THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE
VOL. NO.
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06 24.01.11 ISSN NO. 0218-7310
EDGING FOR
GLORY This year’s Inter-School Games finals sported aggressive play, intense battle, and a memorable victory for some final year students. SPORTS | 35
THE
BATTLE OF THE
DUDE
LIFESTYLE | 12
SURFER
BURGERS
Also known as a milliondollar tsunami guru. Find out who inside.
年货市场喜迎兔年
NEWS | 10
南苑 | 26
牛车水和邻里各出其招， 扬眉“兔”气！
02 NEWS
THE NANYANG
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Quick View NTU NTU President continues handover PROFESSOR Bertil Andersson and Professor Freddy Boey have been appointed President-Designate and Provost-Designate respectively, starting from January 1st. Dr Andersson will begin to take operational control from Febrary 1st until he takes over as President from July 1st 2011, Dr Guaning will remain formally responsible for the University as President till June 30th. Tuition fees will increase for AY2011 cohort NTU announced on January 14th that tuition fees for undergraduate business programmes will increase by 6 per cent while the rest of the undergraduate courses will increase by 4 per cent. Only students enrolling in AY2011 will be affected. Current students and returning NS men who enrolled before AY2011 will not be affected Lee Foundation Donates $150 million to New Medical School THE Lee Foundation has given $150 million to NTU’s new medical school, which will be named the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, after the Lee Foundation’s founder. NTU will receive a gift of $400 million in all through enhanced Singapore Government matching scheme. The money will go towards two endowment funds. NTU Students Organise Global Day of Action A GROUP of NTU postgraduate students organised Global Day of Action at NTU last month, a petitition as part of the Global Climate Campaign. 500 students signed the petition calling on world leaders to take action on climate change. Discussions were also held by the group to educate students on the global
climate scenario, global warming and environmental conservation. Business Library Undergoes Renovation Renovation on the Business Library started after the exams and is expected to be completed in March. Level B3 of the library will get a Learning Commons similar to the one at Lee Wee Nam Library with a language practice and learning area, career information area, mini cinema and business information lounge.
SINGAPORE Online portal to be gazetted The government has requested for The Online Citizen, a website which discusses Singapore’s politics, to be gazetted as a political association, fuelling rumours of an upcoming election. New highway in the works A new North South Expressway linking residential estates like Woodlands and Sembawang to the city centre will be completed by 2020, announced the government. Construction is slated to start in 2013. Changes coming to teaching of mother tongue in schools The way Mother Tongue languages are taught in schools will be overhauled, said the Ministry of Education. The new teaching methods will place more emphasis on proficiency in Mother Tongue in real life settings. Man steals manhole covers 36-year-old Abdul Rahim Ramli has been jailed for five weeks for stealing 19 PUB manhole covers worth $3,800. He sold them to a Chinese national for about $200 each.
WORLD ASEAN calls for sanctions on myanmar to be lifted ASEAN recently urged the United States and Europe to lift their sanctions against Myanmar. It joined a growing group of politicians within Myanmar, including Aung San Suu Kyi, asking for the change, arguing that the sanctions have stalled the country’s development. Torrential rains hit australia and brazil Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales in Australia experienced their worst floods in 35 years over December and January, with an entire town evacuated at one point. Meanwhile, the death toll in Brazil has risen to 650 after non-stop heavy rain caused floods and mudslides in many cities.
TUNiSIAn PRESIDENT OuSTED in revolution Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia for 23 years, was overthrown after weeks of protests over unemployment and corruption.
Chinese leader visits the USA Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent four-day stat trip to the United States made waves. Besides a private white house dinner with US Prsident Obama, Hu visited the US Congress. Wikipedia turns 10 The online encyclopaedia celebrated its 10th anniversary on January 15th. It now has 15 million articles in more than 170 languages.
Upcoming Events 9 to 10 February
13 February
27 February
sports expose 2011
surf ‘n’ sweat 2011
Bike rally 2011
A 2 day event, Sports Expose 2011 will showcase the 21 constituent subclubs to the entire student body. Be exposed to activities outside of your own club or sport, and meet people with similar interests.
Into its 16th year, Surf ‘n’ Sweat will consists of a biathlon with a surfing twist. For those who wish to avoid overly strenuous activity, NTU Sports Club also offers Surf ‘n’ Hunt, and beach games.
Venue: Canopy K outside LT 1A
Venue: Siloso Beach, Sentosa Do visit http://www.surfnsweat. ntusportsclub.sg for more details.
Bike Rally 2011 is a non-competitive event in which participants will cycle through various parts of Singapore. Organized by the NTU Sports Club, the event aims to promote a healthy lifesyle to people in Singapore. Venue: Marina Bay F1 Pit Do visit http://bikerally.ntusportsclub.sg for more details.
IF you HAVE ANY EXCITING CAMPUS EVENTS, DOn’t hesitate! just CONTACT US AT
chronicle@ntu.edu.sg
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SAC to move to Old Canteen A Old Canteen A closes as renovation work starts for its conversion to the new SAC Cassandra Yeap News Editor
Students returning from the holidays were greeted by scaffolding surrounding old canteen A. The noise of construction fills what is usually known as a serene place of study. Closed shortly after the exams ended last semester, old canteen A is being converted into the new Student Activities Centre (SAC) and is expected to reopen next academic year. Old canteen A was chosen as the site for the new SAC due to its central location and popularity as a study area, said the Student Affairs Office’s (SAO) Divisional
Director of Student Activities Seah Wai Choo. The current SAC is at the School of Biological Sciences (SBS), and is a gathering place for staff and students. It hosts a cafe, meeting rooms and recreational facilities like foosball and a billiard table. It will remain operational until the new SAC is ready. Students’ leisure needs have been taken into consideration for the new SAC. Said NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU) president Yeo Kai Xiang, 26: “The new SAC will have our new area for U-ROC (U-Relax One Corner). We will set aside one solely for gaming purposes, for the students to relax.” Another new facility for the SAC is the Global Lounge, a place set up by the International Student Centre (ISC) for international and Singaporean students to mingle. Services familiar to visitors of
the current SAC, like computers and printing, will be retained at the new SAC, added Kai Xiang. The meeting rooms of the NTUSU and its three non-academic constituent clubs—the Welfare Services Club, Cultural Activities Club and Sports Club—will also be shifted over. The number of common meeting rooms will however be reduced to three from the present five, due to space constraints. The SAC’s move from SBS was prompted by the new Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering’s need for space, said a spokesperson from the Office of Facilities Planning and Management (OFPM). NTU was awarded $120 million in government funding last year to develop the centre, which will research the ability of micro-organisms to solve water and environmental challenges. Planning for the new SAC started last academic year, and
A new place to meet: Proposed SAC facade design Graphic | office of facilities planning and management
is a collaboration among the SAO, NTUSU, OFPM and ISC. During the period of Canteen A’s closure, NTUSU has arranged for alternative study areas. Last semester, tutorial rooms (88-101)
were opened at the South Spine for 24 hours during the exam period. The NTUSU is also discussing potential new study areas with OFPM, said Kai Xiang.
Away from home on CNY, but not lonely Shannon Chau Third year mechanical and aerospace engineering student Qiu Zhongyao will not be returning to China to spend Chinese New Year (CNY) with her family this year, which falls on 3rd and 4th February this year. But, Zhongyao, 21, is not troubled about being lonely because she has the company of friends, also foreign students like her, who will be in school. The Chinese national belongs to a large group of foreign students likely to remain in school this festive period, unlike many of their schoolmates—local and foreign—who will be at home with their loved ones. “Foreign students who don’t get the chance to go back home still hold parties, cook and eat together like a family,” she said. The two-day Chinese New Year holiday is too short, meaning she would not get to spend much time in her home country before having to return to school in Singapore. It is therefore not worth the long trip home, she said. Instead, she plans to spend her CNY having a meal with about 20 friends from China in the Hall of Residence 13 TV lounge and watch China Central Television’s (CCTV) Spring Festival Gala Evening online—a five-hour show that only broadcasts on CNY eve. Other foreign students will also join in the festivities in school, far away from their home countries. Liu Peiqian, a 21-year-oldstudent from China plans to have steamboat together with
Not lonely: Second-year HSS student Liu Peiqian will have the company of her friends during CNY
about nine other friends from China and Malaysia to watch the CCTV show. She is not going back because, like Zhongyao, she does not think the short holiday is worth the long trip home. Despite not returning home, the second-year Humanities and Social Sciences student said: “I will still enjoy being with my friends as it is the festive season. I also do not have to strictly abide to customary rites such as wearing red clothing only for the occasion so it’s more relaxing.” Indian national Kewal Sanghvi, 18, will also be enjoying the additional two days off. The first-year Mechanical and
Aerospace Engineering student from India plans to go to Jurong Point to see the decorations with some of his friends from India and China who are also not heading home. He may also visit the Chinese Garden to see the festive decorations. He said he is not going back because there would be no celebrations in India. “Back in India, CNY is not a major celebration. This is the first time I am celebrating CNY in Singapore and I am looking forward to it,” he added. While students have their own plans to celebrate CNY, it looks like the university will not be completely quiet either. Events are organised by the student
community for everyone, local and foreign. One such event is a reunion dinner on January 27th for all students and staff organized by the International Student Centre (ISC), a centre set up to take care of international and exchange students within NTU. “This event is organised for local and international students to celebrate Lunar New Year. As the new term will welcome new students, it will also be a good platform for new students to meet their seniors,” said Ms Jasmine Chong, Manager of ISC. “We want to encourage integration for all students and to introduce this celebration to international students who have
PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
never celebrated CNY,” she added. The event will feature cultural performances like dance and song by undergraduates and the NTU Harmonica Band. Students can learn to make Chinese knots, paper art and learn tea preparation and appreciation. Another event, Chinese New Year Celebration Live 2011, aims to promote traditional Chinese culture during CNY to non-CNY celebrants. Organised by the NTU Chinese Society, this annual event features traditional Chinese performances like wushu. Competitions like mandarin orange peeling will also be held to foster audience interaction.
04 NEWS
THE NANYANG
Rebecca Lim STUDENTS going into NTU and other tertiary institutes from the next academic year onwards will be paying more tuition fees. Ter tiar y institutes from the Institutes of Technical Education, polytechnics, and the three universities—NTU, NUS and SMU— have announced on January 14th that tuition fees will be raised for those entering these institutes from AY2011 onwards. NTU will increase its tuition fees by four per cent for all its undergraduate courses except its business courses, which will see a six per cent increase. The fee hike is to to help offset rising operating expenses and manpower costs, according to the NTU press release. Reactions from prospective students and their parents have been mixed. Joshua Lim, a year two student in Meridian Junior College, who wants to go to NTU, said the change is insignificant. If students have their minds set on going to university, their parents would prepare early on for their education with insurance savings plans, he said. His parents, for example, have been saving for his undergraduate education, bearing in mind that costs might rise. Another student, Phua Mei Qi, a second-year NTU business under-
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Mixed reactions to tuition fee hike
Emotions of students and parents range from acceptance to anxiety
VOL. NO.
NEW FEES FOR AY2011 TUITION FEE FOR COHORT JOINING IN AY2011
NON-BUSINESS PROGRAMME
SINGAPORE CITIZEN
$7,170
BUSINESS PROGRAMME
$7,940
SINGAPORE PR WITH TUITION GRANT
$9,040
$10,010
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WITH TUITION GRANT
$12,340
$13,660
graduate, said: “I’m quite willing to pay the extra money if we’re going to see improvements—more dedicated teachers, upgraded school facilities”. She has an 18-year-old brother who intends to attend the same course, and who will be affected by the fee hike. Madam Lim Choon Heok, whose 16-year-old son plans to enrol in an undergraduate engineering course in four years’ time, finds both her and her husband’s combined monthly pay just enough to make ends meet currently. She said: “If university fees increase year on year, life is going to be more uncomfortable.” According to a report by the TODAY newspaper earlier this year, the government had said that any fee hike will be small but frequent. University tuition fees have been increased almost every year since 1991. To help the families of needy students cope with the fee hike, NTU will set aside $5.65 million,
funded by the university and donations, in financial aid for bursaries, Work Study Schemes, loans and emergency grants for NTU undergraduates enrolling in AY2011. This is slightly higher than the $5.6 million NTU allocated in AY2010 to help enrolling but needy students cope with the fee hike. Should they not qualify for bursaries and grants, Professor Er Meng Hwa, N T U Senior Associate Provost, said that existing aid schemes like tuition fee loans and NTU study loans can cover all needy Singaporean students’ tuition fees, as well as between 60 per cent and 100 per cent of their living expenses, subject to the qualifying criteria. For PRs in need, the existing schemes also cover 100 per cent of tuition fees. For international students, they cover about 85 per cent of the fees.
Gym course draws many
Kuo becomes NTU's second emeritus Professor Eddie Kuo is recognised with NTU's highest appointment Wan Zhong Hao THE title of Emeritus Professor has been conferred for the second time in the history of NTU. The recipient is Dr Eddie Kuo of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI). The appointment, which comes into effect this month, was celebrated at a tea reception for Dr Kuo, 71, at WKWSCI on December 10th, 2010. Dr Kuo said: “This is a great honour I humbly accept. I have been an academic throughout my life. With this title, I am glad I can continue to be a part of the NTU community after my retirement. I will be glad to serve the university in a different capacity.” T he t it le of “E me r it u s Professor” is treated differently in the context of NTU, highlighted NTU President Dr Su Guaning in his congratulatory speech. The honorary title is conferred only on retired professors with a sterling record of service to the university and is reserved for “the most highly respected academics”. This is unlike the system adopted by most universities in the United States, where a retiring professor who has served out his or her tenure would automatically be given the title of Emeritus. The only other time the title has been conferred in NTU was on engineering don and former NTU Deputy President Chen
Charng-Ning, in 2001. With a teaching and academic career that spanned four decades, Dr Kuo has established himself as a scholar, teacher and education policymaker. The achievements that Dr Kuo made in communication studies in Asia are remarkable, said Associate Professor Benjamin Detenber, Chair of WKWSCI. Dr Kuo has 24 books and over 80 journal articles published to his name.
“There is no retirement for people like him." Professor Allan Chan Dean School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Up till last semester, Dr Kuo was also undertaking a full academic load, teaching a graduate class in Philosophy of Research, despite being past the university’s retirement age of 65, noted Professor Allan Chan, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). “There is no retirement for people like him,” said Dr Chan. Dr Kuo served as the founding dean of both WKWSCI and HSS. Outside of NTU, Dr Kuo currently serves as a council member in the Bioethics Advisory Committee under the Ministry of Health and is also a member of the National Art Council Advisory Panel. His contributions to public service have been recognised with the Public Service Medal in 1997 and the Public Administration Medal. (Silver) in 2001.
New UE teaches students how to make proper use of strength training equipment Low Wei Xiang FANCY learning the proper usage of different gym equipment, or designing your own training programme to improve your muscular strength? NTU undergraduates can now do these with a new module, ABA902 Principles of Strength Training, that provides an understanding of muscular fitness and conditioning. It will be offered this semester onwards as an unrestricted elective by the sports science and management (SSM) school. This course helps gym-goers in NTU who want to build their strength, but lack knowledge in using gym equipments to do so, explained Ms Ashley Lee, SSM's programme manager. Lessons are once a week, rotating between classroom lectures,
GETTING FIT: Gym workouts are popular among students.
and practical sessions in the NIE gym. Even before lessons have started, the course looks to be popular among students. Two classes of 24 students each are scheduled for this semester, but a check on NTU's course registration system on January 19 found nearly 500 students in total on the waitlist, hoping for a place in either class. Assessment for the course is based on coursework. However, students should “assess” them-
PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
selves to see if they can handle the demands of the 3-AU course. For one, they must be physically active, said Ms Lee. But this does not mean they must be fit. “Being physically active means you must be willing to do certain practical components held in the gym,” she said. For example, students will engage in exercises on certain gym equipment. This course is one step the school is taking to expand on the programmes offered in NTU.
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER: Dr Kuo with his ex-students at the celebration. PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
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Culture of giving growing at NTU More graduating students are giving back by donating to NTU Sharifah Fadhilah Alshahab Final year mechanical engineering student, Khairl Anuar Bin Malek, 26, has been receiving the MOE bursary given to tertiary students every year since his second year in NTU. The $800 he receives each year not only helped pay for his textbooks but also encouraged him to do well in school. Now that he is graduating, Khairil, who feels grateful for the bursaries, pays it forward by donating back to the school. “I donated $10, which is not much. But I feel that my humble contributions will not only help financially needy students with their basic necessities but also as a motivation for them to study,” Khairil said. Khairil is not the only one who feels the need to help the financially needy. Giving back has become a culture in NTU following the success of the annual iGave campaign, according to the Director of the Development Office Marina Tan Harper. Since its launch, iGave has seen an increase in the number of donors from 21% of the graduating class in 2006 to 71% of the
graduating class in 2010. iGave gives members of the NTU family an opportunity to make donations of any amount they choose. Proceeds go toward supporting bursaries for financially needy students as well as the various School Advancement Funds, which provide grants for education and research purposes of NTU schools. Every year the campaign committee assembles a team of callers to phone graduating students, alumni, staff members and faculties to persuade them donate to the school. “Our target is to have eight in 10 graduating students donating this year,” Mrs Harper said. Helping the campaign committee is final year Economics student Valerie Chan. She has persuaded 50 people to donate. The 22-year-old has also since understood the importance of such donations, and now walks the talk by making a donation too. “I feel inclined to contribute, as I am certain that the money is going to a good cause,” she said. Despite the increase in donors, the amount of donation received in the recent academic year has decreased by almost half compared to that received three years ago. But the head of communications of the Development Office David Miller, who attributes the decline to the poor economy, is not overly worried as the development office places more focus
Giving back: Project like iGave is drawing more donors
on attracting donors regardless of the amount they donate. “The participation of alumni and students will inspire others to donate. With their support, external donors who are able to afford larger sums will be more willing to contribute,” Mrs Harper added. The development office’s ap-
proach to rally the support of NTU donors is through evoking a sense of loyalty towards the school as callers talk to students during the phonaton, and encourage them to give back to their alma mater. Moreover, the office hosts appreciation events for the donors such as the recent iGave Spook-
PHOTO illustration | WAN ZHONG HAO
tacular on 30th October where about 200 donors dressed up for a Halloween party at the NTU Alumni Club. Ms Phua Jia Min, the assistant manager of annual giving from the Development Office, explains that such events will give donors a sense of appreciation and encourage them to donate more.
NTU and MINDEF award fellowships to encourage defence research
The NTU Library's online catalogue goes social
Cindy Peh
Sharifah Fadhilah Alshahab
Two inaugural Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) research fellowships were awarded to a Ukrainian and a Singaporean to develop new materials for Singapore’s defence sector. Oleg Vasylkiv, 42, who received the Temasek Research Fellowship, earned his doctorate from National Academy of Science, Ukraine in 1997. He specialises in materials science and researches on advanced ceramics, working on how to increase their toughness while maintaining the material’s light weight. He will receive a three-year research grant with an option to extend up to an additional three years, as well as a possible tenuretrack faculty appointment in NTU. Dr Edwin Teo Hang Tong, 31, who received the Nanyang-DSO Post-Doctoral Fellowship, graduated from NTU with his doctorate in 2009. He will research on textured carbon, from which he hopes to produce new materials that are light and scratch-resistant. When asked about the tenure track clause that is similarly part of his fellow-
ship, he replied that NTU would be a great choice to further his career. Dr Teo will receive two years of research grant. The fellowships, awarded at the Nanyang Executive Centre on December 7th 2010, strengthen collaboration between NTU and MINDEF, allowing MINDEF to tap on academic talent in NTU. The products of their work have potential to be useful to the Singaporean defence sector, and also have possible commercial
value. For example, carbon is a very stable and cheap material that can withstand extreme temperatures. Said Dr Teo: “If we can convince Steve Jobs to use these carbon materials as iPad casings, they will reduce the weight by 80%, the batteries will last 10 times longer, electronics will be faster and it will be a lot cheaper as well.” Both scientists will be based at the Temasek Laboratories@NTU.
DEFENCE SCIENTISTS: Dr Edwin Teo Hang Tong and Dr Oleg Vasylkiv will research materials for defence and commercial sector PHOTO | TU TRUNG HIEU
THE next time you read a book or watch a movie borrowed from NTU’s library, write a review about it and you may win a prize. Reviews submitted on materials at the library’s online catalogue will be judged at the end of February for usefulness and clarity. The competition, which was introduced to promote the online review feature, has been running since last month. The review feature is part of “LibraryThing for Libraries”—a feature introduced to the NTU Library’s online catalogue last year. Besides the ability to read and submit reviews, library materials can be tagged and other editions and translations are shown. These changes were introduced to the catalogue to keep up with the library user’s changing needs, said Senior Librarian for the Library Technology and Systems Division Wang Lina. “If you look at users nowadays, they don’t like static and one-way catalogues. For exam-
ple, they use social tagging on social media platforms like Facebook and Delicious to describe photographs and documents,” said Ms Wang. Deputy Director of Library Technology and Systems Division Hazel Loh added that the library is actively looking out for features or applications that can add value to the library online catalogue. Some library users, such as first year mechanical engineering student, Eugene Lim, are appreciative of such features as they save a lot of time. “I can read what others think of the book before making a trip to the library,” the 21year-old said. Others called for improvements. Siti Sarah Khoo, a second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, uses the catalogue to check what books are available and to renew borrowed materials. The new features were nice, said the 20-year-old, but did not help users in finding out more about the contents of the materials. However, this might change in the future as users submit more reviews, she added.
08 NEWS
THE NANYANG
Delving into the lives of hall fellows Candice Neo
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Cheerleader Jaslyn Low in mid-air after being hoisted up PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
news editor
Effortless somersaults executed in sync to thumping dance music. Petite girls in mini-skirts, flashing their pearly whites as burly guys hoist them up. The crowd roaring with approval. Cheerleading seems like such an easy and glamorous sport. But the dazzling smiles of t he se pe r for me r s be l ie t he grunts of hard work in their training sessions. Just ask the hall cheerleaders in NTU, who are training intensively now, with the Inter-Hall Cheerleading Competition approaching. On February 9th, teams from the 16 NTU halls will vie for the top spot in the cheerleading competition. The competition is the highlight of the opening ceremony of the Hall Olympiad, an annual sports competition between halls. At stake: hall pride and bragging rights. For the past two years, Hall of Residence 7 has gripped the cheerleading champion’s trophy tightly. And the hall’s cheerleaders intend to make it a hat trick this year. “We feel the pressure to defend our title,” said Lee Jia Leng, 21, ex-captain of Hall of Residence 7’s cheerleading team. But it may not be the easiest ride for them ahead. “In our first year as champions, the difference in standard between us and the other teams was very big. It got a lot smaller the next year. This year might be even more competitive,” Jia Leng said. This is especially since many of the other halls Chronicle spoke to are upping their training hours in the lead-up to the showdown. Hall of Residence 3’s cheerleading captain, Jalyn Low, 20, said that her team is training four times a week, but will train daily nearer to the competition. However, Jalyn has set modest goals for her team to finish third place this year. “Halls like 7 or
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Hall cheerleaders up the ante
Trinh Hoang Ly
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and 13 want to win more since they are strong at cheerleading,” she said. Hall of Residence 12’s cheerleading team is training four times a week , each session lasting three hours. But the captain, Seak You Jun, 22, said they “will train harder” for the competition. He played down the team’s chances of winning though, saying: “We are just a fun-loving team out to have some fun.” With other halls stepping up
“In the end, it's the honour for the hall and the satisfaction for the individual." Wong Choon Fu Cheerleading captain Hall of Residence 13
their game, Hall of Residence 7 is also not giving up the fight. The team of 25 cheerleaders, 17 of whom are males, trained t wice a week last semester. But ever since the exams have ended, they have been training four times a week, each session lasting three to four hours. But all these hard work might come at a price. According to Chuah Chongxian, a cheerleader of Hall of Residence 8 in 2009 and 2010, the longer they train, the higher their risk of getting injuries. This is because they will likely be tired and lose focus while doing their stunts, he said. Despite the risk of injuries, Chongxian said he was drawn to cheerleading because it is different from other sports. He derives satisfaction each time he executes a difficult stunt, he said. The friendships forged through the long training sessions are also reasons that kept him going. “In the end, it’s the honour for the hall and the satisfaction for the individual,” said Hall of Residence 13 cheerleading captain Wong Choon Fu, 22.
They do not just see their students in school. They see their students around their homes too. This is because they are hall fellows who have day jobs in school, and who live in the same halls of residence as students. These hall fellows are NTU staff, such as professors, who stay in the halls, and act as the halls’ guardians, helping the students’ with their needs and problems. Currently, there are 70 hall fellows in NTU, with each of the 16 halls of residence having up to five fellows who all teach in different departments to provide a variety of background. A hall fellow is initially appointed for a term of three years. They may be appointed for a maximum of nine years. At the Hall Fellow Selection Board’s discretion, re-appointment may be made after every three years, if desired or consented by the hall fellow. Chronicle speaks to three of these hall fellows, who give us a peek into their lives.
The Fellow who Breaks Up Fights
Meet Mr Jacques See, 49. In the day, you may see him in NIE as a business development manager, who trains teachers at NIE. At night, you may see him in the middle of an argument. Not taking part in the argument though, but trying to resolve it. Which was what happened last
semester. A hall birthday bash had turned into a conflict when a resident complained about the noise his fellow residents were making to Mr See. Mr Jacques See stepped in and spoke to both sides, and dealt with it in accordance to the hall rules. The perpetrators of the noise were given a warning.
“I see value in young people and I like to work with them." Mr Jacques See Hall Fellow Hall of Residence 10
As a hall fellow, Mr See does not just act as an arbitrator. He also participates in hall activities like sports events, gets invited to their orientation camps to meet the freshmen, and has supper with the residents. “Usually that [the supper] would be around midnight, after I come back from the gym, or shopping,” he said. “They are usually back [in hall] around that time [and hanging around to chat].” In other words, he blends in, acting like one of their own. This is how involved Mr See is with the student residents’ lives. “I like to have fun and interact with people,” said the bachelor, who lives alone in the hall. “Having worked at NIE for seven
years, I believe in contributing to the community too, [in line with] the school’s culture.” He is also interested in campus life, which was why he applied to be a hall fellow. He has been a hall fellow for three years now. Despite his familiarity with his student residents, he stresses that he does not impose himself upon them. He does not interfere with the students’ lives unnecessarily. “We do what we ought to do,” he said. “I will guide them when they approach me for help,” he said. “But they practice independent decision-making.” He gave an example of when his students needed recommendations for a hotel that they could book for a hall event. He suggested a few to them but let them make the choice. According to student resident Esther Teo, 19, from the Nanyang Business School, Mr See frequently sends out text messages and emails to encourage his block residents, especially during the exam period to motivate them to study. Known just as Jacques to his student residents, he also tries to be present at almost every hall event. The student residents hold him in high regard. “He communicates quite a lot to us, and is very enthusiastic about hall,” said Ivan Yeo, 23, a student resident living in his hall. “He also gives good advice and insights that we students often lack.” Mr See goes to the gym downtown on alternate days. On
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06 CHRONICLE weekends, he would return home to stay with his parents, so that they would not miss him, he said. To Esther, hall fellows are more than just mentors. “As adults, they often teach us life skills like how to handle people. They give us perspectives that we kids often don’t think about,” she said. Mr See, to her, fits this criterion. To Mr See, the greatest advantage of being a hall fellow is that he can play a part in nurturing the youths. “I see value in young people,” he said. “And I like to work with them.”
She Jogs With Her Baby
It is common for people to jog with a buddy. For Assistant Professor Lee Yee Hui, her buddy is a six-month-old boy. Specifically, her six-month-old son, Lukas. “He would attract a lot of attention from people. Much more attention than me!” she said, in mock envy. Professor Lee, who teaches at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, is also the hall fellow for Hall of Residence 3. This means she not only works in campus, but stays in it too. She wants to understand her students better and be more involved in campus life by staying in hall. “I enjoy staying on campus,” she said. Perhaps bringing her son along on her jogs shows her ease with leading a normal life with her family in school, a place not many would regard to be a choice of residence. Like most students, Professor Lee does her shopping at the nearby shopping centre Jurong Point. She also jogs around campus daily. But there are still certain inconveniences to living on campus. Her husband, Mr Stefan Winkler, chief scientist of software development company Cheetah Technology stays with her in hall. He does not feel inconvenienced as he works from hall, but admits that there are limitations to hall
“You don’t leave your job. You have to be available to students when they need you. But how can you get tired of home?” Assistant Professor Lee Yee Hui Hall Fellow Hall of Residence 10
WATCHFUL EYES: Mr See talks to one of his hall residents as he carries out his duty as a lifeguard at one of his hall’s events. PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
NEWS 09
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life. “You don’t get your private life,” he said. “You can’t argue, as the walls are thin.” Her parents also seldom visit her in the hall as getting to NTU is inconvenient. “It’s too far for them, and they
HAPPY FAMILY: Assistant Professor Lee loves taking walks with her husband and six-month-old baby
are old, so it’s quite difficult for them to travel,” she said. Instead, Professor Lee and her family dine with her parents at their place once a week. For Professor Lee, despite her family commitments, she is equally committed to her role of being a hall fellow. You don’t leave your job,” she said. “You have to be available to students when they need you.” She visits students at their hall rooms a few times a year, to ensure they are coping with school and hall life. Students also often approach her for advice when they encounter problems, especially issues dealing with schoolwork. Dealing with these issues, however, can be tricky. She related a particular incident, which she described as “scary”, when a student approached her late in the evening regarding schoolwork problems. “He had tears in his eyes and said that because he came to look for me, he was late for an appointment with his probation officer,” she said. “It was scary because I wasn’t sure what he did wrong and I didn’t want to delay his meeting with the probation officer. But I just counseled him.” Does she ever get tired of both working and living on campus? “How can you get tired of home? It’s a place that you go back to every day!” she exclaimed.
The Champion For Active Hall Students
Associate Professor Valerie Low
tries her best to be a fair judge. Originally roped in as a nonresident hall fellow, one that does not live in hall, she decided to become a resident hall fellow after getting more involved with hall activities and having a fun time interacting with students. The senior hall fellow for Hall of Residence 10 is in charge of the other hall fellows coordinating everyone’s activities. She also actively ensures fairness in the process of selecting students who get hall places, which are limited. During the hall application period, she makes certain that potentially active students are
selected even when they have not chalked sufficient hall points, and thus do not qualify for a place. As a senior hall fellow in the Senior Common Room Committee (SCRC), a committee consisting of all the hall fellows which advises the JCRC, she is able to take charge of the selection process. She pays particular attention to returning seniors whom she has known for a long time. She understands that they do not see their hall as just “a hotel they come back to every day without contributing anything.” She makes them do a short
PHOTO | WAN ZHONG HAO
write-up answering questions like “Why do you want to stay in hall?” and “What have you contributed to the hall?” From these, she picks out individuals whom she feels have contributed and are willing to contribute more, to go through an interview. Only after the interview will she picks who gets to stay in hall. “It is the most objective way to get the best residents,” she said. She hesitates from leaving the selection entirely to the Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC), a student selection committee, as they may pick students according to their biases.
Roles and responsibilities of a hall fellow: ● ● ● ●
Foster and maintain community identity in hall among the residents Shape the intellectual and cultural lives of residents by supporting hall activities and talks Mentor and counsel students Manage hall crisis
Potential hall fellows need to demonstrate that they can carry out these duties. Suitable applicants are shortlisted and then interviewed by the Hall Fellows Selection Board. They are appointed based on their motivation to contribute to the halls. Counselling training is provided by the school, and residence in hall for hall fellows are provided free-ofcharge. A hall fellow and his family usually live on the top level of the block. Every block has a hall fellow in charge of it. The school ensures that there is at least one female hall fellow in each hall of residence, for cases where a female hall fellow is more appropriate to counsel the students. The extent to which hall fellows should carry out their duties depend on the dedication of each hall fellow and how much they wish to contribute to the hall community. But each hall fellow must at least be actively involved in hall activities and take charge of the residents’ welfare. (All information is taken from the school website: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/campus/Accommodation/Undergrad/Pages/HallFellows.aspx)
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From professional surfer to earth scientist Dr Adam Switzer shares his life passions of surf and science Melissa Lin Dr Adam Switzer used to chase waves as a professional surfer when he was a teenager. But these days, the 37-year-old Australian chases the history of waves to stop them from killing people. Ranked 23rd in the world for bodyboarding in 1995, the wiry academic is currently a principal investigator with the tectonics and earthquakes group of the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS). His mission—to make the coastlines of Asia safer by understanding the risks of tsunamis, storm surges and sea level changes. The internationally recognised sedimentology expert aims to work out the recurrence interval of such events, an area of research which grew in popularity after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After the 2004 tsunami, Dr Switzer and colleagues from Anna University and the University of Madras in Chennai dug some holes into the eastern coastal plains of India and found evidence of tsunamis happening there before, thousands of years ago. Beneath the sand layers deposited by the 2004 tsunamis were other sand layers, showing that big events, probably tsunamis, had happened there before despite not being recorded, he said. Dr Switzer started working on tsunamis in his final year of
ROCK ON: Dr Switzer on a study trip in October 2005 to determine how the coastal boulders in Luzon, Philippines were formed.
undergraduate studies in 1999. His work took on a special significance after his friends encountered a tsunami in Java, Indonesia in 1994.
“That kind of shook me up a little bit as to the potential risk of being in remote parts of Indonesia where the people don’t really have knowledge of their coastal hazards,” he said. His work on tsunamis led him to earn his PhD degree in geosciene in 2005 from the University of Wollongonog, Australia. After a stint at the University of Hong Kong as a research fellow, Dr Switzer moved to Singapore in 2009. The good thing about being an Earth scientist is that the whole planet is his research laboratory, said Dr Switzer, who hails from Windang, a small coastal town south of Wollongong. He spends about a quarter of his time travelling to places like China, Hong
The good thing about being an Earth scientist is that the whole planet is his research laboratory
TIDAL WAVE: Dr Switzer in action during his professional surfing days. He keeps this photograph in his office to remind him of his "former life on the beach".
Kong, Vietnam and Philippines for his research. But Dr Switzer, though passionate, does not just bury himself in his work. He also finds time for those around him, notes his peers.
EOS research fellow Yu Fengling recounted how Dr Switzer helped with her luggage when she moved to Singapore from the United Kingdom, where she was living, to join him at EOS in NTU. He gave his home address as the place for the luggage to be delivered, and stayed at home one whole day to wait for the luggage
A perk of Dr Switzer’s job is that that the former body boarder does not have to entirely give up his first love—surfing to arrive. Dr Yu had first met Dr Switzer in 2006 at the University of Hong Kong, and agreed to join him at NTU, partly because she knew him as a “good person”. Research assistant Lee Ying Sin is impressed by Dr Switzer’s interest in developing his staff’s potential. She started working for him in June 2010. “He doesn’t treat us as though we were his workers. He helps us all the way,” she said. Added Dr Yu: “He is happy to see that we have improved when we are working with him.”
PHOTOS | COURTESY OF ADAM SWITZER
A perk of Dr Switzer’s job is that the former body boarder does not have to entirely give up his first love—surfing . The waves were hard to resist when he was doing fieldwork in Shantou, China with Dr Yu. “He brought his surfing stuff,” she said, laughing. “We needed to collect surface sediment underwater, but the boat could not get close enough to the shallow area near the shore. So he said he could dive and collect the samples, but he was not allowed (as the conditions were too dangerous).” “What a shame,” she added. Married with a six-month-old son, Dr Switzer is also working on building up the Division of Earth Sciences at NTU, set up in February 2010, where he is a Nanyang Assistant Professor (see info-box).
Additional reporting by Cassandra Yeap NANYANG ASSISTANT PROFESSORSHIP The Nanyang Assistant Professorship was started in 2007 to attract young, outstanding talents in research. Successful applicants receive star t-up research grants of up to $1 million, tenure track positions and benefits like assistance with housing. There are currently 15 Nanyang Assistant Professors, one of whom is Dr Adam Switzer.
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06 CHRONICLE Experiencing music in the UK – Page 15
Do higher prices necessarily lead to higher quality? Malvin Chua puts five beef burgers of different prices to the taste test, and rates them according to the quality of the bun, patty, sauce and vegetables. Check out how familiar names like McDonald’s Big Mac fare against The Original DB Burger by the recently opened DB Bistro Moderne at Marina Bay Sands.
3.5/5
McDONALD’S
First introduced in 1968, the Big Mac is characterised by its three buns, on top of two beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onion bits.
Review: True to its name, the Big Mac towers over its shorter cousins such as the McChicken and Fillet-O-Fish. The buns are soft and slightly bland. The beef patties, while double, are essentially the combined thickness of a single patty. Tastewise, they are mildly peppered but too salty, overpowering the taste of the beef. T hough this saltiness is slightly offset by the three plain-tasting burger buns and overflowing lettuce shreds, the
http://www.burgerking.com.sg/ for exact locations
OPENING HOURS: Mondays – Fridays 10am – 10pm, Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays 8am – 10pm
SAVING SAUCE: The Whopper’s mildly sour yet creamy sauce and fresh, juicy vegetables make the burger.
2.5/5
THE HANDBURGER
4/5
Review: The Handburger Original
turned out to be very impressive. The buns are puffy and golden with an inviting glaze over them. They are sweet, and thanks to the sweet onion jam, taste distinctly of onion. Albeit not wide, the beef patty, is thick, fresh and juicy. Ever so slightly overdone, it could be even better if you request for your preferred doneness. The portion of caramelized
SECRET SPEAD: The Handburger Original tastes distincly of onion as its New Zealand rib-eye patty is topped with sweet onion jam.
4.5/5
2 Tampines Central 5 Century Square 23 Serangoon Central #B2-70/71/72 Nex 51 Yishun Central 1 #01-03 Yishun 10 Complex 18 Raffles Quay Unit #46 Lau Pa Sat Festival Market 1 Jurong West Central 2 #01-94/97 Jurong Point Shopping Centre 541 Orchard Road #01-01 Liat Towers Opening hours: 7.30am – 11pm daily Contact: 6737 8036
313 Orchard Road #B2-17/18/19 313@Somerset 252 North Bridge Road #B1-65/66 Raffles City Shopping Centre Opening hours: Sundays – Thursdays 11.30am – 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11.30am – 10.30pm Contact: 6334 4577
DB BISTRO MODERNE The famed signature burger from DB Bistro Moderne is a sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs and foie gras between two Parmesan buns.
Review: The buns are crisp on
tomato sl ice s a long side t he mayonnaise, ketchup and generous melted cheese go some way in redeeming the overall taste, a poor patty makes a poor burger. The Quarter Pound Single is worth but a quarter of its price. Stick to McDonald’s and save while you are at it too.
the outside, soft inside, and tastes distinctly of Parmesan. The patt y is done to your liking, and the burger we reviewed was a perfect medium—the outer layers were seared while the inside was a nice shade of pink. It is also the thickest and most succulent amongst all the burgers,
Address:
POOR PATTY: The quarter-pound patty is disappointly thin, bland and tough.
onions on the beef patty is just right, and they are not cloyingly sweet—making the burger stand out from the rest. The coral lettuce is fresh and a rich green, adding a pop of colour to the overall presentation. The Handburger Original looks good and tastes as good, if not better. Plus, its price is cer tainly justified by the generous portion of beef in the patty.
THE ORIGINAL DB BURGER $35.00
$5.30
Wendy’s returned to Singapore in 2009 after a long hiatus of 12 years. The signature Quarter Pound Single gets its name from the quarter-pound of beef, with American cheese topped with onions, ketchup and mayonnaise. that they are cracked and torn at the edges—and crumble easily. For a burger that is supposedly characterised by its quarter-pound of beef, the patty is disappointingly thin. Its taste and texture are a letdown too—bland and tough. While the onions and fresh
The Handburger Original consists of a New Zealand rib-eye beef patty. It is topped with sweet onion jam, cheddar cheese, and handmade barbecue sauce on a bed of coral lettuce with sliced tomato between toasted caramelised onion buns.
Address:
PHOTOS | ELSA WANG & GOH CHAY TENG
Review: The buns are dry—so much
CONTACT: 6511 3732
THE HANDBURGER ORIGINAL $7.80
http://www.mcdonalds.com.sg/locators.html for exact locations Opening hours: 7.30am – 11.30pm daily, 24 hours at selected outlets Contact: 6777 3777
WENDY’S
mayonnaise and vinegar, tasting mildly sour yet creamy—ver y appetizing. T he vege t able s a r e f r e sh and plentiful—the onion slices especially big, juicy and sweet. While the beef patty on its own leaves much to be desired, the overall taste is redeemed by the appetizing sauce and variety of vegetables. Each bite yields a burst of juiciness from the tomato and onions.
ADDRESS: Numerous outlets island-wide, see
sauce is also salty, tasting like a mix of mustard and mayonnaise— making the Big Mac on the whole very, very salty. The proportion of ingredients in the burger could be improved by thickening the beef patties to give a meatier, chunkier bite rather than a soft one that is dominated by the burger buns. While nothing too special, it suffices as a late night quick fix for hunger pangs. Just be sure to have a glass of water at hand to wash the salt down.
QUARTER POUND SINGLE
Burger King’s signature burger – flame grilled beef patty accompanied with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, pickles and crunchy onions. Touted by Burger King as the burger to rule all other burgers. would notice about the Whopper is its large size. It isn’t very tall, but it makes up for its lack of height with breadth. The buns are average and taste like a plainer version of McDonald’s burger buns. The beef patty, while reasonably thick, is overdone and rather dry and crumbly at the edges. The burger wouldn’t be tasty if not for its sauce, which hints of
Address: Over 110 restaurants island-wide, see
TRIPLE BUNS: Bigger than average, the Big Mac gives you more burger for your buck.
BURGER KING
Review: T he f irst thing you
$4.10
BIG MAC
$5.95
WHOPPER
BIGGER BUCKS, BETTER BURGER?
3.5/5
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with rich, creamy foie gras encased within the patty, and paired with moist and tender shortrib. The vegetables and condiments are by far the freshest, with tomato puree used in place of ketchup, and an appetising taste of vinegar that balances the creaminess. It is hard to find fault with this burger, which is almost perfect.
Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue #B1-48 Marina Bay Sands Singapore Opening hours: Lunch 11am – 2.30pm, Dinner 5.30pm – 10.30pm Contact: 6688 8525
Final verdict: A pricier burger generally does make a better burger with fresh, EXQUISITE: The beef patty, with rich, creamy foie gras encased within, is the thickest and most succulent among all the burgers.
high-quality ingredients. The Handburger Original is the most value for money, offering taste and quality at a reasonable price.
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Putting the 1s in
GRAPHIC | GOH WEI CHOON
New year, new firsts! Zackary Ong picks the biggest attractions and events debuting in Singapore to hype up your 2011. 1. ST. JEROME's laneway festival
3. THE LION KING
7. TRANSFORMERS
It all began in 2004, when Jerome Borazio and Danny Rogers decided to invite several bands down to Melbourne's Calendonian Lane to make music. The goal was to make Melbourne summers livelier with great music in unique settings. The result was an annual festival that brought music and dance to the streets of cities across Australia and New Zealand. This year, Laneway comes to Fort Canning Park for their inaugural festival in Asia with artistes such as Beach House, Foals and Warpaint.
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name, re-imagined as a theatre production by director Julie Taymor. It tells the story of Simba, the lion who was exiled in his youth following his father's death, but returns as an adult to reclaim the throne from his uncle. Since its debut in 1997, it has been seen by over 50 million people around the world, and has claimed over 70 major international theatre awards. Most of the original story, music and characters have been retained from the original film production, while additions made include new musical compositions and scenes that further the plot.
“Transformers”, a rollercoaster ride, will be the latest attraction in the Sci-Fi City themed zone in Universal Studios. In “Transformers”, humans are caught in the crossfire between the pro-human Autobots and the anti-human Decepticons, both of which are warriors possessing the ability to transform into various objects including vehicles and planes. The ride will be a unique blend of 3D-HD media, special effects and advanced robotics—touted to be the first of its kind in the world.
When: January 29 Where: Fort Canning Park
When: Opens March 3 Where: Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands
When: Second semester of 2011 Where: Universal Studios Singapore
4. MADAGASCAR: A CRATE ADVENTURE When: Spring/Summer Where: Universal Studios Singapore
Madagascar: A Crate Adventure, a flume ride involving a river adventure, will be the latest addition to the Madagascar themed zone in Universal Studios Singapore. The area is inspired by the 2005 Dreamworks computer-animated film, Madagascar. Madagascar: A Crate Adventure will feature animatronic characters from the movie.
5. GARDENS BY THE BAY When: November (first phase) Where: Marina Bay
A NEW KING: New musical compositions and scenes have been added to The Lion King musical. PHOTOS | THE LION KING
8. MARITIME XPERIENTIAL
PUTTING UP A BIGGER SHOW: Festival-goers of St Jerome's Laneway Festival grooving to the music in Perth (top). Experimental art rock band Warpaint will be performing at their first Laneway Festival in Singapore (bottom left). The ArtScience Museum is designed to be a symbolic gesture of welcome to global guests with its lotus-like structure (bottom right). PHOTOS | TOP: MICHAEL SPENCER ON FLICKR, BOTTOM (FROM LEFT): WARPAINT & MARINA BAY SANDS
Gardens by the Bay will be a 101ha site consisting of three bays across the mouth of the Singapore River. Visit Bay South for floral displays including a flower fairground, which will host the Singapore Garden Festival, two cool conservatory complexes showcasing flowers from around the world, and the Heritage Gardens that will reflect the history and culture of Singapore's colonial heritage and three main ethnic groups. Bay East, which spans the Marina Channel Promenade, will provide a link to East Coast Park as well as a linkway between the other two bays. It will be themed for aquatic sports and waterfront recreation. The third bay, Bay Central, will be a linear garden that also links the other two gardens on top of providing a pathway to The Esplanade.
2. ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
6. H&M
9. MARINE LIFE PARK
The ArtScience Museum will have 21 gallery spaces over 4,600 sq m, displaying a variety of exhibits from the fields of arts and science, media and technology, and design and architecture. Its permanent exhibition, ArtScience: A Journey Through Creativity, will present creative processes across Curiosity, Inspiration and Expression. It will also play host to marquee exhibitions curated by leading museums and collections, giving them an ArtScience twist.
After opening outlets in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Swedish clothing retail giant Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) will finally be setting up shop in Singapore in a 33,000 sq m space. The brand is known for trendy designer looks at high-street prices, and its sell-out collaborations with designers like Lanvin, Stella McCartney and Roberto Cavalli. Founded in 1947, H&M operates about 2,000 retail outlets around the world.
Have a “whale” of a time at the Marine Life Park, set to be the largest oceanarium in the world. Immerse yourself in 20 million gallons of water among approximately 700,000 fishes—interact with reef fishes, learn about depleting coral reefs in a wading pool, snorkel with rays and play with dolphins. Explore educational exhibits on aquatic life and marine conservation along the world's longest man-made rainforest river.
When: February 17 Where: Marina Bay Sands
When: Second semester of 2011 Where: Orchard Building
When: TBA Where: Resorts World Sentosa
The Maritime Xperiential brings visitors on an interactive and multi-sensory journey through time to visit the Maritime Silk Route along the Straits of Malacca. Climb aboard a “ship” set in a 360-degree, 4D multi-sensory typhoon theatre—the first maritime exhibit of its kind in South East Asia. Experience the "ship’s" journey as it travels from the port of Singapore, through a storm towards its destination in Arabia, and finally to the bottom of the ocean where visitors can view the shipwreck set against the beauty of the ocean.
When: TBA Where: Resorts World Sentosa
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travelogue
MUSICAL MAYHEM Attending mega music festivals is a must for hardcore music lovers, says Mavis Ang
THE FESTIVAL IN ACTION: DJ Crookers projected images of the crowd onto the screen.
I
love music. Which is why last July, which marked the last month of my student exchange semester in the UK, saw me crossing off one last item on my agenda: to attend T in the Park, one of Scotland’s biggest outdoor music event, with a friend, and 85,000 others from all over the world. Since its beginnings in 1994, this four-day festival has featured over 200 artistes across 11 stages, including the biggest indie rock and mainstream bands, the world’s top DJs, as well as up-and-coming musicians. I’ve been to music festivals both in Singapore and England. But T in the Park was my first festival that stretched over four days. I expected it to be an exhausting experience, but it turned out to be the best music festival I have ever attended. My four days there were filled with non-stop booze, loud music, and dancing. And all the fun was thanks to the unpretentious and good-tempered crowd, especially the Scots. The mostly-local crowd contained many heavy beer drinkers, who amazingly did not lose themselves in their drunken revelry. They had an excellent habit of apologising whenever they knocked into a stranger, or stepped on someone’s foot. This was in stark contrast to my previous encounters in concerts, which were partly ruined by unruly concert-goers. It was not Halloween, but it sure felt that way there, with festi-
val goers dressed in different costumes, all simply for the fun of it. I spotted groups dressed up as characters of Clockwork Orange and Alice in Wonderland, buff guys in female nurse costumes, and some men in their 30s with pink tutus. Surprisingly, despite the huge turnout, there were always pockets of spaces in the crowd. Also, you don’t have to be in the mosh pit right in front of the stage to get the best out of each gig. Due to the superb sound quality, chilling out a kilometre away from the stage can also be a great way to enjoy the gig. We caught over twenty bands. Muse was the best simply because their tracks were made for big arenas, and their show had the finest lightshow with dazzling lasers and hypnotising stage backdrops. Another notable band was Vampire Weekend, who played the happiest show. Just as they started playing their song A-Punk, it started to drizzle. But the band still brought about smiles among the crowd and everyone sang along, “look outside the raincoats coming, say ‘oh!’” As for dance music, Crookers executed the most intense DJ set. Several guys were caught on camera, and they readily took their shirts off. And then the girls started stripping too. Everyone cheered them on, and it was all in good fun. My friend and I emerged from the rave tent drenched in perspiration and thoroughly satisfied. Other outstanding acts included Mumford and Sons, Hot Chip, La
PHOTOS | MAVIS ANG & ADELINE CHONG
Roux, Kasabian, Four Tet, and Black Keys. Besides the people and music, another big part of the festival was living on the festival grounds. Tangerine Fields was an external vendor which provided a pitched tent, toilets, showers, and a dressing tent which contained hair dryers and straighteners, all within a secured area in the festival site. Being spoilt Singaporeans, we forked out an extra £55 ($112) for Tangerine Fields’ luxury camping – a small sum considering the inconveniences we avoided. Luxury camping was a wise decision because during the festival, tents were destroyed by the strong highland winds, trash, leftovers, and vomit around many areas of the general campsite. There were also long queues for toilets and showers. For us, camping at the grounds
HANGING OUT: Once in a while, people would congregate outside the tents for a breather.
of T in the Park meant long, hot showers every night, fairly clean toilets nearby which never ran out of toilet paper, and a good rest each night due to polite neighbours who kept their volume down after midnight. Although I still shivered myself to sleep at night when temperatures dropped below 10°C, the other comforts kept me clean and happy. Scotland’s erratic weather meant we went through rain, fog, strong winds, and glorious sunshine within four days. However, it was definitely worth braving Scotland’s weather in exchange for the Scots’ genuine warmth. T in the Park 2010 had been a great host to us big festival newbies. Hardcore music lovers should not miss such mega musical events. Only then, can we proudly proclaim that we have completed our “musical pilgrimage”.
tips for festival goers Hang Around Linger, even for bands that you did not plan to watch. Live sets always bring surprises which nobody likes to miss. So bring a picnic mat, pick a shady spot, and chill out with some beer. Carry umbrellas Using an umbrella may seem very “auntie”. But it is worth sacrificing a few cool points to stay comfortable. It is not fun letting your head fry in the merciless afternoon sun or hiding in the limited shelters if it pours. Dress smart Check the weather a day before and plan your outfit accordingly. Also, avoid light-coloured tops unless you intend to parade sweat patches in front of the stylish crowd. Be spontaneous Take the opportunity to talk to the person behind you in the toilet queue, exchange band recommendations with the bunch beside you during the gig, and just get up and dance whenever your feet start to itch from the grass!
LETTING LOOSE: Festival-goers dressed up in wacky costumes, like these “nurses”.
“Whenever you see hundreds of thousands of sane people trying to get out of a place, and a little bunch of mad men struggling to get in, you know the latter are newspapermen.” - H.R. Knickerbocker
Get mad. Welcome Tea When : 26th January 2011 When exactly : 1700hrs Where : Level 2 Executive Seminar Room, Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
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06 CHRONICLE reviews
4. Born Gaga
1. Man of Iron, Soldier of Fortune
2010: Pop icon Lady Gaga described her hopes for the video of her new single Telephone by recounting her memories of the 1980s music scene. According to her, the airing of a new music video by the leading pop stars of the day then would be treated like the grand premiere of a movie blockbuster, and looked forward to with as much anticipation. Co-sta r r i ng Be yonce K nowles, Telephone was released on March 2010 and reached 13 million views on YouTube in just three days. Directed by Jonas Akerlund and inspired by the films of Quentin Tarantino, the video provoked a response from just about everyone in the music industry.
2010:
Robert Downey Jr. gave a strong performance as Tony Stark in Iron Man 2, which was released in May 2010. For die-hard fans of the comics however, the most intriguing elements of the movie were the little details that hinted at the Iron Man character being part of the greater Marvel Universe. The shield of Captain America was used by Stark to prop up a piece of machinery, and a post-credits scene revealed the agents of SHIELD discovering the hammer of the Thunder God Thor. All signs point towards a shared universe, culminating in a future Avengers movie.
2011: With the success of the Iron Man films, fans rejoiced when it was announced that the Captain himself will star in a 2011 movie. Fan reaction hit another high when it was revealed the movie will star Hollywood A-listers like Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) and Hugo Weaving (Matrix, Lord of the Rings) as the villainous Red Skull. Captain America: The First Avenger is set during WWII, giving it a historical vibe reminiscent of Band of Brothers and other war films. The movie will be released in Singapore on August 4th 2011. 2. Voldemort vs The Chosen One
2010: Dividing the seventh Harry Potter movie into two parts was an inspired decision by Warner Brothers. The franchise’s legions of fans welcomed the move as it would provide each movie with ample screentime to remain faithful to the plot of the seventh Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Deathly Hallows Part 1 was well received by audiences. Despite the relative lack of action sequences, critics praised the chemistry between stars Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. Fans were also satisfied with the film’s emotional highpoints, including the tragic deaths of Hedwig the owl and Dobby the House-Elf.
2011: Potter fans will recall that the second half of the book was filled with action-packed sequences that the first half lacks, including a break-in at the Wizarding bank Gringotts and the climactic battle at Hogwarts School. It is because of these anticipated scenes that Deathly Hallows Part 2 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated movies of 2011. The final showdown between Harry and Lord Voldemort will give this decade long cinematic journey the grand finale it deserves. 3. Two Girls With Dragon Tattoos
2010: Written by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, the Milennium trilogy appealed to readers due to its dark themes and compelling characters like Lisbeth Salander, an edgy, hyper-intelligent hacker with a very troubled past. Salander was portrayed brilliantly in the Swedish film adaptation by actress Noomi Rapace. The first installment, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, was given a limited release in Singapore theatres in August 2010. It proved to be a smash hit with a worldwide revenue of over US$100m. 2011:
Having attracted the attention of Hollywood, the movies will now be remade for English-speaking audiences. David Fincher of Fight Club and The Social Network fame will direct the project. Starring Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace) as investigative reporter Mikael Blomqvist and Rooney Mara (Nightmare on Elm Street) as Salander, the movie is scheduled for worldwide release in December 2011.
2011: On New Year’s Eve last year, Lady
10 Hits of 2010 & 11 Things That Will Rock 2011 2010 was a great year for entertainment, but 2011 is shaping up to be even better. Reviews Editor Sulaiman Daud takes a look at the movies, music, books and shows to watch out for in the year ahead.
Gaga revealed through her Twitter feed that her new album Born This Way would be released on May 23rd 2011. Born This Way follows hot on the heels of her previous two bestselling albums The Fame and The Fame Monster. Expectations are sky-high among her fans, who are affectionately known as ‘Little Monsters’, for more of the unconventional artist’s infectious dance tunes and club hits in the mold of Telephone and Bad Romance. The title track of the album will officially premiere at this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony on February 13th 2011. Although there are other musicians like Eminem, Cee Lo Green, Katy Perry and Arcade Fire are scheduled to perform, the debut of Born This Way is sure to be the highlight of the night.
5. Swift in Singapore
2010: The third album of country pop
music star Taylor Swift, Speak Now, was a resounding success both critically and commercially. Released in October last year, the album debuted at number one on the US Billboard charts and was certified triple platinum for selling three million copies in America by December 2010. All 14 songs from the standard edition of the album have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with the lead single Mine reaching as high as the third spot. The album garnered rave reviews from critics who praised her mature lyrics and creative mix of musical genres from kitsch pop to country bluegrass. The album also allowed her fans a peek into her personal life, with songs referring to former boyfriends John Mayer and Taylor Lautner.
2011: With the overwhelming success of her album, Swift has announced a worldwide concert tour to support and promote it even further. Officially named The Speak Now World Tour, the first stop of this intercontinental trip will be none other than Singapore. The tour will officially kick off at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Februar y 9th 2011 before travelling across Asia, Europe and North America, and finally ending in Kansas City in the United States. Although the Asian leg of the tour will lack the opening acts of American rock band Needtobreathe for the North American venues and Irish all-female band Wonderland for the United Kingdom venues, fans of Swift herself will undoubtedly be glad just to see her perform live. Swift fans, are you excited yet? >> CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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6. The Sound of Music
9. The King of Horror Fiction
2010: In a time when TV series with darker themes like sexism (Mad Men), and murder (Dexter) are popular with viewers, a show like Glee may seem out of place. Striking a light-hearted tone, Glee is set in a typical American high school. The show attempts to bring back musicals to primetime television. Thanks to a mix of great writing, a good-looking cast and the inclusion of popular songs from every genre and era imaginable, Glee’s winning formula has seen its two seasons between 2009 and 2010 aired in countries across the globe.
2010: Having written over 30 novels and
short stories during his decades-long career, Stephen King remains as prolific as ever. The master of horror recently published a collection of four novellas titled Full Dark, No Stars, similar to his previous story collections Different Seasons and Four Past Midnight. The book gained favourable critical reception, with Amazon placing it at the 25th spot on its list of the 100 best books in 2010.
2011:
Although King currently has no plans to publish a new book in 2011, horror enthusiasts will be able to turn to the man known as the ‘West-Coast King’, Dean Koontz. Koontz is perhaps best known for his Frankenstein series, a modern retelling of the classic Mary Shelley horror story. The first book in the series Prodigal Son was published in 2004, and the fifth book Dead Town will be published in May this year. Featuring the unique twist of the titular monster playing the heroic protagonist, Dead Town looks to satisfy horror fans in 2011.
2011: For fans who want to see the difference between professional singers and amateurs, another American music show will air its 10th season in January 2010. American Idol is back with changes that will give the show a new look and feel. The familiar faces are gone, with Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell making way for Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez. Although Lopez and Tyler are arguably bigger names in the music industry, this will be their first stint as talent contest judges. It remains to be seen whether the new judges can do as well as the previous ones.
10. Baring it All on Stage
2010:
Pangdemonium Productions is Singapore’s newest theatre company, debuting in June 2010. Their first production was a local theatrical adaptation of the English movie The Full Monty. Helmed by theatre director Tracie Pang, their inaugural production featured wellknown local stage actors like Hossan Leong, Lim Yu Beng and Adrian Pang. In the play, six unemployed blue-collar workers witness local women’s enthusiasm for a touring troupe of Chippendale dancers and decide to form their very own strip act.
7. The Dragon Reborn
2010:
Renowned author Robert Jordan died in 2007 before finishing his best known work, the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Fellow fantasy author Brandon Sanderson continues to write the series, based on notes Jordan himself had left behind. The books written by both authors have won praise for their complex characterisation. The penultimate book, The Towers of Midnight, was published in November 2010. The final book is scheduled for publication in 2012. Titled A Memory of Light, its release will bring the epic 14 book series to an end.
2011: The journey is far from over for fans of author George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Described as ‘Middle Earth meets the Sopranos’, the books feature political intrigue and a realistic world. Martin recently announced that he expects to finish the fifth book A Dance With Dragons in early 2011. The books have attracted attention from cable network HBO, who produced a new TV series based on the first book A Game of Thrones. Sean Bean will star as Lord Stark, and it will air in April 2011. 8. Brightest Day, Blackest Night
2010:
The most exciting graphic novel event of 2010 was DC’s Blackest Night, a huge crossover story arc that presented dead superheroes and villains alike resurrected as murderous zombies to menace everyone in the DC Universe. Written by one of DC’s most popular writers Geoff Johns, the story arc featured the hero Green Lantern. Part of an intergalactic corps of enforcers of justice, the Green Lantern can create anything he can imagine with the powers of his Lantern Ring.
2011: Most people are only aware of superheroes Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. The Green Lantern movie, which will hit Singapore screens on June 15th 2011, aims to broaden those horizons. Ryan Reynolds (Buried) will star as Hal Jordan, the first Green Lantern. With other big names like Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) rounding off the cast, Green Lantern looks to be a summer blockbuster must-see.
2011: In 2011 the company will feature
“This time we’re pushing the boundaries even further and going to places Maiden has never been before, true frontier style!” Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson, in a statement from the official Iron Maiden website, on their upcoming tour to Asia.
its second production, Closer. Written by Patrick Marber, the play is rated R-18 for strong sexual references, and deals with the themes of love, lust and betrayal. A marked shift in tone from the feel-good comedy of their first production, Closer stars Adrian Pang, Emma Yong, Keagan Kang and Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie. For fans of local theatre, the opening night performance on February 17th 2011 is an event not to be missed.
11. Rock Will Never Die
2010: Fans of classic rock and metal will have not one, but two reasons to celebrate in February 2011. This year, both the Eagles and Iron Maiden will perform live in Singapore in the same month. For the Eagles, their sold-out concert during their last visit in 2004 proved that fans of the legendary band were in full force here. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be performing another show at the Indoor Stadium on February 23rd, playing songs from their latest album Long Road out of Eden, as well as classic hits like Hotel California. 2011: For Iron Maiden, famous for heavy
metal anthems like Number of the Beast and Run to the Hills, their first ever live show here will be on February 15th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Following the release of their 15th album The Final Frontier in August 2010, the band embarked on a world tour. They will be bringing along the latest version of Eddie, the band mascot featured on their album covers. Whether you love one band or both, February will be the month when the legends of the music industry make their way to Singapore.
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dapper: your essential style guide
On Eugene: Blue Top, $79, Editor’s Market. Khaki Pants, $109.90, The Corner Shop. Mustard Belt, $79.90, Furrmuse. Red Sneakers, $37.40, Covet. On Anais: Grey Sweater, $49, Pencil Skirt, $79, Editor’s Market. Necklace, $39, Collage. Pink Sneakers, $26.90, Covet. On Michelle: Blouse, $59, Blue Sweater, $99, Salmon Skirt, $59, Belt, $19, Editor’s Market. Grey Heels, $19.90, Shoppe.
On Anais: Salmon Blouse, $49, Chain Necklace, $23, Femme X. Beige Flare Pants, $69, Editor’s Market. Mustard Wedge, $69.90, Heatwave. On Alice: College Sweater, $49, Mustard Pants, $45, Editor’s Market. Cream Tassled Belt, $29.90, Myth. Plum Wedge, $69.90, Heatwave.
Old school renewed
2011’s take on the classic 1950’s collegiate preppy style. Gone are the days of itsy bitsy skirts and dresses, shredded jeans and tees. Old school classics are the new school’s cool. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to school. PHOTOGRAPHY Clarence Lam STYLING Hong Yu Ran, Gladys Ng MAKEUP & HAIR Klein C, Annie Ng
FROM LEFT CLOCKWISE On Anais: Coat Dress, $59.90, Myth. Red Belt, $79.90, VOL.TA. Tan Shoes, $33.65, Covet. On Eugene: Green Shirt, $89.90, Pink Cardigan, $89.90, Grey Pants, $109.90, The Corner Shop. Bow-tie, $59.90, Green Belt, $79.90, Furrmuse. On Alice: Embroidered Cream Dress, $43, Femme X. Gold Pleated Skirt, $39, Shoes, $39, Editor’s Market. Tassled Belt, $59.90, Myth. On Michelle: Brown Mesh Top, $49, Pleated Dress, $49, Collage. Braided Belts, $19 each, Brown and Gold Gem Necklace, $25, Editor’s Market. On Zi Yuan: Brown Cardi, $89.90, Blue Shirt, $89.90, The Corner Shop. Denim Jeans, Stylist’s own. Bow Tie, $59.90, Furrmuse. Brown Leather Loafers, $129, VOL.TA.
MODELS Anais Pei, Alice Ng, Michelle Heng, Eugene Tang, Wong Zi Yuan STOCKISTS COLLAGE, Far East Plaza, #04-138 FEMME X, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, #03-05 EDITOR’S MARKET, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, #03-04 THE CORNER SHOP, Far East Plaza, #03-16 VOL.TA marque, 2 Handy Road, The Cathay #02-09 MYTH, Far East Plaza, #03-48A COVET, Far East Plaza, #01-42/43 FURRMUSE, Cineleisure Orchard, #03-07 HEATWAVE, #03-3115 SHOPPE, Far East Plaza, #01-67
On Alice: Cream Sweater, $119, Faux Leather Skirt, $45, Blue Belt, $19, Editor’s MarketGrey Pumps, $39.90, Heatwave. On Zi Yuan: Denim Shirt, $69.90, Brown Sweater, $109.90, Grey Bermudas, $79.90, The Corner Shop. Red Belt, $79.90, Furrmuse. Brown Sneakers, $37.40, Covet.
881音乐剧4月份登场 —— 刊28页
新闻 针对教师负面言行
被视为模范引导未来栋梁，所 以我和朋友对此都很震惊。” 国立教育学院历史系学生尹 俊凯则认为个人行为与从事的 职业并没有直接的关联。这名 25岁的四年级生说：“正如先 前警察部队中也传出有职员偷 拍女生裙底照片的丑闻，所以 个别案例并不能以偏概全。” 可是他同时认为事件能够被 及时曝光令人欣慰，避免在将 来造成更为严重的影响。 谈到两起案件中当事人尝到 法律及社会制裁的苦果，大部 受访者都觉得，惩罚虽然严厉 但并不过分。
职业道德至关重要
教师必须以身作则，塑造良好的榜样来引导莘莘学子。
蔡韵●报道
最
近，新加坡未来教师的 道德素养一夜间在媒体 上曝光频频，成为街头巷尾议 论纷纷的话题，肇事者受到社 会舆论的谴责。
插图｜吴威俊
受训教师郭振章和教育部海 外奖学金得主黄伟强，分别因 与未成年少女发生性关系，及 持有儿童色情录像，而在法律 面前先后“落马”，接受了严 厉的制裁。 未来的教师对近期与他们息 息相关的事件自然格外关注，
赢取妆艺大游行门票和衬衫
也有着各自略为不同的见解。 与众多关心教育的公众一 样，教育部奖学金得主陈诗惠 （21岁）担心，此类负面的例 子会让国人对本地教师职业失 去信心。 这名黄金辉传播与信息学 院三年级生说：“毕竟教师是
青
照片｜网络下载
本报将送出两张2011年妆艺大游行的门票和两 件衬衫给两名幸运读者。 问：请问有几名南大学生参与“青春之舞，无 限激情”的队伍？ 请将正确答案、名字、学生证号码和联络号码 电邮至：nanyuan@ntu.edu.sg 得奖者将获得通知。 截至日期：1月25日
刘敬崇 国大教育部教学金得主
尹俊凯和陈诗惠指出，根据 教育部奖学金合约，当奖学金 得主的表现不尽人意时，该机
携手展风采 妆艺更精彩 刘榛楠●报道
妆艺大游行将在2月11日与12 日（星期五和六）在位于滨海 湾的F1维修大楼（pit building）举行。
“奖学金得主的身 份本身就是一种责 任，一举一动都自 然的会受到关注， 因此不能辜负所代 表机构以及公众的 期望。”
构有权终止奖学金计划，并依 照情况要求奖学金得主支付毁 约金。 同样的，目前就读于国大的 教育部教学金得主刘敬崇（21 岁）认为，职业道德至关重 要，每个人都必须清楚自己扮 演的社会角色。 这名人文与社会科学系的一 年级生说：“奖学金得主本身 就是一种责任，一举一动都自 然受到关注，因此不能辜负所 代表机构以及公众的期望。” 他同时认为，像黄伟强这样 因为冲动而毁掉自己光明的前 途，实在可惜。尤其事件被媒 体聚焦后，失学归国要找到收 入理想的工作更是困难。而他 的父亲必须卖掉自己的住房为 他还债，令人闻之心酸。 在此次事件中，公众质疑的 另一重点则是教育机构对于选 拔未来教育界人才的严谨性。 多名受访学生表示在可许情 况下，校方及奖学金颁发团体 应该更全面地了解学生的道德 品行，作为成绩以外的重要参 考。他们也指出，再健全的机 制都难以做到分毫必查。 尹俊凯说：“我们的社会仍 应继续敞开胸怀，迎接那些对 教育有着理想和热忱的人。而 在各自岗位上孜孜不倦耕耘教 导的老师们，就是对这个行业 最好的诠释。”
春洋溢的舞者将为 今年妆艺大游行掀 起高潮，在“传灯仪式” 项目准备一起舞动狮城。 参与今年妆艺大游行的南 大学生人数是这三年以来 最多的。 青年街舞表演是妆艺 大游行的压轴演出——传 灯的一部分，随后将有 4000多盏孔明灯伴着歌声 在夜空中冉冉升起。 为了这年度盛事，参 与“青春之舞，无限激 情”的120名南大生已紧 锣密鼓在过去一个半月排 练。这次南大队伍是人民 协会青年运动的一部分。 副主席李思翰（23
岁）说：“人民协会统筹 有序，为我们的排演提供 很大帮助。除了人民协会 安排的集体训练，南大队 伍也会另外安排特训。 对于多数没有舞蹈背 景的学生而言，要记住繁 杂的舞蹈动作绝对是个挑 战。化学与生物化学系大 三生黄宝生（23岁）表 示，由于他是个初学者， 担心做错动作，所以还要 多加练习。 已参加了三次妆艺大 游行排演的李慧怡（22 岁）说：“一回生，二回 熟。在学会舞蹈后的激动 与兴奋是难以言表的。” 由于今年是人民协会 成立40周年，传灯仪式将 由40名中学生来完成。这 寓意着不屈不饶的人文精
120名南大生在假期里努力练舞，只求能在妆艺大游行 呈现完美的演出 摄影|温忠浩 神，像永不熄灭的火焰般 代代相传。 此外，有360名来自南 大的观众代表将在传灯仪 式上唱起《传灯》。 谈及妆艺大游行的意
义时，印尼籍计算机科学 系大四生Charlie（22岁） 认为，妆艺大游行除了展 现新加坡的多元文化外， 还给外国团队融入这个文 化盛会的机会。
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言论 编辑室
张健俊 周慧敏 中文编辑
这
次《南洋纪事报》进行全面改 版，以不同的姿态呈现校园新 闻、生活资讯和社会动态。我们希望通 过多一些照片和专题来吸引更多读者的 注意，反映时下流行趋势。 本报自1994年开始出版，目的在于提 供校内及时的新闻和信息。热衷于平面 媒体的学生，也可以通过这个平台来锻 炼写作和摄影技巧，以及对课题发表意 见。与此同时，他们也能根据自己的兴 趣写作。 目前，本报每三个星期出版一次，或 许和新媒体相比下欠缺了一点及时性， 但是经过记者和编辑的集思广益， 用白 纸黑字印出来的新闻、评论和资讯是比
媒体汪洋中的耳目 较全面和可信的。 另一个不能忽略的事实是，媒体内 容的载体也许会改变，而且变得不可捉 摸，但不管怎样变，内容还是王。如果 没有好的内容，无论多花俏的设计也是 没用的。 我们希望在南大的各个角落布下耳 目，而南大生就是本报的耳目。你们能 扮演类似公民记者的角色，即时掌握突 发事件的最新消息与状态。 因此，我们热切呼吁有兴趣的读者通 过电邮和新媒体的各种渠道，提供和分 享第一手独家的资料。 同时，读者能够通过本报的各种社交
佳节狂欢 需提升卫生意识 雷慧媛
在
经过一夜的狂欢，每一年的圣诞 节和跨年夜之后，热闹的街头总 是会一片狼藉，布满垃圾。 据《联合早报》报道，在去年的最后 一天，国家环境局稽查员总共向74个垃 圾虫发出传票，和前年发出的116张相 比，明显减少。尽管 “垃圾虫”减少值 得庆幸，但国人对环境的卫生意识仍有 待加强。
在这个凡事讲究效 率的时代，人们难 免都以自己的利益 为先，忘了为他人 着想。 不想拿着垃 圾走，把垃圾留下 来，一定会有清洁 工人来收拾。 笔者在去年观赏一场本地大型的户外 娱乐颁奖典礼，散场时，笔者发现现场 留下许多垃圾，有装小吃的包装纸、塑 料袋及传单等。 在这个凡事讲究效率的时代，人们难 免都以自己的利益为先，忘了为他人着 想。不想拿着垃圾走，把垃圾留下来， 一定会有清洁工人来收拾。 此外，人们也会“有样学样”，看 他人随手扔垃圾，自己也这么做，反正 乱扔垃圾的人那么多，不会那么倒霉给 稽查员捉到吧？这应该都是许多“垃圾 虫”的心态。 笔者曾在前年除夕夜因采访工作，随 国家环境局的稽查员到乌节路街头“抓 垃圾虫”。 稽查员身穿便服，穿梭在人群中， 看到一群人抽烟时，就会开始在附近徘
插图｜吴威俊
徊。只要他们一把烟蒂或垃圾扔在地 上，稽查员就会上前开罚单。 但是，从麒麟大厦一路跟随到狮城大 厦，发现公众都没乱丢垃圾，稽查员连 一张罚单都没开出。 人们应对环境卫生负责任 开罚单虽对“垃圾虫”有管制的作 用，但国人乱丢垃圾的恶习仍需要关 注，才能确保新加坡能一直维持“花园 城市”的美誉。 笔者认为，要提升国人的环境卫生意 识，应该要从家庭开始。 家长或长辈必须以身作则，在外不随 地吐痰也不乱丢垃圾，才能为下一代树 立好榜样，成为孩童的效仿对象。 比如，家长必须让孩子知道，乱丢垃 圾是件非常可耻的行为，被稽查员逮个 正着，要去劳改，是极为丢人的。 人们心里也应要有一种对环境卫生的 责任感，不乱丢垃圾之余，也要劝导周 围的人不这么做。 笔者建议，环境局可在人潮汹涌的大 型活动现场摆放更多垃圾桶，或给人们 袋子装垃圾，并呼吁人们把垃圾袋拿到 垃圾桶丢掷。 “垃圾虫”人数减少必然是件好事， 但国人还须以零为目标，不能因而自 满，才能让新加坡成为发达与礼仪兼具 的美好地球村。
网站给予反馈，让学生报更能为学校的 社群服务。 随着新媒体的崛起，平面媒体受到了 翻天覆地的变革，破坏了旧有的媒体生 态。在新媒体时代成长的青年读者, 已 经不再满足于单向地吸收媒体的资讯。 他们要求在媒体上发言，发表自己对于 时事的见解，甚至于开发自己的专属的 新闻应用。 南苑的记者不只要有敏锐的观察力、 具备新闻嗅觉，更需要有能力在紧迫的 时间内从容应对及承受压力。充实的、 高素质的、有价值的内容还是需要一个 好的团队去采访收集、调查研究和综合
杨康琳
农
历新年是所有华人的除旧迎新的 大日子，各地的华人都以不同的 方式迎接新年。 笔者来自马来西亚，由于农历新年的 假期只有两天，因此留在新加坡过年。 在马来西亚家乡过年比在新加坡更加 热闹。家家户户开始燃放鞭炮，像接力 赛似的，响遍整个村庄。 燃放鞭炮在新加坡是被立法禁止的， 想要感染放鞭炮的气氛，就得到公共场 合去。人们没法亲自燃放鞭炮，感受那 种点燃炮竹时的刺激。虽然劈里啪啦响 彻云霄的鞭炮声，的确为佳节增添热 闹，但是大家也只能在远处观看。 现场人潮拥挤，鞭炮声结束后，大家 互向身旁的陌生人祝福。简单的一句祝 福，便拉近了彼此的距离。 重视对长辈的称呼 亲切体贴 笔者到新加坡朋友家去拜年时，前 来朋友家拜访的亲友很多。虽是初次见 面，却也十分热情地分派红包，嘘寒问 暖一番。 有趣的是，在新加坡朋友的家中，大 家对长辈的称呼都是“uncle/auntie”，
整理。 从最近发出的问卷调查，南苑读者对 于娱乐新闻最感兴趣。因此，我们决定 扩张娱乐版，和更多的唱片公司和影艺 界的公关们商讨接洽，为读者提供偶像 的最新动态。我们也会联系影片发行商 来索取电影戏票及各种演出的优惠券。 联合早报总编辑林任君在《华文媒体 面对改变中的世界》的演讲里有那么一 句话：“在全球化带来的盲目随波逐流 之中，人们需要的是中流砥柱；在泛滥 成灾的茫茫网海中，人们需要的是导航 的灯塔；在逐渐虚拟化的世界中，人们 需要的是多一些真实、多一点实在。” 在接下了的一年里，我们期待更多从 南大社群产生的新闻，并与读者有更近 距离的接触。 让我们一起携手创造值得记载的共同 回忆。
不像在马来西亚那样伯伯姑 姑每一位长辈的称呼都得记 牢。尽管“uncle/auntie”简 单些，却多了一分陌生，少 了一分亲切。 笔者家中老一辈对长辈的 称呼十分重视，尤其是过年 时，除了称呼外，还得附上 几句吉利的话语，否则就会 被父母暗中教训一番。 相对于此，友人不晓得哪 位“uncle/auntie”是他哪位 亲戚，令人诧异。 除此之外，笔者也通过网 络摄像机向外婆拜年。外婆 在表姐的指导下，和笔者交 谈如故。 看着荧幕中，外婆和其 他回乡过年的亲戚热闹的画 面，恨不得立刻回家与大家 团聚。新科技拉近了空间上 的距离，让身在异地的游子 每逢佳节得以一解乡愁。 但是挂线后，面对突然消 失的热闹气氛，以及取而代 之的冷清，又不得不沉浸在 连绵不断的孤单与乡愁。 还好，母亲寄来自制的年 饼，慰藉了无止境的思念。
新 马 两 地 除 旧 迎 新
插图｜吴威俊
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CHRONICLE 06 生活
牛 车 水 市 场 走 透 透
散布在牛车水一带的约588个摊位让人眼花缭乱，人群络绎不绝，让摊主应接不暇，以薄利多销的宣传手法争取 更高的盈利。 摄影|吴静婷
春节的脚步逼近，牛车水和实龙岗北年货 市场开始热闹起来。这次记者苏文琪和白 艳婷采访，比一比物品价格。
天
气凉爽，沿街高挂 的新年灯饰，让记 者沉浸于春节的气氛里。 牛车水依旧是年货重 镇。最富有“年味”的， 要属位于宝塔街、登婆街 和史密斯街的年货市场。 散发浓郁古早味的街道和 巷子烘托出不一样的节庆 氛围。 年轻人或许会觉得办 年货是件无聊的事，来自 马来西亚的大学生陈鼎元 （19岁）却和朋友特地来 新加坡办年货，体验新加 坡的新年气氛。 他说：“在我们那里 的年货没有这么集中，这 里就很方便，可以在一个 地方买齐所有的东西。” 除了一般常见的糕饼 等年货，还有冰冻海鲜如 龙虾、大虎虾及白鲳等， 价格都相当大众化。 另外，也有摊位售卖 海参、珍珠鲍及象拔蚌等
海产，可作为年夜饭或新 年火锅的材料。 记者当场买了一些最 近挺火红的黑珍珠花生， 虽然价格比一般花生要贵 上大约两倍，但是它的口 感很好，喜欢尝鲜的朋友 不妨也买来试试。 最后，记者意外发现 一个售卖本地画家作品的 摊位。为支持本地的艺术 家，买几个生肖主题的卡 片摆放在家，或当贺年卡 送给朋友都很不赖。 牛车水价格比一比 装饰品：少过10元， 一律三个10元。 糕饼：每罐从1元5 角起。 糖果：每100公克1 元2角。 瓜子和花生：每500 公克介于4至10元。
牛车水年货市场广受欢迎，男女老少特地前来感染新 年的气氛。
实龙岗北年货市场一眼望去就可将所有摊位尽收眼 底，张灯结彩，人潮却不敌牛车水。 摄影|温忠浩
农
历新年的脚步逼 近， 实龙岗北一道 第152座组屋的空地已张 灯结彩，准备迎接兔年的 到来。 和以往不同的是，新 购物商场NEX去年底在 实龙岗中开业，邻里年货 市场估计会流失年轻的顾 客群。 可是，每年都在实龙 岗北售买应节食品的陈 炫女士并不以为然。她 说：“我们已有了固定客 户群，做的都是老顾客的 生意，因此不担心新的购 物中心或牛车水会影响我 们的生意。我们今年也首 次提供了礼篮服务，相信 会再吸引更多顾客。” 这已不是实龙岗北首 次举办年货市场。今年的 规模比起去年较为逊色， 摊位从去年的20来个减至 约10个，售卖的年货种类 也不比去年多。 陈女士还强调，购物 中心售卖的食品都使用机 器大量生产，味道和品质 是无法跟她们用手工制造 的应节食品媲美。 她认为顾客通常都不
会选择到购物中心办年 货，邻里年货市场还是做 得下去的。 在邻里年货市场售卖 新年装饰品的李女士（29 岁）也说：“虽然今年的 邻里年货市场规模较小， 不过还是有人潮。希望下 来老天作美，千万不要下 雨，就会有更多人来买年 货。此外，新春表演也吸 引了不少人来观看。” 实龙岗北邻里年货市 场唯独的特色就是新春表 演。从本月14日营业至2 月1日，每晚都会有不同 的特备节目在搭起的舞台 举行。 节目包括卡拉OK之 夜、风水命理大师主讲及 现场乐队歌唱比赛等等。 这些节目除了带动佳节的 气氛，同时也吸引了不少 人潮。 实龙岗北价格比一比 装饰品、糕饼、糖 果、瓜子和花生：最 低三元到十几元。
邻 里 间 抢 摊 乐 逍 遥
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06 CHRONICLE
娱乐
《恋》两位导演：不伦恋来自真实经历 王辰宇●报道
电
影《恋人絮语》中就有 那么一段不伦恋的情 节，导演曾国祥表示这个年轻 男生追求中年女性的情节出自 导演的真实经历。 曾国祥说幼年时到朋友家 玩，觉得朋友的妈妈很美，产 生了爱慕。他补充：“所以， 我每次都请求我的朋友带我去 他的家。”
对此尹志文深表赞同：“我 也暗恋过朋友的妈妈。因为你 会觉得朋友的妈妈有自己妈妈 没有的特质。” 《恋人絮语》是由四则故事 组成。它们展现了现代社会中 的相恋、单恋、苦恋等爱情的 不同状态，展现了爱情的美好 和无奈。 这部由陈奕迅、林嘉欣、范 晓萱、陈洁仪和曾志伟等人主 演的爱情电影在中港台取得不 错票房。
近日曾国祥和尹志文两位导 演携陈洁仪出席了该片在新加 坡的记者会。 本地歌手陈洁仪饰演的角色 是一名老公在外偷吃的女性， 自己还被名年龄小很多的男生 倒追。她表示，虽然这个角色 很有挑战性，但她喜欢极了。
“我也暗恋过朋友 的妈妈。因为你会 觉得朋友的妈妈有 自己妈妈没有的特 质。” 尹志文 《恋人絮语》导演
《恋人絮语》中，林嘉欣（左）、陈奕迅彼此心仪已久，却已有自己 的男女朋友；渐渐发现他们不寻常的关系，形成恋人间错综复杂 的关系。 照片|国泰提供
早前参与张学友合作的音乐 剧《雪狼湖》，后又加入《妙 手仁心II》拍摄的陈洁仪，问及 是否对香港情有独钟时，坦率 归功于缘分。 她说：“我在台湾和新加坡 都有演出过舞台剧，但是我很 喜欢香港的工作环境。香港人 很敬业，做事效率很高，质量 也好。或许也因为我是广东籍 吧，在香港有一种亲切感。” 合作无间的曾国祥和尹志文
导演曾国详（左）和尹志文（右）与本地歌手陈洁仪在媒体见面会 摄影|温忠浩 谈自身经历。 已携手编导了多部短片而《恋 人絮语》是二人策划多年的首 部剧情长片。 曾国祥开玩笑地说：“和志 文一起导演电影就像我们结婚 了一样。我们所有时间都是在 一起的，从前期策划到真正拍 摄的时候。” 然而，父亲曾志伟希望曾国 祥可以走自己的路，所以父子 在这部电影的资金上不会有任 何瓜葛。 本身也是演员出生的他 说：“这是我导的第一部电 影，所以我希望爸爸可以参
与。电影里只有这个有婚外恋 的丈夫的角色适合爸爸的年 龄。” 被问及两位导演的分工时， 尹志文对两人的默契说：“我 认识国祥七年了。当我们想到 一个东西时，很快就知道对方 会不会喜欢，所以拍摄这部电 影的时候特别愉快。” 最后，曾国祥针对上映的档 期说：“本来希望2010年暑期 就可以上映的，但是为了权衡 各方的利弊，而且要顾及中国 贺岁电影的档期，所以电影推 迟到现在。”
《华艺节》2011好看头 自90年代以《心痛》等好歌 打入海外市场的陈洁仪再次与 新加坡华乐团携手合作的陈洁 仪，将以崭新的形式呈献多首 耳熟能详的歌曲，如《担心》 、《拔河》、《等了又等》、 《天冷就回来》和《家》等， 谱出属于她的音乐之旅。 陈洁仪－我的音乐之旅
一个人，和一把吉他，可以 创造出什么？ 林一峰的歌诉说着游子的心 声、香港小市民的集体记忆、 还有平凡人如你我生活中的小 事。 作为香港独立音乐的指标性 人物，除了得到金马奖、各大 电台音乐奖的肯定，林一峰也 同样得到市场的支持。现场聆
听林一峰和他的吉他，就会明 白他摄人魅力的所在。 一峰一人一吉他巡演 时间：2月5日，下午3时与 晚上8时 地点：滨海艺术中心音乐室 时长：1小时30分钟 票价：$25 学生优惠票：$20
时间：2月12日，2月13日， 晚上7时30分 地点：滨海艺术中心音乐厅 票价：$38－$108 学生优惠票：$27
《命运建筑师之远大前程》 是香港名导林奕华最新作品， 透过三个都市男女讲述现代人 对幸福与前程的欲望与迷失。 由张艾嘉编剧，金马影后李心 洁和台湾型男王耀庆演出。
Relax-ONE轻松玩乐团将整装待发，重拾梦想前进。 照片|滨海艺术中心提供
命运建筑师之远大前程 时间：2月5日，2月6日，晚 上7时30分 地点：滨海艺术中心剧院 时长：约3小时15分钟， 票价：$38－$108 学生优惠票：$27
主演过近期创佳绩的本地音乐剧 《雨季》的陈洁仪将与新加坡华 乐团合作。
第二届《超级星光大道》参 赛者黄美珍的《看清》、梁文 音在《海角七号》和让人心旷 神怡的片尾曲《风光明媚》， 都是轻松玩的作品。 成军10年的轻松玩，如今将 第一次登上新加坡的舞台，带 来他们这10年发表过的优秀创 作，以及新专辑的作品。 观众无需愤世嫉俗或持有任 何态度，轻松玩只想邀请你聆
听单纯真诚的摇滚，感受成长 中所经历的人生片刻。
Relax-ONE 轻松玩乐团 时间：2月13日，晚上7时30分 地点：滨海艺术中心音乐室 时长：约1小时 票价：$25 学生优惠票：$20
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CHRONICLE 06
881音乐剧媒体见面会
全新组合 擦出火花
照片|TOY肥料厂提供
日期：2011年4月15至17日和19日至24日 （4月22日下午3时－特别演出） 时间：晚上8时(星期二至六);下午3时(周末) 地点: 滨海艺术中心剧院 售票机构：SISTIC 6348 5555 特别优惠：2月7日起，学生享有10%折扣
周崇庆坦言参与歌舞剧一向都是他的梦想，而他也非常乐意做出新的尝试。
卓诗婷●报道
屡
次创下佳绩的881电影， 如今改编成音乐剧，以 全新的组合亮相。 吴文德导演特别选择新脸孔 来担当音乐剧的主角。剧里的 灵魂人物大小木瓜将会由陈映 奇和董姿彦分别饰演。 此外，男主角则会由首次参 与音乐剧演出的鹤天赐担任。 热衷于音乐剧的他将会又跳又 唱，展现他截然不同的一面。 挑战戚玉武在881电影里所 饰演的“关英”一角，鹤天赐 表示他不只没感到太大的压 力，反而对参与感到荣幸。
吴文德说：“我花了10年的 时间，希望通过881（音乐剧） 让新加坡人更能够接受华语戏 剧演出。” 百变的周崇庆诠释反派 为了打响第一炮，饰演“大 枝”的周崇庆带头提议：“若 音乐剧加演，参与的演员会穿 着服装在乌节路上游行，让观 众一睹演员们的风采。” 外形百变的周崇庆在这次的 处男音乐剧将化身为榴莲姐妹 的经纪人“大枝”，胜任剧里 反派的角色。 周崇庆觉得大枝这个角色有 点像吉娃娃，因为吉娃娃是那 种很小却以为自己很大只的， 是一个不知死的角色。
“若音乐剧加演， 参与的演员会穿着 服装在乌节路上游 行，让观众一睹演 员们的风采。” 周崇庆 881音乐剧饰演“大枝”
在音乐剧饰演“800”的 Desmond Charles热情地拥抱 陈子谦。 由于档期的冲突，原应亲自 指导这部音乐剧的陈子谦特地 邀请了吴文德导演一同制作这 出音乐剧。舞台剧制作经验丰 富的吴文德对于这次的制作十 分有信心。
摄影|吴翰
被问及881音乐剧最大的吸 引力时，周崇庆回答：“我们 这次有很多歌，很少有歌舞剧 是这么多个歌的，从头到尾都 是歌歌歌。” 音乐剧将会呈现五首特别为 这出音乐剧编写的全新歌曲， 以及多首未曾在电影采用的常 青福建歌曲。 881这部音乐剧不仅融合了 专业的编舞和绚丽的舞台服 装，也将呈现一个不停转变的
基于剧场条例，鹤天赐所饰 演的“关英”将不会有公鸡 陪伴，让他觉得可惜。 场景，从而把观众从组屋区 带到绚丽的歌台。
乐评 音乐Jukebox 专辑：《如果能... 重来》 歌手： 黄小琥 推荐：《重来》、《现在那边是 几点》 , , , , , 拥有“灭绝师太”之称的黄小 琥首次担任制作人，推出最新力 作《如果能... 重来》。新专辑延 续上一张《简单/不简单》的风 格。 这位PUB女王也尝试许多不同 的曲风，如抒情的《重来》和轻 快的《现在那边是几点》。 由蔡健雅包办词曲的《重来》为黄小琥量身打造，绝对可以问 鼎今年K歌金曲。这一句印象最深刻，也道尽爱情的原则：如果 能重来／诚实的去对待／彼此都没疑猜／就没有理由分开。 双语兼备的黄小琥，曾经出过三张英语专辑，这次在歌曲里也 穿插英语歌词，如《周末疯》。《现在那边是几点》琅琅上口， 旋律听起来扣人心弦。歌曲的处理混合了新旧的手法，让听众耳 （文／张健俊） 目一新。
赏海外制作 重现歌台风采 担当881音乐剧的创意顾 问，同时也是881电影导演 的陈子谦，为了能学习如何 保留原创剧本的精髓和呈现 方式，到了伦敦观看几部电 影改编而成的歌舞剧。 通过了解创作和改编歌 舞剧的技巧，重现7月中元 节歌台的风采。 除了忙着剧组的排练以 外，陈子谦也正在筹备接下 来的跨国电影制作。 他透露，这部作品依旧 会以数字命名，剧情会叙诉 他对人生的经历与观念。 陈子谦感慨地说：“每 次你写剧本的时候，就好像 是在脱衣服给观众看，我觉 得因为是这样子，所以我每 一部都脱得很辛苦。”
专辑：《808》 歌手：潘玮柏 推荐：《全面通缉》、“UUU” , , , , , 一年半未出专辑，潘玮柏抛弃 以往可爱甜蜜男生形象，在新专 辑《808》里塑造酷酷的型男。 808——包含了这张专辑的创作 理念：如何利用80年代的经典音 乐器材，展现未来的音乐。 《全面通缉》似乎和一般流行 电子音乐相同，但仔细聆听发现 它的节奏比流行电子乐慢一些， 照片｜网络下载 却又不失应有的震撼感。这种复 古却带有未来感的风格，和之前的《双人舞》的R&B不一样。 “UUU”的节奏和氛围会比《全面通缉》来得轻快，但不会 比以往的歌曲如《快乐崇拜》那么疯狂。熟悉这首歌的旋律时， 音乐的节奏却有些改变，让听众耳目一新，想继续听。 《808》专辑中的编曲都很精彩，因为在大家所熟悉的电子音 乐里 添加了复古的元素，使到歌曲与众不同，可以说是成功颠覆 了潘玮柏以往R&B的形象。 （文／陈慧诗）
Opinions Moving forward with you
THE NANYANG
CHRONICLE chief editor Agung Santoso Ongko sub-editors Audrey Lim En-Rui Low Wei Xiang Sia Ling Xin Tricia Anna Lim Peiyu News editors Cassandra Yeap Trinh Hoang Ly Lifestyle editors Mavis Ang I-Wen Tan Su Yi Kay Reviews editor Sulaiman Daud dapper editors Hong Yu Ran Gladys Ng Chinese editors Grace Chew Hui Min Teo Jion Chun opinionS editors Ang Xue Ting Eunice Jayashri d/o Lokarajan sports editors Annabelle Liang Lai Junjie
layout editors Nicholas Keith Tam Vanessa Dora Godfrey photo editors Goh Chay Teng Wan Zhong Hao graphics editor Goh Wei Choon business managerS Lim Pei Yi Vivian Ng Wei Ying production support Ng Heng Ghee Teacher advisors Andrew Duffy Debbie Goh 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. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd, 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968
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Agung S. Ongko chief editor
B
y pick ing up our newspaper today, you have got this conversation star ted. Ot her wise, whatever news we have gathered, whatever voices we have recorded on these pages would have remained as dead as any wrapping paper. But you chose to interact with us. You chose to give all this information some potency, some actual meaning. And we thank you for this honour. What we realise is that any newspaper is only as impactful as the way its readers relate with, question, challenge, confirm, and use what it reports. The beauty of the written word, of photo stories, and all the ideas that underpin them shines most brightly in the eyes of readers who actively engage with them. And this is why we decided a cr itical aspect of lear ning more about journalism is to first understand you, our readers.
At the end of last year, we conducted an online survey to learn about your preferences and reading habits. All these data helped us reevaluate our approach to stor ytelling. Most notably, we decided to move towards a system that better integrates visual conceptualisation of stories and their written expression. This has started manifesting itself in our updated cover. It presents a closer visual interplay between images and words in order to draw your attention right from the start, indeed to get you into this conversation in the first place. But t he cover does not tell the whole story. News has begun exploring feature-length stories that lend themselves to photographic interpretation. For a start in this issue, they spoke to Hall Fellows and got them to give a glimpse of their lives on campus. Dapper too has sought to enhance the quality of their photographs through improvements in lighting and selection of fashion items. Sports has also introduced an e x pa nded pac kage prof i l i ng campus athletes in action.
All this is work in progress. For we cannot move much further forward without you. To build T he Na nya ng Ch ron icle i nto your newspaper, your source of information, ideas, and even inspiration, we need you. We need your insights, what you see, know, and hear. We need to understand what you believe, what you support, or oppose. So visit our website and fill in the online form we have just installed to tell us how you feel about the new Pioneer bus route. Fill in the online form to share your concern about food quality at Canteen B. Tell us what many do not know, but should know. Share with us what needs to be heard and seen by our university community. And that moment of concrete engagement could very well be the moment our conversation, this conversation, goes beyond words and makes a lasting difference. You have taken the first step. Now tweet us, write on our Wall, and send us what you see, hear, and think. The details are right there in the box on the left.
30 OPINIONS
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a matter of perspective
(Dis)union Dinner
Eunice Ang opinions editor
I
have always had this vision of Chinese New Year reunion dinners being a jolly image of families sitting around the dinner table and sharing stories about their lives. I blame the Chinese Language textbooks I had in Primary School for putting this idyllic situation in my head. This situation does not always play out in reality. I remember the enjoyable reunion dinners when I was in Primary School. We were so carefree—making up games at the restaurants and entertaining ourselves with the paper napkins by pretending to be pirates. Even as our parents compared our academic results, we were not bothered by it and did as we pleased. As we grew up, comparing results began to feel more like a personal attack. We were blamed for being lazy and incompetent if we scored less than our cousins. There is also the yearly questioning of whether I am single or not. Since this happens at the beginning of every dinner, it dampens the mood of the joyous occasion. As a result of this, in my teenage years, reunion dinners became a ritual I had to go through, in order to get to red packets and scrumptious goodies. Now that I am older, I try my best to enjoy reunion dinners, because beneath all the questioning, my relatives are simply making an effort to be a part of my life. I cannot help but respond with wariness when they ask the same questions every year, given the history of competitiveness in the family. Thankfully, exam results and achievements are not all we talk about. During some years, the reunion dinners can be enjoyable, as we trade amusing stories of events in our lives, such as when my cousin was hit on by a guy when he went to the toilet. He took it in his stride when we poked fun at him for being hit on in a toilet, of all places. There were also heart-warming moments such as when my cousin defended me, which surprised me. My family gave scornful remarks about how I chose my major in English because I did not have any other choice. He spoke up for me by saying that since I have always enjoyed books, it was only natural for me to major in English. Also, such dinners are important to my parents as they are able to reconnect and
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reminisce with their family. It is only natural for them to want me to get along with the people they love. As my mother says, “Should anything happen to your father and I, you still have family you can count on”. It is a morbid thought, but it is definitely true. Looking at how my family chipped in for my cousin’s wedding, without expecting anything in return has made me realise that. This sort of unconditional giving is not something even very close friends can offer. Even though the connection with my relatives is barely there, I make an effort to get to know them better by asking
“Reunion dinners became merely a ritual I had to go through, in order to get red packets and scrumptious goodies.” about their health, their work and current affairs. I am still skeptical about having a good time at reunion dinners. Yet, I know that in the future, I would probably embrace it in the same way my parents have done so far. This is because families are getting smaller, and there should be no excuse for not spending time with one another.
Vivienne Chang
W
hile many dwell on last-minute preparations for their reunion dinners, I would have just ended a day of shopping atop Genting Highlands before making my way over to a Chinese restaurant for a reunion dinner. We took part in reunion dinners with the extended family, until I was 14. Several factors account for why we choose to have our reunion dinner atop Genting Highlands. For starters, the Chinese restaurants serve up delectable dishes that are on par with restaurants in Singapore, but at a quarter of the price. Our annual nine-course reunion dinner in Genting would cost approximately S$80 for five, which is nearly impossible to obtain in Singapore during this fes-
tive period. To top it off, the spectacular 20-minutes of fireworks and firecrackers display is held at midnight on the first day of the Chinese New Year. There are also lion dance performances and special appearances such as the ‘God of Prosperity’ (a Chinese deity believed to bestow riches on his devotees) and the animal mascot of the year, i.e. a rabbit for this year. There are those who still choose to hold their reunion dinners in the home of a relative, for they believe that the preparation process for the reunion dinner helps bond the family. That same belief is not forsaken in relation to my family’s practice, albeit deviating from the norm. The five of us set off in the afternoon due to half-days at work and schools. We would often arrive at our destination six hours later, chatting like long-lost friends.
The long drive gives us the opportunity to catch up with one another, as opposed to our usual lifestyles of barely acknowledging one another’s presence at home. Indeed, the bonding between the extended family might suffer, but what is gained in the process is a stronger bond forged between the nuclear family. Our decision to break away was not met with much opposition from the extended family. You could say that my extended family is quite ‘modern’ and open, so when we suggested having reunion dinner away from home, it led to a discussion where it was decided that each family would have the reunion dinner on their own instead. A “reunion lunch” during the 15 days of Chinese New Year ensured that the extended family could still meet. Certainly, a tradition was broken and it was difficult to digest. Through the mutual agreement with the extended family, such an arrangement was made possible and over the years, we have all grown comfortable with the notion of doing away with reunion dinner. When we first started out, Genting Highlands was a less crowded option for us, but over the years, it became the place where we could celebrate Chinese New Year in a more affordable and enjoyable fashion. Being in a smaller family also allows for greater mobility and reunion dinners do not need to be anchored within Singapore. Families can consider a short holiday that provides a greater degree of family bonding without the distractions of work or friends. This annual practice allows my family and I to take a short break and appreciate each other’s company in a way that would be impossible if we were in Singapore. It creates a temporary respite from one’s social life back in Singapore and allows one to focus on the family instead.
CELEBRATING AWAY FROM HOME: Writer Vivienne (middle) and her sisters in Genting Highlands
PHOTO | VIVIENNE CHANG
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THE NANYANG
06 CHRONICLE
Gender gap narrows but inequality stays Natasha Alvar
W
hat a difference a year has made. The marked increase in Singapore’s Global Gender Report ranking in 2010 is a good sign for women in our country. The country has improved in ranking for its standards of gender equality - from 84 out of 134 countries in 2009 to 56 in 2010. Daryl Tan, 21, a first year Communication Studies student, says, “I believe we are moving to a point where women are given equal, and sometimes more rights than men.” “For example, for the most part, salaries are more equal now than they were 10 to 20 years ago”, he added. His point is certainly a valid one. On a scale of 1.0 to 7.0, with 7.0 representing complete wage equality, Singapore has increased its amount from 5.56 to 5.58. Likewise, on another scale of 0.0 to 1.0 describing the labour force participation in the country, there has been an increase from 0.01 to 0.74. It would seem that in terms of economic participation, Singaporean women are slowly but surely bridging the gap. We can certainly see this in Singapore’s meritocratic education system, where women are given as much opportunities as men to succeed. Even in the political arena, we
see an increase in the number of female ministers and members of parliament. It would seem that women are entitled to the same things as men are. So where then, is the gap? Perhaps gender equality is lacking due to the perceptions of what it represents. Women have been liberated from age-old traditions, but society still confines us to roles they feel women should play—that of wife and mother. Carmen Ng, 21, a third year Humanities and Social Sciences student, commented: “I think it’s mostly the perception of what constitutes being a woman – that you should have babies and be a wife above all else. And if you don’t, you’re unnatural.” It is certainly this point-ofview that is holding women back. While society still feels that women should be wives and mothers, it can no longer ignore the need for women in the workforce. Hence, this has given rise to a new kind of expectation of what being a woman entails, as highlighted in the book The Three Paradoxes: Working Women in Singapore by Jean Lee, Kathleen Campbell and Audrey Chia, that was published in 1999. The book is about how society expects modern career women to earn money and contribute to the society, and they also want traditional wives and mothers who are
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caretakers for the family. More women are encouraged to take on leadership roles in the workplace. Such roles entail being decisive and taking charge - traits we associate with being masculine. Thus, women in such positions are condemned as these roles strip them of their femininity. This explains why female leaders are still under-represented in
Singapore. Economic policies encourage women to work due to the demand in the labour market, but there are also policies encouraging women to have more babies due to the declining birth rate. A latest example would be the Work-Life strategies implemented by the government to help women integrate work with their family. These strategies include the
five day work week, child care leave, extended maternity leave and paternity leave. There is even a WoW! (WorkLife Works!) fund to encourage private sectors to join in and implement these strategies for their employees. This fund was implemented since it was discovered that Singaporean women are more likely to drop out of the labour force after marriage and childbirth. This scheme shows that we want women to encompass both ends of the spectrum, and do it well. Simone de Beauvoir once said, “One is not born a woman, but becomes one.” And she was right. We should move past the roles and expectations society has moulded for women. Gender equality is when we realize our opportunities to be anything we want to be, and settle for more than just being either/or. Perhaps the idea is too utopian to ever be realized. But I reassure myself with the thought that the world is constantly changing. More than a century ago, women were not allowed to vote, but now, seats in Parliament can be held by women. Hence, I look forward to the day where gender equality is a reality not only in Singapore, but all across the world as well. All we need, I believe, is time.
New Year Resolutions: To Share or Not? fundamental weaknesses in the above approaches – of making your resolutions known to others and keeping them private. My friend’s unsuccessful attempt at sharing his resolutions could be due to his mind being tricked into thinking that his resolutions have been achieved. According to a research conducted in 1933 by psychologist
Jayashri Lokarajan opinions editor
M
y friend, a secondyear engineering student, believes that in order for resolutions to be successfully fulfilled, they need to be shared with others. He began last semester by announcing to us his resolution—to be on time for all his classes. This was because in the previous semester, he had been skipping classes due to his erratic sleep pattern. “It started off well and they did remind me to attend my classes on time. But by the end of the semester, everyone became busy with their own schedules and I was back to my usual routine of being late,” he added. Psychologist and researcher, Richard Wiseman, states in his book, 59 Seconds, that sharing resolutions with others is the way to go. It provides us with helpful nudges to assist us in achieving our goals. On the other hand, I believe in carrying out my resolutions privately as they are highly personal to me and I do not feel comfortable
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sharing them openly with others. I religiously note them down on a piece of paper and stick them on my notice board. “Complete
readings on time”, “Practice your instrument religiously” and “Do not procrastinate” were some of the resolutions I tried to carry out last year. However, barely into the second week of the year, I failed in
sticking to my resolutions. I fell back into the comfort of my old ways and eventually gave up on fulfilling them last year.
Although my friend and I adopted two different approaches to carrying out our resolutions, we still failed. What then is the issue? Is it really impossible for us to actually carry out long-term goals? Experts explain that there are
“The mind mistakes the talking for action, especially when others have acknowledged what we say.” Vera Mahler, it has been found that the mind mistakes the talking for action, especially when others have acknowledged what we say. Psychologists have labelled this phenomena “social reality” - a situation when one gets satisfaction from sharing his resolutions with others, and equates it to actually carrying out the task. Thus, the person becomes less inclined to
do the actual work required. My habit of setting resolutions that are too far-fetched could have led to the failure of seeing them fulfilled. Dr. Jill RachBeisel, a director at the University of Maryland Medical Center, feels many people do create unrealistic goals. “If your goal is too big, you’ll feel defeated before you even get started.” It seems that there are drawbacks to both approaches - sharing our resolutions with others and keeping them private. The approach that we adopt in fulfilling our resolutions is therefore, not the main cause behind the failure of our resolutions. What then, is the reason? What should we do to see our resolutions fulfilled? For a start, we should recognise that the main reason behind the success or failure of our resolutions is none other than ourselves. It is not an issue about whether we share resolutions with others or keep them private. It is about how we carry them out and follow through with them. Dr. RachBeisel suggests that we need to create “bite-sized jobs” to keep our resolutions manageable – by breaking them down into simpler steps. Perhaps then, we would be able
32 OPINIONS louder than words
THE NANYANG
Goh Wei Choon graphics editor
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our inbox Dear Readers, Do you have something you need to get off your chest? From events absurd and weird, down to the serious and persistent, if they grab your attention, write in to us. The Nanyang Chronicle wants to hear your voice! Share your views on trends or incidents in school. Join us as an Opinions writer or comment on articles published in our paper. So what are you waiting for? Write in to us now!
Yours, Eunice & Jayashri Opinions Editors
Send your letters to: chronicleopinions@ gmail.com
34 SHOW
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photo: spotlight
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RIGHT: The team returns mats to the store room after training. They train at Methodist Girls’ School’s sports complex on Sundays as it is big enough for them to lay all the 144 mats to train. This number of mats is also used in competitions.
FLY
HIGH CHEER HARD
Spraining your wrist - painful. Falling from two metres - harrowing. Nailing that stunt you have been working on for weeks - priceless. Cheerleaders are a dedicated group. They devote months of their time training and preparing for the Inter-hall Cheerleading Competition. And as Photo Editors Goh Chay Teng and Wan Zhong Hao found out with the Hall of Residence 14 cheerleaders, the preparations are not all fun and laughter.
LEFT: Flyers June Yap (left) and Nicole Liang (right) share a laugh. The team usually bonds over ice cream at The Island Creamery after their Sunday training sessions.
ABOVE: The cheerleaders warm-up with T-jumps. They are the basic jump used to stretch and correct the body position for other jumps.
ABOVE: Cheer captain, Justin Goh (left) and Vye Rern (right) prepare for their roles as bases by wrapping athletic tape around their hands. Athletic tape helps support strained wrists, a common injury suffered by bases who lift and carry flyers during stunts.
RIGHT: Abbas Bacha holds on to a flyer, who does sit-ups with her legs hooked over his shoulders. “Cheerleaders use people as weights,” says coach Dion Eng. Such exercises helps to dispel any awkwardness between the opposite genders when they have to perform stunts requiring physical contact.
LEFT: Bases, Jaime Ng (left) and Low Zhi Hong (right) and flyer, Lea Tam (centre) take it easy before starting on a stunt. Trust between flyers and bases are especially important - flyers need to trust that their bases will catch them when they fall in order to concentrate and perform better. ABOVE: A flyer falls from a failed stunt into the safe arms of her spotters and bases. Asked how it feels like to be a flyer, Nicole Liang (not pictured) says “Of course it is scary, I am standing at almost two metres off the ground!”
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THE NANYANG
The last minute winter shopping spree
ARSENAL Needs: A goalkeeper Who: Shay Given (on loan from Manchester City) THE Gunners have been lacking a solid presence between the sticks since the departure of Jens Lehmann. Shay Given, who is highly restless on the Manchester City bench, would give vital experience and shot-stopping prowess to the Arsenal defence. His arrival at the Emirates could also calm the faltering backline. ASTON VILLA Needs: A central midfielder Who: Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen) AFTER the massive signing in English striker Darren Bent, Villa should look to strengthen their midfield. Chilean Arturo Vidal is one player that Villa could use in giving both bark and bite to a relatively thin midfield. A player comfortable sitting in front of the defence, Vidal will provide the steel that the Midlands side need to compete against the bigger clubs. BIRMINGHAM CITY Needs: A striker Who: Ricardo Fuller (Stoke City) WITH just 21 goals (as of press time), Birmingham are the league’s lowest scoring club. Stoke’s explosive striker Ricardo Fuller may provide the goals that the Midlands side desperately need to get out of the bottom third of the table. BLACKBURN ROVERS Needs: A central midfielder Who: Charlie Adams (Blackpool) FOR all their tenacity and physical presence, Rovers lack a midfielder who can drive the team forward. Enter Charlie Adams, a midfielder with an eye for goal as well as an ability to control the centre of the pitch.
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bpl talk As the winter transfer market draws to a close, Ronald Loh looks at players that each Premier League club could swoop for before the window closes.
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BOLTON WANDERERS Needs: A winger Who: Carlos Vela (on loan from Arsenal) A TRICKY forward who can also be deployed on the wing, Carlos Vela might be an inspired signing. The Mexican will provide pace and guile to Bolton’s wings. Not just that, the diminutive forward has proved his eye for goal at Arsenal, which could prove useful. CHELSEA Needs: A centre back Who: David Luiz (Benfica) CLEARLY short in numbers at the heart of the defence, Chelsea have had their defence decimated in times of injuries to John Terry and Alex. The arrival of David Luiz would shore up the backline, as well as provide cover and competition for the three other defenders. EVERTON Needs:A striker Who: Emmanuel Adebayor (on loan from Manchester City) THE former Arsenal striker is getting increasingly frustrated on the Manchester City bench, and if David Moyes is able to negotiate a masterstroke loan deal, he might just be able to solve his team’s goalscoring woes. FULHAM Needs: A midfielder Who: Stephen Ireland (Aston Villa) THE Cottagers need a replacement for the aging Danny Murphy, and manager Mark Hughes could look to reunite himself with Aston Villa flop Stephen Ireland. LIVERPOOL Needs: A striker Who: Luiz Suarez (Ajax Amsterdam) OVER reliance on Fernando Torres has backfired in the past two seasons, with David N’Gog failing to fill the Spanish striker’s shoes. The Merseyside club have now turned their attention to Luiz Suarez of Ajax, after how the Uruguayan’s stock rose after last year’s World Cup. The cunning goalmouth predator may finally give Liverpool the goals they desperately need to climb back into the top four.
MANCHESTER CITY Needs: An ambitious manager Who: Owen Coyle (Bolton Wanderers) THE Manchester City squad is brimming with talent in every department. The final piece would be a manager who goes out to win games instead of packing the midfield with three defensive players. Owen Coyle, who has transfor med Bolton to one of t he league’s most attractive teams to watch, may be the man to lead a title charge. MANCHESTER UNITED Needs: A left winger Who: Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur) A DIRECT replacement for Ryan Giggs would be fellow Welshman Gareth Bale. Fast, accurate and intelligent, the fleetfooted Bale will give much needed width and creativity to the aging United midfield. The only problem would be Sir Alex Ferguson’s refusal to spend big in the winter transfer market. NEWCASTLE UNITED Needs: A centre back Who: Richard Dunne (Aston Villa) A FR AGILE and unconvincing Newcastle backline could do with a boost from Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne. A strong, towering and uncompromising defender, he could provide the platform for Newcastle to launch attacks from. STOKE CITY Needs: A winger Who: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City) THE former Chelsea winger is out of favour at the Eastlands, and may be available on the cheap. Not just that, he will give Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant some cover, as well as healthy competition for a starting spot. SUNDERLAND
Needs: A left winger Who: Charles N’Zogbia (Wigan Athletic) THE French winger would add some much needed flair and pace to Stoke City’s left wing. The only problem is whether he considers Sunderland a “bigger club” than his current club.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Needs: A defensive midfielder Who: Scott Parker (West Ham United) FOR all their attacking worth, Spurs’ main weakness has been the shielding midfielder in front of the defence. Manager Harry Redknapp may look to Scott Parker, a fiercely competitive player, to dominate the midfield—something that Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone have failed to do. WEST BROMWICH ALBION Needs: A striker Who: Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff City) MANAGER Roberto Di Matteo has made it clear he is in the hunt for a striker, as West Brom look to extend their stay in the Premier League. Jay Bothroyd is being monitored, and if he arrives, West Brom will hope that the goals will too.
they said that? “How tough it is to climb, and how easy it is to go down.” Tennis player Dinara Safina on what she learned in 2010. She was ranked No. 1 for 26 weeks in 2009, but droppped to No. 63 in 2010 after being hampered by a stress fracture in her lower back in 2010
“For many years I have thought he (Diouf) was the gutter type - I was going to call him a sewer rat but that might be insulting to sewer rats.” QPR manager Neil Warnock on Blackburn’s El-Hadji Diouf
WEST HAM UNITED Needs: A striker Who: John Carew (Aston Villa) HAMMERS striker Carlton Cole is continuously being linked with a move away from Upton Park, and towering striker John Carew would be a like-for-like replacement. WIGAN ATHLETIC Needs: A winger Who: Adam Hammill (Barnsley) SHOULD the Latics let Charles N’Zogbia leave, they may swoop for Adam Hammill. The English winger is capable of playing on either wing, or behind the striker— the exact role Charles N’Zogbia is taking on now. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS Needs: A central midfielder Who: Michael Johnson (on loan from Manchester City) Y ET another Manchester Cit y outcast looks set to leave the City of Manchester Stadium. Michael Johnson has hinted that he might leave the Eastlands to get regular playing time, and would be a boost to the Wolves midfield, as they battle relegation.
“I live my life to do my job, but I cannot say it has helped. Still, I need to do my job, that is what is important” West Ham Boss Avram Grant on speculation surrounding his future
“I am worried about the sound, which in Formula One has been so unique ... hopefully there will be more than a faint hum.” Former F1 triple champion Niki Lauda expresses concern that after the 2013 engine changes the sport will become too quiet
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siness Sc The Nanyang Bu played with only am te ll male basketba aximum of twelve players six out of the m es) allowed for the games. (including reservachieved second placing But, they still ampions NIE 30-42. after losing to chof the NBS men’s team, h The captain ncy student Kennet first-year accoun“Ita think we played a Hor, 21, said, e as we managed to keep disciplined gam we had many experienced calm. Although of stamina cost us in the players, our lack have enough players for end as we didn’t th substitution.” E who played wiee t For champions nNIov sw s wa S NB er a full team, the wicame in second to the revenge as they MAE was placed third. school last year.
>>
Captain's Ba ll: Finishing in a blaze of glory The Materials S
team consists cience and Engineerin g (M mostly of fin who have be al-year studeSE) en pl nts ay ing gether were year ones since they , but have ntoev the competition er made it far in They clinched– until this year. match, after de third place in their last ISG Sciences (SBS feating the School of Bio ) 31-25 in the logical off. third-place pl ayAn MSE player , Lee Wei Guo, never won be 25, said fore and to w e’ve year makes it al in 3rd in ou“W l r final th e more memor and teamwork able always remem of my friends is someth.Tinhe unity ber even after I leave NTUg.”I will
Floorball: Hat-trick of cha mpion wins for NIE
thr3E cheers FOR SCHOOL SPIRIT
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>> Basketball: t No substitutes, bu NBS still does wellhool (NBS)
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For the third cc essive year, NIE as champions fosu has emerged r th e floorball event by first-time finalists defeating SC BE 2-1. The final, whi into golden time, ch sa w ag gr es si ve play betweenwNent and SCBE players. IE First-year sports sc ie nc e an d m agement stud Haikal Eiman, 23 , who scored an t for NIE said, “I’m the winning poen in ha t pp y th at was a very close fig I sc ed...the mat ch ht and both sideor came down to lu s played well. It ck in th e en d. ”N of Chemical and Environmenta BS and the School took third and fo gineering (CEE) urth placing relspEn ectively.
The Inter-School Games (ISG) were held from January 3rd to 21st 2011. Sports Editors Annabelle Liang and Lai Junjie report on the highlights of the past weeks
PHOTO | GOH CHAY TENG & WAN ZHONG HAO
>> Table Tennis: champs r fo t h g fi t h ig T is came
nn the ISG table—tethe Women’s The finals of ci ch at m ng di e schools of EE) and down to one de wn between thgi do g (C ow sh s le ub do tal En neerin en nm ro vi En ). d (HSS Civil an d Social Scienc,esCEE had won the Men Humanities ande ch at m ng di the Men’s Before this ci es, and HSS, do ch at m s le minated ng si and Women’s ubles. The final was mostly do ed des. and Mix ian, ers on both siud ent Liu Pei ieQd the st by seasoned play SS H r ea tr -y e nd sh e co m se ti nd For , “The nal was the seco -year-old said 22 however, the fi e Th . on hone ti ti to pe m ed co ag a an as I m sport in ce en ri and pe e ex or m od n ISG was a go e sport. I will definitely trai my skills in thain next year.” participate ag
Volleyball: >> er in a g a rd-fought win ov e ha c a n h o it w s ar u ye o spot this Victori cond tained their top
lost the se pions N BS re(N IE) in the finals. 25-23 win, they a h Defending cham n it io w at d uc un Ed ro e. t of te ght firs t we h 15-9 scorelin Nanyang Insititotuok the initial lead in the tiin e last round wIEit kept very close behind us, bu th k ac ar eb ye m tAfter N BS co rs fore mak ing aing in the last round because,”Nsaid Winston Zhang, 21, a fi d. ir th in e round 21-25 be ts m ck momen CBE) ca rve-wra al (S ic g it in cr er at ne e gi er En ev “It was very neca lm and pers Chemical and Biomedical managed to keNep e School of Th S. B st udent from
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sports profile
National sprinter breaks new grounds... Sports Editor Annabelle Liang speaks to national athlete Dipna Lim-Prasad on gunning for the 200m women’s national record. NATIONAL sprinter and hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad, 20, does not have a track and field idol or secret tips for r unning. Just 'special socks'. Dipna eagerly f lashed her pink rimmed socks with patterns of mice on them. She has six pairs of these socks, with animals like tigers, bunnies and pandas imprinted. “I have t he sa me nu mber of these cute socks and sports socks. I buy them because they are adorable and cost as little as $2 a pair,” she laughed. These “special socks” were packed in Lim-Prasad’s luggage when she travelled to Chiang Mai for the ASEAN University Games (AUG) last month. Maybe they helped because she c loc ke d 24.61se c i n t he 200m sprint event. It wa s t he c losest a ny Singaporean sprinter has come to breaking the women’s national record of 24.54sec set by Prema Govindan in 1984. Dipna’s attempt, which was also a personal best, won her t he bronze medal. W hen she wa s 14, she had a pe r sona l best of 27sec in the same 200m sprint event. Af ter nearly break ing the 200m sprint record, she has set her sights on more to come, not just in the sprint events. A first-year Sports Science and Management student, LimPrasad is back training for hurdle events after a year’s break from it. She sa id , “ T he nat iona l record would definitely be on my mind with a personal timing so close to it. “A lthough hurdling is my main priority this year, I would still tr y to better my personal best for the 200m.” Dipna trains at the Singapore Spor ts School in Wood lands with coach Viatcheslav Vassiliev for five or six days a week. At one such hurdle training, Dipna was at the track warming up by eight in the morning. Russian coach Vassiliev watched from the sidelines and suggested improvements like using the starting blocks more for a powerful push-off. D ipna s a id , “Hu r d l i ng i s about rhy thm. I count seven steps before I cross the f irst hurdle and three steps before I cross each subsequent hurdle. I imagine myself crossing the f i r s t hu r d le at t he s t a r t i ng line.” She demonstrated her rhythm and gracefully leapt past a series of five hurdles, before jogging back to the start line for another set. But her ease with crossing
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...and shares how she works towards it Dipna performs these stretches as part of her warm-up routine. Here she demonstrates how two different types of stretches should be performed.
SPRINTING STAR: Dipna Lim-Prasad nearly broke the women's national record in the 200m sprint event at the ASEAN University Games last month. PHOTOS | WAN ZHONG HAO
the hurdles was a far cr y from her first experience four years ago that involved her starting off with hurdle blocks (smaller than actual hurdles). “I hit the f irst block at a fast speed and landed f lat on my back, resulting in cuts on m y bac k a nd k ne e s ,” Dipna reca l led a s she mu nc hed on chocolate mint wafers to help her recharge. After the incident, she had to head to a concert with abrasions that made her walk stiff ly. Apa r t f rom much t i me
training at the spor ts facilit y, Dipna, who is also a member of N T U’s track and f ield team trains for relay events with her teammates. B e c a u s e of h e r t r a i n i n g schedule, Dipna rarely spends time with her NTU teammates out of trainings. But, she said: “During the AUG, I got to k now t he r e lay team better and they are friendly people. “ We a r e now f r ie nd s on Facebook and say ‘hi’ when we see each other around school.”
HURDLE STRETCH
"Hurdling is about rhythm. I imagine myself crossing the first hurdle at the starting line."
1
Place one leg on top a hurdle at a 90 degree angle
Bend down to touch your toes
2
HAMSTRING STRETCH
1
Sit with one leg extended and the other curled inwards
2
Lean with your lower back until you feel a stretch
NTU Track and Field Team Manager: Mr Chia Chin Yeh Contact Number: 67905166 E-mail: cychia@ntu.edu.sg Training on Mondays and Wednesdays Sports and Recreation Centre, Running Track
From Dipna to aspiring runners... 1) Be flexible with your running goals. This will reduce stress and enable better performance. 2) Replenish what you lost. This includes drinking water, consuming regular meals with protein and keeping an eye on glucose levels. To recover at a faster rate, eat within the 30min glycolic window after exercise. 3) Recovery is extremely important. Adaptation occurs during the rest period. With adaptation, a higher level of performance can be reached.
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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES: Dipna is able to clear hurdles with ease after four years of hard training.
sports talk
Foreign sporting talent — are locals supportive enough? Lai Junjie Sports editor WHEN the final whistle goes, most supporters would be preoccupied with the score, not the nationality of the player who scored the winning goal. But, Singaporeans seem to be more concerned over our players’ nationality, rather than the final score of a game. At a recent S-League football match, when Beijing Guo An Talent, a team from China, played against local team Sengkang Punggol, a group of fans showed up with a banner telling the Chinese team to “Get lost and go home to China”. Considering Singapore’s small population pool, we need to be more pragmatic if we are to improve our sports standing internationally. Policies implemented by the government are often results-oriented and targeted at achieving
the desired outcome in the shortest time possible. For instance, table tennis talents Wang Yuegu, Li Jiawei and Feng Tianwei were under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. During the 2008 Olympic Games, they won Singapore’s first Olympic medal since 1960 — a feat that has proved elusive with an all-native team. But this feat was met with general apathy by the populace, putting a damper on the victory. Two days after the victory, a correspondent to The Straits Times wrote: “I can think of only foreigners brought in by Singapore to win medals and are paid handsomely for it — Singapore's pragmatic way of problem solving.” Getting locals to accept a foreign sporting talent's victory as genuinely 'Singaporean' seems to be an uphill battle. Emigrating sports stars have become a global trend and Singapore is not an exception. It has
DISGRUNTLED FANS: Local football fans carrying a banner saying, "Beijing Guo An, Get lost and go home!" PHOTO | GOH CHAY TENG
become common to see Asian table tennis players represent western nations, or gymnasts of Eastern European descent representing powerhouses like the United States, Great Britain and France. In Singapore, foreign-born
athletes like badminton player Ronald Susilo and swimmer Tao Li have become household names. Furthermore, having foreign sports personalities representing Singapore is a natural consequence of Singapore’s reliance on foreign talent for many aspects, including
employment and population. Given our constraints, we should perhaps be more pragmatic. As long as an athlete can bring glory to our Republic, it does not matter where he or she is from. But it cannot be denied that Singaporeans take to our own local talent more. When local born and bred swimmer Rainer Ng won the silver medal in the boys’ 50m backstroke event at last year’s Youth Olympic Games (YOG), he became Singapore’s poster boy for sports overnight. But this only serves to highlight that local interest in sports is piqued only if a local athlete manages to attain success in an international competition of prestige. We need to strive to reach a balance that will improve the state of the local sports scene, yet not reduce the ‘Singaporean-ness’ with excessive introduction of foreign talents.