CHRONICLE Where’s Alice? PAGES 22-23
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Run Round Singapore PAGES 20-21, 40
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Interview with the Fray
PHOTO | EUNICE CHAN
Fairer sex get fair deal PAGE 12
Sweet centrepiece
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备考食物 大全
More hall rooms a boon, but increased school fees a bane Ng Yee Theng Elizabeth Law
Women in NTU have more Hall rooms available, but those in their first year also face higher school fees from the next academic year onwards. Female NTU undergraduates and National Institute of Education students received a mailer last month inviting them for a walk-in application for a place in the Halls of Residence on campus. According to the Student Affairs Office (SAO), this was because the female waiting list has been cleared. The walk-in application was opened on March 8th on a first-come-first-served basis. Some current Hall residents, like Theresa Au, 19, a Hall 10 resident, felt that it defeated the purpose of the Hall points system, where students with significant Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) contributions are given priority in Hall rooms allocation. “People try very hard to get a place in Hall. They have to participate in a wide array of Hall activities and get a high position in some ECA to get the points,” said the first-year Nanyang Business School (NBS) student.
Others, though, believed it was fair as those who had the Hall points had been compensated fairly. “We get to stay in the Hall from the start of the school term, and this saves us the trouble of having to find out whether there’re spaces available,” said Cheong Mei Yun, 21, a Hall 15 resident, also a third-year NBS student. She has stayed in Hall since her first year. As for the increase in school fees, only students who were accepted into NTU in 2009, as well as future cohorts, would be affected. According to a news release by NTU, the change mainly affects the current first-year female undergraduates. Returning National Servicemen will pay tuition fees based on the year they were offered their place in the University, as most of them would have been accepted by NTU before 2009. All three local Universities will be increasing their tuition fees. Under the new scheme, Singapore citizens, permanent residents (PR) and international students would each pay a different fee, with Singaporeans paying the least. The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) said that this is part of the government’s efforts to emphasise the benefits of being a Singaporean. Originally scheduled for this academic year, the increase in tuition fees was deferred a year due to the global economic recession. With the exception of students from NBS, all current local first-year students would
only pay an additional $260 per academic year, compared to the $390 an international student would have to pay. According to OAFA, NBS students pay a slightly higher fee because they have a lower student-teacher ratio, which requires more teaching staff. Professor Er Meng Hwa, Senior Associate Provost in charge of undergraduate education, said that the University has a range of bursaries, grants and work-study schemes to help needy students. “NTU will ensure that no admitted Singaporean student will be deprived of a quality University education because of financial constraints.” For many foreign students, the steep fees is a very large concern. Purva Satija, a second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who is a PR, said: “This will increase the burden for my family because my brother is also studying (in University) right now.” But locals like Michelle Tan, 20, welcome the change. They see it as a natural effect of inflation on the economy. She has a younger sister who will be entering University this year. The second-year student from NIE added: “I just hope that this increase in school fees would translate to a higher standard of education.”
Additional reporting by Aakanksha Shad
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Medicine with a difference Technological advancements in medicine will allow for focus on targeted therapy Ng Yee Theng According to Nobel laureate Professor Aaron Ciechanover, who visited NTU on March 22nd as part of the Lee Kuan Yew Distinguished Visitor programme, the future of medicine lies in targeted therapy. Targeted therapy refers to treatment that emphasises on just one part of the body. This is mostly used in cancer treatment. However, targeted therapy needs to be dealt with cautiously. Genetic sequencing is essential for identifying possible mutations. Epigenomics, the study of chemical compounds which changes the genome’s set of instructions, as well as epigenetics, the study of levels of expression of gene activity both make targeted therapy more complicated than it seems. The progress of genetically coding 500 pathological samples
KNOWLEDGE DIFFUSION: Professor Ciechanover discusses targeted therapy. PHOTO | MALCOLM KOH
of diseases is still at its first stage. Technology aimed at sequencing one human genome at less than $1,000, and in under 15 minutes, is being developed. Currently, it costs about $20,000 and takes about a month per genome. The human genome is made up of Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA). “The information embedded in
one’s DNA is explosive. It not only has your current DNA but also your susceptibility to diseases for the future,” he said. He added that despite advanced technological developments, there are still moral and ethical issues about such research that have yet to be resolved. Professor Ciechanover cited a pair of siblings as an example. The
sister had kidney disease which would lead to kidney failure and only a transplant from her younger brother would save her. While it is a practice to undergo genetic screening before such operations, he opted out of it. This was because he did not want to find out if he had the same genetic condition as his sister. Which leads to the question—how much of ourselves should we know? For the same reason, Professor Ciechanover said governments, religious leaders, scientists and members of the public should come together to discuss ethical concerns behind genetic testing. He said that the human race should not stop the progress of science, so long as moral borders are not breached. “For the moral borders, it is we who decide,” he added. Professor Ciechanover won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of processes behind protein degradation, together with two other scientists. The breakthrough, after 10 years of research, helped in understanding diseases like cervical cancer, and led to the development of important cancer drugs.
Voices of tertiary students heard over budget Bhavan Jaipragas The Singapore economy will remain competitive as long as we continue to pursue excellence and take risks, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Mr Tharman was speaking at YOUTHSpeak on Budget 2010, a policy forum held on March 14th at the People’s Association (PA) headquarters. The event was organised by the PA Youth Movement. Close to 150 students and working youths from various backgrounds attended the event. Productivity was the key theme of this year’s budget. The topic was explored in detail by the other guest speakers, Dr Tan Khee Giap, Visiting Associate Professor from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and Mr Amos Yeo, a senior associate from the Ministry of Finance. Forum participants fielded a range of questions to Mr Shanmugaratnam and Dr Tan in the second half of the three-hour long forum. The increase in foreign worker levy, property prices and the $5.5 billion productivity package were some issues that featured heavily in participants’ questions. According to Mr Shanmugaratnam, Singaporeans must embrace a mindset of breaking new frontiers and challenging the norms to gain an edge in the highly competitive global economy. He also noted that a strong government would continue to be
relevant in Singapore to ensure stability and to accommodate the heterogeneity of its society. Nonetheless, more space would be made for ground-up initiatives and individual enterprise.
“The minister's sharing of his personal aspirations and stories livened up the forum.” Ryan Joseph Student
Nathaniel Koh, a 27-year-old Singapore Management University (SMU) undergraduate, found the minister’s candid and thorough replies refreshing. “It was impressive how he managed to convey complex economic ideas in layman terms,” he said. Ryan Joseph, 22, was heartened by Mr Shanmugaratnam's use of personal anecdotes to connect with the audience. Mr Shanmugaratnam pointed out how computers had improved efficiency in the workplace, citing how he did not have a computer in his office two decades ago, despite being the central bank’s chief economist. Joseph, who is currently awaiting entry into SMU, added: “The minister’s sharing of his personal aspirations and stories
livened up the forum, which I had expected to be a serious event.” The event also allowed representatives from nationwide youth organisations to share their views on government policies. Mr Sirajuddin Jamat, an executive officer of the Association of Muslim Professionals, said that this year’s budgetary measures were welcomed by his organisation as it allowed for “capacity and capability building” among young Malay-Muslim professionals. “The resources are out there, it’s up to young people to make use of the measures and develop themselves,” he added. Lum Yi Hui, 18, felt that more of such engagement events will help to stem the political apathy among the youths in Singapore. “Young people like myself need to know that our views are taken
into account when policymakers make decisions,” said the River Valley High School student. The event’s organisers echoed Lum’s sentiments. “Our policy forums are a great opportunity for direct interaction between government officials and youths, both students and those who have just started working,” said Mr Tang Wei Lin, 29, chairman of the forum’s organising committee. Mr Tang said feedback received from the forums is relayed to the various ministries and REACH, the government’s feedback portal. On the top of youths’ wish list for future forums was a greater level of interactivity. Added Koh: “It would have been better if I was given a chance to rebut the Minister’s reply to my question and engage him in a more conversational style.”
news flash a group of approximately 100 anti-China demonstrators gathered at the entrance of the Dashi Golf Course in Taoyuan c ount y, n o r t h en Taiwan , as Taiwan and China start a new round of talks to forge closer ties. dr silviu ionescu, romania's former Charge d'Affaires, was ruled as the driver of the car that was involved in the car accident on December 15th last year. The hitand-run accident injured two and killed one. US$10 billion was raised by the global community for the quake-hit Haiti, to assist in the rebuilding of the nation. This far exceeded the US$3.8 billion that was sought by the Haitian government for reconstruction projects. h o l ly w o o d c e l e b r i t y Sandra Bullock's husband, Jesse James, is reported to be seeking treatment as an at tempt to s al v a g e his m ar ria g e , af t er several women claimed that they were involed with him. n o r t h ko r e a' s l e a d e r Kim Jong-Il, is likely to visit China soon. This could signal his country's return to nuclear disarmament talks. Analysts say that a visit this year would be aimed at seeking economic aid from China. rapelay, a japanese video video game, has sparked international outrage amongst women groups due to the violent and sexual content of the videogame. Such games, known as "hentai games", are not new to Japan. google, the internet giant, said that a malicious software is used to spy on thousands of web users in Vietnam. This could be "a politically motivated attack", said George Kurtz, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of McAfee, a computer software firm. archbishop jerome listecki, the archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, apologised repeatedly for how his archdiocese handled an abusive priest. The now deceased priest, Lawrence Murphy, is believed to have molested nearly 200 boys. the white house has announced that oil firms will now be allowed to drill off the US coast for the first time in decades. Analysts say that the move is executed in hopes of appeasing Republicans to help pass US President Barack Obama's climate-change proposals . a girl was killed WHEN her school coach crashed at South Lanarkshire, Scotland. 17-year-old Natasha Paton's parents issued a statement in which they said they were "devastated" at the loss of their "beloved daughter".
MONEY MATTERS: Students share their views on the Budget.
PHOTO | JONAH SONG
former television actor Mark Chow was fined S$6,000 last week for molesting a woman four years earlier. He had molested the 27-year-old while she was asleep in her office.
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NTU receives a $2.5 million gift Local philanthropist's donation will be matched dollar for dollar, bringing total endowment fund to $5 million THE University Scholars Award will be renamed the Koh Boon Hwee Scholars Award. This is to recognise the gift of $2.5 million by Mr Koh Boon Hwee, chairman of NTU’s Board of Trustees. Together with the government’s dollar-for-dollar matching, this will establish a $5 million endowment fund that will support the University Scholars Award. Launched in 2007, the award acknowledges the academic achievements and leadership abilities of the University’s top students. It also honours teachers and faculty members who have made a significant impact on these students. “Education is the cornerstone of economic growth and social development, and dedicated teachers form the backbone of our education system,” said Mr Koh, 59, married with four children. The recipients of the award will be selected from the top one per cent of the graduating cohort. It is open to Singapore citizens, Singapore permanent residents, and international students pursuing an undergraduate education at NTU. Each winner will then nominate an NTU faculty member and a teacher from his or her former junior college, polytechnic or equivalent educational institute who has been an inspiration to them. In turn, the nominees will be given a cash grant of $5,000 set
up in his or her name. They have three years to award it to a student from his or her school or region to study in NTU. One of the recipients of the Award, Quek Junwei, 24, a second-year student from Nanyang Business School, feels that this is an excellent way to recognise educators' efforts and contributions.
“Education is the cornerstone of economic growth and social development.” Mr Koh Boon Hwee Chairman NTU Board of Trustees
This is because it allows teachers to “pay it forward” by passing on their good returns. Another recipient, Chong Woei Liang, 22, said that he is very honoured to get the Award as he would not have been able to study at NTU otherwise. The second-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student applauds the donation by Mr Koh as it will “allow more deserving students from less welloff families to benefit from the rich NTU experience”. Mr Koh also said that his conviction of the important role of teachers was forged during his school days. “Many of my teachers have left a lasting impression on me. He added: “Good teachers unknowingly leave an enduring legacy as they shape lives and make a difference to generations of students."
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Open house woes do not dampen spirit Ng Jun Sen CLOSE to 10,000 visitors attended the NTU Open House on March 13th despite two other major events happening on the same day. The NUS Open House and the IT Show 2010 were both held then, which could have reduced interest in NTU's Open House, affecting attendance as a result, according to a professor who declined to be named. “In terms of importance, I would say that it is better to attend this event instead of the IT Show,” said Sohail Biczadehtakovi, a secondyear st udent f rom M illennia Institute. “After all, we need to be aware of the courses we can take in future.”
Professor Lalit Goel, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, said: “Previous experience has shown that holding the event one week after the release of the ‘A’ level results allows time for prospective students to get over the excitement of receiving their results.” The visitors participated in guided tours around various schools and Halls of Residence. In addition, several clubs and societies put up a showcase at the Quad. At Na nya ng Aud itor iu m , students took the opportunity to display their research projects. The Nanyang Solar Team, for example, displayed an exploded view of their solar-powered car to curious visitors and industry professionals. However, the day ended early for some of the outdoor booths when a
late afternoon downpour flooded some areas, such as the Cyber Games Society booth. “Luckily, our members spotted the incoming flood, so we were able to react in time to minimise the damage,” said Mervyn Chew, 24, a third-year student at the School of Computer Engineering, also President of the Cyber Games Society. They managed to save several Xbox 360s from the rainwater. However, this did not affect the NTU experience for many of the visitors, especially for 18-year-old Biczadehtakovi. “Previously, I had thought that NUS was a more exciting school,” he said. “Coming to the NTU Open House has changed my perception of the university for the better.”
LIFE@NTU: Prospective students got to check out what makes them tick at the Open House 2010.
PHOTO | NG JUN SEN
CN Yang Scholars all ready to go Leonard How
SCHOLARLY CONVERSATION: Professor Alex Law shares a moment with his students at the annual CN Yang Scholars dinner. PHOTO | JONAH SONG
NTU's first ever batch of 32 CN Yang scholars will be graduating in a few months. “We're in our last few weeks of school, so it is a mix of emotions," said Daniel Leow, 24, a finalyear student from the School of C hem ica l a nd Biomed ica l Engineering. “We're a very tight cohort, so we'll miss hanging out with each other." Wit h a n aver age cohor t size of 40, the ties between the students are strong. Scholars in the programme go through a shared core curriculum during their first three semesters, regardless of their course of study. These core modules are a mixture of science and mathematics modules. T he programme, however,
lasts for the entire duration of the course they are enrolled in. CN Yang Scholars are a mix of undergraduates from the Science and Engineering faculties. Leow likens the atmosphere in his cohort to a junior college class. “We still often hang out with each other,” he said. This is despite the fact that their shared core cur riculum ended a few semesters ago. P r of e s s or A le x L aw, t he programme director, expressed his belief that the outgoing batch of students are primed to do well in life. While several plan to find work after graduation, a handful have begun applying to colleges overseas to further their education. T he CN Yang programme, which started in 2006, offers students a rigorous education in
the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. A hallmark of the course is the research major Prescribed Elective module freshmen have to complete. This module pairs students with faculty members who will guide them through their independent research. Students then have the option of continuing their research at science or engineering labs in NTU or elsewhere in subsequent semesters and during the holidays. Professor Law’s only wish is for more local students to join the programme. At present, only slightly more than half the students are Singaporean. “Since 80 per cent of t he student population here at NTU are Singaporeans, the figure should be representative for our programme,” he said.
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Veteran female Chemist writes book Ng Yee Theng
PHOTO | LOONG YONG EN
A tree for education Education Minister Ng Eng Hen planted a tree at the National Institute of Education (NIE) on March 16th to commemorate the 60th anniversary of teacher education. This was among the various activities organised by the NIE Green Club to celebrate the launch of the GreenDay@NIE. This initiative aims to raise
awareness of the need to enhance environmental conservation among trainee teachers. The tree was planted outside the Student Hub, following a tour of collaborative classrooms, sports facilities, canteen upgrades and student exhibits. NIE has gone through many changes since its beginnings in 1950s as the Teachers' Training
College (TTC). With an aim of serving as an immediate solution to Singapore's lack of teachers, TTC was originally located at Paterson Road. It moved to the current location after the Institute of Education and the College of Physical Education were merged to form NIE in July 1991.
A LEADING female Chemist has written an autobiography, hoping to inspire more female students to read Chemistry at the university. In her book, Follow The Chemistry: Lure, Love and Life, Dr Goh Lai Yoong, a senior teaching fellow at the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS) at NTU, talks about her journey in academia. Her experience spans over 40 years, providing vivid glimpses of the science and academic landscape development across the region. The book release is in conjunction with the launch of the Goh Lai Yoong Endowment Fund, in honour of her contribution to NTU. The endowment fund, which has raised $63,800 to date, will offer scholarships and bursaries to female students to study chemistry. Associate Chair of SPMS, Professor Leung Pak Hing, was the one who suggested to Dr Goh that she write an autobiography. “She is a dedicated teacher and a researcher of the highest calibre,” said Professor Leung, Head of the Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, where Dr Goh is from. He added that she is a “shining example of how women can manage their passions, family and career, yet still excel in all”.
Dr Goh hopes that her autobiography and the fund will help contribute to gender balance in Chemistry. According to her, “approximately 50 per cent of Chemistry undergraduates are females but only six per cent eventually end up as university professors”. “The fund will allow deserving and financially disadvantaged students to seriously consider a rewarding career in academia,” she added.
“She is a dedicated teacher and a researcher of the highest calibre.” Professor Leung Pak Hing Associate Chair School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Her account demonstrates that it is possible for women to be successful and strike a balance in between their family and career, despite the demands and rigour of a career in Chemistry. More than anything else, she sees the book as a tribute to those who have helped in the “journey of her career life”. But some students do not seem to agree that a book can make much difference. Jayalakshmy Aarthi, 19, a first-year student from the School of Sport Science and Management said: “It will be challenging for females to successfully enter a field traditionally dominated by males.”
Ratting out ADM Rats spotted in ADM causing havoc by eating up art material Joel Yuen WHEN a rat dropped through the false ceiling and landed on her shoulder, Professor Joan Marie Kelly, from the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM), ran screaming out of her office. Her colleague, armed with a stick, had a go at the rat, and managed to smash up everything in the office, killing it in the process. Thankfully, the iMac on her table was spared. Recently, rats have been spotted in the painting studio on the second floor of ADM, as well as outside the animation lab in the basement. However, a Senior Technical Officer from the Office of Facilities Planning and Management (OFPM), who declined to be named, said that the rat issue was not an infestation.
The presence of rats in ADM was brought to OFPM’s attention some two years ago, and this is only the second time this issue has been brought up to them. They have contacted their term contractor for pest control, and the situation is being taken care of, he said. Mr Bharat Singh, the Operations Executive of ADM, said that the rat issue is just a one-off occurrence, and not a full blown infestation, as claimed by some of the students in the school. Ac cor d i ng to h i m , upon receiving feedback about a rat appearance, a report will be made, and action taken. The rat is usually caught within one week, he added. However, some students are not sure that it is an isolated incident with just one rat. Third-year ADM student, Willis Turner Henry, 20, said that she has seen a rat run past her in the painting studio previously. She has also seen the rats biting on the art materials in the room.
SMELLING A RAT: Artistic endeavours at risk of rodent invasion.
Even bars of soap used for cleaning paint brushes were not spared from the rodent’s jaws.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | NG JUN SEN AND JONAH SONG
The problem seems to be some students' bad habits. Said Mr Singh: “The problem
lies mainly with the students who bring food into the studios, leaving them lying around overnight.”
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When Peter meets Alice in dance Annual Joint Dance Concert spiced up with characters from two popular children's tale Samantha Boh What happens when Peter Pan from Neverland meets Alice, not in Wonderland, but in the real world? The annual Joint Dance Concert (JDC), organised by the Cultural Activities Club (CAC), was given the novel theme, When Peter Meets Alice, adding a dominant storyline and narrative to the normally purely dance-centred performance. This is the first time the organising committee has done this. The evening saw NTU’s seven dance clubs, Breakdance, Chinese Dance, Contemporary Dance, DanceSport Academy, Kinetics, Modern Jazz and Salsa En Sync sharing the stage, bringing the audiences into a magical journey of adventure and discovery. Triumph is found in the overcoming of one’s fear. “I felt that the theme allowed the entire concert to flow better as there was a connection between the various dance numbers,” said Lee Meng Ai, President of the Chinese Dance Club (CDC). CDC performed two numbers at the concert. The roles of Alice and Peter were played by Sabrina Tan, 22, a third-year student from
the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and Mohit Khandelwal, 19, a firstyear student from the School of Computer Engineering. Mohit revealed that preparation for the concert took over three months, and the audience’s warm reception made his efforts worthwhile. “I am glad that it turned out well and I will definitely miss the experience,” said Mohit. For Tit Xiu Yi, 22, a dancer from both the Contemporary Dance and Chinese Dance clubs, performing in three items from two different clubs could have been a nightmarish rush. However, she revealed that her fellow dancers all pitched in to help her get ready for her items, which showed the close spirit that JDC has forged between dancers. Mr Liang Xianghong, 29, a writer who was a member of the audience, enjoyed the performance. However, he felt that there could have been some improvement. “The choreography could have been slightly more cohesive with the theme,” he said. For the organisers, JDC did not come easy. Sarah Lim, CoVice Chairperson of the organising committee, a second-year student from the Nanyang Business School, felt that the experience, though difficult, was worth it. The fact that we started from zero made this success even more satisfying,” said the 22-year-old.
HIGH SUPPORT: Dancers from NTU Chinese Dance lift dancer Lee Pee Hua high up in a pose.
PHOTO | CULTURAL ACTIVIES CLUB
Yeats finds a new home in HSS black box theatre
BENDING OVER BACKWARDS: Bianca Fung gives it her all for the dance segment in the plays.
Black Camel Theatre gets a taste of Yeats Ivan Tan Harnessing the support of students with a heart for theatre, two English Literature professors staged two plays by Irish writer
W.B. Yeats in lieu of the opening of the department’s new Black Box. The plays, Cat and the Moon and A Full Moon in March, were performed by a mixed cast from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) English department, and the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) on March 23rd and 24th.
PHOTO | TANG CHEE SENG
Supported by members of the English and Drama Society, Epiphany, these plays could create a multi-dimensional theatrical experience in the first Black Camel Theatre in NTU, also known as a “black box". “These plays consist of elements of experimental total theatre— music, singing, dance, Noh drama and dialogue,” said Professor van
de Kamp, the visiting professor directing the plays with Professor Daniel Jernigan. For instance, both plays saw Bianca Fung, a fourth-year English major, in a dance segment after a two-year break from dancing. Also, Nur Aini Malik, a second-year WKWSCI student and a seasoned theatre actress, made her debut theatrical singing performance in A Full Moon In March. While Yeats was better known for his poetry, his plays were directed at a smaller crowd, making Black Box theatres an ideal place to stage them, as they are typically smaller in size. Black Boxes are traditionally simple spaces in which performances with basic technical arrangements are usually staged. However, the new Black Camel Theatre in the faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which can seat over a hundred audience members, was not conceived primarily as a performance space. “The Black box was designed more for teaching purposes rather than for performances,” said Professor Jernigan. “What we hope to achieve in the long run is to offer a Theatre minor together with the English programme.” The cast of both plays began rehearsals in February this year,
and have been practicing thrice weekly ever since. Most of the team, including the lighting crew, had no prior theatrical experiences. Rohana, a fourth-year English major who plays a musician in the play Cat and the Moon, said that she has learnt a lot beyond the classroom from Professor van de Kamp. “He knows exactly what he wants in the plays and goes all out for it,” adds Rohana. Professor van de Kamp, who has previously directed both works in Ireland, said that “despite being dead simple, these plays have a lot more going under them”. Indeed, even as audiences were likely to be left puzzled after watching these experimental plays that work by suggestion instead of telling the story explicitly, few can deny the strange energy these performers exhibit as they were put together on stage. Fabian Tan, 22, a first-year English major who attended the show, said: “The plays really exceeded my expectations of what our students could produce.” “The dances, the lightings and the performances were alluring," he added. They will be holding a encore performance on April 8th as both nights were sold out.
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Continuing the green way in campus Inaugural GreenTECH exhibition showcases the best of green projects done by NTU students Pearl Lee WITH ‘going green’ fast becoming the global catchphrase, the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) launched its first exhibition with NTU, GreenTECH. NT U is currently the only University to be linked to IET. The two-day event organised by the IETNTU Student Section showcased 15 projects from both undergraduate and graduate students. The projects all had a common theme of energy sustainability. “The aim of this exhibition is to provide a platform for NTU students to showcase their environmentallyfriendly inventions,” said the President of IET-NTU Student Section, Lew King Choong, 22. “We hope this will serve as a channel to promote knowledge sharing among students, to generate ideas and stimulate creativity and enthusiasm,” he added. R3C group, which consists of five PhD students, were among the project exhibitors. Their project aims to transform Singapore into an Eco Town, where waste produced from HDB flats can be converted to electricity by fuel cells. They also experimented with using algae to produce biodiesel and bioethanol, which can be used as green petrol to power automobiles. “What we have in mind is a zero disposal concept using waste material as our resource and transforming them into something useful,” said a representative from the group.
It was, however, the Nanyang Solar Team that really stole the show with their solar car, Venture II. It previously participated in the Global Green Challenge bi-annual race in Australia. According to the President of the Nanyang Solar Team, 24-yearold Eugene Tan Sia Nguan, the club intends to continue the solar car project, and to keep joining solar car races. They also have another solar car in the works.
“We hope this will serve as a channel to promote knowledge sharing among students.” Lew King Choon President IET-NTU Student Section
Dean of Students, Professor Lok Tat Seng, who graced the event’s opening ceremony, felt the event provided NTU students with the opportunities to network with professionals in related fields, and gain greater insight in the industry. “Early exposure of our students to real world problems and better understanding of the potential of engineering to overcome present and future issues are important considerations. “This is a great way for our students to be ahead of the game in developing solutions to problems, and to build their business acumen,” he added.
Boomz on campus Former beauty queen reveals different side in an exclusive interview with Spectrum TV, which almost did not happen Mark Cheng MS RIS Low, former Miss Singapore World 2009, reportedly missed an interview with Spectrum TV, the campus T V station on March 10th. The interview leader, Lim Pei Qian, 21, a second-year student from Nanyang Business School, said that the date and time of the interview for the “Let’s Talk” segment on the weekly programme were confirmed via email two days before the initial shoot. Ms Low, on the other hand, who had allegedly not disclosed her mobile phone number to the team, claimed that she was waiting for a text message confirmation that never came. Lim managed to reschedule the interview in the end, and Ms Low came down the following M o n d a y, M a r c h 15 t h . H e r exclusive inter view was with Tabatha Randall, 22, an exchange student from University of New South Wales, Australia, currently studying at the School of Art, Design and Media. M s L ow h a s b e e n u nde r much media scrutiny since her M iss Si ngapore World debut last August, and has even had a musical theatre perform a parody about her in Chestnuts Does Christmas: Like A Hard Candy Virgin.
“I think I'm not a very good per son but I’m changing for the better,” said Ms Low in the interview. She added that her positivity in light of surrounding criticism has helped her move on from her Miss Singapore World 2009 days. “I’m a ver y thick-skinned person, and I don't really let anybody bring me down,” said Ms Low. The interview is in Season 4, Edition 3 of Spectrum TV, and can be seen on www.spectrumtv.sg.
BROKEN CONNECTION: A communication breakdown resulted in Ms Ris Low's no show for an interview with Spectrum TV. PHOTO | INTERNET
Islamic culture, not limited to Muslims NTU Muslim Society opens the Islamic culture to non-Muslims through an Inter-Cultural Night Nabilah Bte Syed Sultan
GREEN ENERGY: An exhibitor describes her project to Professor Lok Tat Seng. PHOTO | JONAH SONG
According to Randall, Ms Low had “no diva airs about her”, despite having been ranked one of the 25 most influential people in Asia by the Cable News Network (CNN). Lim, who initially believed that Ms Low had stood them up, was frustrated in the beginning, but later felt that she was actually genuine and nice. The approximately 12 minutelong interview showed a different side of the former beauty queen, as she spoke about her recent past, as well as her plans for the future.
Students got to appreciate a range of Islamic cultures when NTU Muslim Society organised its very first Inter-Cultural Night that was opened to all. Held on March 19th at the Student Activities Centre, the event featured the history and practices of Islam from South East Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. Themed Unity in Diversity, the event saw musical performances and games that represent and tie in with different Islamic cultures from around the globe. International Liaison Officer of N T U Muslim Societ y, Tyas
Kokasih, 20, said he hopes to see more of such events in the future to raise awareness of the different Islamic cultures around. T he second-yea r st udent from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences added: “Islam is not only restricted to Singapore and Indonesia. Muslims are all around the world. We may have different cultures, but we are bonded by our religion.” Despite the low turnout, the event planning team of this event agreed that their objective of reaching out to the international Muslim students was met. Event coordinator Ali Zia Qureshi, a third-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 20, felt it was good that local and international Muslim students got to interact. “Perhaps we can improve on attracting people from other faiths the next time round because learning about different cultures
is something that interests most people,” he added. Himawan Nurkahf ianto, a second-year Indonesian student from the School of Materials Science Engineering, was one of the many who enjoyed the evening. He said that one of the highlights of the event was getting to taste food from different regions. “But the best part of the night still had to be the Ukhuwwah that was strengthened between the international and the local students,” added the 20-year-old. U khuw wah i s a n A r abic word and is the Islamic term for brotherhood or bond. Nashita Binte Kamir, 21, a second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, said: “I managed to lea r n so muc h about t he different Islamic cultures around the world in just one night. I only wished more people turned up to experience what I did.”
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grad project special
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
JOURNEYS a special feature on graduation projects
Graduation projects are a rite of passage to every undergraduate’s years at NTU. The Chronicle has selected 12 projects to see what went behind the scenes in making students’ final-year projects a success Nanyang Business School
NBS takeaway
PHOTO | ZAKARIA ZAINAL
TAKEAWAY food outlets such as Mr Bean, GoGo Franks and Frolick gave first-hand insights to three marketing students for their FYP. Tricia Tan, 22; Leong Weijie, 24; and Lim Aijia, 22, chose to focus on how takeaway food businesses kept their customers. The project aimed to enable young entrepreneurs interested in this niche area of the food industry, and to help existing businesses improve customer retention. T he g roup faced d i f f ic u lt y
obtaining information from businesses. “Because the takeaway food industry is a very niche market, companies were unwilling to divulge too much,” said 24-year-old Leong. Their project supervisor, NBS lecturer Mr Clive Choo, advised them to use value chain analysis to discover the actual value of the takeaway food business. Through their project, they have found out that different businesses have different ways of customer retention. For instance, Frolick focuses more on brand marketing, while Mr Bean and GoGo Franks focus more on their quality. For them, the biggest takeaway from their project was the learning experience from speaking to entrepreneurs. Aside from giving business advice and information, the entrepreneurs also gave shared their life experiences, which made the interviews more personal. EVE YEO
School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
The mechanics behind Vitamin K1 not other vitamin compounds. Chng also hopes that finding out the mechanisms behind Vitamin K1 will allow for better understanding as to how it works in the human body. “ We c o u l d c a r r y o u t experiments on how Vitamin K1 interacts with water in a lipid bilayer system and we could possibly apply that to biological systems, since Vitamin K1 is found in our cell membranes,” she said. PHOTO | NEO WEN TONG Working on this FYP has not been all THE properties of Vitamin K1 are rosy for Chng, and she experienced the well known—it clots blood, aids the differences between classroom learning absorption of calcium in your bones, and hands-on experimentation. “The first thing I realised when starting and is essential for your liver to out on my FYP was that three and a half function well. However, the mechanics of how years of lectures and tutorials did not Vitamin K1 works are still relatively exactly prepare me for the challenges I faced when doing research,” Chng said. unknown. “As clichéd as it sounds, while the That is what Elaine Chng, 23, a final-year student from the School of final grades are what most students are Physical and Mathematical Sciences, is concerned with, I think we should also enjoy the process of learning.” trying to uncover for her FYP. She found out that water affects the electrochemistry of Vitamin K1, but NEO WEN TONG
School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Working through the crowd WHILE other undergraduates were labouring in the laboratories for their FYP, Dajac Carlo Vincienzo Genuino, 20, was working on his project at the Boon Lay MRT Station. Genuino’s FYP, titled Particle Force Models of Human Traffic in MRT Stations, is an attempt to establish and simulate the relationship between particle physics and human traffic on MRT platforms. The project’s main aim was to convince the Land Transport Authority (LTA) that the current MRT platform’s design does not take into account safety and emergency evacuation. “But right now we have very fast computers and can use stimulation to determine a safer platform,” explained Genuino. A fatal stampede which took place around two years ago at a stadium in Genuino’s home country, the Philippines, was one reason why he decided to take up this project as soon as he saw it on the list of suggested project titles by SPMS’ Division of Physics and Applied Physics. Based on previous research by
Professor Dirk Helbing, a sociology expert on modelling and simulation, Genuino had made use of Professor Helbing’s social force model to apply it on the scenario. A group of students from the School of Art, Design and Media working on an animation film has approached Genuino and his supervisor, Assistant Professor Cheong Siew Ann, for some help on portraying a realistic scene whereby a monster attacks a mob. For Genuino’s friends who were initially skeptical about his FYP, his best defence of his passion for this topic came about when his project turned out to be the only undergraduate FYP selected from SPMS to be showcased in this year’s Open House. Regarding the responses he received during the event, Genuino said: “Their initial reaction was like mine, which was ‘Wow, you can actually use physics in this scenario.’ It never occurred to me before and it doesn’t occur to many others.” KHOO FANG XUAN
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Looking beyond the surface IS ETERNAL youth possible with the rise of cosmetic surgery? Kelvin Pang and Imran Jalal, 24, explored this issue in their feature write-up, entitled Face Value, for their Final Year Project. The duo embarked on their research into the seeming innocuous non-intrusive anti-ageing solutions, which give a younger appearance to the human face. One of the controversial issues they dug up was the use of stem cells
in anti-ageing treatments. It was difficult to find sources or people who have undergone the procedure, and even more so to find people who are willing to grant interviews. “You would think that Singaporeans are liberal about such issues (cosmetic surgery) but the fact is that they’re mostly afraid to reveal,” he said. To get round the problem, they approached the story from a different angle, and approached a local clinic that offered stem cells treatments.
“We tried to understand why the doctors offered it and their rationale for doing so,” Pang said. What they have gathered is that while the doctors of the clinic had believed in the counter-ageing effects of stem cells, the clinic had stopped offering the service due to government intervention. When asked if their opinions on cosmetic surgery have changed after working on the project, Imran maintained that he is open to the idea. Pang, on the other hand, admitted he now has second thoughts after interviewing the doctors. “When they (the doctors) need to raise an example they’ll just point to your face,” said Pang. “I wavered a bit and felt a bit more conscious of my looks. But ultimately, at the end of the project, I’m still not for the idea of plastic surgery,” he added. TAN WEI YUAN
grad project special
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
2 sides THERE are two sides to every story and a group of students aim to entice the public to explore the two sides through Elsa X, a vir tual bipolar persona. T h rough music and a guerilla media campaign, the group hopes to raise awareness of the disorder, a psychiatric condition in which the afflicted experiences ab no r m a l l y ele v at e d o r depressed emotions. For their campaign, the group started with a mask design competition. “T he use of a mask s y m b ol i s e s how we a l l sometimes put on appearances to hide,” said Reina Lee, 23. “When you come across your friend who is very weird, or very cranky, it would be good to try to find out more, rather than just dismiss them or make fun of them. They may be struggling with mental conditions, and sometimes, they themselves are not aware,” Lee added. The group also explored the option of using music, and one member, Wang Wei Yang,
25, produced an album for the project. “We wanted to do something different, and personally I am quite satisfied with what has been done,” said Wang, who plays in two bands; Blackstar and MONSTER CAT. For the next stage of their campaign, the group will leave traces of Elsa X (like a broken guitar or a teddy bear) around campus, with an invitation to their site, www.2sides.sg. The displays will present only an incomplete story, and the viewer would have to visit the website. Elsa X’s entire story will unfold on the website, showing her struggles through music, photography and her writings. The personality of Elsa X is a synthesis of the in-depth research and interviews that the group conducted with people who were suffering from bipolar disorder. For Fiona Teo, 23, it was a good experience working in a team with such a diverse make up, as each member had their own area of expertise. “We had greater freedom to
School of Biological Sciences
exercise what is best to achieve the project goals, as we each focused on our niche areas,” Teo added. The oldest member of the team, Cho Chui Wai, 27, was glad for the experiences she had gone through before arriving at where she is now. She had gone from a junior college to a polytechnic and then joined the workforce for two years before enrolling in NTU. “I gained a lot of insights from those years, and came into school with a much more broader perspective,” said Cho. POH WEE KOON
PHOTO | 2 SIDES
Long Endurance SolarPowered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Their F Y P super visor, A s si s t a nt P r ofe s s or S on Hungsun, said: “This project lays the foundation for even longer endur ance UAVs. We are possibly looking at experimental UAVs that can last for more than 24 hours.” Flight testing proved to be a battle for the duo, as they had to brace themselves for unfavourable weather conditions like rain and cloudy weather. The UAV typically requires good sunlight, favourable wind conditions, and a large open-space area in order to conduct testing. Other challenges came in the form of product design, wh ich requi res acc urate measurements of the UAVs centre of gravity. This required the team to use an online version of Motocalc to experiment with the many designs that they came up with and finally settle on this particular one that maximises aerodynamic
Fearful attraction F ear and at t rac t ion m ay seem completely unrelated to each other, but as Muhd Hidayat Bin Isnin found out through his FYP, the former can be converted into the latter by brain parasites called Toxoplasma gondii. His project is an extension of his FYP supervisor Assistant Professor Ajai Vya s’ pa st research on brain parasites. Using an example of cats and rats, Hidayat explained that the brain parasites were injected into the rat’s brain where it rewires the brain signals. “The parasite can enter a rat’s brain, rewiring it so that the rat is now attracted to the cat odour, instead of being fearful of it.” The parasite needs the cat to increase its chances of survival. By changing the fear into attraction, the parasite essentially brings the rat closer
to the cat. Instinctively, the cat will eat the rat. When this happens, the parasite is transferred to the cat, which will maximise the parasite’s survival rate. Hidayat did not have the opportunity to conduct the experiments on his own, but had to read scientific journals for relevant information to discuss. He also faced problems identifying the focus for his final paper. Moreover, b ecause h i s project requires only Internet connection, Hidayat admitted t h at sel f- d i scipl i ne wa s important in order to achieve his desired results. “It’s easy to get distracted without anyone supervising you. I need to be my own supervisor,” he said. chua yan yu
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
A N E W solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may break long-lasting endurance records in the future. Teng Yeow Hwee Daniel and Low Zhi Wei Benedict, both 25, built the UAV from scratch as their FYP. This unconventionallybuilt lightweight dancer sail plane is the first locally built model running on renewable energy. It weighs in at 1.7kg with a large wingspan of 3.71m, and can last for more than five hours. This is a far cry from the prototypical normal flight time of 30 minutes to an hour for older models. In addition, it is sturdy, enabling a camera to be mounted on it. Integrating autonomous control with an envi ron ment al ly-fr iendly form of circuitry power, this innovation is a promising foreshadow of future UAVs.
09
efficiency against the available power draw. Never theless, they managed to surmount those hurdles. The team believes that there is still room for improvement, though. “We hope to advance this technology and set new milestones in flight modelling. This has useful practical implications in terms of coastal and military surveillance, and search and rescue operations,” said Teng. “The level of satisfaction that we derive from this FYP makes our hard work all worth it,” he added. Low thinks likewise. “This project allowed us to apply what we learnt into practice. It's not just equations and numbers. “Indeed, it is exciting to see our project being built from scratch and to savour the fruit of our labour,” he said. DAWN LIM
Filial piety— a neglected issue? W IT H the increasing p r o ble m o f t he a ge i ng population in Singapore, will our children take care of us when we age? Fi nal-year st udent s Joanna Hor, Jessica Yeo and Geraldine Teo, all 23, decided to a n s wer t h i s question, focusing on the concept of filial piety. “Recent repor ts on the ageing population in Singapore make us want to research on its implications with regard to filial piety,” Teo said. As part of their F Y P, they conducted a survey with 300 respondents from 20 to 60 years old. While 62 per cent of the baby boomers strongly agreed that spending time with their parents at least once a month is an expression of filial piet y, only half o f t he you nge r g r oup s strongly agreed to the same statement. The statistics gathered showed a gradually differing view between the young and the baby boomers towards filial piety and suggested a gradual erosion of the Confucian ideals of care and respect to the elderly. In addition to qualitative data, the group also conducted home visits. Hor
PHOTO | MATTHEW SIM
said that one of the elderly they visited has been staying alone for a decade, with rare visits from her six children, and relies on daily lunches from volunteer groups. Yeo said: “They (elderly who are abandoned) have no hope for the f uture, and only live each day at a time.” T hu s , t h r o u g h t h e i r research, the group hopes to bring light to the situation, and increase awareness that caring for parents should be a responsibility and not a choice. JOEL YUEN
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grad project special School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Seeing the light IMAGINE having a charger that runs on sunlight and rolls up neatly into your bag. That is what an FYP group from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) hopes to achieve. They aim to find out what is the best material to make this device with. Associate Professor Terence Wong, along with th ree EEE final-year undergraduates, have been researching the efficiency of photovoltaic devices that can convert sunlight into electricity. In addition to being powered by sunlight, the devices can also power fluorescent lamps. Traditionally, these devices have been made of silicone. Developments in the field have
resulted in organic semiconductors, which are 20 times cheaper than the silicone ones. The new material also gives the photovoltaic devices a plastic quality, which make it more flexible. However, a drawback from using these new organic semiconductors is that they are thought to be less efficient than their silicon counterparts. The FYP group has set out to find out once and for all which material is more efficient. This has serious implications for hardware companies, as they will then be able to make a more informed choice, potentially saving them millions of dollars. TIMOTHY NG
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Integration through photos With all the talk about integrating foreigners into our community, two students decided to focus on that for their FYP. Final-year students Nuria Ling and Kong Yen Lin did a study on Filipino women and how they adapted to life in Singapore. Ling, 23, said: “We started out with the idea of migrant women and housing, but we decided to narrow down to a certain nationality.” They chose the largest group of migrant women in Singapore. The group’s FYP, which is a multimedia project, included a website featuring introduction clips, individual profiles, and short documentaries of the women who come from a range of lifestyles, from domestic workers to nurses, and even an expat’s wife. To do this, Ling and Kong went to the places where Filipino women frequently go to, such as certain shopping centres and churches. Most of the time, the chance for them to spend time with their subjects is appointment-based,
which is not ideal as they are not able to capture all sides of the story. The photojournalism FYP was not easy to complete. Ling told of difficulty due to rejection when they intruded into the subjects' lives. However, some subjects allowed them to stay overnight with them. “We are grateful, as we are just strangers who appeared out of nowhere and intruded into their personal private space,” Kong said. Through such experiences, they found out that the living conditions of some Filipino domestic workers are neglected. “One subject whom I stayed with had a really spartan room,” Kong said. She hopes to build up their website's content by possibly travelling to the Philippines for a graduation trip. “Our project is a small step to something bigger, and this topic will still be relevant in the next 20 to 30 years,” she said. Maxie Aw Yeong
PHOTO | NURIA LING
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
Food wastage epidemic In t h e s p i r i t o f investigative journalism, Food Waste Republic deals with the problem of fo o d wa st age i n Singapore by marrying photographs and thoughtprovoking writing. The trio, consisting of Estelle Low, Miak Aw and Chen Wei Li, spent over six months prowling and working in hotel banquets, supermarkets, bakeries and Semakau Island sourci ng for crucial yet often sensitive information. “The most difficult part of the project was information access,” said Aw. “People, especially the big companies, just wouldn’t tell you that they’re wasting food,” she added. The project echoed t h e publ ic ’s g e n e r a l disdain for journalists, highlighting a common yet prevalent problem many aspiring journalists face. “We had to tell them that we were doing an art project or a business project,” said Aw. “Tell t hem you’re doi ng a journalism project and
PHOTO | CHEN WEI LI
you’ll be shunned.” “One of our sources, a contact we got from a Singapore Management Universit y st udent doing a project on food wastage, just stopped answering our phone calls at one point in time,” said Low. However, the group was not always rejected during their journalistic forays. “ We we r e able to gain access to Semakau Island, Singapore’s first and only offshore landfill site, to take some really important photographs,” Aw said. However, their pho tog r aphe r, C he n , “ wa s st uck t here for an entire day” due to t he i n f r e q ue nt fe r r y schedules. Many times, the team had to go “down to the
g rou nd” to sp e a k to people r ang i ng from rest aurant ow ners to hear tlanders. Aw and L ow a l so sp ent t i me working as par t-ti me wait resses i n four hotels to gain a better understanding of the food wastage problem in banquet restaurants. The challenges the group face have yet to end. As they attempt to extend the reach of their projec t to a n on l i ne plat for m, t hey face more challenges in the form of web design and publications. “But at the end of the day, we just have do what we need to do, and get the article out,” said Aw. IVAN TAN
School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Nano trees of gold L uck— t h a t i s w h a t undergraduate Pan Ming attributes the success of his research that could change the prospects of catalysis to. Pan, 24, from t he division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, was in his third-year when he accidentally found a way to make nanometre-sized gold tree-like structures that increase the rate of reaction, as compared to spherical ones. Such structures were thought to be unstable. The larger surface area of these structures means that they can catalyse reactions more efficiently. By requiring less catalyst, this discovery may reduce the chemical industry’s cost of making catalytic converters in cars. “It (f i ndi ng bet ter catalysts) is like using less money to buy more goods,” Pan said. However, the techniques to build the multiple layers —from
trunks to branches to twigs, all in nanoscale— were not known. So, for his final−year project (FYP), Pan decided to tr y to understand the chemistry behind it, and develop better control in building them. Pan discovered that the layer of polymer that forms on the surface of the nano-trees was critical in giving the structures their unique and stable shapes. Each nano−tree is around 100 nanometres in size. Assistant Professor Chen Hongyu, Pan’s FYP supervisor, explained that one metre compared to one nanometre is about the size of the Ear th against that of a die. P a n ’s n a n o - t r e e s provide a new direction for designing nanoscale structures. His research has been sent to The Journal of the American Chemical Society, a top ac ad e m ic j ou r n a l i n chemistry, where it is pending publication.
Assistant Professor Chen said: “There were only 12 papers published in that journal from the whole of NTU last year, and they were all by graduate and post-doctoral researchers. Being an undergrad, having his paper sent for review is an achievement.” The freedom to do i n- dept h research i n the lab contributed to Pan’s discovery. “Doing re s e a rch i s j u s t l i ke digging a gold mine; the chance of a discovery is small,” said Pan, who started research in his second year under the Undergraduate Research Experience on Campus (URECA) programme. “Chem i st r y mea n s chem–is–tr y. So don’t be afraid of failure. Most importantly, share your ideas with others. Without collaborators, this work cannot be achieved,” Pan said. MELISSA LIN
Lifestyle Fulfill your sweet tooth fantasies - Page 12
the ride way for a road tr ip BAND OF BIKING BROTHERS: Bikers from the NTU Rider’s Club lined up with their motorbikes at Johor Bahru, Malaysia after a Go-Karting session.
PHOTO | NTU RIDER’S CLUB
It may be hotter, rougher and more tiring than car travel, but cross-country motorbike travel is a richer experience. Janice Tham rides along IN AMERICA, the end of a term is traditionally celebrated with a road trip. Given Singapore’s limited land space, where an east-to-west motorbike ride takes under an hour, riders are venturing to neighbouring countries, especially Malaysia and Thailand, for long-distance trips. Third-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student, Muhammed Sa’eed, 24, and his two friends took a 16-hour ride up the Malaysian North-South highway to Hat Yai, Thailand in late July last year. The owner of a Yamaha R1 motorbike counts it as his most memorable riding trip in four years. As exhilarating as it was, the road trip came with its fair share of hiccups. The team had to battle the fickle elements of the weather. Heavy rain accompanied them for three hours. At one point, they stopped at a petrol station and napped on the ground by their bikes. When they finally reached Hat Yai, the boys spent the night in a hotel and rewarded themselves with a massage and a buffet lunch the next day in a restaurant located on the 17th storey of the hotel, which offered a bird’s eye view of Hat Yai. Tell anyone that you rode a motorbike to Thailand and it will give you bragging rights. Desmond Choo, 26, a third-year MAE student, has been riding for four years and owns a Honda CBR 1000.
He first travelled to Hat Yai about three years ago with a motorcycle club. “It’s like one of those things that every biker should do, but not everyone can, or may be interested in such long trips because it is a very taxing ride of more than 900 kilometres,” explained Choo. Riders generally do not bring or spend much money on their cross-country trips. Often, they simply bring a change of clothes, their tool kits, and enough cash to cover the cost of petrol and food. Accommodation is almost always a cheap affair and sometimes not even in the plan—an empty patch of ground by the petrol station counter will suffice for the rugged rider. Riding can be a tiring experience because it requires constant exertion by the body to maintain balance and to counter the force of the wind. According to Choo, it can be especially demanding on the body at high speeds. Riders also have to brave the weather. Over a prolonged period of time on a long-distance trip, it is easy for fatigue to set in. Sometimes, riders prefer to travel in solitude. Patrick Lin, 25, a third-year Electronic and Electrical Engineering student, is an example. He completed his ‘ride of passage’ to Thailand on his Yamaha Majesty recently during the recess week.
“I went to Hat Yai, Thailand. I’d always wanted to go there but either I had money and no time, or time and no money. I decided to go and I went there by myself. It was quite exciting, I would say. There were a lot of challenges that I faced,” he said.
Tell anyone that you rode a motorbike to Thailand and it will give you bragging rights. One of the challenges was fatigue, an experience that almost resulted in a crash into a roadside barricade. T hen, on his ret ur n tr ip, Lin had to bat t le wet a nd m ist y weat her conditions. For Lin, his virgin trip to Thailand was simply an adventure. The furthest place he had ventured to prior to that was Kuala Lumpur. For these riders, a motorbike crosscountry road trip trumps travelling by car or plane because it offers a better way to enjoy the scenery. “Somehow, you just can’t appreciate that in a car,” said Choo. “The main thing is, on a bike, you are
perched up at least three heads higher than when in a car, so the view is greater.” He added that riders also get to enjoy unobstructed views, unlike drivers who have to contend with windscreens. Besides offering greater views, travelling by bike provides better accessibility. Abdul Khair, 24, a fourth-year MAE student, has gone on road trips by both car and motorbike and provides another comparison. “With the bike you can go fast, you can easily go on narrow roads and explore the kampung areas. You can go anywhere, but with a car you need to plan,” he said. Riders can simply veer off the main road and ride into nearby villages or houses, where Khair has received gracious hospitality several times from people living there. When he was in southern Thailand, a few Thais who spoke Malay invited him to hang out with them. They were so kind to him that he felt like he was in “a home away from home”. On another occasion, when his vehicle ran into some trouble, some villagers nearby readily came to his rescue and later ref u sed a ny pay ment for t hei r work. For him, interacting with different people and cultures along the way makes such trips meaningful. “Scenery is one thing, but sometimes, I do appreciate mingling with the people and the culture, which gives a different perspective on life,” he said.
12
lifestyle
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
foodsnoop
Icing on the cake
End your meal with a captivating curtain call as December Liow and Wilson Wang excite their taste buds with Japanese-inspired French desserts from these cafés K ki sweets
1 CARAMEL
7 Ann Siang Hill
6 Handy Road The Luxe, #01-01A
Opening hours: Sun – Fri: 10am - 9pm Sat: 10am - 4pm
CAKES and quirky vintage knickknacks jostle for attention at this three-month-old dual concept store. One side of the store houses desserts at K ki, Sweets while the other side, called The Little Drom Store, sells equally creative, but inedible, accessories. K ki Sweets (pronounced KeKi) is a French-Japanese style patisserie serving dainty cakes in a modern chic setting, with cleancut aesthetics. T he ow ne r s of t he shop, Kenneth Seah and Delphine Liau, are huge dessert fans. While away on their honeymoon in Tokyo, the couple visited cake specialists and feasted on cakes. T hen, t hey were i nspi red to set up a boutique bakery in Singapore. The couple is fond of the idea that cakes bring a certain joy to the people who eat it. “We wanted the customers to buy the cakes as gifts because we believe that cakes make people happy,” said Ms Liau. The café echoes the “less is more” minimalist concept, similar to the décor of the cake shops in Japan. The attention to details is intriguing—white porcelain square plates, wh imsica l ar t pieces, snowball chrysanthemums and pi ne i n sta l lat ion s ador n t he interiors. The patisserie carves a slice of the Japanese experience—in a few bites, quite literally. The slices may be small when compared to a standard serving;
Opening hours: Sun – Thurs: 11am - 9pm Sat: 11am - 1am
OLD MEETS NEW: Traditional Mont Blanc and zesty passion fruit & coconut mousse.
however, ever y slice packs a punch of flavours that springs on delectable surprises. T he K i n aba r u ( $ 8.5 0 ) i s presented in a gloriously yellow rectangular block. T he mousse ca ke is made up of laye r s of cont r a s t i ng f lavours—a tier of passion fruit mousse between two layers of l ig ht coconut mou sse a nd a chocolate sponge base. The mellowness and mildness of the coconut was cut, in a docile fashion by the passionfruit’s citrus f lavour, creating a harmony of sweet and sour. L i k e i n a n y r e s p e c t a ble Japanese baker y, Mont Blanc ($8.50), a popular French dessert makes a requisite appearance. Instead of the usual three layers in a standard Mont Blanc, the version here has four layers. T he crow n is made up of chestnut puree, encasing the core of fresh cream underneath. It sits on a piece of Genoese sponge and an almond tart base. It wa s not pa r t ic u la rly me mor able , a s t he c he st nut puree, although smooth, was not
DOUBLE PAIRINGS: Ginger lychee cake (left) and Chocolate banana mousse (right).
flavourful enough. In spite of that, it features very well whipped fresh cream and an excellent tart base. The Nipped Tucked Mona ($8) has dark chocolate mousse infused with banana flavour . The mousse is assembled on a crusty praline feuilletine base that stands out against the smooth richness of the mousse. For an enigmatic pairing of flavours, try the Ginger Lychee cake ($8). The bar-like cake features a light lychee mousse rested on a ginger-infused almond pâte base topped with a spot of frozen chrysanthemum tea jelly. The aroma of this cake proves to be very refreshing on the first few bites. However, it appears to be a little bland half way through. Nonetheless, the ginger flavour creates a sense of invigoration and warmth. With its hip location, together with the delicious cakes and a mbience, K K i Swe et s w i l l definitely be a hit with dessert lovers.
PHOTOS | EUNICE CHAN & GOH CHAY TENG
W H EN a shop is sandwiched between highly populated spots like Plaza Singapura and The Cathay, it takes more than a glance to notice 1 Caramel, a dessert café. W hite hue dominates this 20-seater café, with the alfresco dining area separated by a tall sleek glass. The marble-white tables are matched stylishly with creamcoloured marble walls, which offsets the huge dark-coloured conical lamps. Rustic antique lamps on the tables provide a nostalgic addition to the elegant setting. T he café focuses on t heir desserts selection, offering more than 20 different types of cakes and tarts everyday. However, they also have a humble selection of savoury items such as quiches and soups. The enticing dessert experience started on a colourful note with a rainbow-like collage of their sig nat u r e maca roon s ( $1.5 0 each). Though they are smaller than the rest in the market, these macaroons give off a unique te x t u re t hat is ha rd to f i nd elsewhere. The thin crust of the macaroon breaks at the slightest pressure within the mouth. It was followed by an explosion of flavour and yielded a slightly chewy texture. The lemon infused macaroon r eta i n s it s nat u r a l t i nge of bit ter ness, wh i le inject ing a
GOLDEN WEDGE: Banana Pie.
refreshing citrus taste. A subt le f lower y scent emancipated from the crust and the cream of the lavender macaroon, like having aromatherapy in one’s mouth. The Chocolate Berry Lust ($8.50 per slice) ranks high on a sweet tooth’s list. It has luxurious, creamy layers of chocolate ganache. Topped with a crown of berries, the hazelnut base is studded with sugar flakes. A lso recom mended is t he Banana Cream Pie ($6.50 per s l ic e ) , w h ic h c on s i s t s of a generous layer of banana custard, that gives it a tofu-like texture, on top of an almond frangipane filling. I n t e r e s t i n g l y, w h e n t h e almond flavour of the frangipane melds with the banana custard, it gives the dessert an intoxicating taste similar to banana liquor. The pies and tarts boast thin crusts, which are slightly moist. However, it might not appeal to die-hard fans of traditional ones that have a reasonably thick and cracker-like crust.
EDIBLE ART: A berry fruity blossom on chocolate pie.
lifestyle
a pr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
13
quiet is the new loud The barnyard 268A South Bridge Road #02-01 Singapore 058817 Tel: 6225 6630 Opening hours: Sun - Thurs: 2pm - 11pm Fri - Sat: 2pm - 1am www.thebarnyard-sg.blogspot.com ON THE second level of a shophouse on South Bridge Road, The Barnyard overlooks a small road leading into Chinatown’s lively Food Street. The only sign to this hidden gem is a lonely chalkboard with an upward arrow scrawled on it, and the words ‘Live music’ and ‘1-for-1 bottled beer’. The signs are easy to miss and that would be such a waste. Walking up the stairs into The Barnyard is wholly different from a stroll down Chinatown. While Chinatown is a noisy, hubbub of hawkers and street vendors, T he Barnyard is a quaint, quiet spot in the midst of all the action below. The Barnyard, a “bistro by day" which offers “music by night", aims to “br ing t he r ustic peace of life to this big cit y" according to their website.
In addition to photos of delectable western food, the clean and white stairway walls are also decorated with whimsical decals. Inside, the décor is simple and fuss-free. Wooden picnic tables and chairs line up against the wall and star-shaped lamps hang from the ceiling.
Together with sofas and glass tables at either end, The Barnyard comes across as a little-known hideaway for friends to catch up over drinks, finger food, and of course, music. When live music is not rocking the place, they play soft and acoustic rock that reflects its laidback ambience.
A STAR IS BORN: Although small, the stage set against the Chinatown backdrop is perfect for the crowd to PHOTOS | DANIELLE HAN witness the growth of budding local talents.
The Barnyard lets local artistes take the stage on Fridays and weekends to support the local music scene. Three resident bands include singers like Phoebee, and Peter Diaz, who have been on the music scene since the sixties. They have also tied up with Echo Music, a music school upstairs, so that budding talents from the school can perform on The Barnyard stage on Sundays. Singing acoustic covers of familiar songs, the performers ease customers into the carefree environment. The music might be a tad loud if you sit too close to the stage, so sitting at the far end of the café is the more relaxing option. Jerico Lee, 19, recently discovered The Barnyard with his friends and is eager to go back soon. “I like the environment here. It’s quiet and cosy, a great place to catch up with my friends,” said Jerico, who is currently serving national service. “My friends and I can forget about our hectic lives for just a while.” The Barnyard’s resident bands may not be the most prominent. But with the combination of the live music, staff and the relaxed ambience, The Barnyard can certainly be a new chill-out spot.
Notes in the city Listen to great tunes as Danielle Han checks out cool chill-out spots in town offering live music where you can also appreciate local talents amongst others
durty nelly's irish pub 6 Raffles Boulevard #01-01/02/03 Marina Square Singapore 039594 Tel: 63388023 Opening hours: Mon - Thurs: 11.30am - 1am Fri, Sat and eve of PH: 11.30am - 2am Sun: 11.30am - 12mn www.durtynellys.com.sg DU R T Y N E L LY ' S I r i s h P u b i s a modern take on conventional Irish pubs that can become too noisy and disorderly. Granted, the fittings, furniture and décor are a cocktail of hard, dark woods that is designed and made to measure in a warehouse in Ireland, and also, typically Irish trinkets like gnomes adorn the shelves. But there are no stray brew kegs carelessly tossed around, and ceilings are unthreateningly high. And while the lights do not scream brightly, there is a floor-to-ceiling glass façade that runs the length of the pub, which allows a healthy amount of light in during the day. At night, it gives diners full view of the passing city life without the noise.
TIPPLE-HAPPY: With happy hour lasting almost the entire day, chilling out to live music at Durty Nelly's just got a little more inviting. PHOTOS | EUNICE CHAN
On weekdays, it is spacious and there is lots of room to move around comfortably. But Durty Nelly’s is packed on Friday evenings (when the live bands are on stage, including latest Singapore Idol Sezairi Sezali’s band Juxtapose) and during the weekends as well. A long s ide foot ba l l m atc he s a nd Formula One races, Durty Nelly’s menu
of entertainment features mainly local bands. Many are sought out by Durty Nelly’s, though some have approached the pub on their own. Friday night’s live music has created a f o l l o w i n g a m o n g D u r t y N e l l y ’s customers. Many of them are music enthusiasts
who drop by especially to show the local performers their support—even if this means that they have to stand with their drinks in their hand, or if the crowd spills to the corridors. Sherwin Tay, 20, feels that the bands who play at Durty Nelly’s have had substantial musical accomplishments. The polytechnic student, who is also an avid fan of live and local music and a regular customer at Durty Nelly’s, admits that frequent changes in the band lineup means that the music is “not always to the taste of everyone”. Pac ked or not , t h i s I r i sh pub surprisingly never gets too loud and rowdy, except with the occasional cheer or moan during a weekend football match. Durty Nelly's serves up a selection of eight international beers on tap, the most in Singapore. This ranges from Guinness to Old Speckled Hen, with signature dishes like fish and chips ($16) made with a Kilkenny (Irish ale) batter, and pub classics like the Steak and Guinness Pie ($18). Evidently there is much to try at Durty Nelly’s and that warrants many visits. A nd ta l k about st retch ing t he meaning of Happy Hour—at Dur t y Nelly’s, it lasts from 11.30am to 8pm.
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lifestyle
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
travelogue
A postcard from India
cheap getaways Desaru
Uncover the hidden charms of India and its people as Ng Jun Sen explores the poverty-ridden areas in India where there is a story to tell at every corner
EXPOSED: Seeing a camera for the first time, a girl stares and is unsure of how to react.
T H E M EN stood at at tention ner vously, their hands tightly gripping the cold stamped metal of their INSAS 7.62mm rifles. Behind them, a couple of ar moured cars parked in the desert sand, camouflaged in their signature khaki brown and olive drab. It is the hot summer of 2008. I had spent a month here in Jhansi for military training. Even then, any interactions with the local Indian army were a rarity, as cross-cultural chatting was a duty for the generals of both sides. I remembered my orders during such occasions: I had to be friendly, communicate clearly and must never mention Pakistan. The tension between the two nations is understandable. Since the partition of India in 1947, the two rival nations have been afflicted by fear, uncertainty and competition against the people across the Kashmiri border. Fast forward to 2010. I travelled to India once again but as a tourist instead. Armed with a camera and not a machine gun, I sought to see another side of this unconventional holiday destination. T he itinerar y scr ibbled in my Molesk ine notepad listed locales that I have never heard of: Lucknow, Chandigarh, Kasauli, and also the obligatory New Delhi and Agra. India’s external politics are exceeded by the problems at home. Poverty is the biggest affliction in this populous nation.
Even my Indian hosts were apprehensive when I suggested paying a visit to the slums of Delhi; where unwanted garbage and pest-ridden waste are used as building materials. According to them, one could get all sorts of diseases just by passing through this invisible threshold of incivility. On the chaotic main roads where Maruti-Suzukis fill up every available space, leagues of beggars add to the congestion, rapping the windows of slow-moving cars to plead for a few rupees. For a countr y of 1.17 billion people, the mor nings open a f loodgate of commuters onto the encumbered roads, ready to begin their daily grind.
PHOTOS | NG JUN SEN
To get around the city, one could flag an ‘auto’ – a type of threewheeled taxi that resembled the kiddy rides in shopping malls. I wa s conv i nce d of t he st r uc t u r a l i n stabi lit y of t he vehicle until I saw one carrying a whole family of seven people speeding through the streets of Lucknow. In the land where rules are made to be broken, every road junction looks like an accident waiting to happen. At one point during a long car journey, my driver was skillfully dodging incoming cars on the wrong side of the highway. There are exceptions though. In Chandigarh, everything looks neater and organized into a matrix
of residential and commercial sectors. There’s still a lot of litter on the street, and people still drive haphazardly. But there is a change in pace and there is efficiency as well due to good urban planning. In contrast, New Delhi is a densely packed city where tin shacks sit beside office buildings built out of cracked concrete. Collapsed buildings are left untouched and provide minimal shelter for the homeless. Visually, India looks like a scene out of a Western film – the sand and the wind tints everything in a monotonous khaki. But make no mistake: there is nothing more attractive about India than her people. The moment I stepped off the plane, I was warmly greeted by the the Indian locals. Perhaps due to the fact that I am a Chinese male—a rare sight in India, as I constantly got looks of amazement. People beam at my camera and say “thank you” when I take their picture. Children excitedly rush back to their homes and drag their friends out to get a glimpse of my company and me. In the summer of 2008, I had thought of India as a sweltering, overcrowded countr y with an unhealthy desire to constantly beat Pakistan in cricket. For many people, going to India for a vacation will be a tough call. Indeed, it means a small sacrifice to comfort and hygiene. But take a closer look and start to notice the endearing stories of the people and their lives. It is the sight of blacksmiths working in cramped quarters, the child laborers hoisting concrete, the nonchalant cows that prowl the crowded streets that are India’s greatest gifts. After all, India’s hidden charms essentially lie in the lives of the one billion people residing there.
PHOTOS | INTERNET Suggested Itinerary Day 1: 1) Hire a car from Johor Bahru, drive to Kota Tinggi. Book the firefly tour for 7:30pm or 8:30pm. 2) Head to Kota Tinggi waterfall, 25 km away. 3) Drive back to Kota Tinggi for firefly tour, and dinner at Sengat Seafood Restaurant. 4) Drive back to Desaru for a good night’s rest Day 2: 1) Desaru Fruit Farm 2) Head back to Johor Bahru Expense breakdown for four people Car hire: RM 112 Fuel: RM 45 Food: RM 200 Waterfall resort fee: RM 36 Firefly tour: RM 80 Fruit Farm fee: RM 60 Chalet Tanjung Balau Kejora: RM 140 Total: RM 720 or SGD 288
port dickson
Suggested Itinerary Day 1 1) Hire a car from Johor Bahru, drive to Port Dickson. 2) Visit Eagle Ranch Resort and enjoy go-karting, paint-balling, horse-riding, rodeo-bull, etc. 3) Visit the lighthouse at Cape Rachardo Walk down the 63 steps beside the lighthouse and follow the jungle trek to a secluded beach. Climb back up in time for sunset. Day 2 1) Water sports at Teluk Kamang, banana boat, Jet Ski. 2) Visit Ostrich farm. If you weigh less than 65kg, you may even get to ride one! Head back to Johor Bahru. Stay: Seri Bulan condo Expense breakdown for four people Car hire: RM 112 Fuel: RM 90 Food: RM 200 Water Sports: RM 200 Stay: RM 100 Ostrich farm entrance fee: RM 24 Go-karting, paint-balling, etc. at Eagle Ranch: RM 300 Total: RM 1026 (SGD 440)
JUXTAPOSITION: Poverty stands out against the grandeur of the Taj Mahal.
LOSS OF INNOCENCE: Child labourers are exposed to the harsh realities of life on the streets of Lucknow.
-Aakanksha Shad
lifestyle
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
review
BOOKS The Unnamed Joshua Ferris (Fiction) $28.89, available at Kinokuniya Published by Little, Brown
WHAT you don’t know can, actually, hurt you. I n Jo s hu a Fe r r i s’ T h e Unnamed, protagonist Tim Far nswor t h dea ls w it h an unnamed disease that causes him to wander about aimlessly. He would take off walking and find himself unable to stop until he finally collapses in utter exhaustion. T i m’s pr e p o s te r ou s l y unknown disease forces him to walk further and further away from a family he loves, his outstanding career as a lawyer and his perfect kitchen. Within the novel, the term “walking away” takes on both a literal and metaphorical meaning. This story is a poignant but powerful piece that plows deeper and deeper into Tim’s life until it is completely naked, unravelled before the readers. Ferris delves most into the ageold institution of marriage in The Unnamed. This sickness devastates his marriage with his wife, Jane, as Tim finds himself unable to cope with his insane illness, unsure if it is “real” or “all in the head”. Jane struggles wearily with her own demons as Tim’s irrepressible walking takes a toll on her. Ferris writes in a poetic lyricism that beautifully captures Tim and Jane’s aching love for each other as he tears them apart slowly, but surely, with the same brilliant hand. But emotions are not the only thing that complicate readers' enjoyment of the novel. Ferris' narrative is non-linear, glossing over months and years without clear direction. Yet, what is most captivating, despite its impediments, is how the story hinges on a crux that is so ludicrous but symbolic. It is the very fact that the disease is so stupid and senseless, and possibly fake, that this entire novel becomes a treasure cove for literary excavation. The Unnamed is so full of possibilities, it is almost impossible not to be mystified. The illness, which comes in bouts throughout Tim’s life, resembles the dissatisfaction that most of the human race feels in our current circumstances. There is always this insatiable desire to wander off to somewhere better and to simply walk away. What was real and perfect for Tim soon gave way to a disease so fake and ravaging. Ferris never once forcefully steers us in an intended course, choosing to give us the room to decipher the ambiguity on our own. Whatever the intepretation, the melancholic rhythm of The Unnamed is likely to break readers' hearts all the same.
“To give things a twist I sometimes like to make happy songs sad and sad songs happy.” Jamie Cullum, in an interview with This Is Nottingham, on his music
Jamie Cullum (Jazz/Pop)
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The album's title is taken from the novel The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford, which was published in 1945.
AFTER a four-year break, Jamie Cullum returns with his fourth studio album, The Pursuit. It is a continuation of his previous experiments marrying jazz with other genres like pop and rock. In the making of this album, Cullum took a calculated risk by working with a new producer, new musicians, and in a new city, all in a move to reinvent himself and his music. The compelling consequences of this move are evident in originals like Wheels that capture one's attention with its moving tempo and a piano lick weaved effortlessly into the track. You And Me Are Gone keeps things upbeat with the use of bongos and lively handclaps, and features a syncopated piano solo that lasts close to a minute. Cullum also visits his more contemplative, yearning side in slower numbers like Love Ain’t Gonna Let You Down, which are pleasant enough, if unmemorable. Similar to his previous albums, The Pursuit features covers that span vast genres. Cole Porter’s 1935 jazz standard Just One Of Those Things is set alongside Rihanna’s dance hit Please Don’t Stop The Music. The former kicks off the album in typical big band fashion with brass squeals and a saxophone solo, while the latter is a smoother, more palatable arrangement of the repetitive mainstream title. In embracing and infusing a wide range of genres into the abum, Cullum demonstrates his competent ability to diversify. The making of The Pursuit thus reveals itself to be a bold but worthwhile risk, a statement-making move that elevates Cullum and this album into a league of their own.
Lostprophets (Alternative Rock)
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The band has attributed the darker themes in The Betrayed to production issues and "behind the scenes bullshit".
Welsh rockers Lostprophets are back with a vengeance on The Betrayed. Four years after their previous release, Liberation Transmission, it is clear that they have not lost their ability to imbue catchy singles with their signature heavy rock sound. Lead single It's Not The End Of The World, But I Can See It From Here has an anthemic hook befitting its lengthy title. Trademark aggressive drums and heavy guitarwork make it a sure-fire crowd pleaser, and listeners can almost imagine the crowds in packed stadiums singing along. Borrowing elements from classic rock greats, tracks like Dstryr/Dstryr feature a heavy, intense sound, almost reminiscent of Rage Against The Machine’s brand of funk metal. The brutal axework provided by lead guitarist Lee Gaze pairs seamlessly with lead singer Ian Watkins' stellar vocals. Both were clearly on form throughout the album. Where We Belong, The Betrayed's version of ubiquitous single Rooftops, is an attempt at radio-friendliness. The track is decent if unspectacular, with an uplifting refrain. Unfortunately, though, its attempt at an impassioned statement takes itself a tad too seriously and ends up sounding a little contrived, with lyrics like I’ll Make It Through Each Day/Singing Death Or Glory. A punk-laced headbanger or two keep things interesting, on cleverly-titled tracks like Next Stop Atro City, while ska vibes feature in He’s A Jolly Good Felon. Lostprophets does not disappoint in their latest offering, which largely stays true to their nu-metal roots. With the raw appeal of The Betrayed, the band clearly demonstrates that their choice to break away from big-name producers that they worked with on previous albums was a move that worked.
“
He was on the line with a dispatcher trying to explain the situation when he slipped on a patch of ice coming off a curb and lost his grip. “My phone!” he cried out as he regained his balance. “Somebody! My phone!” He walked on with a tweaked back. “Please get my phone!” Everyone ignored him. His BlackBerry had landed in the middle of the street where it lay defenseless against oncoming cars. He kept moving forward. He told her of all the city scaffolding he walked under, the manic traffic he managed to avoid, the parade of oblivious people he passed. He told her that he had turned tired in the old way by the time he reached a bench, somewhere near the East River, where his body gave out. How he had crumpled up his suit coat for a pillow and taken off his tie, sweating despite the cold. How he woke up in horror an hour later.
”
The Pursuit
The BetrayedC
AN EXCERPT FROM THE UNNAMED
BOOKS FROM KINOKUNIYA
MUSIC
-Danielle Han
-Sarah Chang
“It’s back,” he said.
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PHOTOS | INTERNET
-Anjali Raguraman
16
lifestyle
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
MUSIC
What is the best part of doing live shows?
into the Fray
DW: One of the great parts about it is that they’re not pre-recorded. I heard from Death Cab for Cutie a while back that you can make mistakes and not be afraid to make them because generally, the next time you do it you’re going to remember that you screwed it up the last time. Basically, live shows are like a forum to try anything new and to not really have any pressure to have it be right the first time because you have another chance to do it, and another audience to hear it. I feel bad for the audience because they hear the mistakes but that’s fine, it’s all part of the process. What are some of the comic moments you have had while performing? DW: A lot of them come from Isaac (Slade, the band’s lead singer), because he is the one who is always out in the front and I think sometimes he psyches himself out.
The Fray (L-R): Joe King, Ben Wysocki, Dave Welsh and Isaac Slade.
PHOTO | ELIZABETH LAW
They banter about bad jokes, failed covers, and stirring each other’s yoghurt. Reviews editor Clara Lock catches up with Dave Welsh and Joe King of piano rock band The Fray. The Fray covered Kanye West’s Heartless, which reached 79th place on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart. Are there any other songs you might be interested in covering? Joe King: Covers are hard. We’ve done a few that we’ve absolutely butchered. Which ones? JK: The Sign, by Ace of Base, that song from
the mid-nineties. That was an idea that we thought would be funny, and then it turned out not to be funny at all, it was really awful. (To Welsh) Did we do a Beyonce song? Dave Welsh: We did Single Ladies once. It was miserable. JK: That was horrible. It was bad news. We did it at home (in Denver, Colorado) too, that was the worst part. (Both groan) People remembered.
His best performing moments are when he’s not thinking about it, when he’s just himself, and his worst are when he’s thinking way too much. He’ll either fall onstage or make really bad jokes that nobody laughs at. But we’re all laughing onstage because it's so awkward. What kind of bad jokes does he tell? DW: A lot of times they end up bad because of cultural boundaries. This has happened mostly in Europe. He’ll try to make jokes that don’t cross the language barrier at all and so this group of Swiss people would just be staring at him not having any idea what he’s saying. And we know exactly what he’s trying to do, and it's so entertaining for me. I don’t have a microphone, so I can just laugh. He has a tough job. Tell us something about yourselves we don’t know.
JK: For breakfast, I like to eat vanilla yoghurt, mix in peanut butter and add either granola or cheerios and mix it all together. I'll have that at least twice a week. DW: Even I didn’t know that. Well, while we’re on the subject of breakfast, I’ve been liking toast with brie, butter and black salt. And coffee. That’s a good breakfast for me. According to The Fray’s official website, you guys will be touring until June. After that, what are the plans for the band? JK: We’ll be back in the studio. We’ll take July off, and then probably this fall, we’ll be working on the record. What do you enjoy doing in your downtime? DW: I don’t know. I can’t remember the last time we had a summer off, actually. It’s been a long time. JK: I’m gonna go camping. DW: Yeah, he and I have one of those old trailers you tow behind cars. Hopefully I can actually use that. I’ve had it for a couple of years but we’ve been so busy that I haven’t had any time to use it. We’d drive up the coast to California and see some pretty stuff. With each other? Both, in unison: Yeah, we’ll go together. JK: I’ll stay in the trailer while you drive. (In a falsetto) Dave, I’m cooking breakfast, slow down! (They laugh) N ow yo u k n ow w hat h e like s fo r breakfast. JK: (Laughs) Yeah. (To Welsh) Will you stir my yoghurt? DW: (Mock suggestively) I’ll stir your yoghurt.
CONCERT REVIEWS
PHOTO | JONATHAN KWA
Imogen Heap Imogen Heap wanted to wear something special for her Singapore stop on the Ellipse World Tour, but having nothing new in her wardrobe, she wrapped a black shawl into a top instead. “It’s held together by a lot of pins,” said the singer, drawing laughter from the crowd. The three-hour concert was characterized by such whimsicality, as Heap entertained
the audience both visually and aurally. The concert opened, for instance, with the singer rubbing her finger around the rims of two wine glasses filled with different amounts of water to produce the opening notes of Last Train Home. But Heap also demonstrated during an acoustic version of Wait It Out that she was just as engaging when stripped of the frills, tinkling away on the piano. A three-dimensional cutout of a tree took centre stage, upon which a host of percussion instruments was hung. The most prominent was a large gong, and hitting it was one of her favourite moments of the show, Heap declared. Heap’s backup musicians Back Ted-N-Ted and Tim Exile opened the show, the former playing a couple of original tracks including the quirky 999 Buttons while the latter recorded the audience singing and looped it into a bizarre cacophony of sounds. In an encore, Heap performed the muchloved Just For Now acapella, guiding the audience to sing the accompaniment while her powerful timbre soared through the cavernous theatre. In between songs, the 32-year-old songbird demonstrated the Singlish she had picked up, evidently delighted with the phrase “talk cock sing song”. Given that she is set to return to our shores within a year, it looks like Heap’s Singlish will serve her well. -Clara Lock
Jools Holland: Fronting his 20-piece orchestra.
Timbre Rock and Roots A revival of the waning Asian blues scene came in the form of the recently concluded Timbre Rock and Roots festival. Homegrown singer Alarice opened day two of the festival, delivering lighthearted singles like Sunday Afternoon. Indonesian blues trio Gugun and the Blues Shelter then led the burgeoning crowd into the sunset. Jools Holland and his rhythm and blues orchestra was clearly a hit with the crowd. While Holland fronted the orchestra, other members of the band took turns taking centre stage. The animated Rico Rodriguez, for instance, was one of them. The 75-year-old captivated
PHOTO | ELIZABETH LAW
with a zesty, lively trombone solo, his sprightly nature hardly belying his age. Grammy nominees The Fray opened with the high-octane All At Once, but also toned it down expertly with acoustic, heartfelt renditions by lead singer Isaac Slade. Most notable was their best-loved number How To Save A Life, which had the crowd singing along in rapturous unison. On the mix of acts selected for the festival, Chief Executive Director of the UBlues Group and Timbre, Danny Loong, said: “We want to give room for people to explore new ground, with a mix of cultures coming together to play music, to open people’s minds and introduce new forms of music to rediscover and experience.” -Clara Lock
lifestyle
APR I L 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
17
FILMS LOL (Laughing Out Loud)
The Lovely Bones
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Drama/Thriller Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci 121min
Adapted from Alice Sebold’s acclaimed novel of the same name, The Lovely Bones tells the tragic tale of a murdered teenager who watches over her distressed family and her killer. She is st uck in the realm between Earth and Heaven, unable to move on until she successfully finds closure. The beautiful and talented Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) stars as Susie Salmon, the 14-year-old girl who has to decide between avenging her own death and keeping her family together. Ronan’s affecting performance anchored the lead character’s moments of vulnerability as well as brash determination. Meanwhile, Stanley Tucci’s chilling portrayal of the unctuous murderer deserves a mention. His perverse nature and silent-predator performance were recognised with a supporting actor nomination at this year’s Oscars. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz are also competent in their roles as Susie’s distraught parents. Together with Susan Sarandon as
PHOTOS | INTERNET
her brazen grandmother, the A-list cast do their best to fill out the screenplay’s caricatured demands. W h i le it i s u n a void a ble to alter story-arcs for book-tofilm translations because of time constraints, the screenwriters’
choices often compromise on the narrative’s tone and pacing. Commendable, though, is Peter Jackson’s handling of the visual effects. His attention to detail, possibly honed from his Lord of the Rings experience, is evident, as he painted Susie’s heaven with surreal landscapes of morphing trees and shifting mountains. Jackson’s deft hand is also apparent in the elaborate sets where Susie discovers the identity of her murderer’s past victims. It is hauntingly vivid as we witness the horror of the brutal deaths. However, the final staging of the film’s villain is decidedly unsatisfying, and it all boils down to the writers’ obvious mishandling of a high-concept novel. Boasting Oscar-winning director Jackson at its helm, The Lovely Bones unexpectedly falls short of expectations. Though the film successfully achieved a bold, imaginative look, the end product still felt like some loose strings had been too hastily tied. -Wilson Ng
Comedy Sophie Marceau, Christa Theret, Jérémy Kapone 103 min
LOL (Laughing Out Loud) is a French comedy about a mother and daughter, who find themselves in similar emotional turmoil. The reference to instant textmessaging is representative of the blithe irreverence of teenage years, as the story is set in a hazy world of sexual experimentation, body piercings and alcohol. Lola (Christa Theret) is the titular character, a 15-year-old girl nicknamed Lol by her friends. Finding her footing on the cusp of womanhood, she experiments with dating two different boys, close
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friends Arthur (Felix Moati) and Mael (Jérémy Kapone), thrusting their friendship into veritable turmoil. Her mot her A nne (Soph ie Marceau) valiantly attempts to shield Lola from the complicated trappings of a relationship, while simu ltaneously dea ling w it h newfound romantic feelings for Lola’s estranged father. The upbeat soundtrack includes contemporary favourites such as Keane, Blur, Supergrass and French electro band Junesex. Directed by Lisa Azuelos, Lol is swiftly paced, mimicking the fickle, flighty emotions of the females in the film. While the film is kept upbeat, it is also difficult for the audience to relate to the characters, because of the lack of time devoted to exploring their characterisation. The transience of teenage love in this film is perhaps best summed up by a quote from the Shakespearean comedy Twelfth Night–“Then come and kiss me, sweet and twenty, youth’s a stuff will not endure.” -Aakanksha Shad
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tech review
The twilight of Tiberium Kevin Lim tech editor
Continuing the Command and Conquer (C&C) Tiberian story line, C&C 4: Tiberium Twilight was released recently. Eager C&C fans have waited three years for this. The new C&C 4 retains many of its iconic units which long time fans will find familiar like the Mammoth Tank and the Orca for the Global Defense Initiative faction, and the Avatar and the Obelisk of Light for the Nod faction. How many units can be built is dependent on available Command Points which are issued at the beginning of the mission. Capping the total units available for play changes the idea of the game. Victory now requires more strategy and is less of an arms race. A huge point to note about C&C 4 is that a persistent Internet connection is required in order to play, including the campaign missions.
This is not a big problem in Singapore since the Internet can be accessed almost anywhere, but it gets on my nerves if I encounter intermittent connectivity. Something to look forward to is the full motion videocut scenes in between each mission that dives the storyline in C&C 4. For those who have not played the previous C&C series games, it may be hard to follow the storyline. Reading up about the facts and history of the game might help.
PHOTOS | EA
Players may need some time to adjust to the new style of battle. The whole base infrastructure is now summed up into a single machine called the Crawler ,which is used to produce new units or build defense structures. The graphics are not very stunning, without much stunning improvements from previous games in the series. However, it still meets the requirements for an enjoyable gam ing ex per ience visually. C&C 4 marks the end of the Command and Conquer saga. Like finishing the last chapter of a novel, the game is a must get for C&C fans and gamers alike. Tiberium Twilight is the modern offspring of one of the legacies in gaming history, however it will never bear again. C&C 4: Tiberium Twilight costs $69 (only available for Windows)
Thirteenth the Best
Ronald Loh
FOUR years after the first details of its release, Final Fantasy XIII (FFXIII) has finally made its way into the Singapore market. Square Enix’s greatest creation yet, FFXIII immediately attempts to mesmerise its owner by opening its account with a breathtaking introductory cinematic. The Role Playing Game focuses on the protagonist, Lightning, and her fight against the fal’Cie, mechnical overlords of Cocoon, the world that the game is set in. Strong-willed and crafted beautifully, Lightning is on a quest to save her sister from the rulers of Cocoon. She teams up with a dashing and brave hero, Snow; an infallible and trusty accidental sidekick, Sazh; and two supposed exiles of Cocoon, Hope and Vanille. FFXIII’s revised battle system has made battles more lifelike and real-time. The system allows users to stack multiple attacks and unleash them in one turn, releasing combos and achieving attack bonuses. Users can only control one character in battle. The rest of the team will be managed by the computer. However, the manner in which the rest of the characters battle can still be defined by the player. With the introduction of the “Role” system, users can control how they want the character to behave in battle. With Computer-Generated Imager y comparable to that of Avatar, FFXIII transcends all its other series with its aesthetically stunning graphics, f luid screenplay and slick production values A reassuring similarity to the other Final Fantasy series is how FFXIII prides itself in its user-friendliness. The game’s tutorials allow one to ease into the game, rather than find oneself being thrown straight into the heat of the battle. Game functions are also slowly revealed at a timely pace, ensuring that the player does not get lost in the myriad of features. Such includes the Crystarium, which allows a player to unlock greater abilities of
PHOTO | KEVIN LIM
the characters as the game progresses. Seasoned players will also remember the names of the Summons, or Eidolons. Bahamut, Odin, Shiva are just some of the familiarities that Square Enix has brought forward from its previous series. The progression plane for FFXIII is however, one of its letdowns. In FFXIII, players will find themselves just moving their characters forward in a linear fashion. The element of puzzle solving, side quests and mini games have all been reduced, leaving players with no choice but to keep up with the main storyline. Nonetheless, this blockbuster game has kept the flavour of past Final Fantasy series, and added a new dimension in terms of its stunning visuals. It also sports improved features, like a revised battle and level-up systems. O v e r s h adow i n g t he pr e v iou s 12 installments, Final Fantasy fans will definitely be enthralled by the lovely synergy of graphics and gameplay of FFXIII. The Asia version of FFXIII costs $79
Vespula & Imperator Kevin Lim
Photos are not to scale
PHOTOS | RAZER
The Razer Imperator, when paired with the Razer Vespula make a lethal combination. Both are updated improvements based on the older time tested designs, of which had been scoring since long ago. The Imperator has a total of seven buttons and a scroll wheel. It features two buttons at the left side and its position can be adjusted to the comfort of the user. Sleekly designed, the gaming mouse can track up to a sensitivity of 5600 dpi. Another important feature is the nylon braided cable which ensures durability and flexibility of the mouse.
The Vespula, like the discontinued eXactMat, has two surfaces on opposite sides. One side is for speed and the other for control. It also comes with a rubber base with a wrist rest for added comfort. Since the Deathadder, Razer recently started to support Mac systems by providing dr ivers for the Mac OS in their new products. With the Imperator and the Vespula, both Mac and Windows gamers will be able to fight each other on equal ground. Imperator costs $139 Vespula costs $49
ADVERTORIAL
An eye for photography
ONLY the best equipment will do for Mr Phua Cheng Foo who has more than 20 years of photography experience under his belt.
However cutting-edge and expensive; cameras, lightings and other paraphernalia are just tools of the trade. Ultimately, it’s the skills and passion that are fundamental in delivering the end result. “I don’t believe in compromising quality for my customers,” said the 50-yearold Artistic Director of Raffles Studio, who uses top of the line Mamiya, Hasselblad and Leica cameras. “Also, if you mess up, you can only blame yourself and not the equipment,” he added with a cheeky grin. Ever since picking up his first camera at 15, Mr Phua has never looked back. He attributes this to a love for all things aesthetic, which led him to join the Singapore School of Photography (SSOP) where he is currently Board Chairman. It was at SSOP, where he met one of the original owners of Raffles Photography, Mr Lim, and got invited to be a photographer. When Mr Lim retired, Mr Phua was his first choice to take over Raffles Photography and expand it. E s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 4 7, Raffles Studio is the oldest photography studio in Singapore specialising in portrait photography. Originally located at the lobby of Raffles Hotel, the studio had many homes before finally settling on their current location at King George’s Avenue. Calling himself a secondgeneration photographer at Raffles Studios, Mr Phua said the decision to specialise in portraits was an early one. According to him, of the three ma in b ran c hes of professional photography, portrait photography offers the most flexibility. “In shooting portraits, there isn’t this pressure to shoot and get it right on your first try. You can always do it again and express your creativity.” In the same vein, he decided to expand to graduate p h o t o g r a p h y. M r P h u a
Supported by Raffles Studio Pte Ltd
also obser ved that most families that come to get family portraits shot when their children graudate are those whose parents did not graduate from university. "When you don' t have a university degree and your children do, it is something to be very proud of." That is why he choses to tr y to be as creative as possible when shooting such family portraits so that each experience would be unique
“I don't believe in compromising quality for my customers.” Mr Phua Cheng Foo Artistic Director, Raffles Studio
and memorable. Cur rent l y, whil e Raf fl es Photographers are the ones who specialise in family por traits, Raf fles Studio s p e c i a l i s e s i n g r a d uate photography. Other than taking portraits of graduates, Raffles Studios also does coverage of graduation ceremonies, allowing for a more comprehensive repotarge of one's graduation ceremony. Currently, Raf fles Studio has also expanded their services to helping graduating students dress in academic dress (graduation gown) on covocation day. It is these same creative streaks that lead Mr Phua into advertising 15 years ago. He has since switched back to studio photography because it allows him more time to “admire the roses”. After travelling extensively, the Chinese culture aficionado still calls China his favourite place in the world because in the land of the Yellow River, every day is a new experience. “When you get to see 5000 years of history in one place, it really humbles you as a person and you cannot even begin to imagine how rich the culture is.” There is nothing jurassic about Mr Phua despite his
QUALITY ASSURANCE: Mr Phua with his Mamiya camera and 3D backdrop.
love for the past. The root of history is a strong foundation to building the future. Keeping with Raffles’ quality assurance to their customers, he spends up to “a six-figure sum” on updating and purchasing equipment every year. Pointing out a custom-made 3 dimensional backdrop in the studio, Mr Phua revealed that the bookshelf made in the United Kingdom cost $10,000 when he bought it 20 years ago. While some may call such amounts ex travagant, he maintains that to give his clients the best picture they can get, such spending is necessary, even more so if it is
on cutting edge technology. Referring to a picture on the wall, he recalled when super-imposition technology was first invented. He used it when photographing the late President Ong Teng Cheong at a conference held in Singapore. “It was a wonderful moment, bigwigs and world leaders listening to your direction.” Though technology now has put a camera in nearly everyone’s hands, Mr Phua holds fast to his belief that professional photographers still maintain an edge. Using the anecdote of
PHOTO | COURTESY OF RAFFLES STUDIO
comparing between eating in a restaurant and homecooked food, and how food eaten at a restaurant always tastes better. Similarly for photographers, professionals are used to doing what they are good at, so it is best to leave the job to them. “We’ve been doing this (taking portraits) for so long that people who once had their graduation shots taken are now bringing their children and grandchildren back for family portraits. Mr Phua added: “I think being able to stay in business for so long really says something.”
by Elizabeth Law
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photo: spotlight
Start The start of a 218km ultramarathon will cer tainly i nti m idate a nyone. T he runners stand in line at the starting point, anticipating a long, uncertain journey ahead of them.
125.4
3.1
218
km
Nearly 3,000 NTU staff, students and alumni gather to participate in the relay run. At 8.30AM, the run begins.
42.8
201.5
km
Friends encourage Mr Yong, providing him with valuable support while alternating between pacing duties.
Running
218
km
Running amongst the public earned the runners many quizzical stares, as in the case of these two pacers from third runner-up, Mr Lim Ngee Huat’s support team.
•
•
Kilometres •
•
•
• 185.8
17 hours and still going strong. Chua Kok Chiow running at 1.15 AM in the morning along Tampines Ave 10 while most people are already asleep. He goes on to become the first runner-up among the core runners.
km
Relief. Mr Yong breaks down in tears upon completing his arduous run. He finishes with a record timing of 31h 28m 51s.
km
GRAPHIC | JOSEPH MAK
km
A problematic toenail that pierced his f lesh almost causes lead runner Mr Yong Yuen Cheng to fall out from the run. To alleviate the pain, holes are cut in his shoes and socks.
How does one cover 218 kilometres on foot? An impossible challenge for most, nine core runners had to finish it within 36 hours in order to enter the Singapore Book of Records. Photo Editors Eunice Chan and Ng Jun Sen trailed these runners for every step of the way, chronicling the events in the 36 hours of Run Round Singapore 2010.
185.8
km
Mr Yong takes a break at West Coast Park while doctors inspect his condition and two assistants massage his weary body.
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dapper: your essential style guide Pale blue dress, $42, Spellbound; Pastel polka dot bow, $18, Victoria Jomo; Black and white striped maryjane heels, $89, Pedro.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
♥
♥
Down the Rabbit Hole
• • • • • • • • • • • • • PHOTOGRAPHY BY TAN JINGLIANG; STYLING BY AUDREY LIM AND TAN JINGLIANG • • • • • • • • • • • • • Peterpan collared top, $32.90, six:love; Candy striped harem pants, $25; Bright blue heels, $89.90; Wood and resin bangle, $29.90, all from Victoria Jomo; Floral hat, $38, Friends.
Lace crop top, $34, Spellbound; Pink scallop-hem shorts, $108, Woodwood; Gold charm bracelet, $39, Jia. Castle-top ring, $59.90; Pink umbrella ring, $69.90, Pastel polka dot bow, $18, all from Victoria Jomo.
Purple jewelled flats, $69, Pedro.
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dapper: your essential style guide
Floral raw edge tank, $37, Friends; Bronze playing cards ring, $49.90, Victoria Jomo; Gold charm bracelet, $39, Jia.
Alice charm necklace, $18, Friends; Royal motif knit cardigan, $129, Victoria Jomo.
Navy contrast trim cardigan, $89.90, Woodwood; Blue rose print sheer dress, $49, Jia; Navy cutout heels, $89, Pedro; White spade ring, $38, Friends; Black club ring, stylist's own.
Lace crop top, $34, Spellbound; Pale pink scallop-hem shorts, $108, Woodwood; Gold charm bracelet, $39, Jia.
MODEL Wong Yulan | STOCKISTS Friends 44 Haji Lane Level 2 Jia 41A Haji Lane Pedro Ion Orchard #B3-10 six:love 44 Haji Lane Level 2 Spellbound Far East Plaza #03-24 Victoria Jomo 47 Haji Lane Woodwood Far East Plaza #03-99
杨伟烈： “我的脸很臭， 可是我的人是OK的！” —— 刊29页
新闻
音符跳动 笑声连连的音乐教室 余思远●报道
虽
然还没开口说话，但音乐教 室的灵魂人物陈彼得凭一首 《千言万语》开场，以自己的独 特唱腔，把现场气氛炒热。 喜感十足的他，当天穿的是一 件类似厨师服的衬衫，陈彼得不 忘自嘲，自己不是厨师，让观众 席传来连连笑声。 唱歌有3大基本注意事项 陈彼得上月在由南大文化活动 协会主办的陈彼得音乐教室2010 上，和学生分享了唱歌需注意事 项，既音准、节奏和情感3大要 点。 他强调这些要点是最基本的要 求，所以一定要把它们掌握好。 为了使同学了解他所讲解的内 容，他也邀请在座同学示范简单 的音准练习。 希望对音乐有多点认识的易明 颖（20岁），就是被陈彼得挑中 现场测试音准的其中一名同学。 这名数学科学系一年级生坦 言，需要在众目睽睽之下唱歌让 她感到非常紧张。然而，她觉得 陈彼得十分亲切，他不断的鼓励 也让她鼓起勇气，在现场做了音 准测试。 此外，陈彼得也不忘展其诙谐 有趣的一面。当他向学生提问什 么是音准时，现场一名同学就回 答：“不要跑调。” 陈彼得立刻抛笑弹答：“我当
然不会跑掉，so lame。”，让讲 堂内的学生都捧腹大笑。 除了歌唱技巧的传授，词曲 创作人刘志文也分享词曲创作与 弹奏键盘的心得。颇有名气的他 曾写过的歌曲包括那英的《一笑 而过》和孙燕姿的《不是真的爱 我》。 弹奏键盘需掌握基本和弦 刘志文说，其中一个技巧是掌 握一些基本和弦（chords），这样 就能弹奏出许多K歌金曲的副歌。 而他单凭一组和弦就连续哼 唱了林俊杰的《一千年以后》和 《翅膀》，以及张惠妹的《记 得》，让学生都啧啧称奇。 接着他也为大家讲解版权费的 计算方式，几位同学在活动结束 后还让刘志文试听他们的创作， 请他给予意见。 此外，曾到美国向名师学艺的 黄聿 也为观众讲解丹田的运用 技巧。 他现场为大家献唱了一首《世 界唯一的你》，并解说如何运用 各种技巧使歌声变得更富有情绪 和穿透力。 黄聿 也嘱咐同学：“唱歌 的时候，找出自己的风格，很重 要，不要只知道模仿。” 陈彼得受访时表示自己想要 “发掘更多有才华的学生，并与 大家分享好声音”。 他也透露自己非常喜欢现场教 学，因为很有趣，可以得到现场 观众的反应。
词曲创作人刘志文举起右手，为大家讲解3种基本和弦的用法，在座同 学也聚精会神地聆听。
诙谐幽默的陈彼得（站）在教学时，邀请在座同学示范简单的音准练习，两人的一来一往，逗得 全场都捧腹大笑。 摄影｜黄俊森
飞乐时空 一展创作才华 苏文琪●报道 中文编辑
通
过音乐表达自己的感受，享受参赛过 程是上一届中文词曲创作比赛《飞乐 时空》大赢家蓝佩珊（27岁）想与热爱音 乐创作的朋友分享的。 这名电台高级宣传主任参赛3次，在去年 横扫4项大奖，包括“原创歌曲”冠军。 蓝佩珊连同好友以“奶油排骨饭”为团 名，上月在第16届《飞》媒体发布会表演 得奖作品《音乐盒里的梦想》和《吴哥窟 的你》。 笑容极富感染力的她说：“音乐能助人 减压，比赛虽然会带来压力，但重要的是 要享受创作的过程，将压力化为动力。” 本届比赛主题为“左右音乐·Music By Your Side”，意在通过朗朗上口的口号体 现比赛是个让人自创音乐的空间，能让创 作人左右音乐。 主办单位南大中文学会歌咏组说，其实 我们都是活在音乐当中，而音乐往往都伴 随在我们左右。 筹长谢灰羊在致词时说，现在中文乐坛 的歌曲很多都太商业化，参赛作品像是股 清流般，可借此刺激他人创作出更出色的
作品。 他也说：“这比赛不仅要提供一个专业 舞台让参赛者一展才华，也让志同道合的 词曲创作人有机会互相切磋，在创作歌曲 时能注入更多新元素。” 今年亦是新加坡著名音乐学校和版权公 司VI Music第5次与《飞》合作。VI Music 向来积极支持与推广本地的音乐创作， 代表人李小燕就说：“希望每个人都能够 踏出创作的第一步，成为明日的金牌创作 人。” 报名截止日期为6月13日，欲知更多详 情，请上www.ntumusicexpress.com 查询。
更正 ‘Impresario 2010 总决赛 洪亮女声摘下 两桂冠’（Vol 16 No 9，20页） 本文提到‘公开组别’冠军通过沙画及自 创曲《冰心》夺冠，是错误的。《冰心》是 ‘原创歌曲’组别的获胜歌曲。特此更正。
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深藏不露 文武具全 本地学生除了有骄人的课业成绩外，其中也是深藏不露。记者郭慧盈就和几名南大生交谈，发现他们课业后的天分与才华。 ‘艺树人’大放“艺”彩
有
人说，人生如戏，戏如人生。 戏剧反映生活中赤裸裸的现 实，而校园里的这群人，就发掘了自 己的那份‘戏’心，呈现给大众。 在13名成员中，9名南大生就占了 戏剧盒青年支部“艺树人”大部分。 虽然各成员通过不同管道加入，但彼 此对戏剧的热忱是一样的。 这团体每星期进行一天训练，每月 还有剧本导读活动。再加上其他的戏 剧活动，兼顾两者对还在求学的成员 们都很不容易。 不过来自商学院的一年级生林丹凤 （20岁）相信，只要是做喜欢的事， 多辛苦总能熬过来。 同样的，22岁的谢秀彬认为辛苦 的过程是种满足。这中文系四年级生 说：“‘艺树人’活动已是我记事簿 上的‘常客’了。” 谢秀彬去年创作的剧本《反复仿 问》，还曾在戏剧盒的白色空间之编 剧系列中被采用。
“只能提醒自己不能认 老，心态体力需要时时 保持热血，与年轻人合 作时就会感到青春无 敌。” 张英豪 中文系四年级
其他成员也参与了去年7月，由 新加坡戏剧教育者协会（SDEA） 主办的“欢庆戏剧”艺术活动 《城S》。 这是艺树人首个以集体创作方式完 成的作品，也是团体经过一年培训后 的首演。 谈到大家的心血结晶，团员兴奋之 余，也流露出一丝感动。 修读社会学的一年级生骆丽诗（20
岁）坦言：“《城S》的故事里大部 分都是我们自己的故事，感觉有一点 赤裸。但知道每一个成员都会和你并 肩作战，再辛苦也值得。” 中文系四年级生梁海彬（25岁）也 表示自己从台前幕后的项目筹备中获 益良多。 去年才正式加入组团的他说，年龄 差距并不会成为他学习的绊脚石。 他说：“他们很早就接触戏剧盒， 对舞台剧的运作方式等经验都比我 多，处理事务一点都不含糊。我们一 群人因为同样的热忱而聚集，互相学 习，一起成长，是个很好的经验。” 对23岁的同届生司徒晓昕来说，这 让她了解接受彼此意见、以及互补的 重要性。 也是同届生的王 洁（23岁） 说：“我从每一个艺术人身上看到自 己可以努力的方向。” 年龄虽然较大却不认老 “艺树人”大多数成员年龄相近， 因此大家看似一家人。中文系四年级 生张英豪（25岁）在团员中里，年龄 第二‘资深’。 虽年龄较大，但他说：“只能提醒 自己不能认老，心态体力需要时时保 持热血，与年轻人合作时就会感到青 春无敌。” 20岁的刘佳宜说，与同年龄的朋友 合作让她学会了更多。这社会学的一 年级生也从中学习互补的重要性。 团体成立短短时间里，团员各个获 益匪浅。来自黄金辉传播与信息学院 四年级生韩雪梅（22岁）说：“目前 最大的收获是能够在每次不同的尝试 当中，慢慢学习以谦卑的态度面对新 鲜或者之前完全不懂的新学问，慢慢 开阔我对于剧场的认识与认知。” “艺树人”这名称蕴涵了百年树人 的精神意义，也承载了团员意发扬中 文戏剧的梦想。 团员都庆幸与其他人相比，他们能 在喜爱的舞台上挥洒青春。
苏达（左起）、薛庆雅、谢静宜、朱蓓芬和嘉雅这些女健将秉持对喜爱运动的热诚， 继续为我国争取荣耀。
起点不同 梦想却相同
能
代表新加坡在体坛上与各国选手 较量，是一件志高荣誉的事。 有些选手从小受耳濡目染，有的则 误打误撞进入了体坛。 在排球领域里，薛庆雅（20岁）三 年前曾以队长身份，带领团队在亚细安 青年运动会（ASEAN Youth Games） 取得一面铜牌。 这名宇航工程系一年级生的家庭就 有如个排球队；姐姐是国家排球队员、 弟弟是前国家沙滩排球队员，而父母是 前校队队员，他们一家人也经常一起打 排球。 但薛庆雅并不认为家中成员促使她 打排球，她说：“我想我对排球的热忱 可能是与生俱来的。” 在体坛已9年，来自土木与环境工程 学院的一年级生苏达，当初是凭着过人 天份与自信成为国手。 20岁的她始终不肯怠懈，即使再忙 也会经常训练保持顶尖状态。 然而，来自体育科学与管理学的嘉雅 （Jayalakshmy Aarthi，20岁）却是因老 师的介绍而从此与排球结下不解之缘。 这身高180公分的一年级生说：“中 学时期，班主任就推荐我进入排球校 队，可其实我是英文戏剧团的！” 若一切照计划进行，这3名选手将在 2013年东运会上为我国争光。 其他国手一样成绩斐然
‘艺树人’的成员：骆丽诗（左起）、韩雪梅、司徒晓昕、林丹凤、谢秀彬、刘佳宜、 梁海彬和张英豪，享受表演的过程同时也相互学习。 摄影|李伟铭
受访的其他新加坡团队选手也各 个成就非凡。帆船选手朱蓓芬曾在 2007年东运会中夺得银牌、谢静宜参 加过对垒马来西亚的测试系列（test series）、苏珊娜（Suzzane Seah）参
与亚洲独木舟锦标赛（Asian Canoeing Championships）时进入大决赛、曲棍 球选手陈思如也曾参与亚洲青年杯和美 禄少年杯等。 然而，这些骄人成就背后，也有不 少障碍需跨越，时间管理对这些来自体 育科学与管理学院的选手来说比上场更 具有挑战性。
“我会一直打排球到自己 身体无法负荷为止。为自 己、为国家，争取更高的 荣誉。” 嘉雅 体育科学与管理学院一年级
一年级的苏珊娜认为，自律是不可 缺少的。 20岁的她说，在训练与课业之间取 得平衡相当困难，但她有信心在未来10 年内，不会放弃独木舟。 同样的，一年级生谢静宜（19岁） 也说，如果没有朋友和教练的支持，自 己或许不能撑下去。她也是新加坡英式 女篮团队的成员。 因此，20岁的陈思如说，一定需要 付出时间和心思，才能继续在体坛上保 持优势，如果少一份热忱，那就不能做 到了。 各自所从事的体育项目对健儿们来 说已经是生命的一部分。大家受访时都 一致表示在短时间内并不会因为课业而 放弃体育。 嘉雅甚至说：“我会一直打排球到 自己身体无法负荷为止。为自己、为国 家，争取更高的荣誉。”
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言论 编辑室
不只遵守 还要尊重
黄康玮 中文编辑
上
月在校内参加音乐教室活动时， 词曲创作人刘志文向在座学生发 出一道令人泄气的问题。 “请问当中谁有购买正版专辑 的？” 转身看看周围，只见举起手的人屈 指可数，相信大家都心里有数。就因大 家都在行错，所以非法下载音乐的行为 也变得正确了。 这不只影响了歌手，唱片商店也无 法幸免。拥有20年历史的三巴旺音乐 （Sembawang Music），已在去年申请
老 牛 再 熟 未 必 能 咽
破产，而HMV同年的专辑销量也下降 约8％。 和HMV势均力敌的美国大型唱片连 锁店Tower Records也在4年前撤出了本 地市场。 随着唱片市场不断受盗版侵蚀萎 缩，下载音乐的热潮持续上升，这些商 店也被列入了夕阳行业。 虽然是违法行为，但音乐人都知道 自己正处于僵局：少了下载功能，自己 的知名度跟着下滑，意味着唱片销量也
蔡可
继
50岁的本地导演梁智强与22岁女模特儿的婚外情事 件曝光后，婚外情课题在本地掀起了轩然大波。 这段感情不只有损他的名誉，也伤害身边无辜的家 人，老牛吃嫩草更是被严厉斥责为恶心的行为。 若要说上了年纪的男人有什么吸引力，女性可能说是 有成熟男人魅力，但这也许仅限于懂得自爱的好男人。 曾经就有一位友人与大她15岁的男人展开婚外情。据 知，那男人的经济能力只属普通，不过友人说，因为他 结了婚，比较成熟，所以更知道怎么对女孩子细心。 对笔者来说，有家室还在外风流，就已是个不成熟的 表现。友人的这段恋情最后以分手收场，那男人也回到 老婆身边。 无论如何，老牛吃嫩草已经是当今社会现象之一。这 或多或少是性别上的差距导致的，人们总认为女性越老 就越贬值，男性却可以利用其他优势弥补岁月的痕迹。 因此当自己还是嫩草的时候，也许应该把握时机找个 条件优越的对象。当然，多金是很具吸引力的条件，而 这些男性多数是较上了年纪、在事业上有一番成就的。 现今社会里，利益与感情似乎已经是相互牵扯的，女 性可能在多方面影响下而与老牛发展感情。 无论是为了真爱，还是为了金钱，只要他是单身，笔 者不反对老牛吃嫩草，重要的是两个人觉得开心就好。 首位华人诺贝尔奖得主杨振宁博士就在82岁那年娶了 芳龄28的硕士生翁帆。杨振宁博士的太太杜致礼因病过 世，翁帆则离过婚。 这著名老牛吃嫩草的例子说明了，无论是什么身份都 免不了惹来负面评语，不过，他们俩婚后过得十分幸福。 如果老牛有家室，这样的爱就须考虑到道德责任。婚外情，不仅是 两个人之间的事，还要顾及身边亲人朋友的感受，尤其是做父母的该 如何接受女儿是第三者的事实。 一段不能得到社会接纳的爱情面对的尽是荆棘与谴责，毕竟婚外情 依旧是错误的行为。在社会秩序已经越来越混乱的情况下，我们更应 恪守某些传统的道德规范。 总之，年龄可以不是问题，金钱能够不在意，结了婚的就不得不保 持距离。
插图｜钟佳唐
会下滑，可谓进退两难。 所以刘志文提议的折中方法，就是 教育。 但上述公司撤出和商店申请破产消 息，足以回答教育到目前为止的成效。 这不只是教育他人下载是违法的， 还是告诉大家从事音乐创作的人会因此 失去饭碗的问题，而是大家已不知不觉 养成对他人的作品和心血不尊与不敬。 保护知识产权，这概念不仅和音乐 市场有关，各大报章也时不时提到相
关的案例，如麦当劳和马来西亚餐厅 McCurry，以及新传媒起诉RecordTV侵 犯版权。 追根究底，这无疑显示侵犯知识产 权对受害者作品的不尊重，和不给予他 们应得的认可。 记得有一次，自己在阅读讲义时因 不明白内容而到网上查阅，却赫然发 现，讲义里的一字一句通通和某个网页 内容是相同的。 从高中开始，老师一再强调改写和 引证（citation）的重要性，本身难免会 有些质疑这巧合。 不过清楚的是，在回复刘志文的问 题时，笔者是那“屈指”中的其中一根 手指。买的不算多，但至少尽了本分。
严肃课题 轻松对待
插图｜阮光忠
黄路
全
球同一天一起熄灯1小时，“地球一 小时”（Earth Hour）是个提倡大家 环保节能的活动。 对很多学生来说，这也是朋友聚会、情 侣约会的好时机。不过，带零食到屋顶看星 星、关灯聚在一起玩游戏、在黑夜中牵手散 步的热情似乎超过了对活动本身的关注。 看似已偏离活动初衷的行为，不免会引 起一些人的怀疑和不满：我们究竟是关心环 保，还是只想玩乐罢了。 长期以来，我们的既成观念是，一说到 环保、战争、饥荒这类严肃的课题，大家就 都该板着脸、沉住气、静下心才能有所领悟 和体会。 仿佛大家在关灯的那1小时都得静静坐在 家里沉思，才能达到环保节能的效果；而如 果有人聚在一起说笑，趁着黑一起玩躲猫猫 的游戏，那灯也就白熄了。 去年历时近两周的哥本哈根气候大会却 并非如此。 抱着关心国际大事的严肃心态，我们每 天翻开报纸或者点击新闻网了解一个个国家 元首正襟危坐商讨相关事宜。种种数据、生 涩词汇、官方用语充斥着整个会议。 新闻是读了，可事实上有多少人能认认 真真地和政要一起投入这场会议。而且，最 终我们也看不出有什么结果，整个大会似乎 还在起点上徘徊。
倒不是说开开心心玩过这钟头后，大家 就一定能学到或领悟出个所以然，从此就一 定会为环保事业倾心尽力。 可是兴奋有趣的1小时，一定比沉闷严肃 的1小时容易让人记得。
仿佛大家在关灯的那1小时 都得静静坐在家里沉思， 才能达到环保节能的效 果；而如果有人聚在一起 说笑，趁着黑一起玩躲猫 猫的游戏，那灯也就白熄 了。 南大开放日以“Learning is fun and exciting”的口号来吸引大家；国大法医学选 修课之所以受众多学生欢迎，是因为课程新 颖有趣。 《蝙蝠侠：黑暗骑士》里的小丑凭着这 样一句台词“Why so serious？”走红，风 头甚至盖过蝙蝠侠。 这话说得确实绝妙。 轻松不代表肤浅，严肃也不见得深刻。 所以，why so serious？ 环保又不是件苦差事，与其如履行义务 般去执行它，何不享受其过程与感受。
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生活
备考食品 助你一臂之力 考试将近，学生纷纷开始点灯熬夜，拼命把一个学期的课业反复复习，希望能记得越多越好。 温书时的“进补”方式，大家都各有秘方。让韩伟定为大家整理出学生经常用于“补神”、“补身”的8大备考食品。 咖啡
众所周知，咖啡 是最受欢迎的提神饮 料。因为咖啡含大 量咖啡因，可以提神 醒脑，让人保持兴奋 状态，长时间熬夜不 是问题，不过营养学 家并不建议以咖啡提 神。 咖啡因会刺激脑 部皮质，增强感觉和 思考能力，但过多摄 取咖啡因会导致心跳 加速，造成不适。因 此，还是建议适量饮 用咖啡为妙。
猪脑汤
鸡精
鸡精是一种天然保健品，由浓缩的鸡精华制成，不含刺激素或 副作用。 它的功效很多，一般上有抗疲劳、增强抵抗力之用，英国伦敦 皇家学院也经研究证实，在喝了鸡精15至30分钟后，人体的新陈 代谢率平均提高超过1成。 除此之外，鸡精有醒脑作用，帮助加强脑力和记忆力，使精神 集中，从而改善学习素质。 但不是每个人都能够接受鸡精的浓醇味道；不妨把鸡精倒入汤 中或菜肴当调味料，还是能够达到提神进补的作用。 鸡精可能对一些人的体质过于燥热，所以应该酌量食用，按个 人体质而定，以免造成喉痛不适。
以形补形？喝猪脑汤补人脑？ 其实各种动物的脑都含脑磷脂 （cephalin）和卵磷脂（lecithin）， 堪称是人脑的最佳补品，所以猪脑 也不例外。经常使用脑力的人食用 后可“增强大脑皮层的兴奋和抑制 作用”，而蛋白质中的氨酸能保护 大脑，“消除脑细胞在新陈代谢的 过程中产生的毒性”。 不过，猪脑的胆固醇特别高，不 宜多食。
核桃
古人上京考试就 已流行吃核桃补脑 了。在中医界，核桃 被认有“补五脏，益 气力，强筋骨，健脑 髓”之用。 研究发现，核桃 的营养丰富，脂肪酸 含量也特别高。因为 含有亚油酸（linoleic acid），物质可帮助 脑部血液流通，提高 头脑运作功能。 这样一来，温书的 时候就可以更好地吸 收所读的资料了。此 外，核桃含大量维生 素，对松懈紧崩的脑 神经和消除大脑疲劳 有很好的效果。 据《本草纲目》 记载，核桃能使人开 胃，也能润燥化痰。 虽然核桃属性平温， 却因为含油脂多，多 吃会上火；再加上长 时间熬夜，对身体不 益，因此在食用核桃 前需按身体状况而定 食量。
谷类
干谷类（cereals） 可当早餐或零食吃。 它含大量的碳水化合 物，是提供人体能量 的主要来源。 有时候因温书久 了而感到烦闷、肚子 饿想吃点零食，与其 吃些不健康的薯片， 不如吃一碗加奶和 水果的谷类，可帮助 充饥，过后有精力读 书。 若觉得麻烦的话， 市场上也有售卖谷类 棒（muesli bar），方 便食用。 但是，在选择这 类食品的时候应该注 意糖分含量，因为一 些谷类棒的糖分相 当高，多吃对身体无 益。
绿茶
日本的一项调查显 示，绿茶所含的儿茶 素（catechin），对身 体大脑大有益处。绿 茶可提神，帮助脑部 保持清醒，比起喝咖 啡健康多了。 况且，绿茶也有清 火养生之效，对天天 熬夜的学生来说，是 很好的饮料。不过， 尽量不要空腹喝，因 为消化液会被冲淡， 影响消化系统。 绿茶也能用于舒解 眼部疲劳。 长时间看书会对眼 睛造成疲劳，除了定 时抬头往远处望，松 懈眼睛，也可以用绿 茶包敷在眼部周围， 帮助消除疲倦的眼 袋，并驱除睡意，同 时促进血液循环。
摄影|黄俊森
洋葱
洋葱是刺激性食物，据说有醒脑作用，对血管舒张有益，大脑也更 容易接收氧气，消除脑力疲劳。 洋葱也含抗氧化剂（antioxidant），可延缓大脑细胞衰老，保持大脑 的灵活度。因此，欧美保健专家建议每天吃半个洋葱头达到护脑效果。 考试期间，有些人会因为太劳累而生病。如果感冒了，可把具有杀 菌、消炎作用的洋葱加入热汤中食用，有助发汗退热。
巧克力
温书苦恼，吃块巧克力可激发快乐情绪！ 巧克力的糖分高，但是有研究发现，比起牛奶巧克力，黑巧克力含能够保护心脏的 抗氧化物质类黄酮（flavonoid）。 不过，只要是巧克力，糖分、脂肪量和热量都是相当高的，所以应该适量食用。 或许吃巧克力是种让人从书海中“自我逃避”的一种方式吧。偶尔宠一宠自己，何 乐而不为？
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APR I L 5, 2010
T H E NA N YA NG C H RON IC L E
娱乐 重新踏入校园
杨伟烈：希望多交朋友 李丽敏●报道
艺
人是镁光灯下的焦点， 生活五光十色，交游广 阔，理应有很多朋友才对。 但本地新晋艺人杨伟烈坦言 自己没什么朋友，有时还会想 为什么比别人更难交到朋友。 今年24岁，就读黄金辉传 播与信息学院二年级的伟烈 说：“我会担心同学因为我 工作的关系不敢接近我，但我 又不知道是不是因为我没时间 去维持友谊，所以朋友才不 多。” 他希望能多交些朋友，还 说：“我的脸很臭，可是我的 人是OK的！” 妥善安排时间 坚持不旷课 为了兼顾学业和工作，伟烈 得妥善安排时间，并让公司清 楚知道他何时能工作，何时则 必须专心于课业。 他曾试过白天上课，晚上工 作，以致睡眠不足，连做功课 和背剧本的时间都没有。一开 始常因工作旷课的他，后来发 现无法跟上同学的进度，就坚 持再也不缺课。 虽然辛苦，但伟烈认为付 出是值得的。去年初暂休一学
期接拍的重头戏《双子星》， 让他凭奸角叶仁德入围了今年 《红星大奖》“最佳男配角” 、“最难忘电视大反派”和 “最喜爱男角色”三大奖项。 得知入围“最佳男配角” 时，伟烈感到很意外，也很开 心。不过，心情还没来得及沉 淀，他就开始害怕了。 伟烈说：“背着‘新人’标 签，别人的要求不会太高。可 是入围这个奖就好像上了另一 个层次，别人的要求会更高。 如果达不到，后果会更糟。” 但伟烈也明白，这都是成长 的必经之路。他说：“如果不 这样进步，那永远就只在原地 踏步。”
“如果不这样进 步，那永远就只在 原地踏步。” 杨伟烈 新传媒艺人
出道两年多，伟烈的演技 备受肯定，但却欠缺观众缘， 没能入围“20大最受欢迎男艺 人”。对此，他表示从没想过 会入围这奖项，因为撇开日前 落幕的《魔幻世界》不说，观 众认识的、喜欢的是“叶仁
德”而不是“杨伟烈”。 他坦然地说不急着入围“20 大”；若有一天能角逐，他希 望到时有张亮眼的成绩单示人 而不是“空空的”。 他还自我调侃道：“反正我 也不可能凭外形入围，因为我 不帅啊！” 伟烈在拍摄《魔幻世界》时 学了一点魔术。虽然魔术能拉 近人与人之间的距离，但伟烈 不会用魔术去追心仪的女生。 他认为，用心打动对方比较有 诚意。 追求女生 还未成功 想起自己的“追女史”，伟 烈笑说：“我从来没成功过， 追谁，谁就不要我！” 他记得18岁那年，和喜欢 的女生在餐厅约会，事先安排 了鲜花和蛋糕要给对方一个惊 喜。伟烈成功牵到她的手，但 最后还是被拒绝了，从此他就 再没花心思追女生。他谈过的 四段恋情都是“很自然地走在 一起的”。 问及未来，伟烈表示想去很 多不同国家做自己喜欢的事， 如演戏、主持、表演等。 他说：“我最怕就是在同一 个地方做同一件事，然后50年 后退休。”
完成音乐旅程
后等待O水准成绩放榜时，便以暂时打 工的心态，当上了李伟菘和李 菘的制 作助理。
放胆追求 捉到乐
曾合作过的知名歌手犹如好友 从事这份工作时，炜倩也有机会到 台湾工作，和那英、蔡依林、郭富城以 及孙燕姿等知名歌手合作。 她说：“同我合作的每一位都没 有巨星架子，就好像一见如故的好朋 友。” 2005年回国后，因有许多活动邀约 与表演机会，使她萌生了重新上课学唱 歌的念头。 陈炜倩也是在这个时期，和好友一 同参加由报业控股与电台100.3联和举 办的双人竞技歌唱比赛，并且赢到了冠 军。 此外，在亲友的鼓励与帮助下，她 决定“完成自己的音乐旅程”，独立发 行EP《捉到乐》。
在亲友的鼓励和帮助下，陈炜倩终于从制作转到歌唱，以生活经验制作出EP《捉到 乐》。 照片|陈炜倩提供
余思远●报道
当
一名歌手，并不是陈炜倩一开始 的梦想。 然而，这名32岁的助理制作人却在
回返校园的杨伟烈，希望将来在演艺圈里能够交出亮眼的成绩单 摄影|陈蕴慧 示人。
周遭亲友以及工作伙伴的鼓励下，决定 勇闯乐坛，以EP和听众分享她丰富的音 乐历练。 炜倩说，小时候是在母亲的熏陶 下，才开始慢慢爱上音乐。 从15岁开始学习唱歌的她，在两年
以经验制作EP 意表达追求梦想 炜倩表示，当制作助理的经验使她 对录制一张专辑颇有概念，工作上认识 的伙伴也给她不少的建议与帮助。 当记者询问EP为何会命名为《捉到 乐》时，炜倩解释：“在音乐的道路 上，唯有一直追寻，才能找到梦想，捉 住快乐。”
而EP想要转达的信息是做任何事都 要坚持，不要怕辛苦。 《捉到乐》收录了4首全新创作单 曲，其中炜倩就有份参与其中两首歌曲 的词曲创作。炜倩说，词曲创作的灵感 都来自于生活中的经验。 专辑中收录的一首《你》所要表达 的是，虽然一段感情结束了，但是不要 忘记其中的美好经历，想推崇一种正确 的爱情观。 炜倩说，这张EP花了一年的时间筹 备，并且即将在4月24日发行。 她解释，由于自己还有一份日薪工 作，所以唯有时间允许时才能投身筹备 EP，因此制作过程花了相当长的时间。 苦乐的录音经验记忆犹新 回忆起开始录制歌曲的第一天，由 于一直无法唱出制作人所要求的感觉， 炜倩说自己当时在录音室里6个小时还 无法将一首歌曲完成，使她感到非常沮 丧。 而最快乐的事就是在4个小时内把一 首《日落追影》录制成功，很有满足 感。 炜倩表示，虽然录制EP的过程有苦 有乐，但是她认为辛苦都是值得的。 她补充：“因为会遇到不同的状 况，再加上制作人离我好远，要自己一 个人在录音室那小空间里唱歌，真的不 简单。”
30 佛 教 音 乐 剧 《 《
大 孝 目 犍 连
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
陈鑫琪●报道
重以 新 诠 释 孝 道 经 典
舞台剧手法诠释源于佛教经典的《目连救母》，将 在卫塞节让观众重新看待孝道的意义。 TOY肥料厂与护国金塔寺（Golden Pagoda Buddhist Temple）首次合作，上演佛教音乐剧《大孝目犍连》。 音乐剧描述出家的目犍连与在地狱受苦的母亲之间的故 事，借此宣扬佛教里“大爱”的真理。 被陶子姐誉为“美猴王”的潘嗣敬Sugie摇身一变，将 在音乐剧首次独挑大梁，饰演男主角和尚目犍连。 28岁印尼华桥的他说：“如果爱能被分割的话，我觉得 我从姐姐那里得到多一点爱。” 他解释，中学叛逆时期正好与姐姐住在一起，所以姐姐 比较像是自己的母亲。因为这特别的成长岁月，潘嗣敬对 母子情的故事特别有感触。 同剧组的陈日成（Darius Tan）则透露父亲去年12月生病 的经历，让他更靠近佛祖，所以想借此机会“还愿”。 他说：“以前的角色会比较搞笑，但是这次的音乐剧采 用了佛教元素，所以我会更严肃对待。” 陈日成本身也相当期待与老友杨爱曼（Emma Yong）再 度合作。 杨爱曼会首次在剧中饰演反派——目犍连的母亲刘青 提。她说地狱的概念妙想天开，所以自己很想尝试演出。 《大》另外有趣的一点是没有设定场景。剧作家兼导演 吴文德解释，“母子之情”的主题是共通性的，所以并不 需要特定的场景。 舞台服装设计则受到西藏及南印度的彩色风格影响，所 以演员的服装会偏向炫丽夸张，以刺激观众的视觉。 此外，为了确保故事情节不会偏离佛家原旨，护国金塔 寺释法照大法师也会担任此剧的艺术监制。 拥有14年舞台经验的陈日成也表示，会为自己扮演的阎 魔王注入人性的一面。他说：“阎魔王也是人变的神，所 以也有人情味啊！” 他希望观众除了欣赏音乐及华丽的服装外，也能进行思 考，从剧中发掘尊重的重要性。陈日成说，“你能为了父 母做什么？如果他对你不好，你会怎么看他？” 《大孝目犍连》将在5月28日及29日在新加坡博览中心 上演。
乐评 音乐Jukebox 专辑：《双鱼的责任》 歌手：黄品源 推荐：《双鱼的责任》 《原来有你》 , , , , 有多首成名曲的 黄品源，睽违3 年后推出全新专辑《双 鱼的责任》，试图用双鱼座男人心刻画 出对爱的坚定与向往。 出道20年，其歌唱魅力却有增无 减。当初的大男孩，现已蜕变为成熟稳 重的好男人，不仅外形让人眼前一亮， 温柔歌声也展现不同以往的人文气质。 初听时，只觉曲风保持了他一贯的 诚恳敦厚，听来倍感温馨，不过技巧上 没太大变化，缺少些惊喜。 听久了才发现“源式”情歌最难得 的并不是其朗朗上口的旋律，也不是扣 人心弦的歌词，而是黄品源的创作动机 始终没有从他的生活中抽离。 专辑中的歌曲代表着黄品源对理想 的坚持，同名首波主打更是增添了英式 摇滚元素，突显出创作人的骄傲与随性 的潇洒浪漫。 对理想的执着是他创作的源泉，也 是这真挚情感使黄品源的音乐能丝丝入 扣。旋律虽没大起大落，但总能传递实 在的感动，百听不厌。（文／宋佳佳）
拥
专辑：《SHERO》 歌手：S.H.E 推荐：《SHERO》 《我爱雨夜花》 , , , , , 年前的小女生， 今日成了自己的 SHERO。 与前一张《我的电台FM S.H.E》相 差约1年半的时间，S.H.E的第12张专辑 传达了女孩也可以当自强的概念。 作为专辑的开场曲，首波主打 《SHERO》十分具震撼力。由五月天阿 信量身打造，这首摇滚曲虽强悍但耐听。 S.H.E和周定玮再次合作，深情对唱 《两个人的荒岛》。旋律与歌词浪漫， 合音美妙，让人不禁重复播放。 这张专辑里S.H.E也首次尝试一整首 台语歌。有别于传统台语歌的《我爱雨 夜花》是以饶舌方式完成主歌部分，是 年轻听众较容易接受的诠释方式。 偶 像 剧 《 就 想 赖 着 你 》 的 片 尾 曲 《爱上你》，是标准的甜蜜情歌，轻快 的节奏让人不自觉跟着哼唱。 成军近10年，S.H.E歌艺不减。这次 突破虽不大，但足以满足她们的忠实粉 丝，首首都有潜力成为KTV热门点播。 唯独下一次有对唱歌曲时，应该尝 试找别人合作了。（文／郭慧盈）
九
影评 电影播映室
照片｜网络下载、邵氏机构提供
电影：《火龙》 导演：林超贤 主要演员：黎明、任贤齐、王宝强 , , , , , 队眼中的坏警察文方（黎明饰）和好警察纪少群（任贤齐饰）皆属龙，性格迥 异的他们因车祸命案和妓女谋杀案认识。 两宗案件看似毫无瓜葛，在真相层层剥开后，却曝露其中的惊天内幕。 两个警察，一个为仇恨、一个为名利，在探案中陷入不能自拔的泥沼，最后火龙的 出现让两人走上截然不同的结局。 枪战、爆破、厮杀，善于拍摄枪战片的林超贤，将这些场面真实且血淋淋地呈现在 荧幕，给人强烈的视觉震撼，每每让人瞬间屏息。 继《十月围城》的乞丐形象，黎明再次摆脱其斯文儒雅的印象，他蓄着络腮胡且伤 痕累累，不时在丧妻的记忆里挣扎，不难看出演绎上的进步与突破。 好男人形象深入人心的任贤齐，表现也令人眼前一亮。同在《大事件》中扮演的粗 犷冷酷匪徒相比，这次角色外表斯文但行事更加凶狠，还策划出一系列阴谋。 情节铺排紧凑，让人目不转睛，影片的最后高潮，还将场景设在香港的大坑，只见 民众兴高采烈地舞着火龙，和片中的压抑气氛形成强烈对比。 《火龙》揭露人暴力的一面，成功切入人性的黑暗面，是一部发人深省的影片。 影片结束前的一段话：“每个人心里都有个魔，但是我们不知道他什么时候会走出 来”，为此片作了既简短又恰当的总结。（文／苏文琪）
警
摇身一变，在《大孝目犍连》独挑大梁饰演孝子目犍连的潘嗣敬说，因过去的 成长岁月，让他对母子情的故事有所感触。 摄影｜高晟炜
Opinions “Having problems balancing your summer break?” Turn to page 34 to find out
frankly, my dear
EDITORIAL
A column by The Chronicle editors on issues close to their hearts
E for entertainment Over the last few weeks, many colleges in NTU held their E—learning week. It is a week when students log on to edveN T Ure to attempt tutorials or watch video recordings of lectures i n stead of at te nd i ng lessons. Since 2000, E—learning has been an integral part of t he N T U lea r n i ng experience. It a i m s to prov ide a “blended lear ning environment” with the use of technology. Such E—lear ning activities are also aimed at helping improve t he technological competencies of NTU students and staff. But does E—learning really live up to its aims? For many, E—learning prov ides us with a convenient day off. We t e nd to le a v e assignments meant to be done during the E—learning session to the day before class resumes catch up on other aspects of our lives.
S ome mo d u le s m a y require students to actively pa r t icipate i n for u m discussions during the class time but most modules do not. All students really do with E—learning material is watch a video and download worksheets. While E—learning may prov ide a much needed respite from school it does not serve the same purpose as being physically present in a lecture. Even though people may talk or nod off in lectures, the physical presence of a lecturer is much stronger than one behind a computer screen. Do st udents look for wa rd to E—lea r n i ng week? Definitely. But do we enjoy E-learning week because of the interactive lessons? Or because Electronic— learning week has become another form of Enter tainment-lear ning for us?
CH R O N ICL E THE NANYANG
chief editor Shereen Naaz Charles MANAGING editor Law Shi Ming Elizabeth sub-editors Kwan Hui Xian Lau Liang Tong Lin Jieming Melissa Neo Wen Tong Vo Van Hung News editors Aw Yeong Jia Jia Maxie Goh Kai Shi Lifestyle editors Goh Shang Zhe Kenneth Jennifer Dhanaraj Reviews editor Lock Mei Jin Clara TECH editor Lim Song En Kevin dapper editors Lim Hui Ching Audrey Tan Jingliang Chinese editors Su Wenqi Wong Kang Wei
opinionS editors Chan Xiu Fen Rosemary Goh Jiamin sports editors Eve Yeo Yu Ping Loh Jiaju Ronald layout editors Hong Shuqi Loh Jun Qi Mak Jinfa Joseph Tang Ying Ying Glenda photo editors Chan Wan Wai Eunice Ng Jun Sen graphics editor Choong Jia Tang Alan ONLINE editorS Han Xinyun Danielle Tan Jun Long Jeremy business managers Lee Hui Ting Gladys Lim Pei Yi Vivian production support Ng Heng Ghee Teacher advisors Andrew Duffy Xu Xiaoge
A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446 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.
From potatoes to people
GRAPHIC | DANIELLE HAN
Clara Lock reviews editor
A
lucky break on STARS and the generosity of a willing friend who picked up the module on my behalf f lung my lazy derriere out of its comfort zone this semester. Unexpectedly, I found myself en rolled in Cond it ion ing for Physical Fitness, an elective module offered as part of NTU’s new Sport Science and Management course. As a non-examinable module, the course was notoriously hard to get.
I walked into my first lesson with trepidation, my new running shoes an obvious nod towards my lack of regular exercise
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU News Hotline: 6790 6446 Letters: chronicle@ntu.edu.sg Opinions: chronicle.opinions@ ntu.edu.sg Please include your full name, contact number, faculty and year of study.
But what I had imagined to be a couple of relaxing hours in the gym on Monday evenings soon revealed itself to be a physically trying semester, to say the least. I walked into my first lesson with trepidation, my new running shoes an obvious nod towards my lack of regular exercise. In fact, prior to this course, I had not exercised since my junior college (JC) days.
That day, my sprightly tutor led us through a series of dynamic warm ups that had my cold, rusty quadriceps crying for respite and aching for days afterward. She then sent the class running mu lt iple rou nd s a rou nd t he National Institute of Education compound. I wound my way up and down the unforgiving, undulating slopes, desperately willing my fatigued legs to complete the run. I could not help but wonder how I had let my physical prowess degenerate into such a sor r y state. There had been a time when I sailed through the National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) with relative ease to secure yearly gold awards. But since I reached the end of JC and mandator y Physical Education (PE) lessons, the concept of f itness has been relegated unceremoniously to the back burner. After all, since Grade Point Averages are hardly affected by physical ability, there remains no impetus for many of us to maintain an exercise routine. Even my male friends only step up their fitness regimes when their Individual Physical Proficiency Test window draws near. Those who do not pass spend a cu mber some few week s in reservist training before returning to civilian life none the fitter. Given that most of us retain some academic knowledge from our JC or polytechnic days, it seems a waste not to maintain levels of physical prowess from those days.
Perhaps the Gover nment’s recent move to up the importance of “soft” subjects such as PE will nudge us in the right direction. With the length of PE lessons at primary and secondary level set to increase between 30 minutes to an hour, more emphasis will be placed on an “awareness of physical wellbeing”, according to Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen.
I could not help but wonder how I had let my physical prowess degenerate into such a sorry state Contrary to what the allure of a first-class honours degree might have us believe, well-being entails more than burning the proverbial midnight oil with cans of red bull the night before a final exam. It i s i n s te ad a pr ac t ic a l realisation of the lifestyle our primary school health education advocated—a healthy marriage between exercise and nutrition. In this digital era where kids are liable to wear out the skin on their thumbs on a playstation before they do the soles of their shoes, getting out and about has become more important. Some might balk at the fact that children need lessons to teach them how to do so. But at least they will not grow up into the sedentary slob I used to be.
opinions
APR I L 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
Stigma against accents
33
canteen talk
Have you ever considered takinig a year off school? While this idea may not seem like a popular one amongst students, we ask around to find out what some think of it.
I would not do it because if I take a year off, it would be to travel which is not a good reason to take a gap year.
”
Ip Wai Yin, WKWSCI, Yr 4, 23
“ GRAPHIC | ALAN CHOONG
Zhang Jieqiang
H
ow many times have you heard people complaining about students who, after returning from studying overseas, speak with an accent? How many times have you been annoyed that your friend, who used to speak as much Singlish as you, come back from the UK with a British accent? There is a general resistance against the acquisition of foreign accents. Students who spend three or four years in countries such as the UK or US and come back speaking differently are perceived to be posers, trying to impress everyone with their experience of foreign cultures. I do not doubt that there are people who speak with a foreign accent in order to impress, but surely, this cannot be the case for every student who returns to Singapore speaking differently. What is interesting is that people tend to react negatively particularly towards British, American or Australian accents. In a similar vein, people who speak proper English are sometimes also labelled as being a poser. Perhaps, the real issue, then, is not that a Singaporean has acquired a foreign accent, but that he or she has learnt to speak well. Of course, to be articulate is not the same as speaking with a foreign accent. But when we see that the same kind of stigmatisation is applied to both groups of people, it gives us a clue as to what lies beneath the surface. At the heart of the dislike of foreign accents is a fear of inauthencity: it is inauthentic
for a Singaporean to speak like a non-Singaporean. Sadly, speaking like a Singaporean is generally perceived to be speaking improper English. Hence, the Speak Good English Movement. But what exactly does authenticity mean? Mandarin teachers often expound on the mandate that a Chinese must learn to speak his or her mother tongue, Mandarin. And, going by that argument, to be truly Singaporean is to speak like a Singaporean. Speaking with a foreign accent is considered a betrayal of that true identity.
What is interesting is that people tend to react negatively particularly towards British, American or Australian accents History and politics show us that the concept of linguistic authenticity that has been handed down to us is artificially constructed. The last time I checked, my mother tongue is really Hakka, because my father and my grandfather spoke Hakka growing up. Mandarin only became more widely used after the Speak Mandarin campaigns were launched, between 1979 to 1981, to encourage the speaking of Mandarin as a common language amongst the Chinese in Singapore.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew himself acknowledges that Mandarin is a “stepmother tongue” and “dialect is the real mother tongue”. Our accents, similarly, are all acquired: British, American, Australian, or Singaporean. They are just products of whatever culture we spend a considerable amount of time in. And if all accents are acquired, who is to say that one accent is more “authentic” than the other? What makes a Singaporean student speaking with an American accent less “authentic” than another student speaking with a Singaporean accent? A Singaporean student in New Zealand told me that unless she speaks with a New Zealand accent, the locals there find it hard to understand her. Another Singaporean studying in Australia mentioned that “it is harder to assimilate” if he does not speak with an Australian accent. He believes that “people find it easier to click with others who are similar. “And communication is a massive thing between people". Speaking with an accent arises, afterall, from the basic need to communicate. When some of my friends who speak with foreign accents return to Singapore, they are able to switch to a Singaporean accent when speaking to other Singaporeans, simply because they want to be better understood. Some of my other friends, because they have spent so much time overseas, find it more difficult to manage this switch, and thus stick with the accent they have acquired. But all of my friends, I know, share this simple desire: to be understood. How can one stigmatise that?
I think it’s a good idea especially since new experiences would give us a better view of what we want to do after studying. Sean Lai Jiarong, HSS, Yr 2, 25
People seem to think they are pressed for time and need to go into the workforce as soon as possible.
”
Natalia Tan, EEE, Yr 1, 19
“
I would do an internship. I do not think it is a waste of time as it allows me to do something different. Edi Saputra, On exchange, Yr 2, 19
I think it is not a bad idea and would consider it. If I take a year off, I would use it to prepare for the next semester.
”
Bening Tirta Muhammad, CBC, Yr 1, 17 TEXT | GOH JIAMIN ; PHOTOS | GRACE AUYONG
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opinions
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
Balancing the summer break
GRAPHIC | NEIL BRIAN R. ALAPIDE
Ma Yanjing
T
he summer break is when many finally have the time to do all they did not get to do during the semester. The way this time is spent differs from student to student.
Some tend to pack their holidays to the brim with activities and job experiences. Others are more laidback during the long-awaited break. The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) have made the summer break this year four months long instead of three.
With the extended amount of time, there is greater necessity for our holidays to be balanced. This is to ensure that while we make the most of it, we also do not tire ourselves out. It is after all a holiday. Relaxing is top priority in many students’ summer holiday.
This includes travelling, reconnecting with friends and family and playing games they usually do not have time to. For instance, a first-year student from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, plans to see Shanghai Expo and travel to Hong Kong. “We have been quite stressed and tired in the semester and I do not want to busy myself during the holidays. “I have worked hard and so I will play hard,” he said. Another student majoring in Information Engineering and Media agrees that it is the best choice to play and relax during the summer break. She will be volunteering at the YOG in August and will spend the rest of the time relaxing. However, some students choose to have a really packed holiday. A first-year student from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering will be spending the holidays giving tuition to secondary school students and taking up guitar lessons. Another first-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering will be participating in the Work and Travel USA scheme. “In my opinion, sleeping at home throughout the summer holidays is a waste of time. “I want to make full use of everyday to improve myself. Through the work and travel programme I can earn money and experience a different lifestyle.”
Taking a special term or language courses is also a good way to spend the holiday. Acquiring knowledge or cultivating a skill is useful in the long-run. For senior students, the summer break is a good time to do an internship or to develop their skills and find out what kind of job they would like to have in the near future.
For senior students the summer break is a good time to do an internship or to develop their skills and find out what kind of job they would like to have in the near future How students strike a balance during the holidays differs. Some people are keen on fulfilling their dreams or developing themselves while some prefer to enjoy life first. Also, some may find juggling many activities easy while others find it unbearable. Whatever it is, it is important for balance to exist so that the summer holidays are not wasted.
Recycling in NTU, done right? Joel Yuen
W
ith the threat of global warming becoming more salient in recent years, there has been a greater push to go green. In my quest to find out if NTU is doing its part for the environment, I decided to do a count of all the recycling bins that are stationed around Canteen A and the North Spine. To my surprise, there were a total of 30 recycling bins. This is much more than I had expected. Lined up in sets of threes, labelled “paper", “cans" and “plastic", they are found along doorway entrances, main lobbies, and in the libraries. With all that effort put into encouraging recycling, there is one main problem that hinders this green process - it is not carried out correctly. The recycling process is more than simply tossing empty cans into recycling bins. These cans need to be rinsed, dried and crushed before being thrown into the bins.
While most people do make use of these recycling bins, majority do not make the extra effort to rinse them of their contents. If a batch of recycling materials is contaminated, the whole lot will have to be thrown away.
With all that effort put into encouraging recycling, there is one main problem that hinders this green process Is this a problem of awareness or are we simply too busy? A second-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering feels that the the entire process is just too much of a bother. He suggests that recycling bins should be stationed near water points which enables cans and bottles to be washed immediately.
A second-year student from the School of Art, Design & Media (ADM) is keenly aware that recyclables have to be thoroughly rinsed and dried. When asked whether his friends know about this, he expressed that they are not informed. Also, those who are simply do not bother to make that extra effort. With the current mindset that recycling is in sheer conflict with our daily routines, where a little inconvenience is not tolerated, how then can the true spirit of recycling be lived out? On a more positive note, a final-year student from ADM practices recycling at home regularly. She says: “I think that recycling has to be instilled from young, with parents setting the proper example.” This brings us back to the 30 recycling bins placed around the North Spine. After all the time and effort put into placing recycling bins around the university, only to find materials that are contaminated, is there a point in having those bins there in the first place?
GRAPHIC | ALAN CHOONG
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
opinions
35
Intellectual risk-taking Bhavan Jaipragas
D
o not be afraid to ask slightly ‘stupid’ questions and take intellectual risks—this was Finance Minister Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s advice to youths at the YOUTHSpeak on Budget 2010 forum. He was pointing out how a mindset change in young people can play a role in enhancing Singapore’s productivity. Risk-taking is not known to be a natural forte of most Singaporean students, who have been inculcated in toeing the line. The education system has undergone rapid evolution in the past decade towards a ‘teach less, learn more’ pedagogy. However, it is still found wanting in creating opportunities for students to explore beyond the boundaries of the syllabus. The major sticking point remains to be the nature of academic assessment. Changes in teaching methods have not realigned schools’ top priority—to prepare students for the major national examinations. In the forum, Mr Shanmugaratnam shared his experience of observing teachers in classrooms while he was the Minister for Education. Some teachers he said, actively encouraged students to embrace a culture where they could take intellectual risks and ask questions freely. Others, on the other hand, were more anxious about completing the syllabus before the examinations, curtailing classroom interaction. This in turn stifles intellectual risk-taking. The limitations of our education system is a topic that has always been widely discussed. This year’s budgetary focus on enhancing productivity provides the debate with a fresh perspective. It is no longer tenable to equate productivity in Singapore with efficiency and low costs, as developing countries in the region and elsewhere have made such traits their hallmark. The Singapore economy now needs an entire generation of innovative thinkers who constantly question and search for new breakthroughs to reach the next phase of development. An innovation-friendly education system undoubtedly precedes a knowledge driven economy in importance. Moving forward, schools and universities must consciously promote a culture that respects and embraces intellectual risktaking. In such a setting, individuals who wish to explore academic realms outside of their syllabus are given support by their teachers, professors, parents and peers. In classrooms, students must not feel inhibited to stand up and ask questions that are controversial or simply ‘out of the box’. Instead of admonishing individuals who ask questions
that might seem trivial or ‘stupid’, the system should instead penalise those who do not question or probe what they learn. The current state of examinations could also further evolve to become less predictable. Students must be rewarded for presenting novel perspectives and solutions, rather than rote learning abilities. The key to inculcating a creative mindset is to start young. Productivity might be a concept that is beyond a typical seven-year-old. However, there might be long-term gains for the economy if children are imbibed with a habit of proactively seeking new knowledge and skills. According to Mr Shanmugaratnam, such habits will hold younger Singaporeans in good stead as Singapore develops its $2.5 billion Continuing Education and Training system. There is an immense impetus for young Singaporeans to develop the voracity to think for themselves, experiment and take initiative. This is especially crucial as we transit into an education landscape which focuses on lifelong learning. Will nurturing highly innovative and inquisitive young Singaporeans foster an individualistic culture? The answer probably lies in the quality of the government and its policies. Mr Shanmugaratnam said that Singapore must continue to have a “strong and clean government”. This will help maintain stability in our heterogeneous society and yet rewards innovation and individual enterprise. In fact, spurring young Singaporeans to become more analytical and questioning might actually strengthen the social bonds in our island state. Meaningful and robust discourse between youths from various groups about differing beliefs and cultures may lead to an expansion of the common space we already share. The economic impact of youths taking more intellectual risks will also factor heavily in how the government deals with the widening income gap in years to come. A more innovative and productive workforce in the future will ensure sustained annual growth. It would also commensurate government expenditure on healthcare and education to aid the lower income groups. In a more tumultuous time, our founding fathers dared to dream of Singapore as a global city where East and West would meet. Today as we inch closer towards realising that dream, we also face new challenges. To remain relevant in an increasingly competitive global economy, the next generation of Singaporeans must push the boundaries of productivity by being innovative and inquisitive.
GRAPHIC | AAKANSHA SHAD
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sports
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
bpl talk
The survival of the riches As the Barclays Premier League (BPL) reaches its climax, Sports Editors Eve Yeo and Ronald Loh make their predictions on who will bag the coveted UEFA Champions League spots, and who will fall prey to relegation
2nd
TABLE TOPPERS
1st
BEING the only team with the stamina and depth to sustain a season-long title challenge, Manchester United are the favourites to claim their fourth consecutive Barclay's Premier League (BPL) title. Despite the pile up of injuries sustained throughout the season, the Red Devils never relented in their chase for a record
Manchester United nineteenth Premiership trophy. Though the talismanic Wayne Rooney will be out for the next month, the Red Devils are not a one-man team. Their squad depth will again be tapped upon, and should be enough to allow skipper Gary Neville to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
Chelsea
Their experience and quality should take them above Arsenal. However, their small and ageing team proves to be their Achilles heel, which will cost them as the injuries usually pile up at
3rd
Arsenal
Many claimed that it would be their season after seeing that Arsenal have an easier late season run-in, as compared with Chelsea and Manchester United. However, as seen from previous seasons, the young Gunners are unable to sustain late title challenges and fail to crank up the pressure when it matters.
4th GREATER GLORY: Red Devil fans can expect more to cheer about from their team.
18th SACKING a manager so late in the season is probably not the wisest thing to do. This is especially true if the manager was the one who saved the club from relegation last year. The upper echelon's decision to release manager Phil Brown from the club could come back to haunt them. Futhermore, their decision to hire Iain Dowie as manager could backfire, given Dowie's lack of success in the Premiership. Together with Burnley, only these two clubs have failed to win away from home all season (as of press time). Why the Tigers have been chosen to go down instead of West Ham simply stems from the difference in quality between the two clubs.
19th WHAT proved to be a promising season for the newly promoted club eventually fizzled out. Momentous wins over Manchester United and Everton early on in the season
PHOTOS | INTERNET
Hull City
This shows the divide between title pretenders and the eventual champions. Perhaps it was due to their inexperience or Arsene Wenger's occasional poor selection of players for matches. Or simply because “the pitch was difficult to play on", according to their manager after their 1-1 away draw with Birmingham.
Manchester City
Ma ke no m i sta ke—t he ot her ha lf of Manchester will have something to cheer about at the end of the season, as they bag the coveted fourth Champions League spot. The Blues have become a team with
20th
the end of the season. Nonetheless, they will do all they can to challenge Manchester United all the way, which could result in an exciting nail-biting finish.
genuine quality and immense promise for the years to come, after an infusion of seemingly infinite Arab cash three years ago. The synergy of Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez could prove to be the key to knocking Liverpool out of the Big Four.
RELEGATION VICTIMS
BA RRING a miracle, Portsmouth fans can expect to be plying their trade in the Championship next season. The docking of nine points, shortness of match confidence and financial troubles have cost the team from the South Coast an entire season worth of points and wages.
Portsmouth Currently languishing at the bottom of the table, Portsmouth can expect to face relegation, unless they go on to win all of their remaining matches. If not, their players should be prepared. Relegation could happen as early as midApril, if results do not go their way.
TURN OF THE TIDE: Hull may soon run out of luck.
Burnley were cancelled out by their inability to win games away from home. Manager Owen Coyle's departure has not helped the Clarets, and they could be back in the Championship as fast as they came up.
GOING DOWN: England stopper David James is powerless in stopping Portsmouth's impending relegation.
sports
APR I L 5, 2010
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sports talk
The need to bring the buzz back Zakaria Zainal AS THE the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Countdown Clock is ticking silently outside the entrance of Jurong Point, throngs of people briskly walk past this giant tower unaware of its symbolism for the biggest sporting event in Singapore's history. The fate of the YOG, an event sanctioned by the prestigious International Olympic Committee, resembles that of the countdown clock—devoid of all attention and spark. The poorer cousin of both the Summer and Winter Olympics would be lucky to get half the attention they received in the build up to their respective games. Being bogged down by the no show of world-class talent such as traditional football favourites like Brazil, Argentina and Italy as well as the sheer magnitude of this first-time event has caused stakeholders to be concerned, and puzzled, about the lack of buzz, with only about 130 days left to the event. The talk has been to recreate the buzz, that pumped-up all-round excitement, when Singapore competed in 2008 to stage the games. Nothing better to get Singaporeans to tick than to throw them in a competition—we usually want to come in first. Of course, we all know how that went.
Perhaps the novelty of being the first countr y to host an event of Olympian standards for youths can confound its hosts. While large scale games are usually organised for much older people, it is a bit tougher to generate that same buzz for youths—or kids in fact.
But they cannot afford to wait for too long to get the buzz going as sports fans will have the World Cup to focus on instead. There might just be a good civic reason for Singapore to not get the broadcasting rights to the World Cup. My take is this: To bring in the buzz, we have to tap into the reasons people enjoy
GRAPHIC | ALAN CHOONG
watching sports in the first place; and no, not via the medium of television or the social media website, YouTube. Here, there is a weak culture of spectator sports in the stadiums and indoor courts. Perhaps the only time throngs of people watch such games was the then football crazy Malaysia Cup days or when schools would force them to support their annual sporting meets. And surprisingly, my friends who cannot differentiate between a pole vault and a javelin, would be riveted by the contest of the human spirit as well as the carnival like atmosphere in the stadium. They could understand why it felt so different watching games live as compared to the black box in the living room. The joy of watching people playing sports can be as easy and enjoyable as watching your friends play a friendly kick-about at the soccer courts in campus. Amplify that joy with the prospect of watching a plethora of sporting disciplines at an Olympian scale, ranging from athletics to wrestling in this little island is definitely something to be excited about. Granted, the best may not be here, but let us give these kids a break and be fascinated by their will to compete at the highest level. After all, the YOG is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so let us start to get excited about it now.
sports feature
Gearing up for the World Cup
DRESS FOR SUCCESS: Mr Singh with his extensive collection.
Alvin Chia Weston Corporation holds exclusive rights to 14 World Cup team jerseys DESPITE the current stalemate in securing local broadcasting rights for the 2010 World Cup, football fans are already beginning to equip themselves with their favourite jerseys. Mr Anant Bir Singh, a veteran in the sports business shares that his regular customers
PHOTOS | GAN JIA JUN
have already started stocking up on wellknown kits of Spain, Brazil and England with the World Cup only 66 days away. Mr Singh is the owner of Weston Corporation which is the exclusive distributor for 14 out of the 32 countries at the world cup. Mr Singh, 51, who owns three different stores has brought in all, except one, of the 32 participating nations' World Cup jerseys. Exclusive to his stores are jerseys from popular teams like England, Denmark and Italy which are the perennial favourites of most Singaporeans. “Of my exclusive jerseys, Italy and
England tend to sell out the fastest." Mr Singh drew on his contacts with the different team sponsors and suppliers to bring almost the entire set of World Cup kits to Singapore. Mr Singh makes it a point to secure exclusive rights for his jerseys for every World Cup. He has been running the store since taking over from his father in the 1980s and has a steady clientele that patronise his store especially during major sporting events. However, Mr Singh, a veteran in the business, shared that he can never predict which jerseys sell out the fastest. “Every year, jersey sales for a particular team depend on how the team perform in the beginning of the tournament. I can never tell which will be the most popular team,” he said. However, he was disappointed that he was unable to get North Korea's kit. Despite efforts made to reach their football association, there was no response. His jerseys are priced at $99 before discount, and run from sizes S to XL.
STAND TALL: Show support in your favourite team kit.
WESTON CORPORATION PENINSULAR BRANCH 3 Coleman St #04-09, Peninsula Shopping Centre, Singapore 179804
QUEENSWAY BRANCH 01 Queensway #01-22, Queensway Shopping Centre, Singapore 149053
GOAL@313 Somerset 313, #04-15/16/17, Singapore 233895
OPENING HOURS 11am to 9.30pm
OPENING HOURS 10am to 7.30pm
OPENING HOURS 11am to 10pm
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sports
apr i l 5, 2010
T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e
Much ado to cheer about
CHEER FOR SINGAPORE: NTU ACES Team One up the hype for the YOG.
Eve Yeo sports editor WITH less than five months to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), organisers are still short of 5,000 volunteers. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports, urged Singaporeans to show more support for it. He was the guest-of-honour at the inaugural National Cheerleading Championships (NCC) 2010 held at
the Singapore Expo on March 20th. At a post-event interview with the press, Dr Balakrishnan said: “With 147 days left to the YOG, we are in the last lap of preparations but the main concern now is generating buzz.” To encourage Singaporeans to show support for the upcoming games and athletes representing the country, the NCC was organised as part of the Singapore Sports Council’s (SSC) Cheer Singapore campaign.
PHOTO | GOH CHAY TENG
The winning team of each category will perform at cheer outreach roadshows at selected YOG venues from now till the start of the YOG. Jointly-organised by the SSC and Federation of Cheerleading Singapore, the NCC replaced last year’s cheerleading competition— Cheerobics—as t he ma i n stay c om p e t it ion i n Si n gap or e’s cheerleading circuit. According to the Cheerleading Association of Singapore, Cheerobics was cancelled to avoid confusion as
some teams were unsure of which competition to participate in. Captain of the NTU ACES, Tan Zhi Hong, said: “NCC is grander and better organised than Cheerobics because it tries to follow the competition style of international cheerleading competitions.” The NTU ACES continued their winning streak from Cheerobics with Team Two in third place while Team One shared first place with the Ulu Pandan Wildcards. Tan added that the ACES felt confident of victory as they were competing against the same teams from last year’s Cheerobics. There were two categories in the competition—cheering and cheerleading. Both NTU teams participated in the Cheerleading Open Team category. On being champions for the fifth consecutive year, Tan said: “We know what we’re fighting against and what we’re going for. When we held the trophy in our hands, we knew that all the hard work was worth it.” The N T U ACES will cheer Singapore on at the YOG from August 14th to 26th held at various sports stadiums in housing estates. Dr Balakrishnan said: “All the effort we invested in this will be wasted if every Singaporean is not touched by the Olympic spirit in one way or the other."
sports profile
Taking the road less travelled National canoeist Cheryl Tay receives the EW Barker scholarship Poh Wee Koon SHE took a plunge into the unknown two years ago when she left the Singapore education system to try to get into the national canoeing team. Instead of heading straight to university like her peers, Cheryl Tay, 21, remained at her alma mater, Raffles Junior College (RJC), after graduation to work as a physical education teacher while training with the college’s canoeing team to make the national team. Tay, a first-year student in the Sport Science and Management (SSM) programme in NTU, continued her involvement with the RJC canoeing team even after her sixmonth stint as a teacher. She was one of four recipients of the EW Barker scholarship in January this year. The scholarship, valued at $8,000 per annum, is awarded to outstanding student teachers currently enrolled in the SSM program. The scholarship is named after Mr Edmund William Barker, a
former politician and president of the Singapore National Olympic Council from 1970 to 1990. “He was ver y passionate about sports and this is one of the scholarships in Singapore that encourage the growth of sports," Tay said. She did not expect to study SSM in Singapore as she initially considered pursuing such a course in an overseas university. When she graduated in 2008, the SSM program in NTU had not been established yet. Tay spent a year considering her options before news of the programme was announced in February last year. For a canoeist on the national team, Tay’s involvement with the sport is considered a late start. Prior to canoeing with the RJC team, her only experience was a round-island expedition in secondary three. Despite t h i s , she soon established herself in the RJC team and was made team captain. She said that coaching her juniors during her second year in RJC made her transition feel “quite natural” when she returned as a teacher after graduation. “These are my juniors. So if I can help them, then why not?” Tay said.
they said that? “I don’t think I have anything in common with him apart from my stuck out tongue.” Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin (below), on his basketball idol Michael Jordan
GRAPHIC | SYAHIDAH JOHARI
“Mice! I don’t like them. Don’t ask me why.” Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, on what he's afraid of
“I like everything in England, I just don't like the weather.” Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani on England, since his move from Italy
”The marriage and kids inspire me.” Tennis star Roger Federer shares his secret to his success on the tennis court
EPITOME OF PASSION: Cheryl Tay takes the unconventional route. PHOTO | IRWIN TAN
Tay is grateful for the support from her parents in her pursuit of the sport. She s a id t hat t he y we r e “passionate bowlers” who used to bowl at the country club level.
When asked abou her future commitment and aspirations for canoeing, Tay said: “I hope to represent Singapore in the South East Asian games one day, and beyond.”
”When Arsenal plays and I can see the game, you can be sure to find me in front of a television.” FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry confesses he still loves his former club, Arsenal
sports
apr i l 5, 2010
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39
All green, as given by IOC president IOC president gives the thumbs-up for the Youth Olympic Village Kwan Hui Xian PRESIDENT of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr Jacques Rogge, stopped by the National Institute of Education (NIE) for a dialogue session on March 23rd as part of a three-day visit to Singapore. T i t l e d Tr a n s l a t i n g t h e Philosophy and Legacy of the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010: Your Opportunity to Make a Difference, it saw about 150 students from NT U and other local universities as audiences. Student were there to raise their questions about the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), and to find out more about it. This is the IOC’s first official visit to the country since 2008, when it awarded Singapore the rights to host the games. In his opening address, Dr Rogge said that besides seeing “fantastic things in terms of sports”, YOG is also about highlighting the importance of education, culture, and social values to the young athletes. “After sports, they still have to come back to normal life,” he said. The dialogue lasted about 45 minutes, and was facilitated by Mr Anthony Teo, Chairman of the NTU YOG Steering Committee. Also on the panel was Mr Ng Ser Miang, IOC Vice-President.
When it was the students' turn to take the floor, vice-president of the NTU Muslim Society (NTUMS), Muhammad Zameer Bin Mohd Nasir, 23, presented them with not just a question, but a proposal as well.
“I saw a fantastic Olympic Village here at the University.”
Dr Jacques Rogge President International Olympic Committee
Highlighting that YOG falls in the month of Ramadan when Muslims are fasting, the thirdyear Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student proposed that the NTUMS offer Muslim athletes services such as locating mosques near NTU, as well as finding halal food outlets within NTU. Mr Ng replied that competition schedules have been adjusted and halal food will be served to meet the needs of Muslim athletes. He added that he would like to get in touch with Nasir to see how they can work together. Another question raised was by Earthlink’s President, Adrian Koh, from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), who wanted to know if YOG’s stance on environmental care was going to continue in future Games. Dr Rogge assured the thirdyear student that environment
A LASTING IMPRESSION: Dr Rogge (left) leaves his mark on the Youth Olympic Village.
GETTING AROUND: Dr Rogge (above, centre) tours the YOV.
pr ote c t ion i s a n i m p or t a nt consideration in the YOG, and that all games will be organised in ways that will bring minimal harm to the environment. This is in line with efforts by IOC and the United Nations
PHOTOS | TAN WEI YAN
Environment Programme since 1994 to incorporate environmental issues into the Olympic Games. On a more personal note, about how sports plays a role in his family life, the Belgian said that his son and daughter are active in sports. He added: “My wife is not very active in sports. And that is why I love her.” Dr Rogge was also asked if the Singapore Games is just an “experiment” seeing how this is the first of its kind. The orthopaedic by training said that he intends for the Games to continue, and is very confident that it will be successful. While most of the questions were raised by students from NTU, a SMU student from the School of Information Systems asked if there have been any changes in the Singaporean sporting culture. Dr Rogge's reply was simple. He said that Singapore won the bid for the YOG in February 2008, and six months later, she won her first silver medal in the Olympic Games. He attributed this to winning the bid for YOG, which provided a morale boost to Singapore's sporting culture. Nic hola s Ta n , 23, a YOG volunteer who is in his second year at SPMS, felt that the dialogue was very interactive and quite informative as many student leaders had the chance to step out and voice their views and questions. However, due to t i me constraints, some students did not have a chance to have their queries answered. When interviewed after the session, Nasir said that it would have been better if other student groups had been able to bring attention to their needs, as he was
only able to speculate about their concerns during the dialogue. T h e pu r p o s e of t h e IO C delegation’s three-day visit is to check on the progress of the preparation for the Games. They also visited Hall 12 and toured the NIE grounds, where they were briefed on the upgrading works, which started in December 2008. Among the upgraded facilities at NIE is the main dining hall with a new glass canopy and sound absorbing boards, as well as revamped lecture theatres and changing rooms. The Youth Olympic Village (YOV), which occupies the size of about 80 football fields, consists of two areas, and will house about 5,000 athletes and officials. The Village Square is where the YOG Culture and Education Programme (CEP) activities will be held, for athletes to interact and find out more about the different cultures of the world through platforms like performances. A l l ref u rbish ment and upgrading works are scheduled to be completed by the end of May this year. President of t he Cu lt u r a l Activities Club (CAC), Joel Ng Tiong Wee, 25, a final-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, looks for ward to the showcasing of talents by local performing groups at the CEP. To sum up his visit to NTU, President Rogge said: “I saw a fantastic Olympic Village here at the University and I had a very nice question and answer and debate with youngsters with some very interesting questions.”
Sports
Join the hurrah for YOG on Page 38
Measured by the heart, not distance Poh Wee Koon and Quek Hui Ying find out what persuaded 11,000 participants to run the extra mile NTU made history last weekend, as records were smashed at the second edition of Run Round Singapore. The event, which was held to celebrate the university’s 55th anniversary, made the Singapore Book of Records for being the longest ultra-marathon, covering a distance of 218km with 68 relay stations and 9,033 participants. Nine core r unners set off at 8.30am on Saturday, March 27th, with a contingent of 3,027 supporters, and five of them went on to complete the momentous feat of running the race under 36 hours. Mr Yong Yuan Cheng, 38, now holds the record as the fastest male ultra-marathon runner over 218km, with a timing of 31h 28min 51sec. This was more than four hours faster than the targeted time of 36 hours. “When I go for this kind of ultra-marathons, I want to let people know that no matter how ordinary they are, they can still achieve extraordinary things,” said Mr Yong, who claims to be a “fast runner”, and was able to
run long distances due to much training. “It takes serious planning, thorough preparation, lots of hard work and personal sacrifices,” said Mr Yong, a teacher at Hwa Chong Institution. For Mr Yong, the last 57km from Katong Community Centre to NTU were the toughest as his mind was already “switched off” from exhaustion and lack of sleep. He also suffered from severe diarrhea throughout the race, and had to jump into the bushes to relieve himself over 20 times. Also participating in the event for a second time was Mr Stephen Lim Nghee Huat, 56, the oldest of all the core runners at the event. He completed the race with a timing of 34h 36min 32sec. “I think age is not really an issue. To run an ultra-marathon, it is not really speed that matters, but endurance. You must be able to tolerate all the discomfort,” said Mr Lim. The chinese current affairs editor of MediaCorp added that he would be interested in another
KEEPING IT STEADY: Mr Yong Yuan Cheng (centre) leads the pack. PHOTO | NG JUN SEN
FUN WITH FLOORBALL: Students taking shots at floorball in a fringe competition at the carnival.
ultra-marathon, only if it were mor e c h a l le n g i n g t h a n t he 218km. Ms Adeline Yong, 33, set the record for the longest distance covered by a women athlete in Singapore. The teaching fellow at the National Institute of Education completed 129.43km out of the 218km, despite having some old injuries. T he ot her r u n ner s who completed the marathon were Mr Chua Kok Chiow, Mr Teng Teck Hou and Mr Melvin Lee. The run took the participants around Singapore, to areas such as Woodlands, Changi Coast Road, the Central Business Distr ict and ended at NT U’s Sports & Recreation Centre (SRC). “We achieved 168km in Run Rou nd Si ngapor e 20 05. T he distance for Run Round Singapore 2010 was extended to 218km to make it more challenging for the core r unners to excel beyond their limits,” said Mr Soon Min Yam, Chairman of the Run Round Singapore Organising Committee. The event saw an 11,000-strong turnout, comprising staff, students and alumni from NTU. It was also open to the public. One NTU staff even brought her 63-year-old mother along for the race. “It is very rare to see so many people on a Saturday morning gathering together for a common
cause. I felt that it was a very healthy activity so I brought my mother along,” said Miss Celine Choi, manager of the President’s Office. Mr Soon, who is also t he director of the Alumni Affairs Office, expressed his appreciation for the various groups of people that came together to make the event a success.
“No matter how ordinary they are, they can still achieve extraordinary things.” Mr Yong Yuan Cheng Core runner of Run Round Singapore 2010
“I felt very assured throughout the process, because I knew that these are people I could trust,” he said. The NTU Chapter of the Red Cross Humanitar ian Net work pr ov ide d f i r s t a id cove r a ge throughout the event. The Sports Club also helped to scout the route, starting from December last year. The NTU Motoring Club took care of the transportation and logistical needs around the island.
PHOTO | IRWIN TAN
“I was initially quite reluctant to come and help out at this event, as it is a very busy part of the semester. However, when I saw the first runner cross the line, I felt very accomplished and proud to be part of this event,” said Walter Yeo, 22, a second-year student from Nanyang Business School, one of the helpers from the motoring club. The festivities included sports competitions such as three-onthree basketball and three-a-side f loorball for members of the public. A mongst t he pa r t icipants was M r Wong Cha n Pa ng, a 2007 graduate from the School of E lec t r ica l a nd E lec t ron ic Engineering. The 28-year-old, who is now a process engineer, was glad to have the chance to come back to his alma mater. “It is good to be back. This feels just like the good old times,” said Mr Wong, who took part in the basketball competition. For student Leong Wei Ling, 20, it was an honor to be present at this milestone for NTU. “I’m quite proud that NTU organised such a pioneer event,” said t he f irst-year School of Ph y s ic a l a nd M at he m at ic a l Sciences student who was there to suppor t her fr iends at the carnival. The event raised $218,000, which will go towards bursaries to help future NTU students.