THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE INSIDE Unique hobbies Three NTU students take a break from the books to become a drag queen, pro-wrestler and puppeteer
VOL. NO.
25
01 3.09.18
ISSN NO. 0218-7310
Cashless payments decline after Nets promotion ends Students and some stallholders still more comfortable with cash as they think it is familiar, convenient and safe
LIFESTYLE | Page 4-5
A toast to wine
The NTU Wine Society is making wine more accessible to university students, with a wider selection of reds at its tasting sessions
SPOTLIGHT | Page 10-11
大学舞蹈社团,如何 突破1万7千粉丝? 南大韩舞社团通过精准的” 刀群舞”和战略性宣传策略 赢得国际认可
生活| Page 18
Saving lives to win
More than just a valuable skill, lifesaving is also a competitive sport that student lifeguards are diving into
SPORTS | Page 20-21
JEANNE MAH STUDENTS at NTU are switching back to cash after local e-payment giant Nets ceased its Go Cashless promotion in May. As part of a nationwide push to go cashless, Nets partnered with several stalls on campus, such as those at South Spine’s Koufu and Pioneer Food Court. to offer customers a $0.50 discount if they paid with mobile banking apps. But since the two-month long campaign ended, the number of students who use the e-payment method has fallen dramatically, according to seven stallholders that The Nanyang Chronicle spoke to. During the promotion, they said at least 80 per cent of students paid with their mobile banking apps, but only 20 to 50 per cent do so now. One student who made the switch back to cash is Lee Zhi Hui, a final-year student from the School of Biological Sciences, who said she is still more comfortable using cash. “I stopped using cashless payments as I worry about cyber-security issues. With cash, I don’t have to worry about my account details being compromised,” said the 23-year-old. Yee Jie Ying, a second-year student at the National Institute of Education, said she also prefers cash even though she used the e-payment method during the promotion. “I can take note of how much I spend when I remove physical money from my wallet,” said the 20-year-old. “I also think that cash payments are faster because when cashless payment systems fail, the queue can be held up.” But some students have been won over by the cashless method. Uvalakshmi Jegatheesparan, a second-year student at the National Institute of Education, downloaded mobile app wallet DBS PayLah! during the Go Cashless promotion, which helped her to save about ten dollars in two months. Even without the promotion, the 20-yearold still prefers the e-payment method. “Now that I’ve started using the app, I find it more convenient than withdrawing cash all the time,” she said. According to Nets’ head of sales, Mr Ang Sok Hong, there was a 2,000 per cent increase in the number of Nets QR code transactions at participating hawker centres and canteens nationwide over the two-month campaign period.
Although scanning a QR code to make payment might seem more convenient, students are still unwilling to go completely cashless.
“Even after the campaign ended, the number of Nets QR code transactions still saw an average increase of close to 500 per cent compared to before the campaign,” said Mr Ang.
Stallholders’ preferences Stallholders and employees here differ over which payment method they prefer. Mr Ben Lee, an employee at Pioneer Food Court’s drink stall, said he prefers customers to use the e-payment system. “I can track each transaction as the Nets machine produces paper receipts once each patron scans the QR code. My boss can also log into the Nets system to view each transaction,” he said. But the boss of Pioneer Food Court’s fruits stall, who wanted to be known only as Madam Chua, said she still prefers cash payments
PHOTO: DEBBIE NG
as she is not familiar with how the cashless payment systems work. “Since cash is the most common payment method in Singapore, it will take time for people to get used to cashless payments, even for stallholders like myself,” she added. Nevertheless, Mr Lee said both modes of payment have their pros and cons. “Sometimes when it rains, the WiFi connection is weak and the cashless system fails. I will have to ask students to scan the QR code again, which may result in a double charge. I will then have to refund them in cash,” he said, adding that this slows down the queue. “But cashless payments are also great as the money gets automatically deposited into my bank account the very next day at 4pm and I don’t need to count my total earnings at the end of the day,” he added.
News Shuttered stalls start afresh The stall was suspended for two weeks and fined $800 after cockroaches and rodents were found on its premises.
Pest-infested stalls that had their licence suspended have cleaned out their kitchens, but some customers expect more transparency
Regaining trust
MATTHEW LOW AND OSMOND CHIA TWO food stalls in NTU that were suspended for pest infestation during the school break are now placing hygiene as their top priority. In mid-July, Chinese food stall Tian Yi Dian Chinese Cuisine at Canteen 13 had its licence suspended for two weeks by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) for failing to keep its premises rodentfree and preparing food outside of the stall, said an NEA notice. This caused the stall to accumulate 14 demerit points over 12 months, exceeding the maximum limit of 12 demerit points imposed by the NEA. The stall was also fined $1,000.
Students living in the halls of residence nearby continue to patronize PHOTO: DEBBIE NG the Chinese cuisine stall at Canteen 13.
Thorough cleaning conducted During their suspension, store owners did a “complete wipe down” of the area, including the walls and vents, said Canteen 13 manager Wang Qin. Old kitchen equipment was also replaced and the stall has since purchased new kitchenware.
Employees now mop the kitchen floor several times a day, added Ms Wang. The canteen has also been equipped with mouse traps. International food stall BBQ Delights at the North Spine Food Court, which was also suspended in May, has been “undergoing regular hygiene checks” as well, said a spokesperson from the North Spine Food Court.
As part of NEA regulations, food handlers from the stalls were required to attend and pass the oneday basic food hygiene course again before resuming work. Both stalls are back in business, but students said more should be done to regain customers’ trust. Many students suggested publicising the stalls’ efforts to clean up. “The stall has already broken the customers’ trust. It is their responsibility to earn it back,” said Vernice Toh, 22. She has been a resident at Hall 13 for four years. “They should make an effort to show students the changes that they have made with a sign, or by telling students,” the final-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student added. Erik Skoog, a final-year exchange student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has patronised Canteen
13’s Tian Yi Dian more than three times since he arrived in NTU in July. When told about the suspension, the 22-year-old Swede said the stall should be more accountable to its customers. He said: “I feel that a public apology, like a sign at the store, would show that they are taking customers seriously.” Lee Ming Da, a 23-year-old resident of Hall of Residence 13 who ate from the stall a few days before the suspension was announced, added that it should display a poster informing customers of hygiene changes that have been made. The Canteen 13 supervisor, who declined to be named, told the Nanyang Chronicle: “We recognise our faults and we are serious about changing.” He welcomed customers to inspect the kitchen for themselves. He said: “You will find that our equipment is clean and tidy.” “Authorities have come to check the stalls more than four or five times since the incident. They’ve seen the change,” he added.
Lower hike in hostel fees but students hope for more improvements Poor cleanliness and flooding issues remain a concern among some students MICHELLE RACHO HOSTEL fee increments were at their lowest in at least four years. This year, the upward adjustments were kept within a range of $5 to $10. This is half as much as the fee increases in the previous two years, which had ranged between $10 to $20. Hall fees are raised each year mostly to defray the rising operating costs of hostels and fund maintenance works such as painting, toilet upgrading and security services, said a spokesperson from HAS. Walls are repainted every five years, while mattresses and airconditioning units are replaced every four and six years respectively. Fees are also sometimes used to
“It is our job to ask the right questions to ensure that hall fees are not raised in an unjustified manner.” Edward Lim, 24 NTU Student Union President
fund new hall facilities, such as hot and cold water dispensers in Graduate Hall 1, following a student’s suggestion. Adjustments had been higher in earlier years as the older halls of residence had undergone an extensive overhaul with new furniture and fittings, said the HAS spokesperson. To keep fee adjustments modest this year, energy-saving measures, such as lower energy air-handling units and smart lighting, were put in place to reduce operating costs, the spokesperson added. A bio-
swale, which recycles rainwater for gardening, was also installed at the Crescent and Pioneer Halls. NTU’s monthly hall fees are currently the lowest among local universities. A standard non air-conditioned double room here costs between $255 to $295 a month, while a similar room in the National University of Singapore sets students back by about $320 a month. NTU Student Union (NTUSU) president Edward Lim, 24, assured students that there are legitimate reasons for hall fee increases, which HAS shares with NTUSU every year. “It is our job to ask the right questions to ensure that hall fees are not raised in an unjustified manner,” the final-year School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student said.
Students’ reactions But some students hope to see the fees used for improvements beyond cyclical maintenance works.
Elias Tan, 23, a final-year Nanyang Business School student and former Hall of Residence 8 resident, said he hopes the halls can be kept cleaner.
“It is a bit of a strain on my finances, but it is definitely cheaper than renting a place outside of school.” Looi Jie Sin, 24 Tamarind Hall resident
Tan, who lived in Hall 8 in his second and third years, said there were often many ants crawling on his table, shelves, and walls. While helping his friend move into her hall room this semester, Tan also found ants and a few baby cockroaches behind her bed frame. Banyan Hall resident Mark Wei, 22, feels the flooding issues
should be rectified. Last February, the Nanyang Chronicle reported that flooding frequently occurred at the North Hill residential halls during heavy downpours. Wei said the situation has not improved. “I lived in a room at the corner of the corridor, so I was badly affected. I had water seeping into my room, and the shoes I left outside were soaked through,” said the second-year Renaissance Engineering Programme student. But other students, like Tamarind Hall resident Looi Jie Sin, 24, feel the higher fees are justified. The final-year School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student, who funds his hostel stay with his savings, said: “The price increase is quite fair considering rising electricity and water prices.” “It is a bit of a strain on my finances, but it is definitely cheaper than renting a place outside of school.”
VOL. NO.
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NEWS 03
THE NANYANG
01 CHRONICLE
NTU Fest streamlines event to focus on school population Accessibility and price were a key consideration to appeal to the school population MATTHEW LOW AND OSMOND CHIA UNDERNEATH a tent outside the Quad, students and fans swarmed to the front of the stage as The Sam Willows performed their latest hits. Some were piggybacked by their friends to get a better view, while others near the front row stood on benches. At this year’s NTU Fest, the open sky and massive stage were swapped out for a more intimate, tented setting. The smaller scale of this year’s festival was deliberate, said the planning committee. The full-day carnival is held annually to kick-start the academic year, and this year's event was scaled back to focus on fostering school spirit among NTU students, said the co-chairman of the NTU Fest Committee, Soh Wei Fong, 24, a final-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. This year, the event was held at the School of Biological Sciences. The space was about one-third the size of a football field and almost four times smaller than the Sports and Recreational Centre, where last year’s event was held.
“We hope this encourages NTU students when they see people from the school doing what they love.” Farhan Juraimi, 27 Final-year student School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Concert director of NTU Fest committee
This is the fourth iteration of NTU Fest since its inauguration in 2014. It took a one-year hiatus in 2016 to review its operations, following declining student participation from 2014 to 2015. Scaling down the event helped the planning committee put together a festival that was more focused on the university community, said Student Union vice-president Victor Chia, 23. He graduated from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering this year, but returned
Local band The Sam Willows performed a set at the event, which was attended by about 4,500 people.
to help to organise the event. At previous events, the festivities included music and dance performances by international stars and Mediacorp artistes. But all 17 acts this year were by students and alumni of the University. This was to showcase local talent that students can identify with, said Farhan Juraimi, 27, concert director of the NTU Fest committee. “We hope this encourages NTU students when they see people from the school doing what they love,” added the final-year School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences student. The carnival was also held on a weekday to make it more convenient for NTU students to attend the event, said co-chairman Soh. Entry was also free for attendees in a bid to create a more inclusive atmosphere. “The vision of NTU Fest is to make all members of the NTU community, especially our freshmen, feel welcome,” said Soh. The committee was successful in attracting students like Jansen Lawrence, 22, a second-year student from Electronic and Electrical Engineering, who said he attended the event because it was free and convenient. “If I had to pay, I probably would not have come. I also would not have gone down to the SRC if it was held there either, because it is
too out of the way from my school and my hall,” he said. But despite these perks, the organisers said only about 4,500 participants turned up, compared to last year’s crowd of 5,000. Aaron Ong, a second-year student from the School of Social Sciences (SSS), said he did not attend the event because he was not interested in the lineup of local acts. “I wouldn’t go down to support a school band unless it was from my hall, or if my friends were performing,” said the 24-year-old. But other students, like Amirah
Ahmad, 20, enjoyed the event. The first-year SSS student particularly liked the light effects and the quality of the event’s sound system. Some attendees, however, felt the the venue was too crowded. Final-year Computer Science and Engineering student Keagan Sng, 27, said: “The food and games booths were crammed. People were also packed in the main tent, so there was very little space for a lot of people.” Tamilmani Manisha, 21, a thirdyear student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sci-
PHOTO: THEODORE LIM
ences, added: “We couldn’t see anything during the Sam Willows performance even though we were just standing a few rows away from the stage.” While the venue for next year’s event is still undecided, the next planning committee will take the feedback from this year’s event into consideration, said Chia. Co-chairman Soh also hopes to see more creative and eye-catching ideas in the upcoming years. He said: “Students can expect to see more attractions that will make the event even more exciting.”
Lifestyle Peculiar pastimes What do students do in their spare time? Megan-Nicole Lye speaks to three undergraduates with eyebrow-raising interests
As part of his Yeastmonster persona, Adam Ameng,, 23, dons a gothic dress adorned with baby dolls at the waist for his first performance of the night.
AS HER lip-sync performance to Iggy Azalea’s Black Widow draws to a close, drag queen Yeastmaster raises the cans of Silly Strings in her hands and sprays them all over the dance floor in Peaches Club. The crowd goes wild. Decked out in flamboyant makeup, heeled boots and an intricate black dress with stuffed dolls strung at the waist, she struts off the stage with her head held high. This is who Adam Ameng, 23, transforms into when he performs as a drag queen. While most students like to read, play music and jog, some have more unconventional interests, and Ameng is just one of them.
The amplified persona
The second-year Sports Science and Management student, who has been a drag queen since 2015, describes his Yeastmaster persona as an amplification of his everyday personality. Not only does performing in drag allow the him to project himself on a theatrical level, it also gives him immense courage and
confidence, he said. “When I put on my drag self, everything I wouldn’t dare to do as Adam, I would dare to do,” he said. “It is every gay boy’s fantasy. You feel like you can be anything you want to be.” While the visual aspects of drag, such as the costume and elaborate makeup, are part of his artistic outlet, Ameng feels that his truest form of self-expression is the performance itself. “For me, drag is a performance of gender. I dress as a woman because it is more interesting that way,” Ameng said. “If I dress as a man, there is nothing special about that.” Ameng’s first brush with drag was at a friend’s drag-themed party three years ago. But he was already interested in drag before that, having been an avid fan of shows such as American reality competition series Rupaul’s Drag Race. A full-time student by day and a drag queen by night, performing in drag is a heavy investment of time and money.
Ameng performs two to three times a month at Peaches Club, and spends a week preparing for each show he puts on. First, he selects a song and chooses an outfit.
“It’s every gay boy’s fantasy. You feel like you can be anything you want to be.” Adam Ameng, 23 Second-year student Sports Science & Management
Then, he decides on how he wants to perform. On the day of the performance, he can spend up to four hours getting ready for his show. The salary he gets depends on how long or elaborate his performances are, but it is usually barely
enough for him to break even. “In the beginning, you have to fork out more than you can get back,” he said. While his friends and family are supportive of him, he is often the subject of scrutiny when he appears as his drag persona in public. The misconception that every drag queen wants to be a woman irks Ameng. He recalled his ex-boyfriend, whose reason for breaking up with him was because he thought Ameng was too effeminate. “He said that he wanted to date a guy, not a woman.” Yeastmaster was originally Ameng’s Instagram handle because he loves to eat bread. But once he started doing drag, people started recognising him by that handle, and it has since stuck. Ameng does not intend on making drag a career as he wants to go into physiotherapy or nutrition, but he wishes to continue doing drag for a long time. “I feel like a superhero,” he said. “I take risks and then I do things I don’t believe I can do.”
PHOTO: THEODORE LIM
Adam, pictured here out of drag. PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM AMENG
Pulling no punches
When he was 10 years old, Wilson Loh started playing wrestling games on his gaming console. His mother, thinking that they would make him violent, took the games away from him. Today, Loh, a first-year student from the Nanyang Business School, is living out his childhood fantasies as a professional wrestling trainee at the Grapple MAX dojo. Loh, 21, enrolled in the dojo last December. He trains there thrice a week and made his debut in a match against a trainer in March. His second match occurred on 20 Jul, where he participated in a tag match with a fellow trainee. Unlike most sports, professional wrestling is not a competition. It is designed to be a theatrical performance with a predetermined outcome, as wrestlers put on a show and tell a story. Because of the theatrics, Loh has faced criticism about his sport being fake. However, he stands by his passion for it. “It’s just like acting, but there is more action,” he said. In one of his matches, Loh played the role of an underdog who showed tenacity and a strong will to fight back against his larger and more experienced opponent, a character who was initially disrespectful to him. Even though the matches are scripted, Loh enjoys the sport since
it allows for a build-up in excitement and hypes up the audience. “I get bored easily. In other sports, it just takes one very good move and the match is over. I feel more satisfied watching a match with a lot of moves and storytelling,” he said. As a wrestler, he gains satisfaction from the audience’s cheers for his actions in the ring.
“I feel more satisfied watching a match with a lot of moves and storytelling.” Wilson Loh, 21 First-year student Nanyang Business School
Although he had always dreamed of being a wrestler, he did not have the courage to sign up alone at first. However, after he completed his National Service, he decided to bite the bullet. “I knew if I did not at least try, I would never have ended up doing it at all,” he said. “So I told myself to man up and I went on my own, and it was the best decision I ever made.”
Wilson Loh (left) and his coach engaging in a “wristlock”. Trainees are reminded that their facial expressions are an important part of the performance. PHOTO: EDWIN CHAN
“I always want to encourage children to be greater than they think they are.” Chia Kun Liang, 22 First-year student Wee Kim Wee School of Information and Communication
Chia Kun Liang (centre) with fellow puppeteers and their puppets.
The puppet maker
As a child, Chia Kun Liang, 22, loved watching American children’s show Sesame Street. Now, he has become a puppeteer himself. The first-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information is the leader of Project Five Fingers, a group of puppeteers that aims to nurture
creativity and self-expression in young children. Chia designs the puppets himself and sends them to a professional puppeteer, who then sews the puppets by hand. He also writes the scripts for his performances. Chia’s very first encounter with puppetry was during his first year in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where he
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIA KUN LIANG
joined the Young Advocating for the Younger Club, and had the opportunity to perform in a puppet show with them. That performance showed him that puppetry was a suitable medium to deliver messages to children. It also inspired him to form a band of puppeteers with his friends in 2015. “In the past three years, I realised
how puppetry can bring all kinds of children together in a safe and inclusive setting to learn and have fun,” he said. The group performs in preschools and sometimes holds short basic puppet-making workshops for children and their parents. “I hope to bring across the message that puppets are easy to make and not that expensive,” said Chia.
As a self-funded group, Project Five Fingers no longer had a suitable venue that it could use after its members graduated from polytechnic. So the group started to hold their rehearsals in Starbucks or on empty rooftops. Despite this, Chia has kept the group together and they continue to use puppetry to educate children. “I always want to encourage children to be greater than they think they are,” he said. “Whether it’s children with autism, dyslexia, or hyper-activeness, if they don’t feel like they are fitting in well, they shouldn’t be afraid to try out things,” he said. The group’s most recent performance was on 30 Jun, when they performed at PCF Sparkletots Preschool. In October, they will be giving a talk at this year’s Early Childhood Conference, which will be held at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. He said: “Children can express their thoughts well and they see everyone as equals. But as we grow older, we tend to lose that. Puppetry brings me back to where I want to be.”
06-07 LIFESTYLE
GOING INTERN-ATIONAL While many students choose to remain in Singapore to complete their internships, there are some who take the road less travelled by going abroad. Rachel Chiu talks to three adventurous former interns to find out more Tshua was free to enjoy the rides after work and on her days off, had free access to all of Walt Disney World’s parks as a staff perk. Tshua said: “This experience has really been like a childhood dream come true because I got to dine with beloved characters such as Ariel, Rapunzel, Prince Eric and many more.”
FROM working in Disneyland to watching models strut down the runway during New York Fashion Week, overseas internships can provide novel experiences and the chance to explore industries beyond what Singapore has to offer.
Most magical place on earth
Disneyland is a beloved destination by both children and adults, and for second-year student Tshua Chenlyn, it is no exception. Over the recent summer break, the 20-year-old Nanyang Business School student flew to Orlando, Florida to intern at the famed Walt Disney World from May to August. When she first received an email from NTU’s Career and Attachment Office about the chance to intern at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Tshua jumped at the opportunity and applied for it immediately. She would get to meet characters from the Disney shows she watched growing up. She was also excited to interact with people from all over the world. Tshua’s role involved managing the theme park’s attractions, greeting guests and answering their queries. Her most heartwarming experiences involved interacting with guests. She enjoyed creating “magic moments”, when employees would go out of their way to create memorable experiences for the guests. “Once, it was this kid’s birthday and he really wanted Mickey Mouse to give him a birthday cake. When he went off to have his dinner, we got a card and wrote wishes on it for him, including Mickey’s signature,” she said. Tshua and her fellow employees then left the card in his stroller as a surprise gift. Even though they were not obliged to get Mickey’s signature and they did not manage to see the boy’s reaction, they did it as they knew it would make his day, she added. However, Tshua also had a few bad encounters with unruly guests who refused to comply with park regulations. On a few occasions, they refused
A sweet start-up
During Tshua Chenlyn’s internship at Walt Disney World, she interacted with many iconic characters, such as Minnie Mouse, from Disney franchises. PHOTO COURTESY OF TSHUA CHENLYN
to park their strollers at the designated spots despite having been told to do so. Some also had complaints about the rides that left Tshua feeling helpless. Other times, they would make assumptions about her that she found frustrating. “Some guests from Western countries take one look at your name tag and automatically assume that you can only speak Chinese,” she said. “I just told them that we can speak English because it’s Singa-
pore’s first language,” said Tshua, adding that she had to maintain her composure even though such exasperating incidents occurred frequently. Despite these incidents, Tshua kept a positive attitude and took them as learning experiences. She learnt how to handle unreasonable guests professionally and politely, and continued spreading joy as a Disney ambassador. Interning at Disneyland often felt like a vacation due to its strong “work hard, play hard” culture.
“This experience has really been a dream come true.” Tshua Chenlyn, 20 Second-year student Nanyang Business School
While on a one-year leave of absence from school, third-year student Donavon Ng, 24, interned at New York-based Sweet Technology, under NTU’s Overseas Entrepreneurship Programme. The start-up is devoted to developing an online application that provides a single channel for food companies to collate orders and manage their inventories. Sweet Technology also offers a delivery service for its own bakery. The Nanyang Business School student, who recently came back from his year-long stint, chose to intern in New York as the city is ranked second globally for its significant start-up culture, just behind Silicon Valley. Ng chose Sweet Technology because it was a young company that could offer him many learning opportunities. “I was looking for an early stage start-up with a small team so that I could be more hands-on and challenge myself,” he said. As Sweet Technology is still in its early stages, Ng often had to rely on himself when it came to decision-making. When Ng first joined the company, there were only three full-time employees and he was the only marketing-focused staff. “I was on my own for a lot of things like planning and website development,” he said. With only four people in Sweet Technology, everyone, including the founder and developer of the company, worked at a communal table formed by pushing four desks together. “Even though there was still a chain of command in place, there was no huge disparity between myself and the people in charge.
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Donavon Ng (far right) and his colleagues often dressed up for events such as Halloween.
This made it easier to pitch my ideas directly to my bosses,” he said. Ng and his colleagues had fun at their workplace as well, often dressing up together for events such as Halloween and celebrating Christmas together. “My favourite experience was the visit of a small chai and turmeric concentrate manufacturing
“There was no huge disparity between myself and the people in charge.” Donavon Ng, 24 Third-year student Nanyang Business School
plant,” he said. “They were one of our very first customers and I was really proud to see how our software was able to allow their company to become more efficient.” Occasionally, Ng helped out in Sweetist, the delivery sector of Sweet Technology. He likened its operation to “the UberEats of bakeries”. For his help, he was rewarded with pastries from top bakeries, a staff perk he enjoyed. But, the biggest perk on the job was the autonomy he was given to experiment around and make a direct impact on the company’s strategy. “If I were in an established cor-
poration, with years of protocols in place, it would be more guidancebased and it would not be easy to make a change.”
Runway moments
From watching models strut down the runway, to preparing fashion weeks, fresh graduate Eunice Foong had the experience of a lifetime in New York City exploring her passion for fashion. An alumnus of he Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Foong did her Professional Internship last year as a project and production intern at Eyesight Fashion and Luxury, a company that organizes fashion and luxury events in New York, Paris and Milan. “I believe that overseas experience and exposure is crucial for us to broaden our horizons,” said the 24-year-old. “This is especially important for what I am interested in since Singapore’s fashion and creative industry is small and thus limited, as compared to other countries.” Since New York is one of the world’s fashion capitals, the city was the ideal destination for her to learn as much as possible, she said. Her job included scouting and proposing venues for fashion shows, and helping to coordinate and execute them. A highlight of Foong’s internship was helping out for the 2017 fall/winter season of New York Fashion Week. During that period, she helped to liaise with vendors and plan production schedules, as well as fashion show rehearsals.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DONAVON NG
She also analysed fashion shows, identifying what could be improved in the future. For Foong, this opportunity was like a dream come true. “I remember when I was just watching YouTube videos of fashion shows in the past, but now I actually get to contribute and be a part of everything,” she said. Foong said her first fashion show for the Japanese brand ADEAM was particularly memorable. “It’s the first time I saw everything being put together. It’s very surreal seeing the runway in real life for the first time.” Being part of Eyesight Fashion and Luxury was nothing short of a miracle.
“It’s very surreal seeing the runway in real life for the first time.” Eunice Foong, 24 Fresh graduate Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Foong had emailed over 50 fashion companies in New York before she got a response from Eyesight. Foong knew her company represented fashion designer Victoria Beckham’s personal brand, and British label Self-Portrait, a brand she liked. “It’s unbelievable that I actually got to represent them.”
Fresh graduate Eunice Foong interned in New York for almost half a year at a fashion and luxury events company. PHOTO COURTESY OF EUNICE FOONG
08-09 LIFESTYLE
Taking the first step Building hall culture from scratch is no easy feat. Samantha Koh speaks to residents of the new Tamarind and North Hill halls who started their halls’ first dance and jam band teams WHEN Banyan Hall resident Low Ker Yang, 22, decided to sign up for hall dance during his hall’s welcome dinner, he knew he would be venturing into the unknown. Banyan did not have a dance team at the time, and hall residents like himself would have to be the ones to kickstart this co-curricular activity (CCA). The second-year Renaissance Engineering Programme (REP) student said: “We started as a group of strangers and most of us had no prior dance background. We simply wanted to step out of our comfort zones and try something new in university.” In the new Tamarind and North Hill halls — namely, Binjai, Banyan and Tanjong halls — where distinct hall cultures have yet to be formed, residents such as Low have stepped up to form their own CCAs in a bid to foster a sense of community. The North Hill halls opened in 2016 while Tamarind Hall opened in 2017. Since then, residents have stepped up to initiate CCAs such as dance and jam band, overcoming challenges such as a lack of experienced members and equipment.
All in this together Banyan Hall’s dance team, IntoXXIcate, started out when a group of residents with no prior experience in dance decided to form a crew during the hall’s welcome week last year. They learned how to dance with the help of an external coach whom they hired with funding from their Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC). Although the team was passionate about dancing, they did not have enough dancers to participate in this year’s Hall Olympiad Closing Ceremony (HOCC), which was held on 25 Feb, just five months after the dance group’s formation. Low, IntoXXIcate’s dance captain, said: “We were rather lost as we had no hall seniors to seek advice from. We didn’t even know about the common dance locations.” “Thankfully, some of us had seniors from other halls who had been in hall dance, and they really helped us build our dance team from scratch,” Low added. IntoXXIcate has performed at Banyan Hall’s Cultural Night and this year’s Freshman Orientation Programme. “We intoxicated our audience with our dance moves in those performances,” Low quipped. The team also learned a lot from the experience, in terms of dance skills and working with one another, he added. A year after its formation, the
Low Ker Yang, Banyan Hall’s dance captain, aims to bring IntoXXIcate to the HOCC stage next year.
PHOTO: KENT LEE
team is now more familiar with NTU’s dance scene and is ready to impart their skills to the incoming freshmen. The dance group, which started with 30 members a year ago, has now doubled in size with the influx of freshmen, and Low is hopeful that they will compete in HOCC next year.
“We were rather lost as we had no hall seniors to seek advice from. We didn’t even know about the common dance locations.” Low Ker Yang, 22 Second-year student Renaissance Engineering Programme
“We may not be as established as the older hall dance teams or have as many dancers, but our small size has made us a very close-knit family.”
Tanjong Hall’s dance crew, Royals, were the fourth largest crew in their inaugural Hall Olympiad Closing Ceremony.
Back to Basics Tanjong Hall’s dance crew, Royals, was the first of the three North Hill halls to take part in HOCC. Royals had a bumper crop of 60 members in its pioneer batch, mak-
ing them the fourth largest crew among the 19 participating halls, said JCRC president Thomas Lam. Their recruitment success could be attributed to the captains’ goal of creating a nurturing environment for everyone to learn, said its members.
PHOTO: KENT LEE
Dance crew member Shermaine Sng, 20, said: “The captains emphasised that it is a completely safe platform where beginners are welcomed.” This made it less daunting to learn dance at Tanjong Hall as compared to learning it in an external school,
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CHRONICLE 01 form,” said Pei. Like Binjai Hall’s jam band, The Straw Hats had to purchase its equipment on a tight budget. It took them almost a year to get a full set of instruments, as they had to wait for funding from their JCRC. “I was a bit anxious because the equipment was essential for practices. Without them, my members couldn’t get a sense of how they would sound like in a live setting,” said Pei. “This is quite important when playing in a live band where members have to be able to hear each other’s parts,” she added.
“I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to shoulder such a huge responsibility because I was just a freshman.” (L-R) Bassist Stephen, 29, drummer Raiyan, 22, singer Joseph, 22, guitarist Tze Hong, 23, and pianist David, 22, from Tamarind Hall Jam Band performing at their annual Welcome Dinner on Monday, 27 Aug. PHOTO: JOEL CHAN
“To be honest, I feel very relieved that it worked out. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to shoulder such a huge responsibility because I was just a freshman,” Toh said. “I am very glad to have met many like-minded musicians who have made it an enjoyable journey for me.”
Tele-jam
Members of the Binjai Jam Band performing at 2017’s Fuse.
added the second-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) student. Since the dance crew consisted mainly of dancers with no prior experience, their main challenge was learning how to dance from scratch. With the help of their dance wcaptains and an external coach, most of their time was spent practising basic skills. They also had to polish their moves and cultivate an attitude of discipline, as dance rehearsals could last until 4am. Royals eventually finished in 17th place at HOCC this year. Royals’ dance captain, secondyear REP student Yao Cheng Hui, 22, said: “Watching the video of us finally performing on stage during HOCC was pretty amazing. Seeing the piece we presented, I remem-
bered every single practice we had before that day.”
Two is better than one With a strong passion for music, Binjai Hall resident Darren Toh, 24, sought to form the hall’s inaugural jam band. He spent 10 hours over the course of two days borrowing equipment and holding auditions in September 2017. Despite initial concerns that only a few residents would sign up, the auditions attracted close to 15 people, a number large enough to form two bands — Eleven and 2ply. Despite having sufficient members, the two bands went without proper equipment for almost a year, said Toh, a second-year School of Computer Science and Engineering student. “Every week, around five mem-
CREDIT: BINJAI HALL
bers, including myself, would bring our equipment from home. We brought our own guitar amplifiers and instruments to our music room so that we could practise.” Despite these obstacles, the bands bonded over home-cooked suppers after their four hour-long practice sessions, he added. The members started with just a public address (PA) system and two microphones. Over the year, they acquired a full set of band instruments after receiving funds from the Student Affairs Office. Since it was formed a year ago, members from both bands have racked up a steady record of performances, at FUSE, a joint-hall music festival; MyStage at Northspine; and North Hill’s own jam band showcase, Rocking in the North (RITN).
Meanwhile, Tamarind Hall’s jam band started from a Telegram group chat. Last year, some residents who were interested in music created a Telegram group, occasionally meeting up to jam. Keyboardist David Pei, a second-year student from the School of Social Sciences, was one of the 18 members in the chat. The 22-year-old said: “We met once in a while in the first semester to jam together, but it was purely recreational. After a few sessions, we became more bonded and insync with one another.” The Straw Hats was formed as the official jam band of Tamarind Hall earlier this year. Even though the jam band did not lack musical talent, it faced difficulties in finding permanent members. Tamarind Hall’s cultural secretary Nandika Lodh, 20, who oversees the band, said: “Many people were not interested in committing to the jam band in the long term, so we were missing a bassist and a drummer.” Some of the jam band members resorted to recruiting musicians from their old halls in order to complete Tamarind Hall’s band. “We were lucky to have members from other jam bands who were willing to step in and help. Without them, we would have missed out on a lot of opportunities to per-
Darren Toh, 24 Second-year student School of Computer Science and Engineering
But the band eventually managed to obtain the necessary instruments and perform on stage, participating in RITN and FUSE. Initially, the members doubted their own musical abilities as they had never performed together in public before, but they overcame their fears and put on successful performances. Lodh said: “Performing at these concerts, and performing well, was one of the greatest achievements in the past year. This year, we hope to perform at more events and become a better band.”
United as one The residents’ willingness to step up in their new CCAs have helped the new halls build their unique identities, said JCRC members. As the halls’ JCRCs spent a lot of time planning events and getting the halls up and running, there was no time to focus on fostering hall culture, said Lee Hui Min, 20, Tamarind Hall’s publicity and publication (PNP) secretary, a second-year WKWSCI student. However, the JCRCs were supportive of residents who wanted to set up their own CCAs. They provided the necessary funding and encouraged more residents to join these CCAs. They also organised events such as RITN, which gave Tamarind-North Hill hall residents a platform to showcase their talents. “New halls are harder to nurture, so we have collaborated with the JCRCs of other halls,” said Banyan Hall’s PNP Secretary, Catherine Tan, 20, a second-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. “We share the same goal of ensuring that our residents do not become hall phantoms.”
10-11 SPOTLIGHT
Stop and smell the rosé
The NTU Wine Society is committed to making wine tasting and appreciation accessible to the average student. Photo editor Theodore Lim visits one of the society’s events to capture how its members are sharing their passion for all things bubbly and red ALONG a dimly-lit corridor, a nondescript sign beside a North Spine tutorial room reads “NTU Wine Society: A Club of Taste.” The simple exterior belied the lavish atmosphere in the room, where the club was hosting its first event of the semester. The grapey aroma of merlot and rosé filled the air as wine glasses clinked above the lively chatter. The welcome tea and tasting session marks the start of the club’s sixteenth year since its launch. Founded in 2002, it aims to make wine tasting, commonly perceived as an exclusive activity, more accessible to the university community. As the club’s members and guests sipped their drinks, they discussed topics ranging from schoolwork to the quality of wine in their hands. Senior members flitted from table to table to ensure that everyone was included in the conversation.
The sparse tutorial room had transformed into a comfortable, cosy space. The club saw a threefold increase in registrations for its wine tasting sessions this year, as compared to last year. Tastings in the past year which have focused exclusively on more specific beverages such as Korean wine and sparkling wine, have also been fully booked. “The society has really grown in popularity thanks to the work and dedication put in by my executive committee,” said its president Benjamin Chan, a final-year student at the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. “Over the past one to two years, our social media presence has gotten stronger, and our members have constantly extended invitations to their friends. This has really helped with the turnout and the number of registrations,” said Chan.
Keeping the passion alive But it has not always been this way. In the past few years, the society has struggled to secure good deals with wine suppliers, Chan said. Due to high costs and limited funding, it faced challenges in obtaining enough bottles and a diverse selection of wines for its tasting sessions. Chan’s executive committee successfully found new suppliers, resulting in a more diverse spread of wines at the society’s tasting sessions. For example, recent tasting sessions have included Port, a stronger and more expensive dessert wine, and an assortment of Japanese Sake. The society’s members pay an annual membership fee of $10, and are entitled to discounts of up to 40 per cent on wine tasting events held throughout the year.
The entrance fee for a typical wine tasting event is about $32 for members of the public. Meanwhile, the society’s members fork out only $20. In a bid to retain its members, the society introduced a “lifetime membership” last month, which allows former members to continue enjoying membership benefits without having to pay the fee again. It tries to keep prices low in order to continue attracting people to its events, said Chan, who joined the society two years ago. This strategy has worked based on the attendance they have had at wine tasting events. Annabelle Lim, a second-year WKWSCI student and guest at the event, was grateful that the society tries so hard to keep prices down. “I find it brilliant that the society allows us to sample quality wines at affordable prices considering
how expensive alcohol is,” she said. The society has also introduced a wine appreciation course, known as the Wine Series. It is conducted by research fellow Dr James Moore of the Asian School of the Environment, who is a member of the society. In the course, participants learn how to describe the wines they are tasting. They are taught to recognise the variety of grape used in the production of the wine, as well as the region it is from. Chan hopes that the society has and will continue to make wine more accessible to the NTU community. “Wine is a journey. Over the years, you are going to taste a little more and see a little more. I hope that we will help people know more about wine and encourage them to embark on wine journeys of their own.”
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4 1. Society president Benjamin Chan interacts with new members as he shares some information about the wine they are drinking. The night saw guests of the event taste a selection of red, white, dessert, and sparkling wines. 2. An international student takes a sip from his glass of Riesling wine, one of the higher quality wines offered at the tasting. 3. A bottle of Trimbach Riesling offered at the tasting. 4. Bottles of Saint Emilion Grand Cru, a variety of red wine, laid out in preparation for serving to the guests. 5. A new member of the club sips from a glass of moscato, a sweet dessert wine. 6. A glass of Grand Cru being poured at the event.
PHOTOS: THEODORE LIM
Opinion EDITORIAL Keeping up in our Smart Nation SINGAPORE is striving towards being a Smart Nation, and NTU is not about to be left behind. After NTU president Professor Subra Suresh officially took up his position on 1 Jan, he announced his vision to transform the university into Singapore’s largest smart campus. On the agenda is developing and showcasing new smart technologies — such as sustainable buildings, autonomous vehicles, and also going cashless. Since this year, students’ matriculation cards double up as multi-purpose smart passes, which can be used for cashless payments and borrowing library books. Its FlashPay function also allows it to be used as an ez-link card, and as a stored-value card for shopping. According to the University, most retail and food and beverage outlets on campus have the Nets contactless payment system, and smart passes can be used in at least 80 per cent of the canteens in NTU. Despite available infrastructure, it appears that cash is still king for most students here. According to stallholders in NTU, most students are switching back to cash after local e-payment giant Nets stopped its Go Cashless with Nets promotion in May. The promotion gave customers a $0.50 discount off their purchase if they pay with a mobile banking app. This suggests that most view discounts as the only benefits of contactless payments. However, there are more pros of ditching
cash for smart passes and mobile apps than we may realise. The biggest and most touted perk is convenience. Going cashless means there is no longer a need to make detours to the ATM on the way to lunch. Neither do you have to rummage anxiously through your coin compartment for exact change, or scramble to stuff change back into your wallet as others in the queue stare impatiently. Think shorter and faster-moving queues that make lunch hour at Koufu feel less of a dread. Cashless transactions are also digitally recorded, allowing us to keep track of our expenses. Apart from letting us know what happened to the $100 we had in our wallets just three days ago, these records can also help us manage our budgets. More importantly, going cashless can mean less risk. If your wallet gets lost or stolen, debit or credit cards can be cancelled remotely. But the wad of cash you just withdrew will likely be gone forever. If our nation is moving, then we must move with it. The 2017 Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes survey found that 85 per cent of Singaporeans prefer electronic payments over cash, and almost half can go without cash for at least three days. So the next time you head out to lunch, give your smart pass or mobile app a shot. Let us not be the ones left behind.
THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR Gracia Lee
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Desiree Loh
DEPUTY CHIEF EDITOR Prisca Ang
OPINION EDITOR Alif Amsyar
SUB-EDITORS
Olivia Poh Neo Rong Wei
NEWS EDITORS Adele Chiang Michelle Racho
SPORTS EDITOR Adeena Nagib
CHINESE EDITOR
DIGITAL EDITOR Charlene Chua
PHOTO EDITOR Theodore Lim
BUSINESS MANAGERS Vanessa Tan Vinice Yeo
Tan Yu Jia
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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
Rethinking solo travel
GRAPHIC: BELYNDA HOI
ADELE CHIANG NEWS EDITOR THE first time I cried during my student exchange programme to England was after I was pickpocketed in Sheffield. I had been exploring the city alone when I realised that my wallet, which held my credit cards, flat key and cash, was gone. It was nearly 8pm there, which meant it was 3am in Singapore. I did not want to disturb anyone back home, so I called up the the bank in tears to cancel my credit cards as I sat on a bench all alone at Weston Park. Even though I eventually managed the situation on my own by successfully cancelling my cards and lodging a police report, I wished someone was there to give me emotional support.
Romanticising solo travel Solo travel is often seen by millennials as a means of self discovery. A simple search on Google brings up a multitude of articles touting the benefits of solo travel and how it will change your life forever. Google Trends shows that from 2015 to 2017, there was a worldwide increase of about 50 per cent for the search term “solo travel”. The Telegraph also reported that searches for the same term on Pinterest rose by nearly seven times in 2018. According to travel guidebook publisher The Lonely Planet, the number of solo trips taken has increased by almost two and a half times since a decade ago. While solo travel is enticing, I believe its drawbacks are often downplayed and its benefits hyped.
Drawbacks of solo travel
Shared experiences
Travelling solo is expensive. You never realise how much you save by sharing costs with a friend until you bear the full price alone. Solo travellers can be asked to pay up to two times more to rent a room. This premium charge, called the single supplement by travel industries, is often implemented as most accommodations are priced for at least two people. Travelling alone can also be dangerous. After joining the hiking society in my exchange programme university, we went on a 26kilometre hike at the Peak District in England. Midway through, I stepped into a deep hole covered with overgrown grass and suffered a ligament tear in my left ankle. As we were in the countryside, there were limited road or public transport networks to take us back to the city. There was also no mobile phone signal. If I had been alone with my heavy day pack, I probably would not have made it back to the city. But having company meant that I had help. My friends ended up taking turns to carry my day pack as I slowly hobbled back to civilisation. Being with friends also enabled me to do things I would have never dared to do alone, such as climbing Arthur’s Seat in Scotland during a snowstorm, which turned out to be an amazing adventure. I later continued my trip alone, and was surprised to realise that, despite being an introvert who values her me-time, I really missed having someone constantly by my side.
Nevertheless, I still feel that solo trips are learning experiences. I learnt how best to manoeuvre myself and my luggage into a minuscule toilet stall, how to strike up conversations with strangers, and most importantly, how to make the best of any situation. But what was missing was someone to share the experience with. Even though friends may ask about your trip after you return, there is only so much they can glean from living vicariously through the stories you tell. Attempting to describe the feeling of tucking into a hearty Sunday roast after hiking in the dreary English winter cheapens the experience. It’s just one of those “you had to be there” moments. In Oct 2014, a study published in the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience journal showed that having someone by our side makes our memories more vivid and meaningful. This “sharing effect” also minimises the impact of negative experiences and elevates the impact of positive ones.
Don’t travel for the sake of it If you are still keen on packing your bags and leaving for a solo trip, that is great. It is an experience I would definitely recommend trying at least once in your life. But if you’re simply yearning for a solo trip because you’ve bought into the idea of “discovering yourself”, then think twice. Remember that when you scroll through your Instagram feed and see solo travellers having the time of their lives, it probably is just a show of their highlight reel.
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Understanding privilege through exchange JILL MARIANNE ARUL
GRAPHIC: KELLEY LIM
Singapore is fair in its refusal to grant Ben Davis deferment MEGAN-NICOLE LYE BEN DAVIS is signed to first-tier football club Fulham’s Under-18 team. Joseph Schooling beat Michael Phelps to clinch Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal. Both are outstanding athletes who have achieved important milestones in Singapore’s sporting history. But where national service (NS) deferments are concerned, you get two completely different stories. When news broke of the Ministry of Defence’s rejection of Ben Davis’ NS deferment, I quickly jumped on the bandwagon, ready to attack Mindef’s decision. Like many, I was upset that such a talent would be wasted because of national service. But after giving the issue more thought, I realised that Mindef’s decision is perhaps fair after all.
Mindef's criteria NS deferment will only be granted if it “serves Singapore’s interest first and foremost, and never (an individual’s) own,” said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on 6 Aug. In his speech, Dr Ng said information on the football club’s website revealed that Davis will be playing for Fulham as an English national and not a Singaporean citizen. According to news reports, Davis holds UK and Thai passports on top of his Singaporean citizenship due to his parents’ lineage.
Davis’ father has also “consistently refused” to specify when Davis will return to serve NS andsaid he will only return for NS if his football career falls through. Davis seems uncommitted to his duty as a Singapore citizen, but the Ministry is clear that all Singaporean males are to do their part to protect Singapore from external and internal threats. Relaxing this criteria would only make Davis’ case a precedent for other individuals who place personal interests before the nation’s. That would not bode well for our national defence.
National service deferments in South Korea Similar to Singapore, South Korea requires male citizens aged 18 to 35 to serve two years of military service. Athletes who have won medals at the Olympics or a gold medal at the Asian Games are partially exempted and only required to undergo four weeks of basic training before they are free to participate in international competitions. That means professional South Korean football player Son Heungmin, 26, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, can continue pursuing his career if he bags the gold medal in this year’s Asian Games. Entertainment celebrities are
also allowed to defer their enlistment up to the age of 29, according to South Korea’s Military Manpower Association. Granting partial exemptions and deferments to talented individuals are seen as ways to bring in revenue for and recognition to the country. In 2016, the K-Pop industry was valued at $6.4 billion, according to the Korea Creative Content Agency. But before we complain about how inflexible Singapore is in comparison to South Korea, it is important to understand the differences. South Korea is an Asian powerhouse at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, and the K-Pop industry is extremely lucrative. Also, with more than 51 million citizens, their pool for conscription is significantly larger than that of Singapore. But in Singapore, athletes with an international presence like Schooling are extremely rare. To date, we have only two male Olympic medallists. With a smaller population size of about 5.5 million, and falling birth rates to boot, each Singaporean male is also much more vital to our national service. It is easy to sympathise with a young talent chasing his dreams, but Mindef’s criteria for NS deferment, is in my opinion, ultimately fair and pivotal for national defence, something that will always be a priority in Singapore.
WHEN I was nine, a girl in my class made a mean joke about the colour of my skin. As an IndianEurasian and a part of the minority in Singapore, I have experienced subtle racism through the things people say, and assumptions made about my family or myself. Growing up, I learned to accept that I would receive jokes about my skin colour and frizzy hair. As a teenager working parttime, I felt excluded whenever my colleagues spoke in Mandarin despite knowing that I was not fluent in it. I felt like my presence was insignificant to them. A friend who works in a recruitment firm once told me that my ethnicity might affect my employability. Some firms specify that they do not want to hire people of certain ethnicities, she said. A 2016 survey conducted by The Straits Times on racism in Singapore revealed that six in 10 Singaporeans have heard racist comments, with half of these comments heard at the workplace.
Opportunity to be an outsider I used to think that my Chinese friends would find it difficult to understand the woes of belonging to a minority race, but that changed during my exchange programme in Munich. Living abroad was more than just a chance to experience a new country. It was also a great opportunity for Singaporean students to experience what it is like being an outsider. I befriended Singaporean Chinese students who faced situations akin to what I experienced back home. They found themselves in the position of having to defend their mother tongue and physical features. They also felt they were at a disadvantage at school. My friend Kelly Choo, a third-year School of Humanities student, felt that because she was not local, her German teachers made assumptions about her, for instance, that she was technologically unsavvy. “I felt I had to work a lot harder to prove myself, which I would have never felt in Singapore,” said Choo. But another friend Nursyakir Ta
her, from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, feels this way every day here. “Sometimes people are shocked when I tell them I’m in university, or they congratulate me for being Malay and making it to a university,” the third-year student tells me. “I hope by proving them wrong, they will keep an open mind next time and not judge people too quickly.” Learning how it is like to be an outsider will hopefully lead to greater empathy for outsiders within our society. What is important is to simply be more conscious of racism in Singapore which is often so subtle that we fail to notice it.
Not as it seems Since 1989, the Ethnic Integration Policy also ensures there is no racial segregation in public housing. But behind closed doors, these policies may not be as successful as they seem. According to the same racism survey by The Straits Times, a third of Chinese Singaporeans surveyed were not comfortable inviting Indians and Malays into their homes. A third of respondents also stated they would be “uncomfortable” with Indians or Malays playing with their children or grandchildren. On the surface, it seems that the minorities in Singapore are well-integrated into our society. But dig deeper and you will find that divisions along racial lines are actually quite apparent.
Learning lessons Once the tables are turned and we realise the struggles of being at the receiving end of racism, it becomes easier to empathise with minorities. But simply going on exchange will not improve the situation. Merely experiencing what it feels like to be an outsider is not enough. We need to use these experiences to reflect on our privileges back home and strive to, for a start, be mindful of our words and assumptions. There is always something to learn from someone different, and we should make it a point to respect one another. Let us enjoy ourselves on exchange, and come back as better people.
GRAPHIC: BELYNDA HOI
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The early bird does not catch the worm
Cheryl Khoo, 20 Accountancy & Business, Year 2
"Morning classes are better because they force me to wake up early and they make me feel like I have my life on track."
RACHEL CHIU DURING the final week before NTU’s Hall Olympiad Closing Ceremony (HOCC), late night dance practices saw me returning to hall at about 3am. Twice, I got back only at 6am after a whole night and morning of rehearsals. This meant I was often too tired to attend morning lectures, and even those I did attend seemed like a blur to me. Not surprisingly, my academic performance dipped. If only all my classes were held in the afternoon, I thought.
The science of sleep Most people think that sleeping early, achieved by good discipline and time management, is the solution to lethargy in early classes. But it might be worthwhile to explore other reasons why students struggle to keep awake in the mornings. Even though some of us are resigned to our bad reputation of being “lazy”, research shows
that there is more to this than meets the eye. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness, and high levels of it result in sleepiness. In a 2016 study, University of Maryland Professor Nolan Pope found that adult melatonin secretion typically begins at about 9pm. During this process, melatonin levels remain high for 12 hours, after which its effects start to wane. This might explain why we feel more awake and energetic only after a certain amount of rest. Findings from a 2011 study by social technology researcher Laura Dabbish also found that people are more likely to be distracted in the morning, and regain their focus later in the day. These findings are echoed by another study done in 2017 by the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, which found that 12 per cent more
high school students in England performed well in national examinations in classes that started later. Researchers say the findings are applicable to different countries and cultures.
Changes to consider While some may argue that afternoon classes are only for those with poor time management, these studies show that perhaps we are just biologically wired to function better later in the day. Planning for the most productive times for learning can be a solution to the unproductivity that some students face. Starting all classes after a certain timing may be a logistical nightmare, but it is worth looking into. An attentive class in the afternoon or a morning class with groggy faces? I’m sure lecturers would be more thrilled to see the former in their classrooms.
Elizabeth Koh, 20 Psychology & Media Analytics, Year 2
"Having more hours of rest allows me to have energy to strike a healthy balance between my friends and schoolwork"
canteen talk
GRAPHIC: CLARA TOH
Kevin Tee, 23 Computer Science, Year 2
"Afternoon classes are definitely better because I get to snooze in after a tiring night of basketball training allowing me to concentrate better in classes."
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OPINION
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Learning to love Singapore
GRAPHIC: CLARA TOH
We might be overly critical of our city state WONG WING LUM BEFORE I left for my exchange programme in Germany, my mother said to me: “I hope you find it in your heart to return home.” Intended as a joke, she hinted that I would value my freedom so much I wouldn’t want to come back home. Indeed, there might have been some truth to her words. Back then, to me, life in Europe had everything that Singapore lacked — in particular, a less stressful learning environment and a slower pace of life. I rarely express any discontent with living in Singapore. Like most Singaporeans, I know how far this country has come — from a sleepy fishing village to a thriving metropolis in just over 50 years. But as I watched Singapore reach greater heights, I felt my homeland growing distant. In our pursuit for progress and pragmatism, other passions and dreams that might not seem to have significant economic rewards could be sidelined. Growing up here, I often wonder if my worth to society is determined solely by a few grades on a piece of paper. Home should not feel like this, I thought.
Not alone in my thoughts I’m not the only one who feels this way. It seems like Singaporeans are becoming less rooted, physically and emotionally, to our country. According to population statistics, the number of Singaporeans living overseas has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past decade. The 2017 World Economic Forum survey also found that seven in 10 Singaporean millennials were willing to leave Singapore for job opportunities overseas. An example is 25-year-old Gladys Seah. What started out as a journey to complete her undergraduate degree with RMIT University led to an extended stay and decision to work in Melbourne. “Many Singaporeans work for most of their lives just to pay off debt,” she said. It has been two years since Ms Seah relocated, and she has no intention of returning home. The associate private client advisor also said that a good work-life balance is difficult to achieve because of the city's fast-paced lifestyle. Furthermore, the high costs of owning a car and housing contributed to her worries. Over in Munich, my Singaporean friends always responded with criticism when foreigners asked about Singapore. According to
them, Singapore was boring because there were no places worthy of exploring; expensive because of the high cost of living; and stressful because of the demanding education standards. While I did not always completely agree, I never openly stood up to them for my country. I hesitated to respond because I did not associate myself with the stigma of being a patriot. Yet, I felt a lump in my throat when I heard their condemnation. Most of my peers think that safety and good food are the only aspects worth bragging about to foreigners. Apart from that, they say, there is little reason to praise home.
the sacrifices made by the partisans who fought for their countries’ independence from the Soviet Union since 1944, but gained independence only five decades later. Almost half of the resistance movement died in their quest for freedom. To them, their country was worth them fighting and dying for. Maybe this power can only be tested in times of adversity, which Singaporeans have had the fortune of avoiding over the past few decades. Despite this, continued peace is not guaranteed. If war ever brakes out in Singapore, I wonder how many of us would be willing to do the same for our country.
Patriotism is power
Shared practices and education
During a module on nationalism at my host university in Munich, I learnt that being patriotic is more than a prideful display of affection every National Day. Patriotism can mean different things to different people. To me, patriotism is about being proud of a country’s traditions and cultures, as well as having a desire to act in the interest of your country. In good times, it creates a sense of solidarity. In bad times, it is the emotional bond that helps people stick together to overcome obstacles. While exploring the Baltic states earlier this year, I was moved by
Patriotism must start somewhere. Social studies, a mandatory subject taught in our primary and secondary schools, teaches students about our national heritage and multicultural society, and helps them better understand local policies. While education is a great place to nurture this appreciation, more can be done at a national level to cultivate national pride here. A good example is this year’s National Day celebration. Compared to previous editions, this year's parade adopted a more genuine approach in retelling Singapore’s narrative. The performance featured stories of everyday
Singaporeans and their struggles with high societal standards and expectations. Despite these hardships, they chose to embrace the imperfections of the Singapore identity. This honesty spoke to the hearts of citizens, including myself, igniting a sense of rapport that I had not felt in a long time. I came to the realisation that ultimately, change must begin with me. For a start, I can make a conscious effort to look at my country more positively. For example, instead of harping on the fact that the education system is too stressful, I can focus on how it better prepares me for the pressures that I will inevitably face in the workplace. I can also be a good ambassador of my homeland the next time I am abroad, ready to highlight the many things about my country that I am proud of and grateful for: the peaceful coexistence of people from different races and religions, a strong education system, and Singlish, our own brand of the English Language. We need to learn to embrace our nation as it is. After all, this is the place that our forefathers built. One day, if I have the privilege of meeting those friends in Munich again, I will proudly tell them how wrong our descriptions of Singapore were those years ago.
南大韩舞社团 突破1万7千粉丝 —— 刊18页
新闻
南大实习生遇到恶霸雇主, 怎样化解? 陈纬铨 / 报道
南
大学生出外实习时,遇到 恶霸雇主及被指派不合理 的工作范围, 经历苦况后决定向 校方举报事件。 黄金辉传媒与信息学院四年 级生何小姐(化名)在上个学 期参加了实习计划,结果遇到 领导不佳、安排过量工作的恶 霸雇主,校方直接把她撤出公 司。 何小姐受访时表示,这是她 首次参加的正式大学实习,在 一家新创企业从事市场营销工 作。这家公司专门为咖啡馆及 小型企业促销活动等服务。 何小姐第一天上班,不料发 生了状况;这家公司竟然从老 板的家庭办公室运营。 根据南洋理工大学就业与实 习指导处(Career and Attachment Office,简称CAO)的方针,为了 实习生的安全,为南大生提供 实习机会的企业必须要有适当 的办公室或工作场所。 不过,何小姐当时并没有什 么不妥。她说:“既然这是我 第一次实习,我就觉得工作经 验最要紧,所以并没有向导师 报告。”
遇上霸雇主的危险征兆 根据何小姐,上司不懂得如何 指示,员工很难理解她的要 求。她说:“有一次,我们需 要在一项活动中分发健康面包 样品。老板指示我为客户烘焙 七条面包,我烘焙到隔天凌晨 一点。” 隔天,老板说她只要四条面 包,质问何小姐为什么带来了 七条。 何小姐指老板并没有让她早 点放工购买面包的材料,也没
有资助德士费用,起初也没有 偿还材料费用。 除此之外,何小姐也说老板 分配她做工作范围之外的行政 工作,她因此开始感觉不对劲。 一个月后,何小姐身边的三 位同事将在月底辞职,公司只 会剩下老板和她两人。老板还 要求她做私人助理,到处跟着 老板与客户开会,没有做任何 关于市场营销的工作。
雇主无故责骂员工 何小姐不是唯一有苦衷的实习 生。电子与电机工程学院四年 级生詹小姐(化名)在她实习 时也遭遇到类似经验。 詹小姐在一家电子产品贸易 公司实习。起初,她应征了采 购工程师的职位,但加入公司 过后,她却被分配到物流部门。 她在公司的职务包括重新包 装、运输重型设备、管理货物 进出等货流事宜,与她的工程 学位无关。 詹小姐也说,上司的指示经 常不清楚,导致员工无端端挨 骂。她说:“曾经有两批货需 要送到同一地区,但只有一批 准备好。我马上通知经理,而 他批准发货分成两趟,大家都 听到他的同意。” 隔天,老板质问詹小姐为什 么送货选择分两趟,浪费公司 的资源。詹小姐叙述,她被叫 到经理办公室,经理当场大声 指责她,使她感到羞愧。 她继续说:“类似的事发生 了好几次,虽然不是我的错, 但是我还是挨骂。” 詹小姐见情况不妙,就向学 校的实习导师举报事件。然而, 导师却说她经历的事是职场常 见的现象,劝她继续留在公司 完成实习经验。
插图:林睿俐 逃出恶劣环境 向何方求救
面临困境 尽早通知校方
根据何小姐的实习导师,黄金 辉传媒与信息学院前讲师林锦 成先生,何小姐在交上的实习 感想中坦白她在公司里的情况 和她的感受。林先生读了她的 感想就联络了何小姐。 林先生表示,自然要做的是 向老板澄清实习生说的话是否 正确。CAO派了两名工作人员一 同与他到公司了解情况。 他说:“老板说她觉得自己 能够给学生实习时所需要的学习 经验。但是我们发现公司正在 缩减小规模,工作环境也不理 想。我们意识到情况不对劲, 决定把学生从公司撤出。” 不过,离开公司并不是轻而 易举的过程。林先生向老板提 出撤出实习生时,她觉得校方 的决定太突然起初不同意,还 向校方讨损失赔偿。 林先生指,经过一番讨论 后,老板理解校方的立场,同 意让何小姐离开。 何小姐在恶霸雇主下花了大 约两个月的时间。
黄金辉传媒与信息学院的兼 职讲师费迪南·德·巴克先生 (Ferdinand de Bakker)五年前开 始监督学院的实习生。他表示, 在他在过去几年监督过的约450 名实习生当中,只有15名在实 习的时候遇到严重的问题。实 习生通常因为尴尬而不愿意举 报行为不检的雇主。 德·巴克先生说:“实习生 遇到恶霸雇主的情况是相当罕 见的。但是雇主侵凌、骚扰的 案件肯定比学生所举报的案件 还多。” 校方认真地看待恶霸雇主的 案件。监督实习生的导师通常 会仔细地阅读实习生们的实习 感想,了解字里行间的意思, 看出可能出现问题的实习生。 CAO代言人申明,在极端的情 况之下,校方将调查此事,并 将实习生从公司撤出。如果有 必要,校方会报警或采取其他 适当的措施。校方强调,学生 的学术地位不会因为学生报告 事件而受到影响。
校方慎重劝请学生,如果遭 遇到任何侵凌骚扰,要向CAO、 导师或学生福利中心(University Wellbeing Centre)寻求援助。
In summary The Nanyang Chronicle speaks to NTU students who have had unpleasant experiences as part of their mandatory internships, when they were tasked to work beyond their job scopes and were unreasonably reprimanded. The Career and Attachment Office at NTU urges all students to comply with the University’s internship guidelines, and maintain regular contact with their supervisors on the progress of their internships and report any inappropriate behaviour to them. Students should not remain silent if they feel uncomfortable in the way they are treated, or if they feel that certain actions are improper at the workplace.
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不法之徒假借问卷调查为由 试图骗取南大生个人信息 林国豪 / 报道
南
大学生近日不时遇上不 法之徒假借问卷调查为 由,企图盗取个人信息的事件。 这些问卷调查看似官方信 息,但其实只是伪装的诈骗, 要求用户输入个人资料后就进 行行骗或非法侵入用户电邮系 统。 南大校内的电子邮件系统七 月份时刚经历类似事件,有一 些学生差点上当。 南大中文系三年级学生李佳 颖(22岁)说,该电邮的标题和企 业实习有关,刚巧刚完成实习 的她,以为是实习经验的问卷 调查,险些按下 “点击这里阅 读信息” (Click here to view message) 的链接。 幸好,她查看到校内科技部 门发来的警告电邮,才得知原 来该电邮是封诈骗邮件。
校外问卷调查骗局常见 其他学生也在校外的问卷调 查网站或电邮中受骗。虽然自 己没有上过当,但南大商学系 三年级的张尧森(23岁)曾经观察 到自己的朋友差点被骗的经历。 他说:“我有个朋友这几个 星期收到不法之徒假借‘苹果’ (Apple Inc)名义发来的电邮, 原本以为是个好康,只要做个 问卷调查可以获得一些礼券, 后来仔细查看发送者电邮才发 现是假的。他们的手法高超, 排版和字体都抄袭苹果公司, 如果不仔细看真的会上当。” 根据亚洲新闻台报道,本地 近期也有不少骇客企图假借著名 品牌QOO10和IKEA,利用高额报 酬或奖励金为诱饵,鼓励消费 者提供反馈和输入个人资料, 实际上是骇客行骗的非法手段。 假“QOO10”的行骗手法就是 要求消费者输入个人资料如身 份证字号、信用卡资料和电邮 等来进行诈骗,消费者以为能 通过问卷调查赚取高达100元的
—
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Date: 24/07/2018 12:46 pm (GMT+08:00) To: Recipients Subject: Re: Submission of Professional Internship Form Unable to display this message Click here to view message Inbox message delayed: yNQs - Date: 07/24/2018 4:46:05 (ntu) 南大电邮系统七月中出现的盗骗电邮,使许多学生差点上当。 回扣礼券,殊不知在输入资料 后,自己的信用卡被盗刷。根 据新加坡警察部队数据显示, 单在2017年,这类电邮诈骗金 额就多达4300万元。
学生认为有足够辨识能力 同学们普遍上都能辨识一般的“ 钓鱼”(phishing)网站,唯独 网络问卷调查的网站,较容易 让大学生容易放下防备上当。 新闻网站asiaone本月初报道, 星展银行接获公众通报,指不 法之徒利用“DBSBANK”作为简 讯的发信人,会员只需要填写 一份简单的电子文件,即可在 24小时之内赚取高达1万3000元 的回报。所幸当时收件人在输 入个人资料前发现事有蹊跷, 决定向有关当局通报。 针对这个现象,张先生认 为:“大学生自认自己网络意 识强烈,懂得分辨真伪,才让 不法之徒有机可乘。” 网络问卷调查的网站之所 以深得大学生的喜爱,主要是 它们不要求用户花费太多时间 在作答上。大学生能在繁重课 业之余,在闲暇时抽出一点时
间,甚至在出勤时参与问卷调 查,完全符合他们追赶跑的生 活节奏。 目前,本地较为可的问卷调 查公司分别为Tonula, Global Test Market和MILIEU等。记者亲身实 验MILIEU的服务,每日花费5分 钟时间作答,接近2个星期就成 功索取一份10元的现金奖励。 这种问卷调查能让大学生赚点 额外收入,具有一定吸引力。 有些学生认为,网络问卷调 查与其他的“钓鱼”网站相比
插图:陈昱嘉 危险较低,被骗的可能性也不 太高。李小姐说:“网络问卷 调查一般不会要求太多个人资 料,即便是输入了不真实的内 容,大多还是可以领取相应的 报酬。”
仔细观察细节辨识真假 一般上,大学生怎么分辨真假 问卷调查? 南大电脑工程系大四生丁 士轩(26岁)说:“一般上我 都会看一看电邮的语法、设计
分辨真假问卷调查 南大网络安全部门特别在校内网站上发表公告,并希望大学生 或可参考以下事项,其中包括: • 仔细查看发件人的电邮,尤其是“@”和 “.”的位置,一 些不法之徒或可制造可及假乱真的电邮网址像是 “admin@ icagov.sg” • 切勿打开任何可疑信息的附件(attachments)或点阅相关链 接 (links) • 利用放毒软件扫描任何可疑的电邮信件 • 切勿透露任何个人资料尤其是住家地址、信用卡号、出生 日期、身份证字号等 • 不要着急恐慌,若有任何疑问可随时报警或找寻相关援助
还有附带的奖励有哪些。如果 语法错误百出,或是参杂大小 写的文字,又或是奖励太不可 思议,我就会认为那是假的网 站。” 针对校内电邮系统遭不法之 徒作为行骗工具,记者尝试联 络有关当局到底采取哪些防范 措施。截至截稿时间,仍未收 到回复。
In summary The cyber attack on NTU’s email system this July has sparked concerns of NTU students falling prey to survey phishing attacks, putting them at risk of losing control of their computers when they fill in fake survey forms. Filling in online surveys for a fee remains a popular way for students to earn extra income. The Nanyang Chronicle speaks to students who have experienced such phishing scams before and offers guidelines from the Centre of IT Services on how students can protect themselves from such attacks.
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CHRONICLE 01 生活
南大韩舞社团享誉国外 网站订阅者突破1万7千人 朴利彬 / 报道
社
交平台Youtube流行榜在 八月三日上传韩国大势 男子组合团体NCT的 "BLACK ON BLACK" 翻跳版。视频中,年少 青涩的舞者们展现反转魅力,引 发粉丝的关注。 此视频点击量突破18万,而 翻跳组合的订阅者超过1万7千 人。更惊人的是,深受世界各地 粉丝爱戴的这翻跳团体是南洋理 工大学的学生。 南大韩舞社团(NTU K-Pop Dance Group 简称KDP)是国内韩 流舞蹈翻跳圈子当中在线上拥有 最多订阅者的团体。校内其他的 舞蹈团体在线上的订阅者数仅达 900-1000多人,可见KDP在知名 度方面遥遥领先。 原创于2005年的KDP,宗旨是 将共同梦想系统化,追求翻跳韩 流舞蹈的理想。
花费心思制作及宣传作品 许多大学生把舞蹈作为业余消 遣,但对南洋金融会计学系四年 级生王焕琼(23岁)而言,翻 跳韩流舞蹈是她在大学生涯里担 当的重任。她全面负责定期上传
KDP最新翻跳韩流舞蹈视频,并
与其他成员计划接下来的翻跳 作品。 身为宣传负责人,王小姐表示 其制作过程并不简单。他们根 据所制定的生产计划,每周推 出一个翻跳作品,并研究发布 视频的最佳时间,以便获得更 高的互动及吸引潜在关注者, 最终达到一石二鸟的效果。 参与KDP已有三年的王小姐表 示,罗马不是一天造成的,而 是所有成员共同花费心思造就 的果实。他们不仅专注于推广 网上的频道,还踊跃参与校内 外的演出及比赛,并曾在新加 坡TEENAGE杂志举办的舞蹈比赛 中夺取韩流舞蹈组冠军。 为了扩大社交圈子及增长经 验,KDP团员们还与国内外的韩 流舞蹈团如starreseconds等合作。
成员倾心尽力 历经艰辛 这社团对其舞蹈素质的要求也 非常严格。KDP成员不单在每周 进行一堂常规技术训练,同时 实行两回以上的额外训练以便 应付比赛或者表演。 不仅如此,他们每年还在上 演展演的一个月之前每天出席
社团成员靠不断的磨练,练出名誉的精准‘刀群舞’。
南大韩舞社团创立仅十初年,就深受国际韩舞翻跳粉丝的喜爱。 强化培训,直至练熟肌肉记忆 为止。 她说:“KDP与众不同的特点 就在‘刀群舞’,既是像军刀 般整齐的舞。跳刀群舞不仅动 作标准到位,力度定点控制优 秀,配合全团很整齐很震撼。 没达到我们自己规定的标准决 不罢休。” 为了提高翻跳韩流舞蹈的素 质,KDP舞者都在跳舞的同时对 嘴假唱,而且进行脸部表情上 的训练。
图片:南大韩舞社团
KDP的国外粉丝金柳镇(20 岁)说:“以往我都认为翻跳 韩流舞蹈的团体水准旗鼓相 当,但KDP让我对这些舞者刮目 相看,因为KDP让我意识到他们 的舞蹈素质比任何团体接近完 美。我能通过他们上传的视频 看得出,他们其实是付出不少 心血的。” 成员们愿意对这课外活动格 外认真,终究是因为他们都非 常热爱韩流舞蹈。 机械工程系四年级生及KDP制 作总监廖婉婷(23岁)说:“ 我们每一个人心里都有明星 梦。” 然而,这寻梦的过程挑战重 重,在卓越的成绩背后有着种 种的挫折。身为大学生,他们 必须保持平衡,在不断跳舞的 同时打理好学业。 此外,廖小姐表示KDP成员并 不安居乐业,反而不断追求挑 战,勇于尝试不同的机会。去 年,韩国著名舞蹈编导Nancy通 过KDP频道,自愿远赴新加坡亲 自为成员传授舞蹈技艺。 此外,为了提高翻跳视频的 素质,他们还邀请校外专业摄 影师为他们拍摄及编辑。
图片:南大韩舞社团 KDP树立远大目标 他们的共同目标是在近几年内 能与加利福尼亚洛杉矶大学 的韩流舞蹈团体Koreos并肩共 舞。Koreos在平台上现有的粉丝 超60万人,网上的视频也有过 百万的点击量。廖小姐认为相 比之下,KDP也毫不逊色。她希 望他们也能跟随Koreos的脚步, 在官方音乐视频上线的一周之 内迅速发布自己的翻跳版,获 得各国粉丝的喜爱与肯定。 廖小姐说:“KDP每一个成 员都不顾酬劳,我们这几年来 单靠“热忱”两个字来坚持到 底。
In summary NTU K-Pop Dance Group (KDP) is not your typical student club. It is the K-Pop dance crew with the most online subscribers in Singapore, with 17,000 local and international followers on their Youtube channel. This article covers their journey to international recognition, with rigorous training and strategic video production and publicity schedules that have helped to boost their popularity.
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01 CHRONICLE
言论
新加坡电竞界的成功 须靠群众的支持 四
年一度的亚运会今年出 现了新的面孔。这些选 手的参赛项目主要考验反应速 度、战略和耐力, 但他们不靠体 力竞赛。 他们并不是普通运动员,而 是电子竞技(eSports,简称电 竞)的选手。 近年来,国家青年委员会 (National Youth Council)首次 举办了电子竞技比赛与音乐节 Hyperplay, 我国也开办了一所 电子竞技学院。然而,电竞还 未受我国主流社会的肯定。 新加坡国立大学对各学院的 教师做调查时,发现45%的回应 者认为学生若沉迷于太多游戏 就会成瘾。报告显示,教师们 担心学生缺乏自律,凸显了社 会对电子游戏的污名化。 电子与电机工程学院二年级 生林俊杰(22岁)是南洋理工 大学网络健康,电子竞技与游戏 创作学会(Cyberwellness, Cybersports and Games Creation Society, 简称C3)的副主席。 他指出,为了防止电子游
车制造业,成为经济三大支柱 产业之一。韩国电视也会直播 电竞赛事,使大众觉得电竞是 一份职业,并非不务正业。 只要广众对电竞有更深的了 解,要新加坡人接受电竞是可 实现的。或许有一天,我们会 培养出更多无畏尝试另一种出 路的电竞人才。(文/陈纬铨)
In summary 图片:南大C3学会 戏成瘾,促进网络健康非常重 要。 他说:“C3学会鼓励学生 们意识到朋友玩电子游戏成瘾 时,告诉其他朋友,一起帮助 他戒瘾。” 电子游戏缺乏传统体育项 目的实质性,使人们不易理解 电子游戏的竞争性。传统体育 项目都要求选手突破人体的限 制,但电竞似乎无法复制这点。 不过,林先生也说,电竞不
可以与传统体育项目直接相比。 电子游戏不止信息密集,选手 必须擅长机械技能,也得拥有 广大的游戏知识。 此外,美国2013年的一项研 究也显示,玩电子游戏可以增加 人脑的灵活性。研究人员发现, 研究对象玩了40小时的《星际 争霸》(Starcraft)过后能够更 加快速地在两个任务之间切换, 并同时保持两个任务的记忆。 由于传统的保守态度,许多
父母认为成为电竞选手是没有 财务保障或发展潜力的事业。 但林先生表示,电竞界实际上 不只需要选手,也需要记者、分 析家等人员。 新加坡若要在电竞界出人头 地,可从韩国良好的电竞环境 借鉴经验。 韩国政府向电子游戏产业大 力投资以外,在政策上也给予了 许多好处。经过数年的发展, 韩国电子游戏的产值超越了汽
eSports has been officially included in the 2018 Asian Games, giving recognition to competitive video gaming as a legitimate sporting activity in Asia. Despite that, attitudes towards eSports in Singapore remain conservative, as parents remain concerned about computer game addiction and seemingly low job prospects in the industry. This has hindered the local development of eSports. This article looks at South Korea’s successes in eSports and learns that various stakeholders in society, like educators, parents and policy makers can all play a role in changing attitudes towards computer gaming.
娱乐
《后来的我们》苦涩真实的爱情
图片:搜狐电影
这
不是一部青春片。 《后 来的我们》青春年华的 爱情看似《那些年,我们一起 追的女孩》或《我的少女时代》
的情节,但这部电影渗透表面 的浪漫,呈现出真实的痛楚。 如果一般的青春片是过于甜蜜 的拿铁泡沫,《后来的我们》 就是泡沫下的苦涩咖啡。 电影阐述林见清及方小晓的 相遇、相识、相负。两人在大 学时期从遥江镇搬迁到北京寻 找出路,但在大城市里累积下 来的事业挫折与失败,终于摧 毁了他们的感情。十年后再巧 遇的他们看着十年前的彼此, 为昔日怀着眷恋、遗憾。 《后来的我们》比一般青春 片更勇于描述爱情里的真实挑 战。两人追逐富裕的路途导致 他们忽略了对方的需求。 小晓希望嫁个有钱人,使她 差点错过了见清真诚的爱。而 见清打拼几年后还未发达,感
到特别羞耻却选择逃避困难, 沉浸在电脑游戏里,导致了两 人的分手。 十年后各有成就的他们想着 就说:“后来的我们什么都有 了,却没有了我们。” 饰演见清和小晓的井柏然 和周冬雨的默契非常自然,热 恋中的情侣不顾一切的拥抱, 分手后的熟悉陌生人约束的关 心,井柏然和周冬雨的演艺发 挥十足。两人的对话是真实生 活的写照,导演刘若英刻意让 电影节奏缓慢,让演员淋淋尽 致的表达失去深爱的人的伤感。 爱情以外,《后来的我们》 也描述了亲情联系。中国著名 导演田壮壮饰演见清的父亲, 对儿子简单既坚持的爱相对于 年轻人对事业的盲目追求。
刘导的初作虽然有雄心,但 仍有缺点。电影的自觉性有些 太高,导致多余的艺术性手法。 见清创制的电脑游戏讲述着 男主角寻找女主角的故事。小 晓问他:如果他永远找不到她 呢?见清回答:那他的世界就 会永远黑白。 电影照着这比喻,十年后的 情节以黑白方式呈现,显示两 人分手后的世界。而小晓在最 后部分与过往的感情和解后, 电影从黑白瞬间转换成彩色。 这种颜色变化太多余,甚至 分散观众的注意力。 其实,故 事少了这些艺术情节也会一样 有感化力。 这是一部反思青春的片,反思 我们雄志追求梦想中错过的人。 咖啡虽苦涩,但一杯好咖啡能
够惊醒观众,看出真实世界的 爱情得来不易。(文/陈昱嘉)
In summary Chinese romance film, Us and Them, premiered to box office records this summer and was acquired by Netflix for international distribution. The story of Lin Jianqing and Fang Xiaoxiao spans across a decade of love and heartbreak, with the duo reflecting on their past relationship after a coincidental meeting. This film goes beyond traditional romantic tropes and examines the harsh realities straining modern-day courtship, such as the pressures of work and societal expectations. It is a bittersweet presentation, and an honest one that tugs at the heartstrings.
Sports The race to save a life
Co-captain of the NTU Lifeguards Corps, Tan Zhen Wei, 25, races back to shore during a relay event.
Apart from being a valuable life skill, life-saving is a fiercely competitive sport that the NTU Lifeguards Corps competes in thrice a year JILL MARIANNE ARUL WHEN she was 16 years old, lifeguard Lee Jayan jumped into the pool on her first day of work to save a drowning middle-aged woman. The woman, who did not know how to swim, entered the pool without realising its depth, and was too far out to be rescued with a pole. Lee had to use defensive lifesaving techniques as she swam under the panicking woman to avoid getting hurt. She managed to grab hold of the woman, calmed her down, and got her out of the pool safely. Lee, who is now 20 years old and a second-year Civil and Electrical Engineering student, saved a few other people during her stint at Safra Toa Payoh. Today, she is the
president of the NTU Lifeguards Corps (NTULGC), which has trained some 20 new lifeguards every year for the past 32 years. The group’s motto is “the finest thing a man can do is to save the life of another human being”.
“The finest thing a man can do is to save the life of another human being.” NTU Lifeguards Corps’ motto
Besides taking on jobs at the NTU Swimming Pool Complex during orientation camps and private events, the lifeguards in NTULGC train to compete in three major competitions every year. Training sessions are held three times a week - twice in NTU and once at Sentosa. With no official coach, training sessions are led and managed by
PHOTOS: THEODORE LIM
the club’s captain, Tan Jun Ming, 24, a second-year student from the School of Humanities. Lifeguards have to complete courses to earn their lifeguard certifications, which are similar to swimming certifications. They learn the ropes of using life-saving equipment and performing first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in critical situations.
Competitive lifesaving There are two types of life-saving competitions held – still water and open water categories. Still water competitions take place in Olympic-sized pools and mostly consist of obstacle swimming, where participants dive to the bottom of the pool at 12.5-metre intervals. Participants also swim with equipment such as fins, ropes and rescue tubes for 100m to 200m to rescue mannequins. Placings are determined by timing. Meanwhile, open water competitions take place on the beach and competitors swim out into the sea to rescue their victims. They also use rescue boards and tubes, as well as surf skis, which
Captain Tan Jun Ming, 24, conducts training sessions for NTULGC.
Competitors dive for a baton buried in the sand.
are similar to kayaks. Unlike still water competitions, competitors save their team members, instead of mannequins. These team members swim out to a marked buoy that is 300m to 400m away, and await their rescue. The higher the tide, the further the marked buoy would be from the shore.
“This sport is for a purpose. Other than competing, you can save lives.” Lee Jayan, 20 Second-year student Civil and Electrical Engineering
Participants need to have an additional certification, known as the Bronze Cross, in order to compete in open water competitions. Lifeguards go through an additional two-day course, in which they learn how to cope with different sea conditions, to obtain the certificate. These competitions also include beach runs and beach flag competitions, in which participants run and capture a flag on the beach to avoid elimination. Sprint events are about 90m long and test how quickly participants are able to get into the water to save someone. “It’s more challenging because your feet will sink in (the sand) but you just have to deal with it and try your best to clinch first place,”
said Sarah Ng, 22, a second-year School of Humanities student. Open water competitions are slightly more challenging than their still water counterpart, as sea conditions change with every round of competition and force participants to adapt quickly. Competitors are split into two groups. The top four from each group are picked based on their timing in the heats, a judging criteria similar to that of track and field. These eight competitors battle it out in the finals, and a winner is chosen. In preparation for these competitions, newcomers to NTULGC pay a subsidised fee and are trained to be certified lifeguards. The Corps takes in new students every semester for lifeguard certification. These recruits start off with basic swimming skills and learn how to use equipment, before moving on to more advanced life saving techniques.
Major events NTULGC members participate in three major events a year - the National University of Singapore (NUS) Invitational, the NTU Lifesaving Friendlies, and the National Lifesaving Championship held by the Singapore Lifesaving Society. The 2018 National Lifesaving Championship’s open water competition took place from 18 to 19 Aug. This year, NTU clinched five medals in the men’s Division B category. NTULGC also organises the annual NTU Lifesaving Friendlies competition for lifeguards from
NTULGC trains with mannequinns that weigh up to 45kg when filled with water.
Competitor Wan Li Soon, 23, paddles towards shore on a rescue board.
universities, polytechnics and other life-saving clubs in Singapore to interact and compete. Although participants’ timings are recorded and ranked, medals and prizes are not awarded at this event. “We have newcomers to the sport and we want them to engage in the sport without feeling the need to achieve something,” said Tan. “We try to make the sport as friendly as possible.”
Why life-saving? Life-saving is less competitive than most sports, and it has a small and welcoming community, said NTULGC members. “Everyone kind of knows one another,” said Ng. “You make a lot of friends that will stay in your life.” Unlike the NTU Swim Team, where most freshmen have prior experience competing before
joining, life-saving welcomes mainly newcomers to the sport. Many swimmers make the switch to life-saving, as they think that it is more purposeful and interesting, as compared to doing laps in the pool, said captain Tan. An example is final-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Benjamin Tan, 24, who obtained certificates in swimming, before moving on to life-saving. Life-saving involves a wider variety of events, and allows him to challenge his personal limits, he said. Most of NTULGC’s recruits have a background in competitive swimming. Others are able to swim, but require more training to be stronger swimmers and improve their confidence in water, captain Tan added. NTULGC aims to make all
members comfortable and reduce the pressure of competing. However, many do not stay. NTULGC has about 10 regular members. According to Ng, it is likely that this is due to the commitment of competing and trainings held at Sentosa on Saturdays. However, NTULGC pushes on despite having a small team. Lee said: “This sport is for a purpose. Other than competing, you can save lives.”
TAKE THE PLUNGE NTULGC organises confidence jumps, from a height of 3m or 5m, at the NTU Swimming Pool Complex on Wednesdays from 6pm to 7pm. It is open to NTU students as well as members of the public.
22 CHRONICLE NS hinders sports careers, but still important: NTU athletes SPORTS
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Balancing the commitments of a national athlete while completing two years of national service is no mean feat and could hamper one’s sport progress, say NTU sportsmen NG JEAN YEE ATHLETES from NTU have mixed reactions over the government’s decision to reject footballer Ben Davis’ request to defer his national service (NS). While some agree that such a decision will hinder an athlete’s training progression, others feel that NS is more important. Davis, 17, who signed a two-year professional contract with Fulham Football Club in June, became the first Singaporean to play professionally in England. But his application for deferment was rejected because the contract would only further his professional career, and there was no indication that his deferment would benefit Singapore football, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. Davis is not the only athlete whose sporting career has been put on hold by NS. NTU alumnus Anders Aplin’s football career was impeded in a similar way. However, this did not stop him from becoming, at the age of 27, the first Singaporean footballer to play in the Japanese Football League. Aplin was the first to enlist in NS among the football players he trained with at the Singapore Sports School and the National Football Academy. In his first year of NS, he made it to the national team. Due to his vocation as a commando in the Singapore Armed Forces, Aplin could train only on Sundays and play in the amateur National Football League (NFL), unlike his former teammates in other units who were allowed to leave camp on weekdays for training. “I wondered what could have happened if I did not get called up (for NS) so early. A part of me gave up playing professionally, although I was still interested in football and played every week,” he said. After his two years of NS, Aplin made the tough decision to extend his service for another year to graduate with his trainees in his Commando battalion, although it meant putting football
NTU alumnus Anders Aplin (right) earned a spot in the S-League team Geylang International Football Club in 2016.
on hold for longer. “I got a bit jaded (during NS). I felt that I couldn’t pursue football much, so I paid more attention to NS,” said Aplin. However, he has no regrets, and believes that one should complete NS as it is one’s duty as a Singaporean. After a five-year stint in the NFL, Aplin finally earned a spot in the S-League team Geylang International Football Club in 2016. “I was 25 when I made my S-League debut. Most footballers debut at 17 or 18, but I had to play catch up, so I trained harder.” After an overseas trial in Nagano, Japan with Matsumoto Yamaga earlier this year, the Nanyang Business School alumnus signed a four-month contract with the club, which plays in the second division of Japan’s Professional Football League. Similar to Aplin, other national athletes said that Davis’ rejected deferment could be a potential setback to his sport development. One of them is former national floorball player Amshar Amin. He found the outcome “unfair” as Davis was offered a “rare opportunity”. Davis may not know where he stands as a player if he does not get the time to hone his skills and has to return to Singapore to serve NS instead, said the third-year Sport Science and Management
(SSM) student. If athletes’ opportunities are taken away due to NS, they may not feel inclined to pursue their sport professionally, or they may not want to play it in Singapore, he added. Amshar’s training was disrupted for 10 months when he went through Basic Military Training (BMT) and Officer Cadet School under the Singapore Police Force. As he had time off only on the weekends, his training with the national floorball team was reduced to once a week, compared to thrice a week before he enlisted. “A whole year of training only on Saturdays affected my performance. Maybe others can still perform well, but my performance dropped,” he said. However, Amshar’s training picked up when he was posted out after 10 months and worked regular nine-to-five shifts. He could train up to four times a week and was given unrecorded leave, or extra days off, to prepare for the 2015 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Serving NS first Meanwhile, national taekwondo player Ng Ming Wei agrees that Davis should return to Singapore and complete his NS. “If he is successful in Fulham, he may not even come back to Singapore to serve after (his contract ends),” said the third-year student
from the School of Social Sciences. “If one person can defer, others will make a big fuss and want the same to pursue their sport, music or other ambitions,” said Ng, who was serving his NS during the 2015 SEA Games, where he won a bronze medal in the “Under-54 kilogrammes” category. Being in the army enhanced his performance in taekwondo, he said. “There is no stress from work or studies when you are in NS, so you can keep your mind focused on your sport,” said the athlete, who has been in the national team for 10 years. Ng strategically planned his days off around public holidays, and was therefore able to train in Taipei before the Games. He was given unrecorded days off as well, and had ample time to prepare for the games. National floorball player Yeo Xuan, 21, was initially disappointed that Davis’ deferment was not granted, but understood the reasons for the government’s decision. “If Ben is only interested in his personal development, he may not contribute to Singapore’s sports scene when he is back,” the third-year Material Science and Engineering student said. She added that sports in Singapore can do better if supported athletes give back to the community, referencing Joseph Schooling who
PHOTO: FILE PHOTO
recently opened a swimming school at Our Tampines Hub, after winning an Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Schooling, 23, will have his NS deferred until after the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the past 15 years, only three athletes — swimmers Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen, as well as sailor Maximilian Soh — were granted deferment to represent Singapore in international competitions. Yeo’s boyfriend, Lim Jian Hong, 23, missed the chance to play in the 2016 World Floorball Championships because of his BMT. However, Lim said his overall fitness improved because of rigorous physical training in the army. After NS, the first-year SSM student represented Singapore in the 2017 Men’s Asia-Oceania Floorball Cup in Thailand, where his team came in second. His superiors were understanding of his need to train for the competition. They gave him time off for national team training twice a week, provided that he completed his duties first. “My training sessions started at 8pm and ended at 10pm, so I asked them if I could stay out and return the next morning and they approved,” he said. “It was a win-win situation being in the army while in the national team.”
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Singapore University Games 2018 Mon, 3 Sep 2018 Volleyball Volleyball
M
NTU vs SIT
W
NTU vs SIT
SIM Sports Hall SIM Sports Hall
Thurs, 20 Sep 2018 7.15pm 8.30pm
Wed, 5 Sep 2018 Tennis Volleyball Volleyball
M&W NTU vs SIM M
NTU vs SMU
W
NTU vs SMU
NUS Tennis Court
7pm
SIM Sports Hall
7.15pm
SIM Sports Hall
8.30pm
Fri, 7 Sep 2018 Volleyball
M
NTU vs NUS
SIM Sports Hall
7.15pm
Volleyball
W
NTU vs NUS
SIM Sports Hall
8.30pm
Badminton
W
Tennis
M&W NTU vs NUS NUS Tennis Court
Basketball
W
Badminton
W
NTU vs SIT NTU Center Court NTU vs SUSS
SMU MPSH
Squash
M&W NTU vs SMU NTU Squash Court
M
NTU vs SUSS
SMU MPSH
7.15pm
Wed, 12 Sep 2018 Badminton
W
NTU vs NUS
SMU MPSH
7.15pm
Thurs, 13 Sep 2018 NTU vs SIT
SMU MPSH
7.15pm 7pm
W
NTU vs SMU NTU SRC Court 2
8.45pm
Floorball
M
NTU vs SUTD
8.45pm
Sat, 22 Sep 2018 Aquathlon M&W
All
NSRCC Sea Sports Centre 8am
Squash
M&W
Touch Football W
7pm
NTU vs SMU NTU Lower Field
7.15pm
Basketball
W
NTU vs NUS NTU Center Court
7.15pm
Football
W
NTU vs SMU NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Handball
M
NTU vs NUS NTU SRC Court 2
8.45pm
7.15pm
M
Basketball
W
NTU vs SMU NTU Center Court 7.15pm
Football
M
NTU vs SIM NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Basketball
M
NTU vs SMU NTU Center Court 8.40pm
Floorball
W
NTU vs NUS
SIM HQ
7.30pm
Fri, 14 Sep 2018
Floorball
M
NTU vs NUS
SIM HQ
8.45pm
Badminton
W
NTU vs SIM
SMU MPSH
7.15pm
Volleyball
W
NTU vs SIM
SIM Sports Hall
7.15pm
Football
M
NTU vs SIT
NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Volleyball
M
NTU vs SIM
SIM Sports Hall
8.30pm
Sat, 15 Sep 2018 Badminton Badminton
M M M
Basketball
M
Handball
M
Squash
M
Wed, 26 Sep 2018 M&W NTU vs NUSSUTD Squash Court
Touch Football W
Handball
M
NTU vs SIT
NTU SRC Court 1
7.15pm
Handball
W
NTU vs NUS NTU SRC Court 2
8.45pm
8am
NTU vs SMU
SMU MPSH
9am
Tennis
M&W
3pm
Football
W
NTU vs SIT
Basketball
M
NTU vs NUS NTU Center Court
SMU MPSH
NTU vs SIM
SMU MPSH
Thurs, 27 Sep 2018
7.15pm
7.30pm
Netball
W
NTU vs SIM
NUS USC
7.20pm
Floorball
W
NTU vs SIT
SIM HQ
7.30pm
Floorball
M
NTU vs SIT
SIM HQ
8.45pm
Thurs, 4 Oct 2018 Tennis
M&W NTU vs SUTD NUS Tennis Court
Football
W
NTU vs SUSS
Basketball
M
NTU vs SIM
NTU Main Field
7pm 7.30pm
NTU Center Court 8.40pm
NTU vs SIT NUS Tennis Court NTU Main Field
7pm 7.30pm
Netball
W
NUS USC
8.40pm
Sat, 6 Oct 2018 Ultimate Mixed
NTU vs SIT
NTU Lower Field
Ultimate Mixed NTU vs SIM
9.10am
NTU Lower Field 10.20am
Sun, 7 Oct 2018 Ultimate Mixed
NTU vs SIT
NTU Lower Field 10.20am
Ultimate Mixed NTU vs SIM
NTU Lower Field 11.30am
Swimming M&W
All
Singapore Sports School 1pm
Mon, 8 Oct 2018 Basketball
M
NTU vs SIT
Football
W
NTU vs NUS
NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Netball
W
NTU vs NUS
NUS USC
8.40pm
Football
M
NTU vs NUS
NTU Center Court 7.15pm
Tue, 9 Oct 2018 NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Wed, 10 Oct 2018 Basketball
W
NTU vs SIM
Floorball
W
NTU vs SUSS
SIM HQ
7.30pm
Floorball
M
NTU vs SUSS
SIM HQ
8.45pm
8.40pm
Fri, 28 Sep 2018
NTU vs SMU
NTU Center Court 7.15pm
Thurs, 11 Oct 2018 Tennis
M&W NTU vs SMU NUS Tennis Court
7pm
M
NTU vs SUSS NTU Main Field
7.30pm
NTU SRC Court 1 7.30pm
Floorball
W
NTU vs SMU
SIM HQ
7.30pm
Floorball
W
NTU vs SIM
SIM HQ
7.30pm
NTU vs SUTD NTU Squash Courts 7.30pm
Floorball
M
NTU vs SMU
SIM HQ
8.45pm
Floorball
M
NTU vs SIM
SIM HQ
8.45pm
NTU vs SIM
Tue, 18 Sep 2018 NTU vs SMU
SMU MPSH
7.15pm
Football
M
NTU vs SMU
NTU Main Field
7.30pm
Wed, 19 Sep 2018 M&W NTU vs SIM NTU Squash Courts SMU MPSH
Mon, 15 Oct 2018
Sat, 29 Sep 2018
W
Bowling
M&W
Temasek Club
9am
Table Tennis M&W NTU vs SUTD
SIT
9am
Table Tennis M&W
SIT
10.30am
All
Temasek Club
9am
7pm 7.15pm
All
NTU vs SIM
Sun, 30 Sep 2018 Bowling
M&W
Badminton
M
NTU vs NUS
Handball
M
NTU vs SMU
NTU SRC Court 1 7.15pm
Table Tennis M&W
NTU vs SIT
SIT
10.30am
Touch Football M
NTU vs NUS
NTU Lower Field
Table Tennis M&W NTU vs NUS
SIT
12pm
Volleyball
NTU Main Field
Wed, 3 Oct 2018
Football
NTU vs SUTD NTU Center Court 7.15pm
Badminton
Squash
7.15pm
West Coast Park
NTU vs SUTD
7pm
NTU vs SUTD NTU Lower Field
All
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 Badminton
Tue, 25 Sep 2018
Squash
NTU vs SUTD
Fri, 5 Oct 2018
NTU vs SIT NTU Squash Court
Badminton
Road Race M&W
M
7.15pm
Handball
SIM HQ
Football
Mon, 24 Sep 2018 7.15pm
Tue, 11 Sep 2018 Badminton
7pm
Fri, 21 Sep 2018
Mon, 10 Sep 2018 NTU vs SIT
SMU MPSH
Tue, 2 Oct 2018
7.15pm
M
NTU vs SUTD
SIM Sports Hall
7.15pm
Volleyball
W
NTU vs SUTD
SIM Sports Hall
8.30pm
Handball
W
NTU vs SIM
NTU SRC Court 2 8.45pm
Mon, 1 Oct 2018 Touch Football W
Basketball
M
Netball
W
NTU vs SIM NTU Lower Field
7.15pm
NTU vs SUSS NTU Center Court
8.40pm
NTU vs SIM
NUS USC
8.40pm
Fixtures are correct as of 28 Aug 2018. Do check out NTU Spirit for more information on our sports teams. Scan the QR code to find out the latest updates!
3 12 4
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