compressor so that the main battery is focused on driving the car itself,” he explained. Energy can also be regenerated directly from the car’s brakes, providing more stored energy to power the car.

The idea for the invention came about when Mr Kumar — a member of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) — conducted research on consumers’ preference for gasoline-powered vehicles as opposed to electric vehicles. He identified the low cruise range in electric vehicles as a factor in why people prefer gasolinepowered vehicles. The invention is especially useful in countries like Singapore, where temperatures can soar, said ERI@N Executive Director Subodh Mhaisalkar.

“A more efficient electric motor cum air-con compressor will enable cars to travel farther on a single charge.” Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar Executive Director Energy Research Institute @ NTU

“In tropical countries such as Singapore, up to half (of a car’s) battery capacity is used to power the air-conditioning system,” he said. Another advantage of the invention is its low manufacturing cost. The two-in-one motor requires less material to produce as compared to its counterparts. But car owners and manufacturers are not the only beneficiaries of the electric motor. The invention contributes to a cleaner and greener environment by reducing harmful carbon emissions from cars. “A more efficient electric motor cum air-con compressor will enable cars to travel farther on a single charge. “This energy efficiency will in turn reduce overall greenhouse emissions and promote sustainable transportation solutions,” added Prof Mhaisalkar. The team aims to commercialise the invention within the next two years by applying for a Proof-ofConcept grant from the National

CLEVER INNOVATION: Mr Satheesh Kumar presenting the two-in-one motor that will increase the driving range of electric cars by as much as a fifth. PHOTO: AUDREY KWOK

Research Foundation. A prototype will also be sent to DLR’s facilities in Germany for tests and improvements. In August this year, the invention also won the Best Originality Award in the TECO Green Tech International Contest. Held in Taiwan, the competition saw entries from top universities such as Boston University and Uni-

versity of California. According to Mr Kumar, the team’s electric motor could also be used in other industries. “The business opportunities are huge because this is not just limited to automobiles. “It could probably go on to anything that requires an electrical power and air-conditioner,” he said.

Lifestyle halloween feature

GET YOUR FREAK ON Spruce up your Halloween this year by dressing up as your favourite characters — from Dracula to Katy Perry. Lifestyle Writers Amanda Chai and Ruth Smalley scout out the best costume shops for this ‘spooktacular’ season.

HOUSE OF HORROR: A row of dismembered heads, which can be used as photo booth props, greet you as you enter the shop.

THE STUFF OF FAIRYTALES: A myriad of costumes are available for customers to try at Masquerade.

SUPERHERO WANNABE: Marvel and DC Comics’ character costumes are PHOTOS: CORINE TIAH popular in Costumes ‘N’ Parties.

GLOBAL MASCOT

MASQUERADE

COSTUMES ‘N’ PARTIES PTE LTD

762 North Bridge Road S198730

37 Kreta Ayer Road S089001

Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 11am–7pm

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11am–8pm Sat-Sun/PH: 12pm–4pm

73 Kampong Bahru #01-01 S169374

Tel: 6392 2792 Rental rate: $50 for three days for entire costume including accessories ($10 extra for footwear). Till end November, NTU students who bring a copy of this issue of the Nanyang Chronicle will get 15 per cent off.

on’t be fooled by its generic store name. Global Mascot is one of the biggest costume shops in Singapore, with a collection of apparel and props that deem it a onestop shop for Halloween costumes. Global Mascot’s specialty lies in Halloween horror classics — the shop offers a wide range of costumes for traditional halloween characters. These include vampire cloaks, Chucky costumes, and even full body werewolf costumes complete with furry headgear. The extensive assortment of costumes will leave you spoilt for choice as you manoeuvre through the store’s packed, maze-like layout. In addition, Global Mascot offers rental (or purchase) of props for photo booths. Take your pick from the wall of gruesome troll masks at the back of the store, or of gory, dismembered heads hanging menacingly from the ceiling. Strangely, the most popular costume is hardly scary. Store owner Daniel Chu, 40, remarked that his range of pirate costumes (available for both males and females) is rented out most frequently. Mr Chu pointed out that the majority of his patrons are students looking for group costumes, of which the pirate range is a hot favourite.

Tel: 6292 4889 Rental rate: $35 for three days (students), $50 for three days (adults) MASQUERADE is a small, welcoming shop that has been running for over 20 years, though it only moved to its current location in Outram Park last year. It boasts a wide selection of intricate and unique costumes that are suitable for those seeking a more ethnic or culturally-inspired look for their Halloween outfit. There are racks of neatly arranged cultural ensembles, ranging from Greek chic to traditional Korean wear, and even medieval costumes. The selling point for their costumes is that every piece is one of a kind — Masquerade designs and manufactures 90 per cent of its costumes by hand. The creative mind behind the costumes is co-owner Mdm Betty Png, 58. Mdm Png has been designing and hand sewing costumes since the store first opened in 1993. She now runs the shop with the help of her husband, Mr Raymond Yeo, 63, and staff employee Ms Dina, 40. Today, they continue to custom-make the costumes in their own workshop locally and overseas in Batam and Bangkok. The Egyptian princess and the Maleficent costumes tie as the most popular, said Mr Yeo, adding that the Disney film released earlier this year fuelled demand for the latter. For those unsure of what to wear for Halloween, the couple and their employee are quick to offer personal suggestions and recommendations while you browse.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 11am–8pm Sat: 11am–6pm Tel: 6224 8742 Rental rate: $60 to $95 for three days WITH giant mirrors and friendly staff, Costumes ‘N’ Parties is the ideal destination for first timers looking for costumes of conventional Halloween characters like wicked witches or frightful vampires. Nestled in a row of shophouses, a convenient five-minute walk away from Outram Park MRT station, this shop boasts a wide range of costumes, special effects makeup, and wigs. Now in its fourth year of operation, sales staff Ms Adylah Diyana, 27, shared that their superhero costumes are most popular. In particular, those associated with Marvel and DC comics, such as Iron Man and Black Widow, are customer favourites. For the obsessive-compulsive, this shop is well organised. In between the neat rows of superhero and witch costumes are several iPads that allow customers to view the entire shop’s contents with a swipe of their fingers. If you do make the trip down, don’t be afraid to try on costumes and flaunt them in front of the shop’s humongous mirrors.

To find out about novel Halloween events this year, visit www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg/lifestyle

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PUMPKIN BITES

This year, the pumpkin, ubiquitous with the Halloween season, takes a different path from the usual flavours — pumpkin with prawns, pumpkin with coffee and deep fried pumpkin fries. Lifestyle Writer Rachel Chia reviews three dishes that feature uncommon ways to serve the seasonal fruit.

etween Halloween and November’s Thanksgiving, pumpkins — the poster fruit for autumn — are in the spotlight again. Pumpkins became synonymous with October when they were used to create the jacko’-lantern — a pumpkin carved with a scary face — meant to frighten away demons during Halloween. The pumpkin, also a symbol of harvest, features frequently at Thanksgiving feasts in dishes such as soups, stews and pies. Pumpkin offerings in local dining establishments often mirror conventional Thanksgiving options, but these three dishes feature it in unusual combinations, making this season the perfect time to give them a try.

PIQUANT PRAWNS: Thick, creamy pumpkin sauce is poured over crunchy tempura prawns. PHOTO: TAN YUAN TING

SIANG HEE SEAFOOD TZE CHAR #20 Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre 49A Serangoon Garden Way S555945 Opening hours: Daily: 12pm-10pm Closed on alternate Mondays Tel: 9736 4067 A MORE Asian take on pumpkin, this dish consists of prawns deep fried in tempura batter and drenched in creamy pumpkin sauce.

The Pumpkin Cream Tempura Prawns ($12 for four) are fried till golden brown, and come de-shelled except for their tails. The prawns are $3 each for a reason — they are fresh, crunchy, and almost double the size of those found in regular tze char dishes. The thick orange-coloured sauce complements the juicy prawns perfectly. Its mashed pumpkin base brings out a rich and sweet flavour, and sprinkled curry leaves and chilli add an herby fragrance and spicy kick to the sauce. Unfortunately, there was a downside. The prawns were overwhelmingly oily, making them difficult to stomach. In addition, the decadence of the dish wears out the palette easily; anything beyond two prawns and the delicious taste starts to get cloying.

THE COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF Nanyang Technological University 50 Nanyang Avenue SS1-01-05/SS1-01-05A S639798 Opening hours: Daily: 8am-8pm FLAVOURSOME FRIES: Crunchy fries are served with a seasoning medley of hazelnut slivers, salt, chilli powder and paprika. PHOTO: TAN YUAN TING

HOUSE 8D Dempsey Road S249672 Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 12pm–11pm Sat: 11am–4.45pm Sun: 9am–4.45pm, 6pm–11pm Tel: 6475 7787 AT HOUSE, pumpkin is served as deep fried Pumpkin Hazelnut Fries ($12); an adaptation of the truffle fries made popular by local cafes. The pumpkin is sliced into long rectangles, battered with flour and fried. They are then tossed in crumbly seasoning comprising hazelnut slivers, salt, chilli powder

and paprika. The seasoning sticks to the fries, creating a savoury coating; they are then served piping hot in a large silver scoop. The pumpkin fries are satisfyingly starchy, thick and crisp, with soft centres and crunchy edges. Natural sugar in the pumpkin is preserved through frying, making for an intensely sweet taste which contrasts well with the spicy, nutty seasoning. However, the fries can be messy to eat — they are so soft that they frequently break into halves when eaten. The crumbly coating also falls apart easily, which may annoy discerning diners. The taste of hazelnut slivers in the coating is also concealed by the stronger flavour of paprika. But overall, the taste of spice and pumpkin, coupled with the visual palette of fall shades from the red paprika, brown almonds and orange pumpkin, give the dish a nice autumnal touch.

Tel: 6793 2921 PUMPKIN-FLAVOURED drinks have gained momentum locally, with Coffee Bean’s pumpkin-flavoured drinks back in Singapore for the second year running. The Halloween special from the chain will be available in stores for a limited time. This Pumpkin Ice Blended ($7.50 for small, $8.50 for regular) drink features pumpkin flavouring paired with coffee extract, hazelnut powder, milk, nutmeg and cinnamon. The taste of pumpkin in the drink is detectable but not overpowering, with initial notes of coffee and sugar concealing its taste. It only becomes evident in the drink’s aftertaste, where its sweetness lingers in the mouth. The slushy ice-blended drink, with its interesting combination of cool ice and warm spices, suits Singapore’s hot climate and promises to delight pumpkin lovers. The option to add whipped cream on

OCTOBER BLEND: The drink looks deceptively ordinary but it is a special mix of pumpkin flavouring paired with coffee extract. PHOTO: ALICIA LIM

the drink results in a creamy and smooth texture that goes well with the pumpkin’s sweetness. However, the bitter spiciness of cinnamon stands out against the sweetness of the milky drink, ideal for those who enjoy a sharp kick.

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foodsnoop

DIP THAT D UGHNUT

Doughnuts with dips are the latest food trend to sweep across Singapore. Sweet, sour, or savoury, they are making waves with several restaurants and cafes serving up their own versions of these bite-sized treats. Lifestyle Writer Asyraf Kamil goes nuts over doughnuts on his food hunt.

TANGY TINGE: Lolla’s lemon curd dip fills the mouth with a refreshingly tangy flavour.

LOLLA 22 Ann Siang Road S069702 Opening Hours: Mon-Sat: 12pm-2pm, 6pm-12am Closed on Sunday and Public Holidays Tel: 6423 1228

oughnuts often have a reputation among those without a sweet tooth for being way too sticky, sweet and unpalatable. But the Doughnuts with Lemon Curd ($12) from Lolla might do the trick in converting the hardiest of these people. Fluffy doughnut balls dusted with icing sugar are served with a generous portion of lemon curd dip. With the doughnuts hot off the fryer, the icing sugar melts onto the doughnut balls, adding a sugar-glazed layer over the bitesized treats. Served tapas-style in a set of eight, the doughnuts are made using modified choux pastry — a light pastry dough that is often used to make desserts like éclairs. Fried to

FIX 31 Ah Hood Road #01-06 HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse S329979 Opening Hours: Daily: 11am-9pm Closed on the last Tuesday of the month Tel: 6256 1484 FUSION enthusiasts rejoice — East meets West now comes in the form of FIX’s Doughnuts with Salted Egg Dip ($7). Doughnuts, a traditionally Western dessert, are complemented by an egg custard dip, a filling normally seen in liu sha bao (salted egg yolk bun). Served with a light dusting of icing sugar, the doughnuts — packed in a box of six — are similar to the traditional ones

PHOTOS: ANSELM SOH

a delectable golden-brown, they are soft but slightly crunchy in texture when eaten. The tanginess of the lemon curd dip does well to offset the sweetness of the icing sugar. The thick consistency of the dip also makes it easy to coat an entire doughnut ball without the dip dripping off. According to head chef Tan Huang Ming, the doughnut balls were made to be light, in order to be refreshing after a meal, while the tartness of the lemon curd acts as a cleanser to offset the richness of the other savoury items on the menu. It took Mr Tan and his team about 20 tries before they were satisfied with the final product, which has since become a bestseller at Lolla. Customers have also become creative with the way they consume the doughnut balls, added Mr Tan. Some have ordered them with ice cream, while others have dipped them into the Steamed Dark Chocolate Pudding ($15), another dessert item on the menu. Preferring to keep the dessert menu small, Mr Tan has no plans to add similar items, although specials could spring up from time to time, depending on the availability of seasonal fruits. which are commonly available in neighbourhood bakeries. These fluffy bite-sized doughnuts are delectable enough on their own. But the salted egg dip adds a slight savoury twist to a typically sweet dessert. The doughnuts and dip combine together harmoniously to create a well-balanced flavour that avoids making the doughnuts cloyingly sweet. Although the salted egg dip is slightly runny, its consistency ensures that any excess dip drips off, leaving just the right amount of dip on the doughnuts. According to Brand and PR Manager Maureen Ow, the doughnuts were introduced to the menu in August this year, two weeks after FIX officially opened its doors, and they have been one of the more popular items. With FIX gaining a following on social media and earning rave reviews , it’s time for their Doughnuts with Salted Egg Dip to take its turn in the limelight.

NUTELLA GOODNESS: Chocolate lovers rejoice over Pizza Doughnuts with Nutella Dipping Sauce from Alt.Pizza.

ALT.PIZZA Suntec City Tower 4 #01-602 S038983 Opening Hours: Daily: 11am - 10pm Tel: 6836 9207 CALL it a match made in heaven — Alt.Pizza has created a near-perfect concoction of doughnuts made with pizza dough, served with a rich, chocolate dipping sauce. Indeed, the Pizza Doughnuts with Nutella Dipping Sauce ($8) are an alternative to runof-the-mill doughnut concoctions. What initially started out as an idea for breadsticks turned into Pizza Doughnuts, after an experiment to cut the pizza dough into long strips failed, said owner and head chef Matthew White. He then experimented with rolling them into round shapes. According to Mr White, it took about four different experiments to get the Pizza Doughnuts right, as “its perfection came from the pizza dough” — the same one used in the signature handcrafted pizzas sold at

the restaurant. The Pizza Doughnuts come in small bitesized balls and are sprinkled with a dash of sea salt and cinnamon. The sea salt adds flavour to the doughnuts, and complements the Nutella dipping sauce. Reminiscent of plain pizza crust, the deep fried Pizza Doughnuts are chewy and much denser than typical doughnuts. The slightly runny Nutella dipping sauce is not overpowering, allowing one to taste the natural yeasty flavour of the doughnuts. Mr White introduced Pizza Doughnuts into the menu because he had always wanted to create a Nutella-inspired dessert, as Nutella is one of his favourite foods. Since then, customer feedback has been positive, with the doughnuts becoming a crowd favourite at the restaurant. Moving forward, Mr White said the restaurant has plans to introduce specials during the holiday season in December. An idea for cinnamon-swirled doughnuts paired with an eggnog dip is still on the drawing board. With bold flavours and creative ideas, customers can expect more alternative takes on traditional flavours popping up on the menu at Alt.Pizza in future.

SAVOURY FLAVOURS: FIX’s salted egg dip adds a savoury touch to an otherwise typical dessert.

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A BOXFUL OF SURPRISES Lifestyle Writer Foo Rong En checks out two monthly surprise box subscription services, which bring boxes of carefully selected treats — desserts or comestics — to one's doorsteps.

ubscription boxes offering a treasure trove of goodies at a fixed monthly rate are cementing their presence in Singapore. For instance, The NOM Box is a dessert box subscription that delivers the caféhopping experience to subscribers. Freshly baked desserts from various cafés are picked,

packed and delivered to one's doorstep. At the other end of the spectrum is bellabox, a beauty-themed box subscription service that lets customers try out the latest beauty innovations using generous samples of makeup and skincare products without leaving the comfort of their homes.

BEAUTY TROVE: Packaged in a pretty baby blue box, the bellabox is generously filled with deluxe-sized samples of skincare essentials such as sunblock, moisturizer, and makeup. PHOTO: FOO RONG EN

BELLABOX Website: http://bellabox.sg/ FOR makeup junkies, this beauty box subscription service checks all the boxes in terms of affordability, variety and convenience. Having started three years ago, the team behind bellabox aims to allow women to sample new beauty products and new product innovations without the trouble of heading down to department stores. This way, women are able to try a skincare product in small amounts before deciding to purchase the full version, preventing them from spending a bomb on unsuitable skin products. Subscribers to bellabox can look forward to a surprise hand-picked selection of around five generous deluxe-sized — a size between a sample and a full version — beauty samples from high-end boutique and cult brands. The brands include Benefit Cosmetics, Kiehls, Biotherm as well as others rarely found in Singapore, such as Sleek, The Balm, Skinmiso and Twistbands. “We loved the idea of trying out beauty products. It is so hard to try samples in Singapore, they do not just give them out. So we knew that a beauty box full of amazing new make-up samples would be a big hit,” said Ms Emily Hamilton, founder of bellabox. Each bellabox comes with an impressive range of skin care, makeup, body, hair and lifestyle products. At the order page on their website, subscribers are invited to fill in an optional Beauty Profile form, which covers

skin concerns, skin type and hair colour. The form allows bellabox to select products based on their customers’ skin types and beauty preferences. A sneak preview is revealed on the website before purchase, where subscribers are clued-in on the box’s contents. Samples will vary slightly for each customer, tailored specifically for the customer’s skin profile. The subscription costs $19.95 a month (free delivery by courier). An annual subscription, which comes with a free monthly box, costs $219.45. For a more substantial beauty box, the Limited Edition bellabox ($39.95) fits the bill with a wider variety of full-sized beauty items. Occasionally, the company offers other specific themed boxes too, such as the Travel Essentials bellabox ($34.95), which features 12 travel essentials, such as a travel guide and sunscreen, all packed in a bellabox tote bag. To complement its offerings, the bellabox website also offers an online magazine section where readers can access a wide range of articles on beauty advice, trends, makeup and skincare, as well as browse through product reviews. The articles are accompanied by helpful step-by-step pictures of product demonstrations. Bellabox is set to blaze the trail of the beauty subscription box, with a subscriber base of 42,000 across Singapore and Australia, and a growth of over 50 per cent in their subscriber base over the past three months.

THE NOM BOX Website: http://nomnom.sg/the-nom-box/ THE NOM Box is a new monthly dessert box subscription service that brings a mysterious assortment of desserts right to subscribers’ doorsteps. The founders of The NOM Box, Ms Tan Yi Rong, 23, and Mr Er Jie Yong, 26, started the service in June this year in a bid to satisfy sweet tooths in busy homes and offices. “We always wanted (our business) to have a social emphasis — for friends and family to share moments together over delicious desserts. Our mission tagline, ‘delivering happiness, one cake at a time’, contains that idea,” Ms Tan said. Ardent dessert lovers themselves, Ms Tan and Mr Er visit a myriad of cafés and eateries to source for the best desserts to include in their monthly surprise boxes. The duo personally selects each month’s offerings, and takes care to include only desserts that are handmade on the cafés’ premises, to ensure that the desserts remain fresh upon delivery. Though the founders like to keep their dessert boxes a surprise, they do try to accommodate customers’ requests — subscribers can indicate their preferred flavours on an order form.

The duo personally selects each month’s offerings, and takes care to include only desserts that are handmade on the cafés’ premises to ensure that the desserts remain fresh upon delivery. Previous boxes included financiers — a type of French sponge cake — from Carpenter and Cook and The Butter Studio’s Salted Butterscotch Red Velvet Cupcake, with the former once limited to the café’s dessert ta-

bles and not available on its regular menu. In addition to a regular The NOM Box, which serves four to five desserts for two people, those in bigger groups can order the upsized The NOM Box +. The larger box packs six to eight desserts, which are suitable for sharing between two or three people. The NOM Box costs $28, while longer subscriptions cost $26 and $23 per month, for a three and six-month subscription respectively. The NOM Box + costs $38.95, while longer subscriptions cost $36.95 and $33.95 for a three and six-month subscription respectively. The founders handle an average of 50 orders for The NOM Box each month. The founders mentioned that their monthly boxes do not carry a specific theme, but should a festival coincide with certain months, they will try to match desserts to the festival. “For example, Children’s Day marks the start of October, so for this month, we are having old-school desserts to bring a sense of nostalgia,” Ms Tan said. Surprises can also be arranged. Mr Er mentioned that they previously received a request for a cake and a bouquet on top of a regular box order. With advance notice, The NOM Box can also personalise gift tags and include cards for special occasions. Subscribers can indicate their special requests when placing their orders on their website. The founders wish to raise the profiles of lesser-known stalls that sell quality desserts as well. “We absolutely love the muffins from AJ Delights at Alexandra Village Food Centre. Through our personal taste tests, we hope to promote such hidden gems,” Ms Tan said. The NOM Box is also constantly evolving. Ms Tan shared that a chocolate or durian themed box is on the cards in the near future.

Students who input the coupon code "NTU10" will get 10 per cent off on their first order of The NOM Box. The offer lasts until 30 Nov.

FEAST ON THIS: Dig into the vintage-looking box complete with a personalised tag, for a specially-curated selection of desserts and snacks. PHOTO: LIEW YU WEI

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singles of the month

TAKE Ü THERE ft. Kiesza SUPERNATURAL

YELLOW FLICKER BEAT

CAREFUL YOU

PHOTOS: INTERNET

Jack Ü OWSLA/Mad Decent

AlunaGeorge Island Records

SUPERSTAR DJs Diplo and Skrillex, known for their hard hitting and innovative takes on dance music, have joined forces under the name Jack Ü. Their first single, Take Ü There, celebrates and embraces each artist’s individual style, with a surprisingly cohesive effect. Skrillex’s frequent use of dubstep and Diplo’s fascination with urban sounds are combined with a twist in the track. The end result is a subdued, relax-on-thebeach-sounding groove that is a significant departure from their genres. The risk pays off with a rewarding listen. Up and coming Canadian singer Kiesza, known for her chart topping single Hideaway, makes a powerful impact. Her soothing vocals tie the whole package together, balancing the hard thumping beats with slow moments.

ALUNAGEORGE, an electronic music duo from London consisting of vocalist Aluna Francis and producer George Reid, struck gold when they collaborated with their English contempary, Disclosure, on White Noise last year. It was hard not to fall back into obscurity after such a chart-soaring feature, but they kept heads turned with their debut album Body Music, and now, they’ve hit their stride on new single Supernatural. The song's beat shares the same retro-futuristic vibe that propelled White Noise to dance clubs all over the world, and Francis’ vocals spring lightly from one line to the next, pulling listeners along for a fastmoving and lively ride. The release date for their next album has yet to be announced.

FOLLOWING the success of her debut album Pure Heroine last year, Lorde is back, this time providing the lead single for the upcoming Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part One soundtrack. Yellow Flicker Beat starts with the 18-year-old New Zealand singer-songwriter's effortless vocals, supported only by her own humming, but in the chorus, we’re hit hard by the familiar electronic drums that have become her signature sound. With lines like “the scars that mark my body, they’re silver and gold", Yellow Flicker Beat paints a vivid picture of Hunger Games protagonist Katniss Everdeen, detailing her transformation from a helpless tribute to the reluctant symbol of a rebellion. It’s a sure-fire way to hype yourself up for the movie’s release on 20 Nov.

AMERICAN indie rock band, TV on the Radio, has just released their second single, Careful You as part of their fifth studio album, Seeds. Here, the band veers away from guitarcentric rock and enters electronic music territory. Instead of their signature distorted guitar riffs, Careful You contains a dense synthetic bassline that seethes beneath calm vocals. This shift, however, does not strip them entirely of their traditional rock aesthetic, and the song still follows a verse-chorusverse structure, with a huge chorus stretching to anthemic proportions. With record producer and band member David Sitek helming the song’s production, it sounds as stellar as TV on the Radio always has, and the band seems all geared up for an exciting return.

-Kevin Nicholas Wong

-Zachary Tang

-Jared Alex Tan

-Zachary Tang

Lorde Republic Records

TV on the Radio Harvest Records

movie review DRACULA UNTOLD

Drama, Fantasy Luke Evans, Sarah Gadon, Dominic Cooper 93 min



nlike 1958's critically acclaimed British horror film Dracula, Dracula Untold is hardly awe-inspiring. Neither is it the gothic gory blood fest that had delighted in shocking conservative audiences at the time. As a prequel to Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic — tracing the origins of how the famed bloodthirsty vampire came to be — the movie lacked some much needed bite that could have revived a dying franchise. In Dracula Untold, Count Dracula begins not as a vampire but as a human Transylvanian prince, Vlad III Tepes (Luke Evans). He rules over his peaceful kingdom alongside his loving wife Mirena (Sarah Gadon) and young son Ingeras (Art Parkinson). However, his reign is threatened when rival king Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper) demands that a thousand boys from his principality, including Ingeras, join his army. In a bid to save his son and his beloved kingdom, Vlad strikes a deal with supernatural forces to give him the “strength of a hundred men” and “the speed of a falling star” — making him powerful enough

INTIMIDATING FIGURE: Luke Evans as Count Dracula, clad in an armoured suit.

to defeat his enemies. But this request comes at a dear price: he develops an insatiable appetite for blood. This sets off a chain of events that eventually results in his transformation into the mythological creature, Count Dracula. While this initial set-up sounds promising, the bland script unfortunately offers little room for the building up of any suspense or excitement. Despite the extensive use of CGI effects — especially during the battle scenes and when the vampires implode — they were mediocre and failed to excite audiences. The portrayal of the emotional struggle that Vlad experienced in overcoming his

PHOTO: UNIVERSAL PICTURES

bestial instincts was also, at best, brief. The plot is laid bare from the beginning — man takes on vampire identity in the hopes of saving his family and land — and literally, that is all there is to it. There are no plot-twists to subvert your expectations, except for the completely new premise. In Dracula Untold, the only saving grace lies in its cast, notably Evans, Gadon and Parkinson, who put up worthy performances despite the thin material they had to work with. The scenes in which Vlad interacts with his family offer the most emotional resonance; their great on-screen chemistry brought forth several touching moments.

In fact, it is these moments, though brief and fleeting, that stayed with this reviewer after the film, rather than the repetitive sparring sequences between the opposing camps. The war scenes mostly comprised monotonous one-man shows featuring Vlad dissolving into his trademark flight of bats and ravaging his enemies. To his credit, Evans, in his first highprofile lead role, manages to bridge the seemingly otherworldly gap between ordinary human and mythical beast. Putting out a realistic and heartfelt portrayal of a man driven to the edge, he gives the audience a platform to understand the motivations behind his drastic actions: beneath the surface of the winged creature lies a man who would do anything to protect his loved ones. Despite Evans’ attempts to bring these aspects to his character, it is not enough to prevent his Count Dracula from being relegated to the stereotypes of today’s action heroes. Even at the peak of his overt transformation, Vlad's most beastly moments in the film still fail to capture the original monster’s ruthlessness. This new Count Dracula is neither gripping nor memorable — he is sorely stripped of the horror and enigma that once attracted audiences. Dracula Untold does not possess sufficient complexity to provide insight into the intriguing background of the iconic vampire, and the story is better left untold.

-Paige Lim

12-13 REVIEWS spotlight 1

STAYING AFLOAT WITH

PERSPECTIVES

Perspectives Film Festival 2014, to be held from 16 to 19 Oct and organised by students from NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information (WKWSCI), promises to provide a powerful stage for social commentary. Reviews Writers Paige Lim, Serene Low and Ernest Chin unpack the best features of this year’s edition.

espite being a predominantly studentrun initiative, Perspectives Film Festival has established itself as a fixture in Singapore’s film festival calendar. With its thought-provoking themes, Perspectives has become a platform that challenges and broadens the minds of local filmgoers. Previous editions of Perspectives provided a closer look at topics rarely addressed at length in mainstream media, through the lens of controversial and independent films that dig deep into society’s underbelly.

About Perspectives 2014

Now in its seventh edition, Perspectives 2014: Breakthroughs in Cinema features a selection of seven critically acclaimed films that explore the theme of displacement, comprising “characters adrift from familiar surroundings, held in contempt by others and exiled to the fringes of society”. The films will be screened at Golden Village Vivocity and the National Museum of Singapore, together with two seminars, Behind the Scenes of Salaam Bombay! and Filmmaking for Social Change. The selection calls attention to the universality of displacement, and serves as a stark reminder that while life may appear bright and rosy on the surface, displacement

exists as a social undercurrent. Although the films portray life in social settings disparate from Singapore, they contain elements that hit us close to home.

Real films, real people

Andre He, 26, one of the two festival directors, expressed that the key motivation behind this year’s theme was highlighting stories that transcend geographical limits and social classes. The selected films shed light on neglected individuals around the world, whose stories are often unheard of. “It is not pity that makes us sit up and pay attention to these stories, but the lessons we can draw from them. How do we confront our metaphorical and literal displacements? Do we fight, adapt, or simply survive?” said the final-year student from WKWSCI. Aside from fulfilling the central theme, it was also important for the films featured to have a tangible sense of authenticity and sincerity. To the team behind the festival, it was important for the films to depict “stories that were honest” — only made possible when filmmakers had “fully immersed” themselves into the very hearts of the places they were filming, according to Andre. The realism in the films are the product of their filmmakers’ painstaking efforts in painting a detailed

story. Sin Nombre director Cary Fukunaga actually rode atop cargo trains together with Mexican immigrants to experience, firsthand, the dangers that they put themselves through. He also chose to cast actual migrants as some of the movie’s characters.

The diversity of displacement

The selected films invite the audience to delve into facets of displacement, such as social immobility and cultural difference. Suzhou River looks at the gritty side of Shanghai that is usually concealed from the average tourist. Against the backdrop of a bleak and dreary area along the banks of the polluted Suzhou River, Suzhou chronicles the lives of four characters as they roam the fringes of society. The recurring theme of transience in the film challenges the idea of having a fixed identity, and this is poignantly illustrated by renowned Chinese actress Zhou Xun’s portrayal of the dual entities of Moudan and Meimei. Amid this unstable narrative lies one constant: the presence of the Suzhou River. The river’s murky and contaminated waters are a striking reflection of the ambiguity of the characters’ circumstances. While the characters’ journeys in Suzhou

PHOTOS: PERSPECTIVES FILM FESTIVAL

are shrouded by uncertainty, a clearer sense of direction is shown in Sin Nombre, which charts the lives of South-American immigrants who brave the dangers of murder, rape and corruption in desperate pursuit of the American dream. The story follows teenage girl Sayra (Pauline Gaitan) as she flees her impoverished town and makes a perilous trek across the North American-Mexican border. She is accompanied by ex-gangster Willy (Edgar Flores), who is himself trying to escape the violence and trauma of a troubled past. Together, the two youths embark on a hopeful search to find their place in the fringes of society. The film is a brutal yet sombre portrayal of the plight of immigrants. Sympathy is generated not only for the migrants, but also for the gang members who have been trapped or coerced into their violent circumstances.

“It is not pity that makes us sit up and pay attention to these stories, but the lessons we can draw from them. How do we confront our metaphorical and literal displacements? Do we fight, adapt, or simply survive?” Andre He Festival Director

Meanwhile, different types of societal outcasts are depicted in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, which follows a controversial romance that blooms between Emmi (Brigette Mira), an elderly cleaner, and Ali (El Hedi Ben Salem), a younger Moroccan worker. The couple’s happiness is threatened by racial and social divides, as their friends and family struggle to set aside prejudices and accept their union.

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1. SIN NOMBRE: South American immigrants face a perilious journey while chasing the American dream. 2. SUZHOU RIVER: The transient lives of four seemingly insignificant people in Shanghai unfold in a tale of love and loss. 3. ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL: A forbidden relationship blossoms between a lonely widow and a migrant worker. 4. SALAAM BOMBAY!: 10-year-old boy stumbles into the big city while trying to find his way back home. 5. WALKABOUT: A teenage schoolgirl and her younger brother struggle to survive in the Australian outback. 6. SHORT TERM 12: A young supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers faces an identity crisis when a new resident arrives.

3 At first, the marriage between the two outcasts of society seems to be a hopeful lesson in acceptance, but as the film progresses, it suggests that love alone may not be strong enough to overcome decades of deep-seated resentment and discrimination. Audiences expecting a heartwarming tale of romance should brace themselves for a bittersweet commentary on the inevitable flaws in society. Director Rainer Werner Fassbinder resists oversimplification in his discourse of the nature of prejudice and relationships. His skillful handling of the types of discrimination addressed in the movie led Perspectives Programming Head Jeremy Ho, 24, to remark that Ali is “the heart of the film festival”. Through the choice of films like Suzhou, Sin, and Ali, Perspectives explores displacement through the themes of geography, marginalisation and social identity. The stories of displacement from society are further addressed in the other four films in the line-up. Salaam Bombay! and Walkabout docu-

ment quests to find home and a sense of belonging; Short Term 12 tells the story of marginalised youths who wrestle with troubled pasts; and the complexities of sexual identity are demonstrated in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, through its transgender rock star protagonist.

More than a festival

For the team behind Perspectives, the event goes beyond that of an average film festival. The organising committee, who laboured tirelessly over the course of three months to curate the films and finalise the festival lineup, feel that Perspectives holds profound significance not only for themselves — it allows film to become a catalyst in addressing issues close to home and heart. Andre says: “What is required of us is not an extensive effort. It is simply investing time and providing a voice to the issues we care about. We hope to become a festival that’s not just built around film, but around the ancillary activities that challenge the thoughts and opinions presented in these films.”

7. HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH: A transgender rock star tries, but fails, to hide his loneliness from an unaccepting society.

Organiser Favourites “Salaam Bombay! Hands down! Director Mira Nair’s work is one of the most stunning of debuts, it brings to life the sounds of an India we often read about — poverty, class divide and the state of things. It is a breathtaking and confident work that fully deserved the Cannes Camera d’Or.” - Eternality Tan, 26, Festival Instructor and Managing Director at The Filmic Eye “My favourite film is Walkabout. Walkabout is a gem and I love its experimental sequences of beautiful, haunting visuals. With associative images, director Nicholas Roeg paints a mysterious portrait of the vast Australian Outback and the curious inhabitants it hosts — from wild Aboriginals to urban misfits.” - Sarah Thiam, 22, Festival Director “My favourite pick would be Short Term 12. There’s quite a raw element to this empathetic and moving film. Revolving around the theme of desolation, director Destin Daniel Cretton pries open a window looking into neglected youths and the timeless struggle between people and their inner demons. Truly a compelling and heartfelt drama.” - Cheryl Cheong, 22, Head of Publicity and Sponsorship

14-15 SHOWCASE

WORKING WITH ROBOTS From physiotherapy to rehabilitation for stroke patients, we have steadily come to depend on robotics for medical assistance. Photo Editors Clifford Lee and Tan Xiu Qi explore the NTU Robotics Research Centre (RRC) to uncover some of the research that could, in the future, make it easier for patients to regain the ability to walk.

hen Li Lei, 27, first came to Singapore from Nanjing, China to study on a scholarship, all he had in mind was to complete his studies and obtain a stable job in the private sector as a maritime engineer. As an aspiring engineer, little did he expect to be involved in research – designing, creating and testing machines for future medical use in hospitals. The final-year PhD student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) is currently working on machines designed to help patients regain their mobility, such as stroke patients and those undergoing various forms of physiotherapy. Li stressed that it was important for stroke patients to be able to simulate mobility as far as possible, in order for the neurons in their brains to be fully rehabilitated, allowing them to relearn the movements of walking. A lthough gait therapy assistance robots are commercially available to help patients, they often do not have pelvic support. This restricts freedom of movement

as patients are unable to turn, thus hindering the process of recovery. “Physiotherapy is a very labour intensive process, requiring up to three people to assist a stroke patient for a 30 to 40-minute therapy session every day,” Li said. Gesturing towards a large and seemingly unwieldy-looking machine mounted on wheels, he added that the machine “is able to reduce the labour required by supporting a patient’s body weight while still allowing for pelvic motion”. The machine is known as the Natural and Tunable Rehabilitation and Gait System (NaTUre-Gaits), the brainchild of a f ive-year long project which concluded in 2011. The project was led by MAE Professor Low Kim Huat, in collaboration with Dr Adela Tow of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Growing up in a family of engineers — both his father and grandfather were engineers — Li had been tinkering with mechanical watches since he was a young boy. While he has always enjoyed the mechanics of engineering, he had never thought about building machines for a specific purpose before.

His foray into research only began after Prof Low was assigned as his PhD programme supervisor. It was only then that Li developed a genuine interest in helping others through his creations. He joined the NaTUre-Gaits team as a research student, where he was put in charge of collecting human motion data instrumental towards designing the robot. Now he is working with a new team, and developing a more mobile version of the NaTUreGaits system, which resembles an exoskeleton suit. The prototype is ready but has not yet been unveiled by the RRC. Li will graduate with his doctorate early next year. Despite the lucrative pay in the private sector, he has decided to stay on campus to further his research, at least for the foreseeable future. He wants to create more automatons to improve the lives of others, as well as see the current prototypes through to fruition. “I love robotics and mechatronics. If doing what I love can help people and rehabilitate patients along the way, that’s great,” Li said.

Clockwise from top left: STRAPPED IN: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)

PhD student Li Lei, 22, straps fellow colleague Chi Wan Chao, 28, into the NaTUre-Gaits machine at the Robotics Research Centre (RRC). Li works on robotics for medical use, while Chi is involved in the Centre’s drone research programme. SCIENCE OF WALKING: RRC Research Fellow Ang Jia Wei, 24, assists Li with

his research in MAE’s Motion Capture Laboratory. As he walks at different speeds, the infrared cameras are able to track his movements through the optical markers attached to his body. The information is then relayed to Li’s computer. TINKERING ABOUT: Li hard at work at his console in the RRC. Reviewing the motion data captured during field trials is instrumental to the speedy design and improvement of the gait-assistance robots. FINE BALANCE: RRC Research Fellow Zhu Haifei, 29, tests the BalanceTrainer

machine. The machine is used for various physiotherapy treatments, as the treadmill is able to simulate various real-world walking situations such as a jerk, slip or push, as well as everyday situations such as a bus or train ride. TRACKING SUBJECTS: Li attaches optical markers at important spots on

Ang’s body, such as the ankles, joints and hips, as these are vital areas which facilitate movements.

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庾澄庆“我要给你” 演唱会 —— 刊19页

新闻

南大爱猫者义务照料校园邻里猫李玥玮● 报道

南

大校园宿舍里，除了会有大批学生活动的踪迹，三不五时也会看到猫只出没。而这些在校园内自由“行动”的猫并不是野猫，而是属于南大校园一分子的“邻里猫”。作为一个爱猫者，机械工程系大三生杨博文（23岁）平日会在傍晚时分到体育与康乐中心（Sports and Recreation Centre）附近喂食一只名为Lily的玳瑁猫（tortoiseshell，也称三色猫）。他说：“猫儿在那段时间比较活跃，加上它认得我的声音，所以只要呼唤 Lily的名字，就能轻易找到它。” 杨博文自大一开始便加入南大猫咪管理协会（Cats Management Network），义务照顾着校园里的邻里猫。在照料校园邻里猫的三年里，令杨博文感到印象最深刻的事就是训练新领养的猫。目前担任协会财政的杨博文说：“我们曾尝试不给猫进食，等它饿了的时候再用食物引导它到固定的喂食地点。结果，一名阿姨碰巧看到这只饿猫，给它喂了一整罐的食物，我们的训练计划因此泡汤。” 此外，协会也会密切关注猫只，确保它们不会对学校造成困扰。杨博文补充说：“我现在除了给猫咪喂食，也会安排时间带这些邻里猫做例行健康检查。另外，协会也让这些邻里猫进行绝育手术，避免出现猫只数目过多的情况。”

猫咪管理协会从2004年创立至今已有 10年，目前由4名指导顾问和约60名的志工成员组成，其中包括本科生、研究生以及教职员工。就读于艺术、设计与媒体学院的二年级生姜知秀（Kang Jee Soo，音译）是现任协会会长。她解释，协会必须训练新领养的猫儿认得固定的“集合地点” ，让它们在进食时间的时候，就主动到该地点从志工那里得到猫食。姜知秀解释：“为了避免猫儿跑到食堂和超级市场等地方觅食，志工会选择远离宿舍和人潮的地方喂食猫儿，并且避免干扰到住宿生。” 对于那些想给猫儿喂食的学生，姜知秀受访时说：“协会并不反对学生喂

食，不过学生须注意不要在太靠近宿舍或食堂的地方进行喂食，并且事后把地方清理干净，防止猫群在该地方徘徊。” 她也提醒学生应当避免抱住或抓住猫儿。

近期发生猫只被虐事件协会目前照顾的邻里猫有20余只。姜知秀透露，猫儿多数可和平共处，只是偶尔会有争夺“地盘”的纷争。猫儿平时会面临到的危险，包括被虐、遇到狗的攻击或者被车辆撞倒的意外。上月18日，六号宿舍的其中一只邻里猫Currie被不明人士带出校园蓄意伤害，之后在裕廊西61号街被发现。针对这起事件，姜知秀表明，六号宿

南大猫咪管理协会的成员们每日都会轮流照顾校内的邻里猫。

舍管理员已发出电子邮件，呼吁目击者协助调查这起虐猫事件。尽管当时Currie全身多处受到严重伤害，但Currie上周末已康复出院，并将交由救它的热心公众领养。对于他人收养猫只的提案，姜知秀解释，除非发生猫只受伤而需要被悉心照料的情况，不然邻里猫不会被送走。

协会财政杨博文正在给校园内的一只邻里猫喂食。摄影: 曾圣仁

优秀校友鼓励学生接触不同文化蔡欣颖●报道中文编辑

尽

校友李江玕鼓励学生到国外生活，认识与接触当地的人文与环境。玕摄影: 黄琳

管新加坡分公司是在去年12月刚设立，但Easy Taxi新加坡执行董事李江玕（30岁）认为，多元化的团队是公司的优势。他说，来自葡萄牙、巴西等不同国籍的人聚在一起，会擦出不同的火花，带来不一样的思想空间。在上周五（10日）由就业与实习指导处（Career & Attachment Office）所主办的分享会上，李江玕分享了自己创办 EasyTaxi的历程，也分享了自己的成功哲学。此外，他补充道，如果周围的朋友群当中，有过半人数属于同个科系的话，

那应该重新审视自己的社交圈子，因为大家很可能会有相同的经历，开始有同样的想法。李江玕认为，与各行各界的人打交道，才会产生不一样的想法，因此鼓励在场的学生参与交换计划，并且大胆选择一些较为冷门的国家如越南、墨西哥等国家。作为南大校友，他鼓励学生必须做出多方面的尝试，勇敢接触不同国家的人和文化，才能使自己更加清楚人生与职场方向。李江玕受访时透露，自己在求学期间，曾经到巴黎当过一学期的交换生。他说：“在法国的时候，由于接触不同国家的人，所以难免会有文化上的冲击。不过，就是因为这样的冲击使我看问题的角度变得不一样。”

这也让他对于之前觉得理所当然的东西，产生了不同的观点。更重要的是，他也让自己适应了一个全新的环境。这个德士预召应用程序EasyTaxi早在 2011年就于巴西创立，并在全球170个城市中，累计超过1500万的下载量。李江玕说，自己是在机缘巧合下设立新加坡的分公司。他解释，当时自己在探寻这方面的机会，而邻居恰好是EasyTaxi创始人的朋友，因此便促成了双方的合作。针对公司未来的发展，李江玕说，现阶段的重点是增长而非盈利，公司也有意图进军其他海外市场例如缅甸。对于目前的成就，李江玕表示，成功取决于个人的看法，尽管走过的路很多也犯过很错多错误，但他也从中领悟到了不同事物，到目前为止感到满足。

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 04 生活

历久不衰的咖啡文化到长贺精选咖啡馆饮用咖啡，不但可以按着自己的意愿缴付咖啡的价钱，也可以与在咖啡业打滚超过50年的陈长贺进行咖啡上的知识交流。记者陈明耀走访店家，了解他的创业理念以及咖啡文化。

从

女皇镇地铁站步行近十分钟，就能发现这家坐落于史德林路（Stirling Road）邻里组屋区的长贺精选咖啡店面。走进这家外观上和一般咖啡馆无异的店里时，映入眼帘的却是各种精致的冲泡咖啡器具、生产咖啡粉的机器，以及各式各样与咖啡相关的摆设。店内设有一个吧台，让顾客一边品尝咖啡，一边与咖啡师进行交流。另外，长贺精选咖啡馆并没有为菜单上的咖啡饮料定价，价格全由顾客意愿而定。对此，品牌创始人陈长贺（71岁）解释，通过这种新的经营尝试，让更多人懂得如何鉴定一杯好咖啡。开业不久的店面也借此吸引更多人品尝利用自制咖啡粉冲泡的饮品。店里也会时不时举办咖啡鉴赏工作坊，教导参与者冲泡咖啡的正确方式。他也会经常到不同地方举行讲座，提高本地人对咖啡的相关认识。陈长贺说：“我认为咖啡是没有秘密的，无论我认识或不认识的人，只要你想要和我交流，我都会把我所知道的告诉你们。” 他补充说，咖啡产业每一年都在进步，而自己是在30多岁时领悟到这点，因此时至今日，自己也一直在学习有关咖啡方面的知识，以提升自己并与时并进。

在荷兰工厂学习咖啡制作这家仅开业半年的咖啡馆，是由陈长贺的小儿子陈骏名（32岁）和来自印尼的学徒 Juliana（24岁）共同经营。店里所使用的咖啡粉，是直

接取自店面隔壁的母公司长贺锦记（Tiong Hoe Gim Kee）。与咖啡馆不同，长贺锦记负责批发和售卖自制的咖啡粉，因此顾客能够直接向店员购买心仪的咖啡粉。谈到与咖啡的渊源，陈长贺说，这和他从小接触咖啡业的经历有很大的关系。他说：“我当时是叛逆的小孩，不（喜欢）读书，小学五年级没念完就离开了学校。母亲担心我误入歧途，便在我16 岁的时候，让我到她工作的工厂帮忙炒咖啡。” 他回忆道，母亲当时在本地的荷兰咖啡工厂“Mirandolle Voute & Co.”担任管工，负责挑选咖啡豆。在耳濡目染的环境下，以咖啡为本业自然而然成为陈长贺的志愿。在工厂工作三年后，年仅 19岁的陈长贺便离开工厂自立门户，开设了长贺锦记。他解释，“长贺”店名除了以自己的名字命名，也有谐音“常喝”的另一层含义，期许更多人品尝咖啡。

本地人对咖啡常有的误解对于这名咖啡达人而言，陈长贺认为，要泡一杯好的咖啡，选对咖啡豆、拥有优秀的烘焙和冲泡技术至关重要。他指出，咖啡喝下去的第一口要感觉得到苦、涩和酸，而这些感觉会在喝第二口时减半，并在第三或第四次入口时完全消失。

但从开设公司至今，陈长贺坦承本地仍有许多人对咖啡有所误解。他的朋友们说他的咖啡不够黑，没有味道。即使他再三地解释说，自己售卖的咖啡是纯咖啡，而不是咖啡乌，却都无济于事，很难改变本地人对于咖啡认识的刻板印象。他解释：“咖啡乌不是咖啡，咖啡乌的“乌”是把焦糖拿去煮成了碳，所以咖啡才会是黑色的，而真正的咖啡是琥珀色的。” 然而，因为本地人普遍觉得咖啡应该是黑色的，所以经常发生顾客和咖啡店老板投诉咖啡不够黑。老板传达讯息给供应商后，于是不少供应商只好在制作过程中加入焦糖，而所出产的咖啡粉却再也不是纯正的咖啡。

默默耕耘传承咖啡文化采访过程中不难发现陈长贺对咖啡文化的执着和热忱。记者也从Juliana口中得知，陈长贺向来行事低调，长期以来培养出不少学徒。近期本地咖啡馆如雨后春笋般冒起，其中不少经营者都曾到陈长贺门下“拜师学艺”。不喜欢搞噱头的陈长贺鲜少接受媒体采访，多年来一直默默耕耘，坚持给顾客提供优质的咖啡粉。这让人看到一杯简单咖啡的背后，却蕴藏着陈长贺的坚持与不懈热忱。这使得咖啡文化得以在本地历久不衰。

陈长贺年幼辍学，在本地一间荷兰咖啡工厂工作三年之后在19岁摄影：陈可庭时创业，成立了长贺锦记。

观看陈长贺接受本报采访的相关视频，可上网 http://www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg/multimedia/

在烘焙咖啡豆时，必须定时从仪器中取出咖啡豆，以正确拿捏咖啡豆的烘焙程度。

长贺精选咖啡馆的店面虽小，却陈列了各种冲泡咖啡的器具，以及一袋袋的咖啡豆。

顾客除了可以品尝多种的现泡咖啡，也可以选购店家以不同咖啡豆自制的咖啡粉。

一杯好咖啡需要优良的咖啡豆与正确的泡制方法。

VOL. NO.

THE NANYANG

04 CHRONICLE 娱乐

庾澄庆“我要给你”新加坡演唱会

影评电影播映室

自娱娱人哈林“开心”热唱

电影:《绣春刀》主演: 张震、聂远、刘诗诗类型: 动作、悬疑



照片：Golden Village提供哈林在演唱抒情歌曲《请开窗》时，大银幕同时播放他在音乐圈发展的点点滴滴。

蔡欣颖●报道中文编辑

出

道至今已28年的“音乐顽童”庾澄庆演唱一首首抒情、动感的经典歌曲，带领本地歌迷走进“哈林时代”的音乐世界。尽管在上个月中因为心律不整而进行心脏手术，但53岁的哈林在本月3日举行的演唱会上依然动感十足，看不出之前身体抱恙的迹象。在连唱三首摇滚歌曲时，哈林更是又唱又跳，并不时与坐在舞台两侧的观众互动，炒热现场气氛。此外，在演唱完劲歌《热情的沙漠》时，哈林直接躺卧在舞台上笑说，自己因刚完成 “开心”手术感到缺氧。旁边的乐手见状，便作势要对他进行人工呼吸，吓得哈林马上弹坐起来，惹得观众哄堂大笑。这场名为“我要给你”的演唱会在圣淘沙名胜世界举行，

吸引约5000名歌迷到场支持。有别于以往的演唱会，哈林舍弃动感舞曲，反而以连唱三首抒情曲为演唱会拉开序幕。他巧妙利用歌曲《靠近》、《请开窗》和《自在》的歌词向现场歌迷传话，让他们能够聆听自己的内心。

“有些情绪大家比较少看到，在电视上看到我很鬼马、很机灵，看起来好像很开心，但很多事情（我）就利用抒情歌曲来表达我的看法，也宣泄了我的情绪。” 过后，哈林也为旧歌注入新的曲风，带给观众听觉上的惊喜。他把印度曲风融入《快乐颂》，并摇身一变成为“哈林大师”，希望大家能从歌曲中得到“心灵的快乐、舒适和平安。”哈林搞怪的模样也让台

哈林与歌迷感性分享他多年来在音乐创作上的变化。

摄影: 苏耀晖

下的观众不断欢呼，给予热烈的掌声。为了与观众拉近距离，哈林更是直接走向观众席中的小舞台演唱《只有为你》，而观众也热情地围绕着小舞台，使场面变得温馨感人。当晚，哈林分享了自己对音乐创作的想法，细数出道28年以来在音乐创作上的变化。在演唱抒情摇滚曲《改变所有的错》之前，哈林说：“一开始我的心态比较摇滚，比较激烈，可是慢慢在这摇滚的路上，有些摇滚虽然充满热情，但其实不需要那么激烈。” 他之后更是感性发言，表示音乐创作是表达自己想法的一种重要管道。他说：“有些情绪大家比较少看到，在电视上看到我很鬼马、很机灵，看起来好像很开心，但很多事情（我）就利用抒情歌曲来表达我的看法，也宣泄了我的情绪。” 抒情组曲的部分也看出哈林的感性。另外，他邀请众艺人好友如张惠妹、周杰伦、小S等七位歌手写下对“哈林时代” 的定义，并在切换下一首歌曲时，搭配这些文字播映出来。其中，小S不改直率本性，透露说：“我的哈林年代，是高中学长骑着摩托车，载我到阳明山看夜景，然后亲嘴！” 在最后的安可部分，哈林不改音乐顽童的本性，不只使用琵琶演奏一段《十面埋伏》，更把耳熟能详的《情非得已》以戏曲的方式，献唱给观众。他也发挥主持人的本色，把现场观众分为三大区进行PK大赛，通过大合唱《情非得已》的方式把气氛推向高潮，让演唱会在欢愉的气氛下，划上完美的句点。

古

装电影《绣春刀》以明朝末年为时代背景，讲述三位结拜为兄弟的锦衣卫因卷入朝廷官员权力纷争而经历的悲欢离愁。故事改编自中国史上崇祯皇帝登基后，要处死掌握大权的太监魏忠贤一事。电影里，皇帝派遣内宫太监赵靖忠（聂远饰）办事，而他也一直觊觎魏忠贤之权，因此亲点锦衣卫执行暗杀，把魏忠贤置于死地。三兄弟接下这个看似能够出人头地的任务，殊不知却成了朝廷的傀儡，造成最终面临家破人亡的悲惨下场。此片也颠覆以往武侠片中

乐评音乐Jukebox 专辑:《Holler》歌手: 少女时代—太蒂徐推荐歌曲《 Holler》、《Adrenaline》、《Only U》



照片：网络下载

韩

国女子组合少女时代成员太妍，蒂芬妮与徐玄组成的子团体——太蒂徐（TaeTiSeo）推出第二张迷你专辑《Holler》，其中专辑同名主打歌曲《Holler》融合了 60年代复古风味。

锦衣卫威武阳刚的形象，流露出他们柔弱的一面，让观众看到这些男人的爱恨情仇。大哥卢剑星（王千源饰）憨厚老实、二弟沈炼（张震饰）冷酷的外表下却痴心钟情于青楼女子周妙彤（刘诗诗饰）、三弟靳一川（李东学饰）则性情单纯温和。整部片子以较灰暗的色调呈现，搭配既紧张又忧伤的音乐，充分营造了凄凉与绝望的气氛。制作组也非常注意片中的细节。例如，锦衣卫身穿的“飞鱼服”层次分明，绣工精细，演员们穿上戏服便摇身变成威严勇猛的锦衣卫。另外，曾参与许多好莱坞电影的武术指导桑林也参与制片，带给观众精准逼真的武打戏份，无处可挑。其中，三兄弟联手对付将近 20名与他们敌对的锦衣卫，一对五的打斗场面让人看得目不转睛。然而，角色之间的感情戏份与急促的结局是此片的败笔。由于焦点以三兄弟为主，女演员无法充分地发挥角色的内心戏，电影自然无法清楚交代角色之间的感情纠葛。其中三弟和老大夫女儿（叶青饰）的感情戏处理得过于仓促，让人觉得叶青的角色可有可无。这部电影虽以老调“邪不能胜正，善恶有报”为中心概念，但同时探讨了人性的弱点，发人深省。自私与义气的人性在电影中形成强烈对比，所带出的信息也让观众看到，这些无谓的权力斗争与贪婪最终只会害人害己、伤及无辜。（文／王敏丽）副歌里的“Holler，holler， holler”朗朗上口，而在听完整首歌之后，强劲的旋律也会一直在脑海里不停地回响。成员在音乐视频里一共换了十套不同造型的服装，其中包括俏丽的斑马纹洋装、女王般闪闪发亮的水晶服装等。这些造型也是蒂芬妮首次以“造型师”的身份为成员精心挑选。第二首歌曲《Adrenaline》轻快的“拍手”节奏和爵士乐，搭配着成员们充满活力的歌声会使听众情不自禁地也想跟着舞动起来。徐玄首次尝试创作，为抒情歌曲《Only U》谱写歌词。她曾透露，自己是与家人旅行时，无意间得到灵感并在一天之内完成。钢琴所奏出的温馨旋律搭配徐玄的歌词，充分描述人在恋爱时，想要永远保护属于自己所爱的那份心情。专辑维持以往的复古混合风格，也收入了其它曲风的歌曲，其中包括爵士乐、R&B、电子舞曲等。曲风虽不同，但歌曲排序融洽，让人听完之后意犹未尽。（文／陈妍丹）

Opinions EDITORIAL

Joseph Schooling: True blue Singaporean

SINGAPORE’S top swimmer Joseph Schooling competed in the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea and took home the gold medal for the 100 metre butterfly event. The 19-year-old has also won a silver and a bronze medal for two other events in the Games, which ended on 4 Oct. But some netizens have called him a ‘foreign talent’, because he has a European surname, looks more Caucasian, and perhaps, less like a typical Singaporean. He also received flak for successfully deferring his National Service obligations to focus on training for the 2016 Olympics. It is a well-known fact that foreign talents play an integral role in the local sports scene. Our women’s table tennis team, who earned a silver medal in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, are part of the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme (FST). Despite earning honours for the nation, they have been criticised by many Singaporeans for not being truly ‘Singaporean’, as they were born in a foreign country and they had trained with foreign teams. Our government had lured them over to represent Singapore in sports with a lucrative financial package, and these athletes have since become naturalised Singapore citizens. Schooling is a third-generation Eurasian who was born and raised in Singapore. Misconceptions about the athlete’s identity could be prevented if netizens would take the simple

step of verifying Schooling’s information online. His mother, Mrs May Schooling, is a Singapore Permanent Resident while his father, Mr Colin Schooling, is a Singapore citizen who was born here. Yet, it is absurd that Schooling’s parents have to frequently assert their son’s nationality in media interviews over the last few years. But they do so proudly each time. Mr Colin made a statement in Malay in a recent video by The Straits Times, which translates as: “My name is Colin Schooling, true son of Singapore” just to prove themselves. Schooling is a Singaporean who has done our country proud in the highly-competitive international sports scene. Yet, many Singaporeans resort to labelling him as a nonSingaporean, which ignores the effort he has put in and strips him of the recognition he deserves for having done well. In an interview with RedSports, he related how he trains for 24 hours a week, on top of six and half hours of school each weekday. And he recently became the fastest high school 100-yard butterfly swimmer in American history — strangely, a little known fact to a country so keen to have its athletes shine bright. Let’s not attempt to define how local he is with how well he fits into a typical Singaporean mould. Let him be fully appreciated for what he has achieved.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

CHIEF EDITOR Liu Ting Ting

MANAGING EDITOR Tiffany Goh

SUB-EDITORS

Kerri Heng Abigail Ng Alfred Chua Ang Hwee Min Clarisse Tan Isadora Ong Nazri Eddy Razali Ong Lynette Parveen Maghera Renee Poh

NEWS EDITORS Aqil Haziq Louisa Tang

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Justin Kor Serena Yeh

CHINESE EDITORS Camelia Ting Choy Xin Ying

OPINIONS EDITORS Amir Yusof Louisa Goh

SPORTS EDITORS Lisa Oon Saeful Hakim

DAPPER EDITORS Goh Ye Ling Lydia Teo

VIDEO SUPERVISORS Daniel Neo Kelly Phua Wu Bing Yu

DIGITAL EDITOR Wong Li Yan

BUSINESS MANAGERS

REVIEWS EDITOR Zachary Tang

Lionel Lim Ho Xiu Xian Sheena Wong

PHOTO EDITORS

PRODUCTION SUPPORT

Clifford Lee Tan Xiu Qi

GRAPHICS EDITOR Pamela Ng

COMMUNITY EDITOR Jeremy Hau

A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI)

Joe Tok Kenny Wong

FACULTY ADVISORS Lau Joon-Nie Roseline Yew Zakaria Zainal Chia Sue-Ann

Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446

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

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frankly, my dear

A column by Chronicle Editors on issues close to their hearts

No A Grades? No Problem

GRADES AREN’T EVERYTHING: A person’s happiness in life shouldn’t be defined by academic grades.

Louisa Tang News Editor

y form teacher once told my mother that I was an “underachiever” who needed extra tuition to boost her grades. I’d just completed my first year in primary school. Indeed, “good grades equal success in life” is a statement many Singaporean students or parents would nod vehemently in agreement to. This mantra follows most, if not all of us into university. If I got a dollar every time my friends picked a module they knew would grant them an A, instead of one out of their comfort zone that may adversely affect their Grade Point Average (GPA), I would probably be able to pay my own university tuition fees by now. I, too, used to be obsessed with attaining ideal grades. But the turning point came when I chose a polytechnic education during the Provisional Admission Exercise after three months in Temasek Junior College. Naturally, my typically kiasu Singaporean parents balked at my choice, but they relented in the end, understanding that I was ready for a different kind of learning. I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a decent GPA, having completed an internship at a national newspaper and gained hands-on experience in many of my modules.

Since entering NTU, I haven’t earned a single A. 15-year-old me would weep reading my university transcript, with its litany of B+s and Bs. But that’s fine with me. Looking back, I was a miserable student who haplessly pored over piles of textbooks and stacks of notes every day. I studied so hard that I looked tired all the time. I’m sure I’m not the only one — just look at the photo of a teenage patient doing homework on her hospital bed that recently went viral in Singapore. Thankfully, in polytechnic, I finally got to study what I wanted, instead of what would get me through the best-graded doors. Whether I did well or not became secondary to my learning. In NTU, I’ve taken graphic design and foreign language courses that always interested me. While I didn’t get the best grades, I learned a lot — much more than if I had stuck to modules I knew I could do well in. I even got to apply the skills I learned in real life by designing book covers on commission. That is not to say that other pathways in education are not as good — each has its own merits. Many of my university friends do take modules that interest them, too. But it is sad that the first question out of everyone’s mouths on the first day of class is: “How will we be graded?” Why has our education system moulded us into students who go to school to get good grades and not to learn? To be fair, Ministry of Education has made some good moves of late — abolishing streaming at Primary Four being one of them — but mindsets have not changed. Students still obsess over ideal grades: 13-year-olds are still told

GRAPHIC: MARCUS LEE

that their results in secondary school will make or break their futures, and that the gulf between “neighbourhood” and “elite” schools still exists — leading students to define themselves by the quality of their grades. I admit that if I did not get a decent GPA in polytechnic, I would not have been granted any university admission interviews. But what scored me my Media Development Authority scholarship, TODAY newspaper internship, and entry into NTU was not academic merit — it was the passion I felt for the industry and school I wanted to enter, as well as my portfolio, which demonstrated abilities and skills relevant to my chosen field of Communication Studies. My dwindling concern over grades did not impact me adversely. I know of friends who studied smart, gained work experience and impressed their university admission interviewers enough to earn a spot in their school of choice, eclipsing others with better academic results. Sure, a first-class honours degree may get you one foot in the door, so to speak, but beyond that, will it propel you towards the life you want? I think we need to realise that an average GPA is not the end of the world. Your GPA is only a stepping stone to the workforce, where most employers are likely to judge you on how you can contribute to the company, and not on how many As you’ve scored. And you can only do that by learning as broadly as you can. So don’t just think about improving your GPA the next time you go on STARS. Think about improving your education.

24-25 OPINIONS Money Matters

THE DOLLARS AND SENSE OF

HOW TO BUDGET Funny how school never taught us the essential skills of budgeting. Opinions Editor Louisa Goh distils the art of budgeting for you.

ednesday, 24 Sep, 3.15pm. After a satisfying meal of roast beef with a good friend last month, I I sheepishly handed my last $20 to the waitress to pay for lunch. Hours later, I heaved a loud sigh of relief as it was my boyfriend’s turn to foot the bill for dinner.

WHAT TO DO HOW TO DO

Amount of money left in my wallet: $2. Hang on, I still had a week to go before the month ended. Where did all my money go? After a remarkable record of spending within my means for eight months this year, I finally busted my budget. Never mind that I had spent eight years managing budgets successfully as a treasurer, secretary, and financial controller for my school clubs and camps. Meanwhile, managing my own money has been a mystifying, trial-

and-error process. And I’m not alone. As it turned out, most students the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to were concerned about the nitty gritty — budgeting, saving money for big-ticket expenses (think further studies, cars, and a home), and putting their additional cash to good use. One thing for sure: managing one’s finances is a personal thing. No one can save us from the responsibility of making good decisions involving money. But you don’t have to do it all

by yourself. In this issue and the next, I will walk you through the essential personal finance skills of budgeting and saving. While budgeting seems to suggest the deprivation of funds — it’s not about spending little and starving yourself. The idea is to spend less than what you earn, and save a little each month. And with the plethora of budgeting apps out there, there is almost no maths involved. It’s a lot easier than it seems.

1. Save first, or watch it go away General rule of thumb: save some money first, and you won’t be tempted to spend it all. Be it the monthly allowance given by your parents, your salary (if you work), or even those tempting packets of angbao — put a portion of it away for safekeeping.

2. Allocate the money Based on your budget tracking, create a list of necessary expenses (essential needs such as food and transport). Next, allocate some money for indulgences like shopping and entertainment. Meet your important needs first, but also create some leeway for enjoyment.

Method 1 : Cash in envelopes At the start of each month, withdraw the money you’ve allocated for the month and divide it into envelopes representing your budget categories. Pro: It’s clear when you’re out of money, so you can easily reallocate cash when there isn’t enough for one category. Con: It’s a fussy system that requires you to carry multiple envelopes around.

Method 2 : ATM Lump Sum At the start of each month, calculate how much you’re expected to spend and divide it by the number of weeks. Pro: It’s straightforward, and makes ATM withdrawals quick and fuss-free. Con: It’s easy to lose track of the money you spend, which may tempt you to withdraw more money or pay by card.

Reasons for budgeting a. Redirect money to better things. We’ve all had the: “Where did my money go?” moment, and budgeting helps to trim away the useless fat in our lives. b. Accumulate money. And that’s a lot easier when you know where your money is going. Even if it’s saving just a dollar each day, it means that you’re a dollar closer to your goals.

WARNING These are not fail-safe plans: Tracking and sticking to a budget takes time if you’ve been used to spending whenever you want to. When you overspend, just adjust your budget for the following month accordingly. For instance, you can choose to spend less on food by bringing home-cooked meals to school, or you can fork out less on entertainment by borrowing DVDs instead of watching a movie at a cinema. Roll with the punches: Impulse buys and sudden expenses (sudden parties, lost items, et cetera) can still happen. The best way to cope is to create a Rainy Day fund to absorb these expenses, and avoid messing up your original budget. ILLUSTRATION: DARRYL LIM

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BUDGET MANIA

With dozens of budgeting applications and conflicting opinions about which is best, Opinions Editor Louisa Goh susses out four notable apps with unique functions.

Pocket Expense iOS; 12.5MB; free and paid ($7.65) y iOS standards, Pocket Expense comes across as plain and unassuming. The app is designed like a calendar, with your income and expenses neatly summed up for each day. The exact breakdown of the day’s expenditure can be viewed by tapping on the calendar’s dates. You don’t need a tutorial; setting up is a breeze. All functions are accessible on the first page. A quick tap can add a new expense or income, new budget, and new income (see picture on top left). It does not link to bank accounts the way many American budgeting apps do, but you can key in your starting balance in each bank account for a clear overview of your money. This is the only app reviewed that allows

Expense Manager Android; 1.72MB, free THE app looks like a legitimate accounting software — no frills, with everything neatly summarised into one home page for viewing. In spite of having seven tabs and nine rows of numbers on the home page, Expense Manager is well-worth overcoming the initial intimidation for. Two things stand out in the app — information is condensed into one page, and multiple accounts can be kept separate. By placing important information on the same page, the app does away with potential confusion or excessive fiddling. It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but the app makes navigation easy for users. Additionally, Expense Manager has a nifty feature to help track multiple accounts. This is particularly useful for small business

PHOTO: POCKET EXPENSE APP

you to add multiple budgets, so that you can easily track the amount of money you have in each category. It even allows money allocated under specific budgets to be transferred to other budgets — perfect in the event where you bust your budget for one category but still have spare cash in other categories. The only downside is that information has to be accessed separately through different tabs. Users have to toggle between different pages if they want to analyse data quickly. A collated report is available in the paid version, which costs $7.65. Verdict: For a free budgeting app, Pocket Expense hits all the sweet spots with its support for expense and budget tracking. It is not the prettiest, but it’s just like having an accountant in your pocket.

PHOTO: EXPENSE MANAGER APP

owners, but the function can also be used to track spending on different cards. Users can easily toggle between different accounts by clicking on the top right-hand tab (refer to above left picture), which changes the information displayed on the page. However, it appears that developers opted for functionality over aesthetics. While it works well, users might be discouraged to track their expenses until they familiarise themselves with the app’s features. On the bright side, the rows of numbers make more sense as time passes, as the numbers will be automatically updated to reflect new entries. Verdict: The interface of Expense Manager is ugly, but it’s a great workhorse that fulfils basic needs. There is an advertisement bar at the bottom of the page, but it feels like a fair trade for a free service that is comprehensive and easy to use.

Wally iOS; 7.6 MB; free Wally is beautiful — the homepage is clean and eye-catching. It displays your total budget and its daily average, and also summarises your daily expenses in chronological order — great for taking quick stock of how much money you have left. It also displays how much of the budget is left for the month. This is the app to capture details and be precise. Expenses can be classfied into three layers. The first layer is overarching (family, social, work, school et cetera), the second layer is general (food and drinks, transport, fun et cetera), and the final layer is by specifics (dining out, café, drinks and dessert). If that’s not enough, Wally is able to photograph and scan receipts to update your ex-

Daily Expenses Android; 6.91MB, free and paid ($6.10) INTERESTINGLY, Daily Expenses has no advertisements. While it opens with an announcement to highlight additional functions available on the paid version, users can easily select “do not show this again” (refer to picture on the left above). Daily Expenses lives up to its name; it is optimised for tracking expenses only. Multiple entries are a breeze to key in as users can save infinite entries in one sitting without fiddling between buttons. Additionally, edits are easy to make. Past entries can be edited or deleted by clicking on them, while categories can be easily edited under the app settings. The app even offers Movement Lists (cash flow) and Reports by Date for users to view details or the overall breakdown of past

PHOTO: WALLY APP

penses, eliminating the need to key in transactions individually. However, the feature is still in its final stages of testing and it is limited in the kinds of receipts it can scan. For instance, receipts that are crumpled or have faded words might not be scanned successfully. The downside is that specific budgets cannot be set. Under ‘Income’, Wally lets you set savings goals by restricting the available budget. Overspending puts your ‘remaining budget’ in the red, which acts as a very effective guilt-tripping method. Verdict: Its greatest shortfall is the lack of support to set budgets for specifc categories for users to implement their own budgets. Otherwise, Wally is a beautiful app that is easy-to-read, with great support for tracking expenses.

PHOTO: DAILY EXPENSES APP

transactions. Just like Expense Manager, access to various functions can be easily reached from the home page. However, Daily Expenses is not for those who need additional visual features like pie charts and graphics. All the numbers are presented linearly, and do not come with percentages to highlight how much users have spent in relation to their total amounts. This could be an inconvenience for visual learners who are attempting to stick to a specific budget. Verdict: Daily Expenses works for those who want to track their expenses and prevent themselves from overspending each month. Also, the free version is largely comparable to the paid version, so there is no need to pay for a good app.

OPINIONS

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Is the Protest in Rain, a Protest in Vain? diplomats have noted moves to upgrade China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) facilities in Hong Kong in recent months. Should the Hong Kong police fail to contain the mass protest, the PLA is, perhaps, already on standby. In the words of senior mainland official Chen Zuoer, “blood will be shed” if the Occupy Central movement continues in its defiance against Beijing.

Lim Wei Chiat

ivil disobedience continues to be the order of the day for Hong Kong. Since 30 Sep, throngs of prodemocracy activists rallied in the torrential rain as they push for electoral reform. Though protests have been mostly peaceful, there were clashes between members of the Occupy Central movement and supporters of the regime. Nonetheless, the overwhelming sentiment in the air is still one that is coloured with anti-Beijing undertones. The public backlash came after the central government went back on its promise to allow fully democratic elections in 2017 for the position of Hong Kong Chief Executive (CE). Under guidelines introduced by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, only candidates selected by a nominating committee will be eligible to run for the city-state’s top post. The legislature is of the view that allowing Hong Kong residents to freely nominate any candidate of their choice would “create a chaotic society”. Ironically, it seems that the contrary has proven true. The NPC’s refusal to grant open elections has triggered outbreaks of civil disobedience in downtown Central Hong Kong since 28 Sep this year. Activists are fuming over the fact that Hong Kong residents cannot nominate their own CE candidate without Beijing’s approval. This technically violates the terms of the 1997 handover agreement, which called for universal suffrage in the election of Hong Kong’s CE. The right to develop its own democracy was reaffirmed by Mr Lu Ping, China's top official in Hong Kong at the time, who promised autonomy and non-interference by the central Chinese government. China’s then chief negotiator in Hong Kong, Mr Lu, told the newspaper People’s Daily: “The (method of universal suffrage) should be reported to (China’s Parliament) for the record, whereas the central government’s agreement is not necessary." “How Hong Kong develops its democracy is completely within the autonomy of Hong Kong. The central government will not interfere,” he added. The following year, China’s foreign ministry confirmed this. It is no wonder then, that activists protest in the true spirit of democracy. Though it is admirable, one can only wonder how far such campaigns actually succeed in effecting political change they desire.

China's unyielding stance

A reality check doesn’t seem to afford much cause for optimism, when Beijing’s bureaucrats have displayed a firm and unyielding stance on the issue.

It appears that China is keen to maintain its tight control over the situation in Hong Kong, particularly when such widespread protests are unheard of on the mainland.

STANDING UP FOR DEMOCRACY: Hong Kong activists take to the streets to demand for full autonomy in choosing its leader

Such strong resolution can be largely attributed to the fact that there is too much at stake, in both Hong Kong and China. After all, Hong Kong’s top political office commands a great deal of authority, holding the power to pass laws and issue executive orders. These powers are granted according to Article 48 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). Given the political significance of the CE appointment, the central government in China is naturally hell bent on maintaining an influence on Hong Kong’s leading political position.

Should the government give in to the protesters’ demands, it would also set a problematic precedent, that public displays of defiance can bend the authorities to public pressure.

Doing so will shape the policies of the city-state to complement the central government's goals. Such influence has surfaced in recent times, as seen in CE Leung Chun-ying’s proposal to implement a national education curriculum containing pro-Communist Party propaganda. This was later abandoned after widespread disapproval from the people. As such, it stands to reason that the NPC will want nothing

more than a similarly compliant, Beijing-friendly candidate to retain the top job. Another reason why Beijing won’t soften its stance lies in its approach towards the country’s interest, defending it steadfastly with an iron fist. Indeed, the Beijing central government has already proven that it is no pushover when it comes to politically charged, high-stake situations. Given its unyielding stance on other territorial disputes, the residents of Hong Kong can only expect their domestic policies to be no less rigid.

A threat to stability

From a political point of view, the prospect of allowing open nominations runs opposing to China’s interests as it can potentially threaten the political stability of the SAR. Following failed promises to bridge the income divide and ameliorate property prices, public distrust towards the Leung administration has been growing. The view that CE Leung is proBeijing is a widespread one has not helped to appease the rising dissatisfaction. Given the disaffected state of the electorate, a fully democratic election could potentially spell an end for Leung’s tenure, and pave the way for a more moderate leader to appease the people. Such a scenario would be destabilising as Hong Kong could become a platform of subversion through which pro-democrats issue demands for greater freedom or even secession. This would destabilise the ex-

PHOTO: INTERNET

isting power structure in China and jeopardise the mainland’s interests. Should the government give in to the protesters’ demands, it would also set a problematic precedent, that public displays of defiance can bend the authorities to public pressure. In a similar vein, restive states such as Xinjiang and Urumqi have been pushing for greater autonomy, if not sovereignty. If such a message is broadcasted in Hong Kong, it might foster a climate that encourages civil unrest in places like Tibet and Xinjiang, where many residents are unhappy with China’s rule. The act of relenting could potentially embolden dissidents or afford hope that similar attempts to exert their will on authority could lead to their desired outcomes. Evidently, none of these prospects are within the interests of China when it stands to gain the most from the current level of control they enjoy. As it is, history is not on the side of

Predisposition to Violence

the protesters. Beijing has a track record of using force to quash political dissent. The infamous bloody crackdown at Tiananmen Square in 1989 is one such incident that illustrates their low tolerance for civil disobedience. While foreign media and international observers closely tracking the situation in Hong Kong may act as a deterrent, there is a possibility that China may resort to force to induce a premature end to the protests. According to Reuters, foreign

This may seem to be a thinly veiled threat, but it is certainly one that the protesters should take seriously. CE Leung warned protesters that the Hong Kong government and police had “the responsibility and resolution to take all actions necessary to resume social order”. While the protest has clearly been peaceful and free of violence from the beginning, CNN reported that the police had fired 87 rounds of tear gas on 28 Sep — a move typically used in response to control an outbreak of violence. Additionally, CE Leung’s words are in similar vein with the warnings that were issued before the Tiananmen crackdown. In April 1989, the communist party’s official newspaper People’s Daily said: “It is necessary to take a clear-cut stand against disturbances.” It appears that China is keen to maintain its tight control over the situation in Hong Kong, particularly when such widespread protests are unheard of on the mainland. As cries for democracy fill the air, one can only marvel at the sheer optimism of the protesters in the face of apparent hopelessness. While Hong Kong’s Chief Secretary Carrie Lam had agreed to engage the Hong Kong Federation of Students through future dialogue, the series of planned talks did not look promising in any way and was called off hours before the scheduled time. With talks ending even before they could begin, it seems like the cries for universal suffrage, as defined by international standards, are likely to fall on deaf ears once again. As things stand, the protest in the rain might well end in vain. The Umbrella Revolution The protest gained its nickname from the umbrellas the protestors used to protect themselves from pepper spray and tear gas that police deployed against them.

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Unravelling scarved issues

canteen talk On the back of the recent interest surrounding the student-led demonstrations in Hong Kong, the Nanyang Chronicle asks undergraduates if there are any issues that they would feel strongly enough about to demonstrate for in Singapore.

I would demonstrate for the people who have been struck by the horrors of war, like those who are suffering in the recent Gaza conflict. Sorfina Bte Fadzlon, 20, CEE, Year 2

HIJAB CONTROVERSY: The Qatari women's basketball team was forced to withdraw from the recent Asian Games for wearing headscarves. PHOTO: INTERNET

Nabilah Masayoe

he slogan for this year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea proudly reads “Diversity Shines Here”. Oh, the irony. Since the organising committee seemed to embrace the multicultural aspect of international sporting meets, it is perhaps unfortunate that they have ended up being accused of religious discrimination. The furore stems from their decision to ban the entire Qatari women’s basketball team, who insisted on wearing the hijab during their matches. This decision was based on the uniform guidelines issued and enforced by the International Basketball Association (FIBA). Generally worn by Muslim women, the hijab is a headscarf that covers from head to chest. Its symbolism originates from the Muslim belief that a woman’s sanctity should be preserved by covering up her beauty, away from prying eyes. To me, the headscarf demands for women what they rightfully deserve — respect for their beliefs, values and opinions, beyond that of physical appearance. The Qatari women basketballers were asked to remove their headscarves before their opening game against Mongolia. They refused, and after reaching an impasse with the game officials, decided to withdraw from the competition. Dunked into a basket of restrictions, the team ended up forfeiting their place in the Games without playing a single minute on the court. As the hijab constitutes a headgear, it is fair to say that the organisers had the right to prohibit the team from competing, due to the threat of imposed sanctions in accordance with FIBA’s regulations. According to the regulations, players cannot wear “headgear, hair accessories and jewellery" on court as these “may cause injury to other players”. FIBA insists that these rules are of a “purely sporting nature” and have no religious

connotations. But this ruling is “insulting”, according to Sheikh Ahmad AlFahad Al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). Sheikh Ahmad points to other sports — including football, volleyball and track and field — where the hijab has been allowed. “There is no reason to reject (the) hijab in sport,” he said, insisting that there was “no difference” between basketball and the other sports that do not ban the hijab during the matches. Still, the FIBA rules highlight safety as a key reason for the prohibition of the hijab on court where there is rigorous contact between players. This perception of the hijab’s safety in sports was prevalent in football in the past.

This Sport should be embraced as a denominator that transcends culture, gender, age, race and religion; it should be an agent that brings everyone together At Keilor Park, Australia, in 2003, before a women’s football match commenced, a hijabi player was asked by the referee if there was “anything wrong with her head”. But finally, in 2012, the International Association of Football Federation (FIFA) allowed players to don the hijab on the pitch during gameplay. FIFA relented and lifted the ban after admitting that there is “no medical literature concerning injuries as a result of wearing headscarves”. Maybe it’s time for FIBA to take a leaf out of FIFA’s book in dealing with this issue. It is unclear why the basketball federation is resisting a revision of its regulations. Sport should be embraced as a denominator that transcends culture, gender, age, race and religion; it should be an agent that brings everyone together.

From a practical standpoint, there is an alternative view that the hijab acts as a hindrance to physical movement, and this could be an issue, especially in sports that require agility and quick movement. But this is likely to be a fallacy. Bahraini sprinter, Ruqaya AlGhasra, won the gold medal for the 200-metre women’s event at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, making her the first Bahraini-born athlete to win a major international athletics gold medal. She went on to win her 200-metre sprint heats in the 2010 Beijing Olympic Games dressed in a hijab, while the rest of her opponents were clad in typical athletic garb. I was astounded by her achievements. I, too, held the belief that wearing a headscarf was not conducive for sports. Ever since I started donning the hijab two months ago, I have conjured a countless number of excuses to explain my lack of commitment to keeping fit, most of which reflect my sheer laziness. One example would be the trouble of having to take extra time (two minutes at most, I admit) to don the hijab. Muslim sportswomen, who compete wearing the hijab but also stand up for their beliefs, attest to the view that the hijab is not an obstacle or a burden in the sporting arena. It does not interfere with a sportswoman’s talent or capability to give her best performance. As disappointing as it is for the Qatari women’s basketball team to withdraw from the Games, the loss is even greater for the sport of basketball. In what was supposed to be an arena to crown the best team based on tactics, strategy and technical ability, the tournament has been unnecessarily overshadowed by issues of religious and cultural discrimination. The Qatari women's basketball team would have done their country proud by participating in the recent Asian Games, but I believe that they have made their country even prouder by standing firm in their beliefs.

No, I would never protest as it will make it harder for me to get a job in the government sector. Selwyn Leong, 24, EEE, Year 4

I want to protest for equal treatment of the young and the elderly in our society. Angelica Wong, 19, NBS, Year 1

I will protest against the increasing income gap between the rich and poor in Singapore. Khoo Qi Ying Shan, 20, WKW, Year 2

I will demonstrate against the current CPF situation as the elderly should be able to live off their hard-earned money. Muzzammyl Iqmal, 22, SPMS , Year 1

TEXT: LOUISA GOH, AMIR YUSOF PHOTOS: VICTORIA SIM

OPINIONS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 04

Running into regulation

Ng Yi Shu

t’s not easy for locals to run an alternative news site these days. Not only does the site have to contend with accusations for lacking credibility among the majority, it now has to register with the Singapore government upon request. The Opinion Collaborative Ltd (TOC Ltd), which owns alternative news site The Online Citizen (TOC), was asked by the Media Development Authority (MDA) to register TOC under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification on 30 Sep. The requirement to register under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification comes on top of TOC's three-year-old status as a political association under the Political Donations Act, which bars it from receiving foreign funds. TOC editor Howard Lee told Yahoo! Singapore that the site does not see “major concerns” with registration, adding: “TOC Ltd will decide on this and make an announcement in due time.”

Registration for online sites

This is not the first time an alternative news site has come under MDA’s watch. The Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification, which TOC came under, is one of two new regulations imposed on online news sites last year. Three other news sites were asked to register under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification last year before TOC. They were Mothership.sg, The Independent Singapore, and the Breakfast Network. Breakfast Network, who was

founded by former journalist Bertha Henson, declined registration, and closed its website as a result. Under the Notification, online news sites run by for-profit companies will have to declare whether they have received foreign funding, including investments. They are not allowed to receive foreign funding, unless it is for business transactions. The MDA said that this ensures that politics in this country will remain “a matter for Singapore and Singaporeans alone”. The other, a new licensing framework in the Broadcast Act that took effect last year, requires websites which publish one local news or current affairs article a week on average over two consecutive months and have more than 50,000 visitors in the same period, to post a $50,000 performance bond with MDA.

It will not be easy but it will force these start-ups to be even more creative and resourceful in staying alive and true to their mission. Ten news sites — nine from Singapore Press Holdings and Mediacorp, and one from Yahoo! Singapore, were gazetted under this scheme.

Broad laws

Under the new Broadcast Act licensing framework, the MDA now has the power to order these news organisations to take down within 24 hours content that breaches the Internet Code of Practice.

The Code, which applies to all websites, prohibits material objectionable on grounds of “public interest”, public order and national harmony, among others, giving MDA the power to bar sites dealing with pornography, gore, and racially divisive content. To MDA’s credit, there have only been 24 takedown notices in 18 years, most of which are targetted at pornography. However, it is the broad wording of the Code that may lead online news sites to self-censor and limit their activism in politics and current affairs.

High barriers to entry

While only mid-sized to large news organisations such as SPH, MediaCorp and Yahoo! Singapore have been require to put down performance bonds so far, the new rules still pose a high barrier to entry for aspiring start-ups, which are unlikely to be able to handle the additional administrative work that comes with registration. In a statement explaining the decision to close Breakfast Network, chief editor Bertha Henson said that registration had "created a wrinkle” in the site’s "barely-formed plans to become a sustainable and professional outfit.” Also, the requirement to declare foreign funding under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification requires websites to keep proof of transactions in order to prove compliance, thus increasing the administrative workload for a startup. At the time, Breakfast Network was “not even steady on its feet to start thinking about putting in such administrative structures,”

GRAPHIC: ADONIS TOH

according to Ms Henson. Already online sites struggle to operate. TOC estimates that it would require approximately $75,000 to fund manpower and $3,500 to maintain the website each year. As the new rules prohibit foreign funding, online alternative news sites will thus have to look for local investors in order to grow. This may prove difficult as

Louder than words: Halloween

many wealthy local individuals and organisations may be content with the current status quo of social, economic and political security and stability than to support sites run by groups of individuals that, from time to time, point out hard truths and raise tough questions over the way things are governed and run." Entities like Mothership.sg have been fortunate to have the backing of Establishment figures such as former cabinet minister George Yeo and retired top civil servant Philip Yeo as advisors. One of the site's articles titled "Mothership. sg fuelled by love, seed funding", published earlier this year, stated that it has enough seed funding from local private investors to last up to one-and-a-half years. While TOC mulls its next step, Mothership.sg has taken the registration requirement in its stride, shurgging it off as "nothing scary". In a recent 30 September article, the site took a tongue-in-cheek look at "The 4 stages of becoming a bona fide online media in S'pore", wearing the call to register as a badge of endorsement towards being recognised as a news provider here. As Singapore's Internet regulation rules evolve, alternative news providers will have no choice but to find ways to comply or shut down. It will not be easy but it will force these start-ups to be even more creative and resourceful in staying alive and true to their mission in providing alternative news content to the masses. Writer Ng Yi Shu was a writer for TOC from 2006-2013 and is a Mothership.sg contributor.

ILLUSTRATION: SEAN LEE

VOL. NO.

SPORTS

THE NANYANG

04 CHRONICLE

sports talk

Drunk on success Saeful Hakim Sports Editor

T is tough being a national athlete, harder when distractions arise, outside the Sporting arena. Singapore’s swimmers were on the crest of a wave after the first few days of competition in the recently concluded Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. The swimming contingent clinched one gold, two silver and two bronze medals, with 19-year-old teen sensation Joseph Schooling becoming the country’s first male swimmer to clinch gold in 32 years. However, their exploits were marred by reports that Schooling, along with two other swimmers, had sneaked out of the Games Village to drink. The Straits Times reported that “at least two were heavily intoxicated and needed assistance from village security personnel to get back to the housing area”.

Mixed reactions online

Some netizens felt that the swimmers should be let off without heavy punishment, since the act was carried out after the competition ended. Commenting on a Facebook post by The Straits Times, netizen Floyd Lee said: “They have competed, won medals and their meet is over. To celebrate after winning is perfectly acceptable and normal.” Others were not as forgiving. Commenting on an article on Yahoo Sports, netizen Chuck criticised such ill behaviour as the “reason why our local born athletes will never do well in international events”, adding that they had “taken everything for granted”.

FROM the retirement of Carles Puyol and Ryan Giggs, long time stalwarts of FC Barcelona and Manchester United respectively, to the departure of Chelsea’s Frank Lampard, the past few seasons in European football have seen the departure of several influential players from their respective clubs. Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard however, currently into his 16th season with the club, is an exception. His name is as symbolic to Liverpool as Paolo Maldini’s is to A.C. Milan, and Liverpool’s successes in the past decade or so have seen Gerrard at the centre of almost every moment, epitomised by his exploits in the 2004 Champions League final, where he

“Everyone had great things to say, which I really appreciate, but it's very, very odd to be out there and hearing about yourself like you're about to die. ”

TOASTING TO TROUBLE: Joseph Schooling (above) and two other national swimmers found themselves in hot water after they left the Asian Games athletes' village to indulge in a few drinks PHOTO: INTERNET

A deserving celebration

I cringe each time I read a comment that calls for the swimmers to face harsh penalties. The swimmers were indeed wrong to sneak out of the Games Village without informing their officials. And returning “heavily intoxicated”, as two of the swimmers allegedly did, was unprofessional of them, especially when they were flying the Singapore flag in an international sports meet. However, I believe that they deserve no more than a slap on the wrists, and the whole situation should have been settled within the Team Singapore camp without bringing it to the media’s attention.

Our national athletes spend a significant amount of time putting their minds and bodies through rigorous routines for long hours daily, in preparation for international meets. During these events, they are pressurised by the media, officials and their adversaries. At home, a nation awaits their performances eagerly in front of their television screens. All these factors put an extreme amount of mental strain on them. The conclusion of the Games takes the of pressure off our athletes, and they had every right to celebrate their achievements. Furthermore, these athletes are relatively young. In the developing

The era after Gerrard

Sports Editor

they said that?

Retired Yankees star Derek Jeter describing how he felt about all the JumboTron tributes that played during his last game.

phase of their sporting careers, too much unnecessary pressure and attention — independent of their sporting performances — could be detrimental. Publicising the issue on mainstream media puts these young athletes under close scrutiny of the public eye, and may force them to be overly conscious of their actions. This will inadvertently affect how they perform during competitions. Ultimately, although the trio did break the rules and thus have to bear with the consequences, the officials would have done better to mitigate the situation by dealing with it behind closed doors, away from the gaze of the public.

bpl talk

Saeful Hakim

almost single-handedly won the Champions League for Liverpool. His performance in recent seasons, however, has led to suggestions that Gerrard is a player past his peak. In addressing the issue, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was quick to defend his skipper, pointing to Gerrard’s statistics over the past seasons as evidence that “he is as good as (he) has been in his career”. Indeed, the fact that Gerrard has played 70 times over the past two seasons — more than he has ever played since the 2008 season (where he was arguably at his peak), quells any questions about his fitness levels. However, Gerrard’s repositioning from an attacker in the previous years, to a more withdrawn role at present, has arguably subdued his effectiveness as a player.

Granted, the success rate of his passes has seen a marked improvement since his adaptation to this new role. Still, it is important to note that this improvement came with a decrease in his passing rate in the attacking third — where he is, without a doubt, the most lethal and effective. Statistics aside, an observation of the way Gerrard has played for the club this season would expose his vulnerabilities. In the games played against Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa, which the club lost, Gerrard was often caught out of position. Although he was able to make key passes, opponents were able to bypass him with relative ease. Truth be told, Gerrard is not made to play this role. Yet, it would be outrageous to suggest that Gerrard leave the club after the conclusion of the

PHOTO: INTERNET

“He’s the best offensive coordinator in the league; he just happens to be playing quarterback, and a Hall of Fame quarterback at that.” New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan on his opinion of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (above).

current season. Regardless of his performances on the field, he has always been a talisman, an icon for the club — and will continue to be. Liverpool will need to find players to fill in the boots of Gerrard. Sevilla's Croatian midfielder Igor Rakitic is a potential successor, especially given his ability to craft defence splitting passes in the attacking third, and his potent long-range shots. Youngsters Alan Dzagoev from CSKA Moscow and Ignacio Camacho from Spanish club Malaga are also reminiscent of Gerrard at his peak. With their ability to deliver astute set pieces and score goals on a consistent basis, they are also options for Liverpool to consider. Following a shaky start to the season, finding a successor to the ‘old’ Gerrard would be key to Liverpool’s attempts to regain their footing.

“If I ever have a family, I don't want my children to be proud of their dad as a major golf winner but as someone who was able to help people less fortunate.” World No 1 golfer, Rory McIlroy, speaking as he opened a holiday home for young cancer sufferers and their families.

SPORTS

THE NANYANG

VOL. NO.

CHRONICLE 04

Rising to the challenge Leila Lai

s newly founded halls competing in the Inter-Hall Games (IHG), teams from Crescent and Pioneer Hall must quickly build upon their members. However, they are up for the challenge. After the final approval on 8 Oct from the Joint-Hall Sports Committee, they are now officially on track to compete in the upcoming IHG. For 16 of NTU’s Halls of Residence, preparation for the IHG began as early as the last week of July. During the hall Freshmen Orientation Camps (FOCs), the senior undergraduates had the opportunity to introduce the freshmen to the games and encourage them to represent their halls. With the competition only a few months away, the teams have already begun training their athletes for the highly anticipated event.

NEW SYSTEM: With the addition of the new halls, changes had to be made to the round robin system for some games.

Forming the teams

Crescent and Pioneer Halls have had no such luxury, as they opened in July this year, and the residents had neither the time to organise FOCs for the incoming freshmen nor previous teams to build on. In spite of the difficulty of the task, the two halls decided to start competing right away. “We at Crescent and Pioneer Halls, like any other existing hall, are looking forward to the coming IHG series,” said Goh Hua Zhen, 20, a second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, and resident of Crescent Hall. She represented the interim committees of Crescent and Pioneer Halls in office at the time of the decision. In August, the interim committees organised interest nights for the residents of each hall to sign up and succeeded in forming teams for more than half of the 20 sports.

“In the coming academic year, the Pioneer and Crescent Halls will be fully integrated into the system. As this is the adjustment year, the Joint-Hall Sports Committee will try our very best to run this new IHG system smoothly while working with the two new halls.” Favian Lam, 22 Co-Chairman Joint-Hall Sports Committee

“The system is currently in place for Pioneer and Crescent Halls to participate,” said Favian Lam, 22, co-chairman for the Joint-Hall Sports Committee and Sports Secretary of Hall 1. He added that the Graduate Halls have also expressed their interest in being part of the games, although their participation is yet to be confirmed. The inclusion of the new halls has brought unavoidable changes to the competition schedule. Lam, a second-year student from the Nanyang Business School, added that the out-of-the-norm numbering of 18 halls in a round robin meant that a new system had to be crafted to ensure the fairness of the competition, and that all 18 halls have agreed upon the system.

Mutual agreement

He mentioned that it must be acknowledged that some halls will

have to play more rounds compared to the others, but this is determined by a balloting system. “In the coming academic year, Halls 17 and 18 will be fully integrated into the system. As this is the adjustment year, the Joint-Hall Sports Committee will try our very best to run this new IHG system smoothly while working closely with the two new halls,” he added. All 18 halls will have teams in eleven sports, including badminton, swimming, and squash. Table tennis will be the only sport with 17 participating halls, as Crescent Hall will not be fielding a team.

Support from the ground

Residents of Crescent and Pioneer Halls are supportive of their halls’ involvement and look forward to benefits from other aspects of the IHG, regardless of the results. “I will watch some games to support my hall,” said Jiang

GRAPHIC: MARCUS LEE

“We at Crescent and Pioneer halls, like any other existing hall, are looking forward to the coming IHG series.” Goh Hua Zhen, 20 Second-year student Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information

Cheng Yun, 20, a first-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. The resident of Pioneer Hall added: “I think that (competing in the IHG) will help the residents from my hall bond, because it provides the opportunity for us to interact with each other as we cheer our team on.”

VOL. NO.

SPORTS

THE NANYANG

04 CHRONICLE

Bowlers strike high

The NTU Bowling Team put up a strong performance at the recently concluded Singapore University Games (SUniG), despite not being able to attain the tournament's top accolades. Sports Writer Leila Lai reports on the team's experience in this year's SuniG.

COOL, CALM, COLLECTED: NTU bowling's Oriana Tay in deep focus as she prepares to take a shot.

e watched anxiously as his bowling ball rolled toward the pins. It was a good throw, following exactly the path that he had intended, with just the right amount of power. Yet, at the last moment, one pin refused to fall, ruining what would have been a strike. Jason Tan, 24, turned from the lane in disappointment. In an interview with the Nanyang Chronicle, Tan, the men's captain of the NTU bowling team said that they did not manage to perform as well as they had hoped. NTU bowling coach Mr Adam Chew, 59, attributed this to unpredictable lane conditions at the Orchid Bowl @ The Chevrons , where the oil patterns were challenging from the start. The patterns changed rapidly as up to eight players bowled on a pair of lanes. But the NTU players were not alone in facing the challanges.

Evenly matched

None of the six universities at the SUniG 2014 Bowling events were able to dominate the competition. The two-day event on 27 and 28 Sep saw four different universities top the tables in the six event categories. NTU won the women’s doubles and team events for the third year in a row, while the men’s team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) won two gold

medals. The Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) and Singapore Management University (SMU) won the Masters events, a category only open to the top eight bowlers from each institution. Each Masters final was determined by a single game, with Howard Saw from SIM besting Jonathan Ng of NUS by one point in the men’s category to take home the gold medal. In the women’s Masters finals, Krishna Darshini of SMU took the title with a score of 257, easily one of the highest scores at the competition this year.

Strong start

The first day was a promising start for NTU. In the doubles event, NTU’s Oriana Tay, 21, and Ilma Nur Jannah Fadzal, 20, emerged as champions ahead of SMU, who took second and third place respectively. The duo went on to clinch a gold medal in the women’s team category, together with teammates Tay Hui Wen, 20, and Nur Azri Muhamad Azan, 21. NTU also won third place in this event, with SMU in second. “I feel very proud of the team for being able to defend our title for the third year in a row,” said Azri, a third-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). “It’s not easy, considering that

PHOTO: TAN YUAN TING

there are a lot of experienced bowlers. Some of us have also been bowling against each other for the past 10 years. We’re very aware of each other’s abilities, so being able to defend our title year after year is very important and a proud achievement for me,” he said. NTU’s Perry Goh, 26, Kenneth Kow, 23, Benjamin Lim, 24, and Leong Ho Yun, 25, secured a silver medal in the men’s team event, and SIM snagged the bronze medals in both the doubles and team events. At the end of the first day, NTU occupied the top four spots on the women’s individual scoring table, but things took a turn for the worse on the second day.

NTU’s Oriana Tay started out strong in the women’s Masters quarter-finals and maintained her position at the top of the table with a score of 215 in her first game. However, in the second game, bowlers from SIM, SMU, and NUS surged ahead in both the men’s and women’s categories, denying the NTU bowlers a place in the Masters semi-finals. “(The NTU team’s performance) could have been better. It’s sad that none of our players got into the Masters,” Mr Chew said. He expressed that the difficult lane conditions were no excuse for their performance as all the competitors would have experienced

the same conditions. NTU Men's bowling team captain explained that while the onus of reading the lane conditions were on the players, the team was unable to react quickly to important points in the game. “We just weren’t able to throw good shots at the crucial moments to get more points," he said. “I’m definitely sad that none of us made it,” said Oriana Tay, a third-year student from the School of Biological Sciences, who had hoped to bring home a Masters gold for NTU, in addition to her doubles and team medals." “We’ll work hard and do better for SUniG, next year,” she added.

UNFAVOURABLE CONDITIONS: Players felt that the condition of the lanes at the competition venue were unpredictable, thus hindering their performances. PHOTO: TAN YUAN TING

Sports

Bowlers show who’s boss — Page 31

Exploring new ground Maintaining one’s competency as a student athlete is a strenuous task, but what about excelling in a new sport? Sports Writer Fiona Lee speaks with two outstanding athletes who transitioned from being individual sportsmen in one sport, to team players in entirely different sports.

2mm apart from picture

SMOOTH TRANSITION: Despite picking up handball only this year, having previously been involved in Aquathlon, Lim Lu Kai recently received an invitation to train with the national team. PHOTO: PRIDE FC 5mm apart from story

SMOOTH TRANSITION: Despite picking up handball only this year, Lim Lu Kai recently received an invitation to train with the national team. PHOTO: CEPHEUS CHAN

eet Lim Lu Kai, 26, a secondyear PhD student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. After enrolling directly into the second year of his bachelor’s degree programme in 2010, Lim began competing in aquathlons in the Singapore University Games (SUniG). In each aquathlon, participants like Lim had to complete an 800-metre swim, followed by a seven-kilometre run. The latter, however, has been reduced to five kilometres as of last year. During his three years of undergraduate studies, Lim’s performance in SUniG were commendable, having maintained his individual and team’s position in the top three.

From beach to court

To represent NTU in the sport, he revealed that he had to prove his capabilities during the time trials that preceded the competitions. He said: “I woke up early to train, and then hit the sack as early as I could so that I could train earlier the next day. I would also swim whenever I could during my free time to improve my speed. “But it got boring when I repeated this lifestyle over a long period of time, so I decided to join a team sport,” he added.

After watching his friends play in a handball tournament, the NTU Handball Open, in February this year, Lim was mesmerised by the sport and he has been training with the team ever since. “Handball is fun and you get to perform some cool stunts during matches, especially when you shoot from a tight angle. Most importantly, you get to be in a team where you learn to complement the weak and showcase the team’s strength at the same time,” he shared. Keeping to a disciplined lifestyle, Lim does his research studies daily from 8.30am to 6pm. After which, he makes use of the remaining time to train, in order to become a stronger and more competent handball player. Everyday without fail, Lim heads to the handball court at the Sports and Recreation Centre and spends at least an hour practising his shots. Moreover, instead of taking the campus bus, he runs from the Graduate Hall to the court to perk himself up before training. Lim said: “In terms of physical demands, running actually helps with handball. My mental approach stays the same, but it’s probably easier having my teammates fighting along with me. “Training wise, I added some

plyometric (jump training) and gym sessions to increase my explosiveness,” he added. When Lim suffers from any injury, he makes it a point to cross train so that he does not lose his form. For instance, in March this year, Lim was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis — also known as jogger’s heel, caused by a hard impact from foot to ground. Since he did not want to lose out on his development, he only trained his upper body in the gym and let his injured foot rest. Just eight months into handball, Lim has already bagged a silver medal with his team in the recent SUniG. He has also been invited to train with the national team.

tional age group records for both the 800-metre and 1500-metre events. Her 800-metre record, still stands today at 2 minutes 25.76 seconds. “Track has been with me for a good 11 years … it has become a part of me. If I stop exercising or running for a couple of days, I’ll starting feeling uneasy, and I’ll feel the need to go and sweat it out,” said Jayapendiyen. Jeyapandiyen shared that track had served her well in many aspects of her life, especially in building up her physical strength and mental resolve. However, when she was 17, at the peak of her sporting career, she tore her hamstring right before a race and was out of the track scene for eight months. She said: “It took not only a physical but a mental toll on me because each time I was gunning for something, I got injured. I had knee (and) back injuries, and torn ankle ligaments that prevented me from competing and training properly.” In January, Jeyapandiyen decided to embark on something new — something she had no experience in while not comprimising the intensity that she was used to. Touch football became her ideal choice. “No one really introduced the sport to me. I was just watching my friend play and I wanted to give it a try because it looked interesting,” Jeyapandiyen said. She revealed that the different natures of both sports provided her

with the opportunity to adapt to contrasting environments, which was especially crucial in her wellrounded self-development. “I am so used to running forward in track and not having to talk or catch anything. In touch, I have to communicate, catch the ball, run forward and backward. It was a lot to take in initially, but my coach and teammates helped to make it better. “I am (also) glad that my track trainings have served me well in terms of speed as I am able to translate that into the touch game,” she said. If Jeyapandiyen misses her training sessions due to lectures or tutorials, she makes it a point to run for at least 30 minutes to maintain her stamina. When asked about her pillars of support, Jeyapandiyen admitted that her teammates have been nothing short of encouraging. Despite her mistakes, they have never lost their temper with her. Instead, they would continue to guide her and ensure that she improved on her skills. Jeyapandiyen asserts that passion is her key motivator. “I think it’s very important for me to like what I’m doing because it’s really going to be a chore if I don’t enjoy it. The desire to learn and be equipped with different skills keeps me going. “At the end of four years, I would want to look back at my university life and feel that I have enjoyed and utilised my time well,” she said.

Sprinting to the try-line

Lossini Jeyapandiyen, 23, had been a national track runner for 11 years before making a switch to touch football. The second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences is currently a member of the NTU Touch Football team and the school’s Outdoor Adventure Club. At 10, Jeyapandiyen began her training for 400-metre, 800-metre and 1500-metre sprints. After enrolling into the Singapore Sports School at 13, she surpassed the na-

DIFFERENT SPORT, SIMILAR SKILLS: The speed which Lossini Jeyapandiyen (left) had developed from her 11 years as a track runner served her well when she made the switch to touch football. PHOTO: KHOO YUAN ZHI