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News Bites NTU CHILLI CRAB DINNER INSPIRES NEW ROBOT A miniature crab-like robot that can remove early-stage stomach cancer tumors has been created by Associate Professor Louis Phee from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. This is in collaboration with National University Hospital enterologist Lawrence Ho and Hong Kong surgeon Sydney Chung. The robot has a pincer to hold cancerous tissues and a hook to slice them off. The researchers say they were inspired to make the robot by a chilli crab dish. NBS AMONG TOP 35 BUSINESS SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE The Nanyang Business School has been ranked 34th in the Financial Times’ Global MBA Rankings 2012, and it is the fourth consecutive year it has been ranked among the top 35. Its MBA graduates chart the highest salary level compared to other Singapore MBA graduates, with an average annual pay of US$ 102,350, three years after graduation. The Nanyang MBA also ranks first in career progession opportunities offered to its graduates. NIE AND COLUMBIA LAUNCH JOINT MASTERS PROGRAMME The National Institute of Education and Columbia University’s Teacher’s College have launched a joint Master of Arts in Leadership and Educational Change. The first of its kind, the programme targets middle-level school managers such as Heads of Department. Based in Singapore, it will commence in January next year with an inaugural intake of 30 students.
NTU GRADUATE RECEIVES MENDAKI EXCELLENCE AWARD Sherinah Rashid, who graduated from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences last year with first-class honours in Psychology, has received the Mendaki Excellence Award 2012. Sherinah was a Dean’s Lister for Academic Years 2008/2009 and 2009/2010, and ranked among the top 5 per cent of her cohort. She said the secret to her success is effective time management, which she used to overcome challenges in her undergraduate days. ASIAN FILMS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NTU LIBRARY Culturally and historically significant films from Singapore to as far as Lebanon are now available at the Asia Pacific Films Online webpage under NTU library. These include films such as Homeless FC, a local documentary, and Time Machine, a short film from South Korea. NTU users can stream the full-length film by logging in using their NTU network credentials.
SINGAPORE WORKERS’ PARTY EXPELS HOUGANG MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT Workers’ Party (WP) core member Yaw Shin Leong was expelled on February 15th, following his failure to “account to the Party and the people.” Yaw had been accused of having extramarital affairs with two women—one of them a Party member—but absented his Hougang MP post instead of addressing the rumours. A by-election might be held so that Hougang residents can elect a new MP. The decision
to hold one rests with the Prime Minister, who has pledged to give the matter careful consideration. Other WP members will fill in for Yaw in the meantime.
failing that, they will be entitled to a partial or full refund. The law will take effect as early as September, provided the changes to legislation are passed.
FULL-SPEED FIBRE-BASED INTERNET NOW AVAILABLE
SAF TRAINING INCIDENT HOAX: YOUTH ARRESTED
The next-generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NBN) is being fully tapped on for the first time, offering users uncapped international download speeds. Local company MyRepublic announced on February 16th that it would be signing 100,000 contract-free subscriptions to allow new users to try out their dedicated service. The NBN is being gradually installed across the island, but most existing NBN customers have had to share their bandwidth pipe.
A 19-year-old Chinese youth has been arrested for falsely posting online that a full-time National Serviceman was shot dead in a training accident in Sembawang. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to three years and fined. The posts were made on January 27th, on both a blog called ‘Temasek Revealed’ and a Facebook page called ‘Temasek Review’. Neither page is affiliated with the Temasek Review Emeritus website.
WORLD
ILLEGAL BROTHEL IN THE WILDS EXPOSED An illegal sex den was uncovered by Lianhe Wanbao this month. Not the first in Singapore, it was found in the forest behind the Sungei Kadut canal off Choa Chu Kang Crescent. The makeshift brothel reportedly consisted of mattresses laid out on the grass, with curtains hung between them for privacy. The den changed locations frequently to evade the authorities, according to Wanbao’s sources. NEW LAW TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM DEFECTS The Ministry of Trade and Industry tabled a Bill for a ‘lemon law’ on February 14th. The law, if passed, decrees that any defect found on a product within six months of delivery will be assumed to have existed at the point of delivery. Consumers may then ask that the product be repaired or replaced—
FANS MOURN DEATH OF WHITNEY HOUSTON No public memorial service will be held for pop queen Whitney Houston who died on February 11th at the age of 48. Her death on the day before the Grammy Awards resulted in waves of grief worldwide. Fans who wanted to share in the remembrance of Houston gathered outside the church where Houston was eulogised and at the funeral home where her body now rests. “The family thanks all the fans, the friends and the media, but this time is their private time,” said funeral home owner Carolyn Whigham. VILLAGE CHIEF TWEETS FOR HELP WITH THUGS At a western Kenyan village, the chief received an urgent call notifying him of thugs invading a
school teacher’s home. Responding to the emergency, Chief Francis Kariuki sent a message on Twitter to gather help. A group of villagers gathered outside the teacher’s house within a few minutes, scaring away the thugs. Social media is used increasingly to inform villagers of pressing situations such as missing sheeps and children. FIRE KILLS HUNDREDS OF PRISONERS IN HONDURAS A fire broke out on Tuesday night at a prison in Honduras, killing at least 300 inmates, authorities said. Inmates burned and suffocated in their cells while waiting for the guards to evacuate them. Death tolls are expected to rise, said Lucy Marder, chief of forensic medicine for the prosecutor’s office. Investigations are ongoing as to whether rioting prisoners or an electrical short-circuit triggered the fire. ANGRY BIRDS NOW ON FACEBOOK The popular smartphone app Angry Birds is now available on Facebook in a bid by its Finnish maker Rovio to hit a fanbase of one billion users. The application was officially launched on February 14th in Jakarta, which has over 17 million Facebook accounts. Angry Birds is a game in which colourful birds are catapulted to attack egg-stealing pigs. IRAN PROCLAIMS MORE NUCLEAR ADVANCES Despite tightening oil sanctions on Iran by the United States to curb Iran’s progress in nuclear technology, Iran has announced further advances in its nuclear research. One of these know-hows includes a new centrifuge capable of enriching uranium at a faster rate.
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If you have any exciting events to publicise, please contact us at chronicle@ntu.edu.sg
VROOM VROOM: NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson gamely tries out a Harley-Davidson at the NTU Bike Fest 2012. PHOTO | SULAIMAN DAUD
News
NTU students test the waters – Page 7
Heat turned up on students' wallets 6(5(1( &$, NTU will be increasing tuition fees for all incoming batches starting from the next academic year. The subsidised fees for Singaporean citizens will increase from $7170 to $7460. The more costly Degree Programmes such as Accountancy, Business, Renaissance Engineering and double degree programmes, are set to increase in cost as well. The announcement for the fee hike was made on February 10th, NTU, SMU, the five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education declared that their fees would be revised. NUS had raised its fees earlier in the week.
According to the Straits Times, the increases range from four to six percent in both NUS and NTU to around three percent in SMU. The institutions maintain that the revisions are necessary to continue providing quality education. Tham E-lyn, a first-year student at the Nanyang Business School, voiced her concern about this increase. “I have two younger siblings who are aiming to enter the local universities in a couple of years,” said the 19-year-old. “I’m really quite concerned about the financial burden on my parents.” In response to queries, Professor Lalit Goel, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, said: “No
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qualified student will be deprived of education at NTU because of their family's financial situation." He added that NTU has set aside $5.65 million in financial aid for Academic Year 2012. While the tuition fee issues do not affect current students, other university expenses have gone up. Just a week before the fee hike, air-conditioning charges in Halls of Residence jumped by 50 percent. A check with hall offices showed that air-conditioned halls have implemented the new charges. which have risen from 20 cents per hour to 30 cents per hour. The increase has drawn strong reactions from affected students, whose hostel bills are already higher than that of non-airconditioned hall residents. John Tan, 24, a final-year student in the School of Mechanical Engineering, expressed his displeasure. “My laptop is practically useless without the air-conditioning when I run simulation programs,” said the Hall 10 resident. “The price hike is putting a lot of financial pressure on students.” Tan says he has reduced his air-conditioner usage in half by alternating the hours that his aircon ditioner is turned on, adding that it was ‘troublesome’. Ng Xi Tong, 19, a first-year student at Wee Kim Wee School of Communications and Information, agreed despite not being a frequent air-conditioner user. “Still, what if fridge prices and hall rental fees increase as well? It seems the hall office is rather money-minded to me.” In an email to residents of air-
RISING COSTS AND TEMPERATURES: Students have to regulate their air-conditioning usage after the 50 percent price increase kicked in. PHOTO | TAN ZHIJIAN
conditioned halls, the Office of Facilities, Planning and Management (OFPM) said the review of air-conditioning charges was due to a raise in electricity tariffs. The price of electricty went up to 27.59cents/kWh with effect from 1 Jan 2012. As such, the
previous air-conditioning charge of 20 cents per hour was unable to sustain the tariff increase. The latest hikes came after a taxi fare increase last December and implementation of parking charges across more NTU car parks in February.
Tertiary students call for emphasis on sports (,/((1 7$< IT IS difficult to sustain engagement in sports due to a lack of emphasis, said tertiary students at the Vision 2030 youth dialogue held on February 6th at Singapore Management University (SMU). Vision 2030 is a government project looking at creating an inclusive sporting culture in Singapore. Over the past seven months, the committee has consulted 2,500 people for ideas, from which 19 preliminary recommendations were proposed on February 13th. An SMU student, Ian, felt local sports competitions were better promoted in secondary schools and junior colleges than in tertiary institutes. “There needs to be better organisation and publicity. Competing as a sportsman in university is based on my passion rather than interest in the competition itself." He was referring to competi-
tions such as the Institute-VarsityPolytechnic games and the Singapore University Games. Another SMU student said that there is a bias towards academics in tertiary institutes. To illustrate this, he brought up the fact that collegiate basketball and football are given much support and publicty in the United States. The inability to engage tertiary students in sports is reflected in the 'bathtub effect', presented by the CEO of Singapore Sports Council Mr Lim Teck Yin to an estimated 80 participating students from local secondary schools, junior colleges, universities and polytechnics. The bathtub effect pinpoints a sharp dip in the level of local sports participation after the age of 18 or 19. This is the age where many students either enter National Service or tertiary educational institutions. Mr Lim believes that students must take the initiative to keep sports growing at the tertiary level.
“I encourage the tertiary institutions to step up, build your team and take the initiative. If you have a good idea, workable strategy and plan, we can get behind you.” Third-year NTU student Huang Yu Chi, 27, player-coach of the Tchoukball Club, started building the team in August 2010. Tchoukball is a contactless sport played with two mini-trampolines as goals, situated in the ‘D’s at both ends of a basketball court. Points are scored when the rebound off the trampoline lands within the ‘D’. Interfering with another team's passes is not allowed. Trying to raise the profile of the new sport is difficult and Huang is grateful for the Sports and Recreation Centre’s facility loans and recognition of the NTU team. However, the Sports and Science Management student feels that support is still limited. “If we need equipment, we borrow from people. If we need balls
or jerseys, we purchase them on our own. If you have interest in it, you drive it on your own,” he said. Mr Lim added that cultivating a habit of playing sports is key so sports does not become the “first thing that drops out when other priorities come along." He recommends that universities have a formal tiering in the
curriculum that recognises participation in sports. He said students can represent the University, an affliation such as their halls or clubs or just play sports recreationally. "You look at participation at any of the three levels as a tick in the box for people to graduate," said Mr Lim.
KEEPING ACTIVE: More effort is needed to sustain a sporting culture in tertiary institutions. PHOTO | ALEX TAI
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“We are only doing it for the safety of the students.” Mr Kang Wee Chye Divisional Manager Building Management Division
EAGER JOB-SEEKERS: Students thronged the Nanyang Auditorium this year, vying for far fewer openings. PHOTO | TAN ZHONG LIN
'(%%,( /(( /,$2 ;,$1*-81 A SMALLER pool of job opportunities awaited students at the NTU Career Fair 2012. The number of jobs on offer at the Fair had fallen by about a third, from about 4,500 job openings last year to 3,000 this year. Amidst the increased competition for job places, some graduating students were pessimistic about their chances. “Job offers are hard to come by as there are lots of applicants,” said Yurico Wirahadi, 20. “Moreover, most companies only take in a few students,” added the final-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Other students also felt that the Career Fair did not bear much relevance to them. Edison Huang, 23, a final-year student from the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM), said the Career Fair did not offer many opportunities in his field, animation. “Other than companies such as gaming provider Garena, many employers do not look out specifically for ADM graduates,” he said. But he said that being choosy would not help his chances. “Getting a job is not hard, as jobs can be found everywhere,” he said. “But getting a job that you like is a different matter.” Professor Kam Chan Hin, Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education), gave similar advice. “Graduates would have to taper
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Mass tree felling after roof collapse NTU followed up on last year’s collapses in Halls of Residence 1 and 9 last year with a drastic but necessary measure. More than 60 trees were removed from the forest area surrounding the Public Utilities Board service reservoir within three months after the collapse in Hall 9 last September. The trees had fibrous roots, which made them prone to falling in heavy wind or rain, said the Office of Facilities Planning and Management (OFPM). In addition to the forest trees, at least four planted trees have been removed from residential areas due to similar concerns.
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their expectations somewhat,” he said. “My advice to all students who are graduating this year is to take the opportunity to look for a job but don’t be too choosy and don’t set your expectations too high.” Chan Yi Xiang, a final-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, concurs with this outlook. “We should assess the job in more ways than just the monetary sense,” the 23-year-old said, adding that he would settle for a non-ideal job after considering other factors such as relevant skills training or good exposure.
“We should assess the job in more ways than just the monetary sense.” Chan Yi Xiang Final-year student School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Meanwhile, employers had mixed views about whether they would become more selective in choosing applicants from a smaller pool of job openings. Pharmaceutical company Merck, which exhibited at the Career Fair for the first time this year, said they would be more stringent in terms of job hiring. “Our rate of recruitment will not deviate significantly year by year as our job openings have a commission basis,” said Mr Alvin
Toh, a life planner from the insurance company. “So it is not that students are competing to join us. Rather, we have to convince the students to join us,” he added. On the other end of the spectrum, some companies have stepped up their recruitment. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) more than doubled its first-quarter recruitment from ten last year to 21 this year, citing ‘good projections’ for the expansion. According to Vinod Ebenezer of AMD’s Human Resources department, NTU students were especially valued. “NTU engineers really have the theoretical knowledge we are looking for,” said Mr Ebenezer. MacDonald’s Human Resource manager Shaun Ee said that the company would always be hungry for degree holders to join its management ranks, as it opens eight to ten new outlets every year. “While technology is always improving, technology will never replace the people,” said Mr Ee. NTU’s Career & Attachment Office (CAO) urges NTU students to plan their careers early to improve their prospects of being hired. “Students in year one or two should start to have a sense of what they are interested in,” said CAO assistant director Ms Lora Wong. “This makes it easier to focus their networking efforts when they approach their final year.” Ms Wong also advocates that students talk to employers, rather than merely read about them. “Sharing experiences with people enables students to find out more about the company culture,” she said. “Then they would know the kind of career path they like.”
After a pine tree near Hall 1’s Block 18 gave way and damaged the roof last November, two other pines were felled. Two trees from Blocks 53 and 54 in Hall 11 were also removed after hall offices carried out an assessment of the surrounding trees. A few others that were breeding grounds for termites, ants and mosquitoes were axed as well. The felling comes with concerns such as environmental damage.
Mr Siew Hoong Kit, divisional director of the Building Management Division (BMD), explained why the trees were not removed prior to the incident. “We try not to chop down natural trees, if not it won’t be as green,” he said last year, in an interview after the Hall 9 cave-in. Furthermore, there are no plans to replant the trees in the forest as it is already very dense, said Mr Kang Wee Chye, who is an assistant manager in BMD. Soil erosion was another concern for Mrs Chan Mei Ying, the manager of Hall 11, although the method of extraction was designed to reduce the possibility. According to Mr Kang, OFPM removed up to only 300mm of the roots, and subsequently planted grass on top of the area. Environmental concerns notwithstanding, OFPM said that it put safety as the top priority. “We are only doing it for the safety of the students,” said Mr Kang. Hall 11 resident Tan Ning Xin, 19, said that she does feel safer after the tree removal. However, the first-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information added, “I feel that there is a better way to handle this. I do like my trees.” It is not just students who feel upset over the loss of the trees. “All of us share the same sentiment with the students about removing them,” said Mrs Chan. She said that the trees which were removed had been around ‘since day one, when the hall was built in 1994.’ “It was a very difficult decision to take them down,” she said.
INSECT INFESTATION: A few trees near Hall 11 buildings were found to be teeming with PHOTO | COURTESY OF RICK KANG termites and ants, and got the axe soon after.
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Learning to write with good Grace %HQMDPLQ 0RH\ VSHDNV ZLWK 0V *UDFH &KLD .UDNRYLF WKH FXUUHQW 1DWLRQDO :ULWHU LQ 5HVLGHQFH DW 178 DERXW KHU GLVFLSOLQH SDVVLRQ DQG H[SHULHQFHV SHE was the ďŹ rst to be awarded the Writer-in-Residence position, after applying to the NTU-NAC (National Arts Council) Singapore Writing Residency last May. This programme engages experienced writers to teach and share their skills with young writers. Q: Did anyone inspire you to become a writer? A: I can proudly say for myself that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always known that I would write, without a doubt. Maybe one of the reasons was because I never took up an instrumentâ&#x20AC;Ś I suppose there were not enough ďŹ nances in my family. If a person needs to express herself, pen and paper is very cheap. Q: What was one of your earliest writing experiences? A: I was always writing to pen pals. Back then, there was no Internetâ&#x20AC;Ś There was a system where you would pay a certain amount of money, and they would match you with some overseas friends. I had a lot of Finnish pen pals. You would start out by corresponding, by describing your lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;just like the Internet now, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slower, so it makes you really imagine your world in as exciting a way as possible, so that your pen pal would write back to you. If you were boring, your pen pal would just say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oh well.â&#x20AC;? During pre-Internet times, they could not imagine other countries easily. So I made it as interesting as possible. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t invent things that werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there, but I made it exciting! Everything was exciting.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Avoid writing for free. You must feel that you are good enough and worthy enough.â&#x20AC;? So, for years, I had many pen pals, but I always stuck to the ones who wrote fascinating stories. Q: What key thing would you say is fundamental for aspiring writers? A: Discipline. Sometimes you
have a thought, an idea, a scene... And if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t record it, it will disappear. Many people actually have such thoughts. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let your everyday routines distract you from submitting yourself to your craft. Though, as with any discipline, you must not be too harsh with yourself. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay if you go two days without writing if you had more pressing concerns. Also, avoid writing for free. You must feel that you are good enough and worthy enough. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not like prostitution, like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;you must buy my work...â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about self-conďŹ dence and valuing your work, about knowing that this is your vocation.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Issues of identity are very important to me since I'm Singaporean, female, and trying to be a writer.â&#x20AC;? Writing for free for charities is okay, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let companies, which are perfectly capable of paying you take advantage. Q: If you had to do something besides writing, what would you do? A: My ďŹ rst love was always literature, but if I had to choose... I would become a lawyer. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m interested in law. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to ďŹ ght for the underdog, so to speak. Q: How do you handle writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block? A: I do writing exercises. I mean, you can do stream-of-consciousness writing. This is the ďŹ rst thing for writers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s improvisation. You just need to get the words and images ďŹ&#x201A;owing, so do stream-ofconsciousness or journal writing. (Writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: stream of consciousness writing is a narrative style that seeks to portray an individual's thought processes, Some writers use it as a writing exercise.) Q: How has teaching the students been so far? A: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve only known them for a couple of weeks, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already spotted a couple of really good writers. Their ďŹ ction pieces are very sophisticated. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m actually encouraging one of the mentees to try and submit to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond Wordsâ&#x20AC;? program by NAC. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re targeting writers to write young adult ďŹ ction or chapter books, and her work
has a perfect tone for tweens. So weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just seeing if she can get somewhere. If she can get somewhere, then itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good for NTU. Q: How do you feel the residency programme has helped you? A: Both NTU and NUS have residency programmes, but NUS doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a minor in creative writing, which would be more in-depth. So, what NTU is sort of succeeding in, is that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve spotted a niche in creative writing as a minor. I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making the other tertiary institutions take note. So I think NTU is doing very well in starting the creative writing minor and the residency as well. I think the residency has given me the conďŹ dence to think of myself as a writer... to work myself around the writing discipline. Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? A: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to publish a novelâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the novel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m writing... as a writer I tend to be very self-critical. So at various points, I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent, while at other times I think it is rubbish. So I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know whether it will be this one or another one. But I would like to publish a novel, or two. Ten years is a long time.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the piece of writing does not affect the reader, then I feel the writing does not have much worth to it.â&#x20AC;?
TAKE A LEAF OUT OF HER BOOK: As writer-in-residence, Ms Chia dispenses writing wisdom and tips to students keen to approach her. PHOTO | JONATHAN CHIANG
ferent age, I ďŹ nd myself less burdened by these issues. As with a lot of the new generation writers, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve progressed from post-colonialism. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about Singapore in itself, and how we reach out to the world, how we brand ourselves as a unique hybrid. Q: What makes writing a valuable,
Q: What kinds of themes interest you now? A: Issues of identity are very important to me, since Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Singaporean, female, and trying to be a writer... Issues of home are very important to me. Having travelled so much, I always feel in and out of my own home... I talk about love, desire, memory, imagination, belonging and displacement. I was a post-colonial writer. Post-colonial writers of Singapore would explore their identity in relation to, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say, the ex-British legacyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if there is any. Nation-building, trying to ďŹ nd your way in a cosmopolitan world, etc... The tension of being Chinese and Western at the same time is very real for some people trying to deal with these things... However, now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m at a dif-
worthwhile pursuit to you?
A: I think writing needs to speak to the reader in a very direct, perhaps emotive way. If the piece of writing does not affect the reader, then I feel the writing does not have much worth to it, if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all just intellectual speak. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not that kind of writer.
Woman of many achievements Ms Chia studied English Literature and Theatre Studies (double major) at the National University of Singapore.
Upon completing her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree, she enrolled into a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program at Goldsmiths College, University of London. Over the course of her career, Ms Chia has received several awards from the Singaporean International Foundation and NAC for her creative endeavors. She has also received invitations to perform poetry readings at literary festivals and events around the world. To date, she has published, among other things, a poetry collection entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;womangoâ&#x20AC;?,
a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational book on Mongolia and a non-ďŹ ction book on the challenges and experiences of real estate agents. During her residency, she completed her second poetry collection, which will be published by Ethos Books in mid2012. She is also currently working on a novel. As a writer-in-residence, Ms Chia teaches the HZ1901 module, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Introduction to Creative Writingâ&#x20AC;?, which exposes students to the techniques of creating poetry and prose. In addition, she gives advice to any students who seek constructive opinions about their work. She also provides prose and poetry readings to the general public.
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Water, water, everywhere... ;8( -,$1<8( SO CLEAR are the waters of Myanmar’s Inle Lake that a parallel universe seems to exist underneath, mirroring the floating bamboo villages, drifting islands, and fishing boats on its still surface. But a hidden danger lurks beneath: Pollution has seeped into lake waters, a source of life for the surrounding 20,000 residents. On January 2nd, an NTU team arrived at the lake bringing technology and water-testing expertise from Singapore. Leading the project is Dr Khin Lay Swe from Myanmar’s Yezhin Agricultural University (YAU). Under the guidance of Associate Professor Tan Soon Keat, she had spent six months at the Nanyang Environmental and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) under the Lien Environmental Fellowship to improve water conditions of the lake. "People (around the lake) lack access to safe water and sanitation,” said Dr Khin. “The lake has been polluted by human waste, agrochemicals and other contaminants.” T he tr ip was organised by T he Lien Foundation—NTU Environmental Endeavour (EE2). A brainchild of Lien Foundation and NTU, EE2 is an institute strategically located within NEWRI. It seeks to improve the living conditions of Asia’s developing communities in the areas of water, sanitation and renewable energy. Their task is an urgent one, as many developing countries today face water problems. A United Nations resolution in 2010 expressed concern that 884 million people lack access
to safe drinking water. In addition, more than 2.6 billion do not have access to basic sanitation. EE2’s projects cover six countries: India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Unlike most overseas volunteer trips, EE2 focuses on helping developing communities strive towards self-sufficiency. Instead of ad-hoc visits, technological knowledge is transferred to local communities over the longterm to ensure ownership, viability, and sustainability. One of the students on the trip, Lam Wan Yee, 23, said: “The projects are all run and driven by the local experts, who come to Singapore under the fellowship programme to develop their solutions with the guidance of NTU professors.” Lam, a fourth-year student from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), came aboard with two other schoolmates. Kaung Set Zaw and Khin Pyay Thu, both Myanmar, helped to bridge the language and cultural barrier between the EE2 team and the locals. For seven days, students from NTU conducted field tests, inspected pipes and taught YAU students how to use water testing equipment. Moving around villages on Inle Lake is similar to travelling in Venice by boat. It is impossible to walk from house to house as the villages are built completely on water. “The lake is so huge, I nearly mistook it as a sea,” said Loy Yoongshin, 22, a finalyear student from CEE. “The villagers here
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$ UXQ IRU WKHLU PRQH\ THIS year’s EW Barker Race was held in the evening of the 3rd of February at NIE. This annual event, which is open to NTU and NIE students, is held in commemoration the late Mr. Edmund William Barker who was a successful lawyer, local politician and a talented sportsman. The Barker family continues Mr. Barker’s legacy by providing the EW Barker scholarship to students of the Sport Science and Management (SSM) programme. The race was preceded by the awarding of the EW Barker Scholarship by the Guestof-Honour, Ms. Carla Barker, to two SSM students – Mr. Lim Sher Jie and Ms. Chen Simin. The ceremony was also graced by Prof. Lee Sing Kong (Director, NIE), Assoc Prof. Quek Jin Jong (Principal Officer, NIE), Prof. John Wang (Head of Physical Education and Sports Science [PESS], NIE) and Prof. Stuart Biddle (EW Barker Visiting Professor, Loughborough University). Supported by the PESS academic group at NIE and the SSM Society, the event saw 23 teams of four runners competing in a 4 x 600 metres relay race around the NIE Triangle. The fastest team of Sanjay, Kumar, Cheng Wei and Eliza clocked a record of 7min 09s to walk away with $120 and four pairs of Vibram Fivefingers®. Organized by a team of SSM students and advised by Asst Prof. Chow Jia Yi, Asst Prof. Pyun Do Young, Asst Prof. Adrian Kee and Ms. Ashley Lee, this year’s event is officially sponsored by THORB, RELAY RACE: Close dash between two participants. Vibram Fivefingers® and NUKE Optics. PHOTO | DYLAN MAH
VILLAGE ON WATER: Travelling from house to house is impossible on foot. Everyone travels by boat, enginepowered or by hand. PHOTO | COURTESY OF EE2
depend on the lake for a living. They fish, plant tomatoes on floating agriculture farms, and row boats to travel around.” The lake, nearly 50 square kilometres in size, makes building a supply of clean water an uphill task. Over time, agricultural fertilisers from the thriving tomato farms have seeped into lake waters. Coupled with poor sanitation, the raw lake water has been rendered unsafe for drinking. “Water is everywhere but not a drop is safe to drink,” said team member Pyay
Thu, 24, a third-year CEE student. Villagers turned to water sources in the mountains surrounding the lake. However, the pipes often leak, and are not protected from contamination. Water tanks, limited in number, are not safe for drinking either. EE2 project manager Thye Yoke Pean, 25, hopes that their efforts can “restore the quality of the lake and preserve its beauty.” “It’s easier said than done,” she said. “We need to build proper toilets, introduce a waste management system and reduce the use of fertiliser and pesticides.”
Staff asked to donate more %5,$1 /(21$/ SIX out of every 10 NTU staff and faculty will participate in the 2012 Faculty and Staff Giving Campaign, if NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson has his way. This will mean a 10 percent increase from the 49 percent participation rate the annual campaign managed to secure last year. Success in the campaign would show that “the faculty and staff members of NTU care for the University”, which translates into greater ease when requesting for donation from external donors, said Professor Andersson. The campaign, which started three years ago, serves to raise funds among faculty and staff members to fund bursary programs, research projects and students' activities such as community service projects, competitions and study tours. The initial participation rate was 29 percent, which increased to 34 percent in 2010. But donating back to the school is not all about achieving tangible benefits or calculating returns. “[Big donors] can get a school named after them or a lecture hall named after them. But that's the higher-end ones. But otherwise it's for the satisfaction,” said Professor Andersson. As of this year, 890 out of nearly 6100 faculty and staff members have pledged monthly donations since the inception of the campaign, thus earning them places in the loyal donors honor roll. The School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering has the most number of faculty and staff members on the honor roll.
Ms Norling Inger Birgitta, 68, a visiting professor from Sweden, donated $50 and is considering offering a monthly donation. “There are intelligent people around, even from the poor background. And if we don't donate, we may lose some smart people,” she said. Some, like Mr Ng Terk Meng, 45, a staff from the Centre for IT Services, also pledged to donate because of the 250 percent tax deduction rewarded to Singaporean donors. However, some faculty and staff members such as Mr Vincent Teo, 45, a staff from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, has reservations about pledging a monthly donation, citing commitment as the main reason. Dr. Koh Chong Lek, 63, a senior lecturer from the National Institute of Education, understands the concerns younger people have before donating. He said that in contrast with the older generation, the household expenses the younger generation has to cover make it rather difficult for them to commit to a monthly donation. “Some people are shy when it comes to donating a small amount. Do not be shy, the amount does not matter, because donation drives have multiplier effects. A lot of a little will in the end make a lot of money,” he added. Professor Andersson himself pledges “a lot” but declined to disclose the amount of donation. “I want NTU to be super good. We have to work hard, we have to hire good students, good faculty, and we also need money. And I can tell you, I will continue to give even the day I step down as president and head back to Sweden, I will continue to give,” he said.
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Nanyang Arts Festival gets intense /, =+82'$ FEW who notice the giant Marilyn Monroe mosaic outside LT1A will know that it is made of 400 Rubik's Cubes, or that it is a highlight of the big event that is the Nanyang Arts Festival. The Festival, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, runs for five weeks starting from February 10th. The Rubik’s Cube mosaics will be on display outside LT1A and along the North-South Linkway throughout the festival. “Because of the sheer size of t he Rubi k's Cube Mosa ic, almost the entire committee was involved in its creation. From those manipulating the sides of the cube to those helping to lay them out, to even the videographers helping to document the process,” said festival director Karen Tan Mei Ling, 22, a fourth-year student from the National Institute of Education. Both mosaics were revealed at the opening ceremony by Associate Professor Kwok K ia n Woon , Associate Provost (Student Life). The NA F has also brought small round beads, known as
Perler beads, to NTU for students to design their own art pieces. Booths have been set up at various locations around NTU such as the Canteen B concourse. The collective work by students will then be assembled to form a Perler beads montage that will be revealed during the closing ceremony on March 16th. “T he Perler bead s boot hs ... reconnect ( st udents ) w it h childhood memories when they make their own art pieces,” said NA F event manager Michelle Choo, 20, a first-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. A Graffiti Week will be held from March 5-9th. Students can sketch graffiti on a canvas of 5m by 1.8m at the North-South Linkway. The theme for this year's NAF is “ARTerly inTENse”. Seow Jingmin, 20, Vice-Chairperson (Internal) of the Festival Committee, explained its significance. “We want to show students how far we have come since the initiation of the festival in NTU (in 2003). Hence, we are making an effort to bring exciting events to the student population for our 10th anniversary,” said the second-
CELEBRATORY: Organizers unveil a Rubik's Cube mosaic of Marilyn Monroe at the opening ceremony.
year student from the Nanyang Business School. To better fit with the theme, Ashton Movements Agency (AMA) was invited to perform for the opening ceremony. AM A is a performing arts agenc y specia lising in body
movement disciplines such as parkour, an extreme art form whe r eby pr ac t it ione r s move speedily and efficiently around obstacles. “We wanted to incorporate more extraordinary and intense pe r for ma nce s i n t h i s yea r 's
PHOTO | JONATHAN CHIANG
opening ceremony, which is why we decided to invite AMA to do a more unique opening act,” said Seow. The whole affair will end on the March 16th closing ceremony at Canopy K, the area directly outside LT1A.
Travelling across Time 5(1(( 32+ AMIDST a mishmash of sounds in the “Mushroom Galler y” at the NTU Innovation Centre, the tinkling of ivor y keys can be heard, although there is no piano in the room. There are three projection screens in the room, two playing a series of recurring images such as a satellite dish and bustling nightlife. On the middle screen, five musicians are performing, one of them on a piano. T his cleverly orchestrated symphony was part of TimeTravel, a project to investigate real-time music and imagery over Internet. Eleven mu sicia n s f rom Tromsø, Norway and Singapore collaborated in an interactive musical installation which ran over three days and culminated in an hour-long ‘exit concert’ on February 2nd. It was well-received by the 20-member audience, most of whom had never attended an interactive installation before. “It ’s ve r y d i f fe r e nt f r om anything I have ever watched, so it was definitely an interesting experience,” said Zachary Loh. The event was a brainchild of Assistant Professor PerMagnus Lindborg from the School of Art, Design and Media and Norwegian co-directors Lars Lien and Jason Geist weidt. Ti meTravel a i m s to let audiences and musicians in different physical locations establish a playful audio-visual communication based on t he
inherent musicalit y of voices a nd la nd scape s . P r ofe s sor Lindborg said, “It was Lars’ idea to commission me to work on an Internet piece. We carried out the concert while Jason specialised in networking.” T he conc e r t wa s ca r r ie d out on the premise of guided improvisation and collaborative e v a lu at ion , w it hout pr e -s e t musical pieces.
“We tried to listen out for each other and either counter or blend into the sounds.” Mr Deric Wong Musician and suona player
Unde r t he d i r e c t ion of composition assistant Joyce Koh, 43, the musicians interpreted the images with their own sensibilities and translated them into music. Also, the Chinese instruments used provided a contrast to the Norwegians’ Western instruments, creating a diverse sound. On what sparked his interest in participating in TimeTravel, Tan Qing Lun, 24, a freelance musician, who plays many Chinese classical instruments such as the dizi, said, “It is very different from traditional contemporary works. I also enjoyed the interaction with Norwegians.” Befor e t he f i na l concer t ,
the musicians had engaged in a series of open rehearsals in the installation space. A s eac h r e hea r sa l r e l ie d completely on improvisation this proved a challenge to many of the musicians like percussion player and freelance music instructor Cheryl Ong, 26. “At first I was quite lost due to the lack of scores and relied a lot on directions,” she said. "There were also technical difficulties to contend with such as... the appearance of sound without visuals or vice versa." However, the team overcame the odds when it came to the actual performance. “It was very exciting, the best out of all the rehearsals we had. We tried to listen out for each other and either counter or blend into (the sounds)," said musician Dedric Wong, 26, who was playing the suona, a wind instrument. Prof Lindborg added af ter t he concer t: “I a m proud of how the performance went. The musicians were fantastic and the network technologies and sound engineering were solid.” With regards to the future of similar musical installations, Prof. Lindborg feels that such per for ma nces a re a l ready c om me r c i a l l y v i a ble . He i s planning to reproduce TimeTravel as a separate event. But he admitted that the team was less successful in attracting a sizeable audience. “For everyone to have a sense of experimental art, it needs a lot of exposure,” he said.
Lifestyle NOISE SINGAPORE
I
f you come across a stunning array of art, photographs and live open mic performances at the Esplanade or Ion Orchard, they might just come from NTU’s very own. Noise Singapore, an annual event by the National Arts Council, invites aspiring artists to submit their work through open categories or apply for a chance to earn the mentorship of top industry professionals.
AUDREY YANG SIHUI
ART & DESIGN (ADM) YEAR 4
PREVIOUSLY a science student up till junior college, Audrey switched to visual design in university when she realised science was not her forte. It has proven to be the best decision of her life so far. For her first exhibition at Noise Singapore, she was tasked to design posters for Romeo and Juliet—an upcoming Wild Rice musical that presents a modern take on the tragedy, while preserving the original Shakespearean language. “ We h a d q u i t e a f e w considerations, such as how to show the gist of the story without being too direct, and merging an old script with modern context,” she says. “There were countless of revisions before we arrived at
LIN FANGJUN WAHLENE PHOTOGRAPHY (ADM) RECENT GRADUATE
SOCIOPOLITICAL issues such as poverty and capitalism, as well as music and literature, are some of the things that inspire Wahlene’s work. Joining Noise Singapore was a way to challenge herself to produce a stronger body of work. Having a particular interest in fashion photography, which she describes as a form of staged photography, it was no surprise that her submission for Noise Singapore showcases miniature doll furniture sets taken in her favourite photography form. Her collection of photos d r aws on t he t he me of c on s u me r i s m a nd f e m a le aesthetics. “I chose to do consumerism
Only the cream of the crop are picked to showcase their work at concerts and exhibitions at public venues. T h i s yea r, t wo successf u l applicants: Audrey Yang, 22, and Wahlene Lin, 23, hopped on the opportunity to ‘voice their noise’. Here is a peek at their creations and the inspirations behind them. Their artworks are on display at the Goodman Arts Centre Gallery from February 16 to March 4.
TALENT
SPOTTED
the final designs.” The posters were made using different tech niques, namely collography (right)—a print-making technique where elements are inked on a board and printed using a press machine—and hand-drawn illustration. These techniques showcase the contrast between old and modern elements respectively. “Due to its nature, the print outcome looks very raw and even primitive,” she said. For another poster, Audrey used illustrative typography by drawing out the words ‘Romeo & Juliet’ using elements from their occupations. In the musical, Romeo is a construction worker while Juliet is a maid, a relationship plausible in Singapore’s context. In both illustrations, their faces are not shown to represent how insignificant they are to society. “I’ve heard people say things like ‘maids all look the same’ or call construction workers ‘banglas’”, she says. “So in the poster, they are portrayed as faceless workers—not having an identity.”
as it is so prevalent that we just can’t make it disappear, and to me that is very intriguing,” said Wahlene, a silver medallist for the Crowbar Awards 2011 in experimental and conceptual photography. This explains the use of doll sets, in order to create a superficial environment in which everything is so perfect and luxurious. She arranged the furniture inside a makeshif t box according to her vision. “My idea was to have the room look cosy and comfy without it being too tight or empty,” she said. A f ter which, She superimposed a separate image of a girl into the environment. Other crucial factors i nc lude d l ig ht i ng a nd positioning of the subjects. “If I were to place the subject in a manner that is irrelevant to the room setting or blocking certain
elements of the setting, the entire aesthetic and the story of the image would be lost,” Wahlene said. “Girls who play with these toys will only realise later in life that the items they used to play with could only be bought with money,” she said. “The cycle repeats when they start to purchase things which are unnecessary to satisfy their materialistic desires.”
Travel alone and discover yourself â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Page 16
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HAFIDZ SĂ&#x2C6;NOR PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL IMAGING (ADM) YEAR 4
I-AM 2012 FESTIVAL r t ca n be fou nd i n anything, even in the act of remembering. T h i s message i s evident in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s i-Am 2012 Festival, an annual arts event organised by the School of Arts Management at LASALLE College of the Arts. The 10-day festival, running from March 1-9, seeks to promote social causes through both visual and performing art events.
A
One such exhibition titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Forget to Rememberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; orga n i sed i n conju nc t ion with an outreach programme for caregivers of people with A lzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diseaseâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;revolves around the theme of capturing and preserving intangible memories through tangible visual art. This challenges local artists to rediscover memories through different ar t forms, including embroidery, QR codes and grafďŹ ti.
IT TOOK the 25-year-old ďŹ nal-year student a year to complete â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quarry Parksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, a series of large-format photographs taken in Tampines, the neighbourhood where he grew up. It depicts locals interacting with the open landscape. As the subjects in his photos were mostly strangers to him, HaďŹ dz needed to establish a certain level of trust ďŹ rst. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I spent about half an hour to an hour talking to each of them, trying to know them and how they are like, before I shoot,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Quarry Parksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; started out as a school project, but HaďŹ dzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend, one of the organisers behind Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Forget To Remember, urged him to submit his work for the exhibition. The series that he is showcasing at i-AM Festival is an exploration of space, memory and identity: a feature on locals in an open natural landscape in Tampines. Having grown up in an apartment that faces the park, he and his family spent a lot of time there. HaďŹ dz recounts a Russell Lee horror he came across when he was
younger about a haunted lake. He remembered how various people at tached different identities to the park. He sees h is work as a nostalgic representation of the theme. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing about living in Singapore is that things change at a very fast rate,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;20 years down the road, they may not look the same any more.â&#x20AC;? W h i le â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Q u a r r y Pa r k sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capt u res t he present, h is short ďŹ lm called Shingaporu Monogatar i ( Si ngapor e Stories), retells stories of the past. Feat u r e d i n t he 20 0 9 Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF), the film is about the experiences of his then 14-year-old grandfather during the Japanese Occupation. His grandfather, to whom he is very close to, shared the stories with him when he lived with HaďŹ dzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family for 15 years.
IZZIYANA SUHAIMI
visual poetry, or a code only a select few can understand. There is a sense of mystery in the way pieces are decorated and the order in which they are placed, she explains. Izziyana has never attended proper classes for embroidering. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I learnt by watching a lot of YouTube video tutorials and reading online,â&#x20AC;? she said. But t he process of embroidery turned out to be a lesson in patience for her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I could be working on a piece for an entire day and still feel like I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make much progress,â&#x20AC;? she said. Ultimately, Izziyana hopes visitors of the exhibition take away the message that the act of remembering is important for the progress of society. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think sometimes we get too caught up, chasing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new and shiny, that we forget where we come from, thus forgetting to honour that,â&#x20AC;? she said.
PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL IMAGING (ADM) RECENT GRADUATE
NA M E D â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; T he loom s i n ou r bonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, the 25-year-old graduateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portrait series uses embroidery from different cultural traditions to express cultural heritage. Though raised with Malay traditions, Izziyana has Javanese, Bug i s , C h i ne se a nd I nd ia n blood. She cites her multifaceted heritage as her inspiration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It got me thinking about how I have roots in such rich heritages, and each race has its own giant culture with its own textile traditions,â&#x20AC;? she says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems like such a shame that I know almost nothing about it. I think this holds true for many young people nowadays as well.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love how creative the piece can get, and the explosion of colours and patterns,â&#x20AC;? she said. She describes embroidery as
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foodsnoop: the road test
What foreigners say about that
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s i f M r. B e a n a t Canteen B and Chomp Chomp Beancurd at Canteen 2 are not enough, students are also flocking to the newly opened stall at Canteen 1 to get their beancurd fix.
Elsewhere in Singapore, the mention of Lao Ban Soya Beancurd always garners a reaction. While some have unceasing praise for Lao Ban beancurd for its puddingl i ke for m , ot he r s debate it s authenticity and prefer old-time favourites like Rochor Original
MASTERS OF THE TRADE: The top three Singaporean favourites ready for a battle to win PHOTOS | MUHAMMAD ALFIAN BIN RAHIM the hearts of those from far and wide.
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ARTIST
Sculpt each scoop into creative shapes as you please
BLACKHOLE Down it all in one gulp
Beancurd and Selegie Soya Bean. So we brought all three brands together for a Beancurd War with a very special panel of judges. For most of t hem , it wa s anything but love at first sight. While “tasteless tofu”, “yogurt” and “vanilla pudding” were their first impressions of Lao Ban Soya Beancurd, most of the judges were more apprehensive about the Rochor and Selegie beancurd which looked dubious like “floaty sour milk” or “watery, expired yogurt”. Commenting on the smoothness and consistency of Lao Ban’s curd blend, William Thacker, an American exchange st udent at the Wee K im Wee School of Communication and Infor mation ( W K WSCI) said: “A mer ica n s pr efer pac k aged things that are more compact”. “If somebody just gives me this, I wouldn't eat it,” he said, pointing at the unlabelled Rochor beancurd. Following this, our judges dipped their spoons in for the first taste. They unanimously agreed on the level of sweetness: Lao Ban beancurd being the sweetest, Selegie beancurd the least sweet, and Rochor beancurd as the inbetween. T he s we e t-toot he d l i ke Tomasz Jan Ferenc, a Polish graduate student from the College of Engineering said, “Lao Ban beancurd is sweet, like vanilla pudd i ng, so it i s si m i la r to something I had. Therefore, I like the taste.” To the other two beancurd brands, he remarked: "Only if I had to eat to survive, I would have it as the last resort. Otherwise, no way." Similarly, French exchange s t ude nt f r om t he S c hool of Biological Sciences, Arriat Shirley said they were not sweet enough for the French palate, and she disliked Rochor beancurd because “there wasn’t enough sugar syrup and had a sour taste.” However, others like first-year
Korean exchange student, Lee Sang Wok expressed distaste for the sweeter beancurd brands, “The first taste was okay, but it got too sweet after a while.” He also added that he might prefer it warm or as a side dish paired with kimchi instead. For Lu na Pham T h i Hong Ha n h , a f i r st-yea r W K WSC I student from Vietnam, it was not her first time eating beancurd. “Back home, we have soya beancurd too. But it’s pret t y different. Ours is much sweeter and in very thin slices. In the nor t h , we have it cold w it h jasmine flowers and in the south, they have it warm with ginger,
more Chinese influenced I guess,” she said. “Singapore’s beancurd is too healthy." William agreed, likening it to German rice pudding. "It doesn't seem like something you'll eat for fun, but for health," he said. Upon revealing that beancurd, like any soy product, contains high levels of the female hormone oestrogen, some of our male judges gasped and said they would never eat it again, while others simply laughed. Regarding the hotly-debated issue of authenticity, owners of Lao Ban Soy Beancurd, Mr Li Hui Shing and his wife admitted to
HEALTHIER CHOICE, BUT NOT A FAVOURITE: Luna Pham from Vietnam does not consider the Singaporean version of beancurd anywhere near her type of comfort food.
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BONJOUR MADEMOISELLE: The friendly crew at La Petite Cuisine.
SERIOUS BUSINESS: American exchange student William Thacker passing his verdict on Selegie's version of the local delight.
taming fresh soya bean milk with Coffee-Mate and malt mixture, ďŹ nished with a touch of gelatin. The beancurd mixture is then steamed, packed into containers and left to cool. This is unlike the traditional beancurd that is scooped out slab by slab from the pot when ordered. Accord i ng to ou r judges , Rochor Beancurd had the most natural soya taste, whereas many could tell that Lao Banâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beancurd was more artiďŹ cial. Yet, they also added that they are ďŹ ne with eating something a r t i f icia l a s ta ste wa s mor e important than authenticity. It is safe to say that Lao Ban Soya Beancurd fared very well among those who have no natural liking for soya beancurd. From a scale of 1 to 10 (10
being most appealing), the verdict is as follows:
LAO BAN SOYA BEANCURD:
7.2/10 SELEGIE BEANCURD:
5.2/10 ROCHOR BEANCURD:
5.0/10 Look s l i ke Lao Ba n Soya Beancurd is a winner amongst nonnative taste buds.
I
t seemed like a no-brainer when my friend asked â&#x20AC;&#x153;Will you miss food from here?â&#x20AC;? Before I left France for my exchange year in Singapore. Not having lived anywhere else, I was resolute in thinking that I would not only miss my mumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food, but also French cheese, bread and wine. But, boy, was I wrong. It turned out that food was not a problem for me because Singapore imports everything. Upon my arrival, I immediately boasted about my ďŹ nds to my friends on exchange in the Washington D.C., who strangely felt more stranded without their basic portion of brie or chèvre cheese. From fashion to food, I consider it easy to get hold of French products here as Singaporeans seem to appreciate them. I will not attempt to describe the new Louis Vuitton collection, since the fashion world is a mystery to me. But on the other hand, food is my passion. This explains why I am on a constant lookout for French food enclaves for the past few months. W h i le e x plor i ng Serene Centre located near the French embassy, I shrieked upon discovering a familiar sign of a bistro we can ďŹ nd in every town in France. Tucked away behind a tree, I can barely read the outline of â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Petite Cuisineâ&#x20AC;? (which means the little kitchen). As you enter, the place reveals a world of its own. Tables laid with a French touch of checkered
RECIPE
ISABELLE'S EASY AS 1-2-3
CRĂ&#x160;PES TOO SWEET: First-year Korean exchange student Lee Sang Wok prefers his beancurd warm or paired with kimchi.
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tablecloths, while fragrant smells of butter and cream raises your appetite. I immediately understood that they offer authentic French food. I chatted with Chef Bernard, who came from the French city of Lyon, who chose to settle here because â&#x20AC;&#x153;the business is easy in this country.â&#x20AC;? Since the bistroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opening six years ago, it has always been crowded on Fridays and the weekends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Even though the bistro is near the French embassy, 80% of my clients are Singaporeans,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks to the clients who recommended this bistro to their friends, people somehow know that they can expect the real deal when they come here. The menu hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really changed since its creation. I added some dishes but never renew it.â&#x20AC;? ConďŹ t de canard (the potted duck, a specialty from southwestern France) is the most popular dish at La Petite Cuisine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We can sell a thousand ConďŹ ts every month,â&#x20AC;? said the chef. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Singapore can provide every ingredient I need,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, you can ďŹ nd typical
French specialties in Cold Storage or Carrefour, which offer a great variety of cheese from every region of France.â&#x20AC;? If you want to get typical products from France, Carrefour is t he best place. T he f irst Carrefour of France was opened in 1962, in my hometownâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Sainte Geneviève des Bois (near Paris). Shopping at Carrefour, apart from the cheese, I can f ind many other food products that reminded me of home. The Crozets de Savoie, small squares of dough, is the typical food we eat when we ski in the Alps. And the Cidre de Normandie, a smoothly alcoholic drink made from apple juice apples, is the typical drink served with crĂŞpes during the Chandeleur, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;CrĂŞpes Dayâ&#x20AC;?, on February 2nd in commemoration of the presentation of Christ in the Temple of Jerusalem. On hindsight, despite being 10,728 kilometers away from France, I do not miss the food. In fact, I enjoy using the local French cuisine to help my Singaporean friends discover more about my country.
SAY CHEESE: Saint Albray, Vieux PanÊ, Brie PrÊsident, Roblochon, Buche de Chèvre, and many more are all available at Carrefour. PHOTOS | COURTESY OF ISABELLE ACHART
1
To make the crĂŞpes batter, put the ďŹ&#x201A;our in a big bowl, make a hole in the center of the ďŹ&#x201A;our, and slowly pour in the milk, mixing it with a whisk or a fork. Mix it well to avoid lumps. Take your timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it can take two minutes or more of pouring the milk slowly and whisking to mix it properly so it is smooth. Add the eggs and mix them in well, then add the sugar and the butter. Mix again.
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Pour and spread one ladle full (about one-third of a coffee mug, if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a ladle) into large, hot, ďŹ&#x201A;at frying pan. Cook on one side for about one minute, then use a spatula to turn the crĂŞpes over and cook the other side. This may take some practice. When it is cooked, spread with Nutella or jam, or sprinkle with sugar, fold into quarters, and eat while it is hot. Bon appĂŠtit!
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travelogue
THE MERITS OF
SOLITUDE
-XVW WKH YHU\ WKRXJKW RI KROLGD\LQJ DOO DORQH LQ D IRUHLJQ FRXQWU\ ZRXOG VFDUH PRVW SHRSOH EXW /XQD + 3KDP SURYHV RWKHUZLVH ,QVWHDG XQH[SHFWHG FRPSDQ\ DQG OXFN\ KDSSHQVWDQFHV PDGH IRU DQ XQIRUJHWWDEOH WULS I DID not lie to my parents about travelling alone to Malaysia. I just â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;purposely forgotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to tell them that my friends could not go on the trip. It would perhaps be better if I was deservingly kidnapped and killed in Malaysia. That way, it would serve as a proper lesson for those brave enough to go on a solo trip. But fortunately, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m back, unkidnapped and un-killed. And I have been telling everyone I know to pack their bags right away, and take the ďŹ rst ďŹ&#x201A;ight out of here. Travelling soloâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;if the word â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; upsets youâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is one of the best treats you can give yourself. When you are travelling alone, the only one that matters is you. Tired? Sleep in. Love trains and their steady hum? Get a ticket. Excited by bungee jumps? Jump. There are no shopaholic princesses to pamper and wait on, no grouchy naysayers to spoil the fun. The time is all yours to selďŹ shly spend. I am the street-wanderer sort of a traveller, so I spent my ďŹ rst day walking up and down the gorgeous stone streets of Georgetown, the capital of Penang. When I passed by a quaint-looking house and complimented it, the owner, Mr Khoo Kee Chooi, took me to Khoo Kongsi, a clan house dedicated to his clanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patron deities. The clan temple is so magniďŹ cent that it was once burnt down in 1894 allegedly due to its resemblance to the Chinese emperorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s palace. Rebuilt in 1906, it stands today with an ornate roof and intricate gilded carvingsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; a breath-taking sight. I chose to miss the Snake Temple, a popular attraction among tourists, for a four-hour trek in the Penang National Park. I found myself walking untiringly, wedged between quiet mountain greenery and swirling sea waves. Three local boys, before jumping into the water with a rope tied across a tree branch, posed with a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;V' sign when I tried to take pictures of them Penang seems to have it all for a solo traveller: mountains, beaches, stellar services and mansions that incorporate a blend of Chinese, Malay and British architecture. Georgetown is bustling enough to keep one entertained, yet carries a quaint tranquillity for the lone tourist to savour the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;me" moments. On top of that, accommodation and transportation in Malaysia are more than just necessities. They are experiences by themselves. For one night each, I stayed at two hostels: Reggae Penang (RM24/night in a 8-bed dorm) and BackHome Kuala Lumpur (RM46/night in a 4-bed dorm). A far cry from my initial expectations of run-down houses with smelly bunks, these
places redeďŹ ned 'hostel' to something that resembled boutique hotels. They were stylishly designed and spotlessly clean. Staff were friendly enough for a chat while providing impeccable service. Spending the night on a Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train, the main train operator in Malaysia, is a great way to save accommodation expenditure and travelling time. A lower class bed from Penang to Kuala Lumpur costs a mere RM40 and promises the nostalgia of
I'm back, unkidnapped and unkilled. And I have been telling everyone I know to pack their bags right away, and take the ďŹ rst ďŹ&#x201A;ight out of here. travelling by train in an era of cheap budget airlines. But travelling solo would not be complete without one or two potentially dangerous meetings. I recall the night when I was waiting for the bus on Lebuh Chulia, a street in Georgetown crowded with tourists and prostitutes, when a stranger stopped his motorbike beside me. He asked if I was from Bangkok and when I replied â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Noâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, he insisted that I was from Thailand and tried to shove a helmet into my hands to take me on a â&#x20AC;&#x153;free rideâ&#x20AC;?. When I simply refused, he threw me a
AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER: I chanced upon Mr Khoo (above), a member of the celebrated Khoo clan, outside his house who then took me to see his family clanhouse, the grand Khoo Kongsi temple.
nasty look and rode off. But that aside, another wonderful aspect of travelling solo is, ironically, the people. As I was alone, people were more inclined to talk to me, and so was I to them. A local I met told me stories of her wild time travelling solo in the 70's. Hostels are also great places to meet like-minded travellers from all over the world. Tired travellers would sink into the living room sofa, talking late into the night, sharing our own stories with beers in our hands. My German roommate had quit her job of four years after saving enough for
an eight-month trip around the world. Having just arrived from Thailand, she had been on the road for three months when we met. Sitting in a corner, an American woman appeared distant, cigarette in hand. Her name was Jennifer and she was teaching English on a far-ďŹ&#x201A;ung island in Malaysia, she said. Lamenting the difďŹ culties in changing the teaching methods so outdated and yet so deeply rooted on the island, Jennifer also recounted unbelievable challenges passionately but jocularly, evoking laughter and a deep sense of respect from all. The people I met and their admirable experiences made me realise how little I have seen of the world. I guess I will have to forget, accidentally on purpose, to tell my parents certain things a few more times. They still have no idea about my solo escapade.
TRAVEL EXPENDITURE Transport
$90
Accomodation
$30
Attractions Shopping Total THE BARE NECESSITIES: The boys were friendly and quite easily contented, jumping into the water using ropes tied to a tree branch for support. PHOTOS | COURTESY OF LUNA H. PHAM
$30 $30 $180
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dapper: your essential style guide
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dapper: your essential style guide Photography: Bryan Ho Styling: Farhana Jaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;afar Make-up: Rei Tan Models: Daniel Ansett, Jessica Burgess, Irina Bondar Stocklist: Depression, Cineleisure Orchard, #03-05A New Look, 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard, #B2-04/05 H&M Singapore, Orchard Building, 1 Grange Road
On Daniel: Black superhero blazer, $280.00, black lame shorts, $110.00, Depression, black patent shoes, $79.90, H&M. On Irine: Black plastic pocket dress, $179.00, Depression, gothic studded peep toes, $69.90, black metallic bow clutch $29.90, New Look.
On Jessica: Black hoodie with extra long sleeves, $159.00, black maxi skirt, $199.00, Depression. T-bar black heels, $69.90, New Look.
On Daniel: White plastic pocket trim shirt, $79.90, black lame shorts, $100.00, Depression, black patent shoes, $79.90, H&M. On Jessica: Black cape shirt, $220.00, Depression, zeno print leggings, $79.90, black glitter suedette heels, $89.90, black croc metal clutch bag, $39.90, New Look.
On Irine: Grey circle shirt with pointed shoulder, $169.90, black ďŹ&#x201A;are pants, $195.00, silver glitter clutch, $59.90, dark grey silver strap heels, $89.90, New Look. On Jessica: Black irregular neckline dress, $230.00, Depression, black suede boots, $129.90, lace box mink bag, $53.90, New Look.
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Going Against
The Mainstream GOING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS: DJs djB (left) and Brendon P will entertain the crowds at Future Bound with music genres that they have a passion for.
0DQ\ SHRSOH PD\ EH PLVWDNHQ WKDW HOHFWURQLF PXVLF RQO\ FRPSULVHV 7RS UHPL[HV %HQMDPLQ /LP GLVFXVVHV ZLWK WZR ORFDO '-V DERXW WKHLU WKRXJKWV RQ WKH DEVHQFH RI DQ XQGHUJURXQG PXVLF VFHQH LQ 6LQJDSRUH ONCE in a blue moon, a music event attempts to rise above the saturated clubbing scene to expose Singaporeans to a wider range of electronic music. Midnight Shift is a budding local music events and label company which strives to bring electronic music of the highest quality to our shores. On Saturday February 25th, they will kick-start their series of events for the year with the ‘Future Bound’ party at Velvet Underground, Zouk. Joining a lineup of both local and international DJs, as well as a video performance artist from Mauritius and a local violinist, are DJ Brendon P, an industry veteran whose career spans more than 30 years, and Zouk resident DJ djB.
On the local crowd’s current music preference for Top 40 songs:
to the strong presence of mainstream radio and MTV.
Brendon: There has never been a significant music culture that’s been drawn from our societ y. Unlike in the US and Europe where the music culture comes from within, here it’s a culmination of external factors—look at the influence of K-pop now. People who are exposed to the Top 40 list alone do not have the luxury of time and energy to learn about music beyond the norm.
Even if you play the highest quality music tracks, the kids are still not going to listen to you—they will just leave and move to another club that suits their taste. It’s not like before when people are really passionate about the music or interested to check out the DJ. .The trend has really shifted.
We also lack opportunities for the younger generation to learn about music, for example an underground radio station or underground faculty parties. It’s hard to educate them because some people don’t know where to begin, while others are afraid to ask outside of their circle and do their research.
Expectation versus reality: djB: Long gone is the quality underground music. Everything now is commercialised, and it’s not just a local problem but a global crisis. Of course we have places like Berlin where the underground scene is still present, but generally things have become commercialised due
The impact of technology on the music scene: djB: Technology has made music making much more accessible now. Even a 16-year-old kid can produce a music track with a computer now. When you make things so simple, it spoils the true meaning of the trade. In retrospect, I had to work multiple jobs just to earn the money to buy a piece of vinyl which cost $15. Evidently, I went through the hard path compared to the younger generation now. Another reason why the quality of music is in its current state is because people don’t cherish music itself as much as before. A music record used to be a collectible, an item which holds much value. But now because it’s easily available
PHOTO | MIDNIGHT SHIFT
Midnight Shift Contest
Midnight Shift is giving away complimentary passes to Nanyang Chronicle readers to be a part of this music event. Simply email rsvp@mnshift.com with the subject line: ‘NTU Chronicle’ for complimentary entry to Zouk on Saturday, February 25th before 11pm. Limited to the first five readers who RSVP and receive confirmation. for download on the Internet, it has instead become a disposable item.
Obstacles faced on the job: djB: It’s not just about having fun and playing whatever music you want, or getting free drinks and hooking up with girls. In fact, life as a DJ is totally opposite. It doesn’t matter what kind of music you like— at the end of the day it is like any other 8 to 5 job. You have a responsibility for maintaining
the club’s earnings, and you need to answer to higher management. Brendon: It’s a lot of hard work, and heartache too at times, because when you work for a large organization there are a lot of rules and other governing factors to be wary of. This may eventually have an impact on your creativity. One also has to keep abreast of the current happenings, and be able to see and plan for the future. There’s a lot of constant research to be done in order to make things better.
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spotlight
Writing with Belief
Kyung-Sook Shin $15.95 at Kinokuniya Published by Vintage Books
PLEASE Look After Mom tells the story of
CYRIL Wong has been the recipient of the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award and the Singapore Literature Prize. Verena Tay has acted, directed and written for English theatre for more than 25 years, and is currently working on her first book of short stories.
On their philosophy and passion for writing: VT: As I experience life, various images, happenings and people jump out at me. I mull over these elements and they inevitably cohere as stories that demand to be expressed in the form of fiction or plays. So I write to release the pressure of stories that build up within me. CW: The desire to speak out about the unspeakable is what drives my energies to write. I have no fixed philosophy of creating art or writing; it just happens. The difficulties I face are when others try to repress me, directly or indirectly. So if there is a philosophy, it is about fighting to be heard, for the right to express one’s true voice.
On their creative journey during their university days: VT: While doing my undergrad years and my first MA, I was still young and exploring what I could do. In 1986, after an unsuccessful spell with poetry writing, I started getting involved in theatre in a national context. That was when my journey in theatre really started. It was the explosive growth of Singaporean theatre during the 1980s and 1990s that benefited my generation of theatre practitioners.
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BOOKS PLEASE LOOK AFTER MOM (Fiction)
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CW: My creative journey in university has been one big adventure. Both Singaporean and foreign writers have taught me how to read my own work better. They have also encouraged me to express my life experiences in gut-wrenching ways, and that has been most cathartic and fulfilling.
On what the future holds for them: VT: I’m working on my first book of short stories that hopefully will be published by BooksActually by the end of 2012. I’m also working on my first novel.
a family’s search for their mother after she goes missing at a Seoul train station. The original story by Korean author Kyung-Sook Shin sold over a million copies when it was published in 2008, and was only translated to English last year by Chi-Young Kim. 69-year-old Park So-nyo gets separated from her husband at the crowded train station while travelling to visit their children. During their search, the other family members begin to understand their relationships with the family matriarch. The story is told in a four-chapter arc with each chapter representing the viewpoint of a different family member— daughter, son, husband and So-nyo herself.
The Obamas: A Mission, A Marriage (Non-fiction) Judi Kantor $31.70 at Kinokuniya Published by Penguin Books Ltd
On advice for aspiring writers: VT: Keep re-writing. Once you think you’re ready, find opportunities for others to critique your writing. Revise even more. Next, find avenues to showcase and publicise your work. Exploit the Internet if you can, especially since youths are pretty tech-savvy. CW: Read all kinds of literature, both local and foreign— only then can one grow as a writer. Also, the greatest obstacle is fearing what other people think of one’s interest in the arts, or one’s form of expression. One should express without fear. Worr ying about other people only makes life not worth living.
Important lessons to take away from their workshops: VT: The world around you is full of material that you can mine, process and use in your writing. Yet when writing, you are not recreating Nature, but evoking a sense of Nature in the minds of your readers. So you need to learn how to choose the appropriate words to suggest these images and put across what you wish to say about the world. CW: One should always seek feedback from critical sources or critic-friends whose opinions can be trusted in the long term. Authenticity is important too. Always write with a desire to say something new about one’s lived experiences, so that poetry, in the process of writing it, may teach the poet something new too.
THE Obamas may seem like it was written to pave the way for the President to his re-election this year. It is not an invalid thought – indeed author Jodi Kantor, a New York Times journalist, offers justification for many of President Obama’s policies. A New York Ti me s W h ite Hou se Correspondent’s independent project, The Obamas narrates the family’s experience in settling at the White House. From life prior to Obama’s election in the fall of 2008 to August 2011, the book tells the story of the President’s political career and his wife’s role in the White House. Kantor’s narration of Obama’s ideological and personal development as a politician has the capacity to bring the perception of Obama closer to reality. She reveals that during his term, he appears to wear out slowly as age catches up with him. However, he remains optimistic, probably even over-optimistic about the Conservatives’ motives to undermine his presidency.
So-nyo is described as a dedicated mother and wife. From her home in a rural village, she quietly takes care of the household while her husband goes off pursuing his interest in traditional Korean drums, and regularly sends packages of homemade food to her children living in Seoul. Through the family members’ memories with So-nyo, readers will feel a sense of injustice for her. Her successful city-dwelling children have no time for her, and her husband only sees her as someone to do the chores for him. The undertones of cherishing your loved ones before they are gone resonate loud and clear. One also cannot help but feel a little pity for So-nyo’s family who only realise her importance when she is no longer around. Reading the book can be a bit confusing as the chapters alternate among first, second and third-person perspectives. While this could have been a literary device used by the author on purpose to create different emotional distances, it felt rather unnatural to read at times. However, the use of the unconventional second-person perspective does have some redeeming points. It creates a feeling of self-admonishment that makes the anguish in the daughter’s and father’s chapters more believable to the reader. The author strives to create a poignant ending by drawing parallels between So-nyo and the Holy Mother as all-sacrificing mothers. Far from being effective, it feels rather contrived. The book also could have done without the epilogue. Despite its shortcomings, Please Look After Mother is still a well-narrated tale and worth a read, as it reminds readers that life is too short to take your loved ones for granted.
-WONG YUN LUM
The one takeaway from the book lies within Kantor’s depiction of his personality. Obama is clearly an intellect and a charmer, as well as a capable leader who knows how to motivate. However his heart often gets in the way of his political work; he despises the hard-lined Republicans and gets frustrated over the Conservatives’ insistence on challenging the truth of his birthplace and religion. Ultimately, he is also human, with desires and a limited patience. Kantor’s narration of Michelle Obama’s conflicting roles as First Lady, mother, and wife is insightful. The role of being a First Lady to such an emotional and idealistic Barack Obama is challenging – she is described as one who puts the President’s mind back on track but often gets in the way of objective policy making. This tendency makes Michelle an “unelected influential figure” in the White House. Even more interesting is the difficulty the First Lady faces in coming into terms with her roles and ideals. As a First Lady, she is expected to fit into the White House’s Public Relation strategies, while having her own ideals to follow at the same time. Michelle is depicted as a strong-willed lady with fierce political determination, with a strong desire to make real political contribution when she appears in campaigns. This quality unexpectedly turns out to be an invaluable advantage to the President when he feels like backing down at times. The Obamas may appear slightly overdramatized. However, it is a good source of retreat from the overly crafted political showings. Obama’s over-confidence in his aide, as well as his optimistic personality sheds some light on his down-to-earth and real character. It is a well-written mix of biographical, political and romance narrative that deserves significant amount of attention.
-BRIAN LEONAL
BOOKS FROM KINOKUNIYA
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PLAY SPRING AWAKENING 3â&#x20AC;&#x201D;26 FEBRUARY 2012 DRAMA CENTRE THEATRE
A FT ER the cur tain call, artistic director and one half of theatre company Pangdemonium Adrian Pang stepped forward to address the audience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will not use this opportunity to complain about the lack of funding,â&#x20AC;? he said. With a limited budget and a cast of budding local talent, Pangdemoniumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adaptation of Spring Awakening, a Broadway musical which won eight Tony awards, beat all odds to emerge triumphant. St a y i n g f a i t h f u l to the original script, Spring Awakening tells the story of a group of teenagers growing up in Germany, 1892. Tack ling taboo ideas like teenage pregnancy and abortion, physical violence and, of course, sex, Spring Awakening is not your typical coming-of-age story. Wendla (Julia Abueva) is on the cusp of womanhood but clueless about the birds and t he bees. Her ma le counterpart Melchior (Nathan Hartono) is intelligent and idealistic. Unhappy with the oppressive nature of society, he rebels against the status quo. His best friend Mortiz (Eden Ang), lazy and less bright, discovers dark urges that distract him from school. Together with their peers, they go through a turbulent process of self-discovery, exploring their own bodies and identities. T h e Pa n gd e mon i u m
Sexual Awakening PHOTO | PANGDEMONIUM
production team did a stellar job with the re-creation of late 19th-century Germany. The set resembled a Gothic church complete with stained glass windows, and the cast donned convincing costumes. Li ke t he acclaimed Broadway adaptat ion , Pangdemoniumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of German playwright Frank Wedekindâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s controversial play included contemporary elements. The cast sported moder n ha i r st yles, a nd m ic rophone s we r e a l so incorporated to complement the rock musical format.
This served as a device that emphasised the bridging of the past and the present. It proved to be hit-andmiss as the microphones impeded movement at times during scenes like The Bitch of Living where the cast could have been more expressive without them. Singaporean jazz singer Nathan Hartono and Filipino songstress Julia Abueva turned in solid performances as the lead characters. His croon charmed the audience, and the melancholic s on g L e f t B e h i n d w a s
undoubtedly Hartonoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best performance. While uneasy at times, the stage debutant remained convincing as the rebel Melchior. Abuevaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portrayal of Wendla was riveting and her voice shined as she belted out songs like The Word of Your Body and Whispering to much applause. The rest of the cast also performed well, including Rebecca Spyker man and Rachel Marley, playing Isle and Martha respectively, showing off their vocal chops on several songs. Theatre veterans Adrian Pang and
MUSIC PARALYTIC STALKS of Montreal (Experimental Rock)
Paralytic Stalks is the 11th album to be produced in the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15-year career.
A MASSIVE disappointment is how one would describe A mer ican rock band of Mont r ea lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ne w a lbu m , Paralytic Stalks. Despite employ i ng the same musical style of capturing disharmonious notes in single tracks, which was a feature in their 2008 album Skeletal Lamping, the band seems to have strayed away from their original pleasant combination of disagreeing melodies.
MEGA DISAPPOINTMENT: Paralytic Stalks is possibly the worst album ever from the band.
of Montreal has come a long way since its inception in 1997, having had to deal with constant changes in the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lineup in the last ďŹ fteen years.
Even with the frequent introduction of new talents, founding member Kev in Barnes has been the sole contributor to the songwriting aspect of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s albums,
PHOTO | INTERNET
starting with 2005â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Sunlandic Twin s wh ich earned favourable reviews from critics. That album delivered unforgettable songs like
Candice de Rozario played their multiple roles with consummate ease. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e rawness of the cast still showed at some points. They could not cope with the heavier rock songs and the music sometimes overpowered the vocals. Luckily, it was saved by amazingly choreographed stunts which injected much more energy. T h e D r a m a T h e at r e was not the ideal venue as the sheer size of the stage reduced the level of intimacy desired, and the positioning
of characters in some scenes could have been improved. Despite these setbacks, director Tracie Pang still manages to make full use of the theatre. The depth of the stage allowed for some great juxtaposition, and even managed to have the set change without interrupting the ďŹ&#x201A;ow of the play. Pa ngdemon iu m add s another impressive work to their repertoire. Both gutbusting and heart-wrenching, Spring Awakening is one emotional rollercoaster not to be missed. -KOK YUFENG
Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games and The Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crashing Us, which provided the indie audience with memorable hooks. Since then, there has been a shift in focus on a distorted marriage of poetry and noise. Unfortunately, this has not quite worked out, and the quality of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music has hit rock bottom with Paralytic Stalks. The only track worthy of mention out of nine songs, is the single Dour Percentage. The f lute introduction gives an ethnic feel to the song, but it does not feature in the main bulk of the song until much later, which once again attests to the indecisive nature of the album. This is a problem that Barnes deďŹ nitely has to resolve in future albums. The remaining portion of the track feels like an unsuccessful attempt at pop-
rock, given the use of the genreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s typical four chord progressions. The cadential chord that the song ends on creates a sense of relief that the pandemonium has ended. Of t he ot her t r ac k s , Spiteful Intervention sounds li ke a complex mess of instruments that do not agree with each other, and the watered down Wintered Debts does not provide any solid melody to sing along to. The rest of the album is a disaster saved only by the consistent quality of poetry in Barnesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; songwriting. Paralytic Stalks could be the fork in the road in Barnesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; career. The frontman offers a magnificent stage presence but if he takes on this confused identity in future productions, it might not help to propel the band far in its future aspirations.
-MARK LEONG
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reviews
FILMS TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY SPY THRILLER Gary Oldman, Colin Firth 127min
SPY movies often involve sleek cars, svelte women, and stupendous action sequences. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (TTSS) uses none of these as baselines for its appeal. Instead it is a movie about the slow-paced but high-stakes ballet of international espionage. While most viewers may ďŹ nd themselves consistently engaged by the intriguing theme of information warfare, TTSSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weak plot may prevent many from being fully absorbed by it. Set in the 1970s during the Cold War, TTSS focuses on top members of British intelligence agency MI6, dubbed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Circusâ&#x20AC;?, as they try to gain the upper hand on information gathering against the Soviet Union. Although espionage has traditionally been a slow-acting and cautious process, one of the Circusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s members has been promoting a supposedly â&#x20AC;&#x153;foolproofâ&#x20AC;? method for gaining top-secret Russian intelligenceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;relying on a Soviet asset he has acquired through an operation dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Witchcraftâ&#x20AC;?. Circus high-ranking member George Smiley (Gary Oldman) and his boss â&#x20AC;&#x153;Controlâ&#x20AC;? (John Hurt) are not convinced by the methods, dismissing the suggestion as unreliable.
OLD IS GOLD: Gary Oldman has been nominated for an Oscar for his role as Smiley.
Soon after, a series of events causes both Smiley and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Controlâ&#x20AC;? to be ousted from leadership. The latter then dies of old age. Smileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s planned retirement is halted by shocking news: a Soviet mole may have been planted within Circusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership. Determined to know the truth, Smiley begins his hunt for the traitor.
PHOTO | INTERNET
The movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allure is largely down to Oldmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stellar performance. The elderly Smiley uses few words to break his suspects down, forcing them to spill their secrets by the overwhelming gravity of his presence. Smileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face is rich with character and nuance which express his character vividly. While at times stoic, his portrayal is full of
depth and gives the audience an insight into the invisible but furious workings of Smileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind. It also this spectacular performance that earns the actor an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Smileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right-hand man Peter Guillam, brings a solid performance and youthful energy to a show whose main protagonist is an elderly man. Academy Award-winner Colin Firth also delivers in a supporting role as deputy chief of the Circus, Bill Hayden. As one of the suspects, he adds a level of tension and suspicion to the investigation. The tension of the movie is expertly handled. By building a convincing world where distrust and half-truths are givens, director Tomas Alfredson immerses the audience into the murky world of espionage. This tone of mystery is effectively contrasted by brutal scenes of human disembowelment, as well as playfully mundane ones like the swatting of a ďŹ&#x201A;y in the car. It is this precise control of tone that keeps the viewer constantly engaged. However, TTSSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s convoluted plot could have been improved. There are at least 10 important characters but their names ďŹ&#x201A;y by so quickly that you barely have time to keep track of them. Furthermore, the plot makes no attempt to tease you with clues or thrill you with a quick pace. It plods on evenly, almost gently, but the consistent build-up only leads to an anti-climactic revelation. Though the plot may fail to bring complete fulďŹ llment, the sheer amount of craft in the acting and directing of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy more than makes up for its weaknesses. An excellent adaptation of a pretty dense novel, it should leave most viewers more than satisfied.
-BENJAMIN MOEY
MORE STATS THAN BALLS AND BATS: Moneyball is not your typical sports movie, but it still manages to thrill.
MONEYBALL SPORTS DRAMA Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill
133min
BASEBALL is the kind of sport that is not as accessible as its other athletic contemporaries like basketball or soccer, partly because it is mainly played in the US. One can sit through an entire game of baseball without really knowing what is going on other than keeping track of the score and number of home runs.
Similarly, Moneyball is the kind of show that appears well out of your depth if you do not know your baseball trivia inside out. Based on Michael Lewisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s non-ďŹ ction bestseller Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, it follows baseball team Oakland Atheleticsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and fresh Yale graduate Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) as they attempt to create a winning team on a shoestring budget by using computer analysis. This is not a typical sports ďŹ&#x201A;ick where an underdog team strives to overcome the odds. It will not make a baseball fan out of you either, and may likely disenchant you
PHOTO | INTERNET
from the game. Driven by hard statistics and cold numbers, Moneyball unfurls from a sludgy start into a brisk trot that continues throughout the movie. The action takes place in ofďŹ ces and behind closed doors instead of on the ďŹ eld, where players stay as a team just because they fulďŹ ll a statistical function. The ďŹ lm boldly makes the point that hard work and dedication, two important factors of any sporting victory, are secondary in Major League Baseball, and players are traded as freely and pragmatically as baseball cards. It is a tough and sinewy ďŹ lm on the science and business of baseball, trimmed of any fat of romanticism about the sport.
Given that it was scripted by formidable duo Steven Zaillian (Schindlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s List) and Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network), the brisk and condensed dialogue is thoroughly enjoyable. Furthermore, it bears some resemblance to The Social Network in the way it uses the movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main subject, baseball, as a springboard to delve into deeper social issues, which in this case is the establishmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resistance to change. Brad Pitt offers a commendable Oscarnominated performance in the film as straight-talking and sharply decisive Beane. He effectively portrays the character in multi-foldsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a devil-may-care attitude that is also a veneer for a trapped turbulence of insecurity and self-doubt. Jonah Hill provides a humorous contrast with his awkward bumble of a character. He has never played a single game of baseball in his life but has devoted his time to analyzing the numbers of the game. Director Bennett Miller made sure viewers know this is not a movie so much about the sport as it is about business. While this approach may run the risk of losing the audience quickly, Miller manages to humanise the statistically driven ďŹ lm with excellent tension-filled dialogue scenes involving Pitt and Hill. One outstanding scene shows Pitt wheeling and dealing on the phone with managers of other baseball teams, as he spits out the playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names with no more attachment to them as a stock trader would with stocks. Stripped of clichĂŠ melodrama typical of a sports movie, Moneyball has nary a scene of the actual game being played. Without much opportunity to understand the game itself, this may prove difďŹ cult for non-baseball fans to adjust to the ďŹ lmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s narrative. Yet just like a baseball game, the show will gradually grow on the viewer as it progresses. Similarly, while it is difďŹ cult to completely understand the technical jargon of the movie on the ďŹ rst viewing, one will nevertheless be compelled to watch till the last inning.
-NG TZE MIN
Ծၰսቛᅥ üü ृ ၁
ྔ
ϳঢ়ේഡ֬࿗ഺƥࡌൂݝ၉ ࢇིᡑ ᅭමࡈĶИ֨
ᇌdອๆҔ
ሩׂل࿗ఀ֬ा൚ƗႼ ҉ങ࿗ᄤ࿗ཱུේഡህ ਛ၉࿗ఀᆴޱѓϳঢ়ේഡƗఊ ᇖቒս֬ჷႀᄤƥࡌƗൂݝ ၉è ЮИؚϳঢ়ේഡ֬࿗࣐ྡྷ ਛןҷƗࢹݛ൜ႼӘݝ၉Ͻ ಱເиఖๆཱུ֬ჺഺࠊƗ ۾ᄂၰ༶ॢޱևᄤࡌৡè ಱເᄤࡌৡࡍ۾ܛ ሌྖ࿗༤Ɨ҉ൺບࢿۋಧè ൏Ɨ۸ಭෲൠи༨ၐçռ೨ ְ҉Ⴏሸ࠴ຢӼƗढ़ၢ ϣᆊཻ൏࡞߄ᄤ࿗၃ഏè ՕບƗ၀Ⴜ࿗ಱເේഡٵ Ⴏۡݝè၀ѝ൜ህࡌѰે Ⴜঢ়࿗ཱུޚᄀƗၢफ֫ ಥࡌৡӼئ֬ٵႯè ྰ؇ྖয়࿗၉࠰֬ࡈৈ ჷЮռෟህ၉Ɨ֓ॐੵ֥ህ ේ֬ٵႯދाޱƗᄤںଢ֬ ᆭԂ༶ƗबϳԢේഡè නƥõ֙ԡ߽बህේഡ ᇁཟ฿မේഡ֬ഺࠊèö Ы֥฿မݝේഡഺࠊ֬ޱ
ےཟ൏Ɨࡈৈѝ൜ේഡߕႼ ሸ࠴֬ށƗиഺࠊഏ֬ ሸႵၢࠪႽ֬ϻè ܼࣗՕƗࡈৈߕ࿑ᄻ ህᄤࡌৡèනƥõ༦ߒᄤ ࡌৡህƗႀເԩਛढ़ၢിలၢ ບƗߕढ़ၢЁલࡌٺ༇Ɨ၀ ढ़ၢႼئ۾൏࡞ϻࡌಭèö ၉١ƗႼҼ҉ ئƐ֬ ࿗ѝ൜҉൨႒ህᄤේഡৡ ֬ഺࠊè ಱເးᄤ࿗၃çॢບࠊ ၢࠪේഡ֬ࠊᆴ࡞ಃ֫ ޠѰ٫ၥൠè দሸԵѳ༩၉࠰֬ਦࡋ߹ ѝ൜ಝؚේഡ֬ߓࣩçനШ ְսᇇഏ֥ےનၰƗ֓ߕ ႀເཟࡌ҉ؾ൨႒၉۸ಭህ ᄤේഡৡ֬ഺࠊè ࡋ߹නƥõህᄤේഡ֬൏ ްƗᇁႼ֥ો۸ᇢଓғࡵ֥ ںଢƗၢދཔ֬൏࡞ ҉ܛèö ႀՕƗ҉ህᄤ࿗ཱུ֬ࣔڿ ၀୨ᄂોๆӐϡദັ׀ٙህ ࡌთ࿗ཱུè ఊങඛ࿗ᄼႀເںଢ း౷ߴࡌህؾϳঢ়ේഡè
၉١Гᆪਛ֬ށ۾Ԁህ๏ ࡸƗ၉١ᄼࡌৡႼࢧށ ࡚ࣩ֬ߓƗ՝ؾۡ࿗༤ሸ फྦè ཱུ١ѝ൜Ɨ࿗ഺᇁህ၉۸࿗ ఀࠎ֬ؒ۾൏࡞ःϳঢ়ේഡ֬ ཊཧಙհᄤè ၉ϵ֬ჷႀЎচࣈల١֬ ॐਏç҉൨႒ේഡഺࠊç༦ ߒህᄤࡌৡࠎႀເ༶۸࿗ఀး Ԣؾੇݚшϳঢ়ේഡְè ᆊཻ࿗ഺϳঢ়ේഡޱƗህේ ߽֬ࠖࢃ၎ಥ҇ްۺଇ֍ഏ ֬࿗ഺè ᆻ֫ྒ໕֬ൺ٧֬࿗ഺ ࠩ฿ಱເේഡനേ٫ӏຢ ആƗ၀ેႼ࿗ഺႀເދ൰Ⴝç ਪउཔؾϳঢ়ේഡè ԩՕᆴບƗЮИߕؚӐఀህ ᄤේഡ֬࿗࣐ྡྷਛןҷƗम սئඛ࿗ᆾõ١ѓö ࿑ᄻේഡ֬൵းჷႀè ఊ࿗ᄼѝ൜ႀເ༦ߒሸ Ⴕഺࠊçཟးؓਆሸഭ؆৲ç फ֫ේഡލٵয়ְჷႀƗؾቚ Ԣਛࡆ࿊ህේഡ֬बè ቀ֬দනƗսҍٺ࿗ഺߕ ႀເමࡌৡғϳԢේഡ֬è
ହսේഡׂ!ฝԢࠤଇಭ
ཱཱིིࠤ ֗ቄໆսཟ ࡈৈĶИ֨
֥
ׂ!ฝԀٝ֬ ࿗Ɨ҉نཊ၉ ໑༼ഺࣣӏᄤฝୄ֗ቄ ࠤè֗ቄࠤ֬١൛ თᇠ҉Ɨಥಭ҉Ⴕ֫ ၢށఌ֬ဋ݂è ჷদᆊ໑༼ഺࢨਦ߰ ԓƗႉਟฉ໑֬ুϷè ᄤЮཱུၟࣣ႖၃ਛلൌ لƗᆴఴᄤฝ)Ɠཊ ᄤ֬;\]LMV\ )K\Q^Q\a +MV \ZM ႖၃èᆴޱѓϳబ֥ ׂ!ฝࣣ႖ႉਟฉ໑è õफ֫ॵޚƗ ֬ႂৈເւদვৈè ၀ޚڢܛᄤᆊ۸ ࡇߕࡆܛ࿊ማ౷ሸ࠴ ֬ྜྷಆèöः؇ࠖ྇თ
ლݻ࿗ᄄ࠰لഺѬಊ ѝ൜༗ຳሸ࠴၀ཥਦ༼ ഺᆊဩ࡛Ԃሸ࠴֬ཟè ࣉ ਦ ༼ ഺ ၟ ᄤ AW]\]JMഏᄢਛӘ ݝ۸ ൱ƗఊᇖЎচਛࠤྔ ࠶్֬ࢤӸèཟݝᆊ ۸ขϣ֗ࠤ֬ঀৈთ սࡌٺཡè ᆊཻ൱սҍٺٺ ཡሸԾ֬ࠤٌ֗èႵ ਦ༼ഺကࣵԢ֬൴ٌ ӲເKZMI\Q^M [\Z]UUQVOƗ ࢹࠤލԾၰ൴ٌ\IXXQVO ދXQIVWၢࠪܥᲄ֬֗ቄ ൴ٌè +ZMI\Q^M [\Z]UUQVOދ Եٌ֬֗ս҉པèྔ ֬൴ٌࢃࠤ٩ᄤሤ ഏƗᄤౝཆഏռྡྷ࣐ދ [\Z]UUQVOè
ਦ༼ഺಱເᆊဩ֬֗ ٌиࢧ҉ൺआඖƗ൴ढ़ ၢᄤౝཆഏሸႵռƗ೨ Ɨവᇇϣ൴ᅮ٘ݝদ ֗Ʀሸ࠴֬൴ܛሩሸ ࠴֬ྖ౭ދႂৈ֬ࢲቄሸ Ⴕ֬Ϭè õ҉ๆғèö ਦ ༼ഺಱເሸ࠴֬࠶్ߕ҉ ܛՉඊè༗ຳࢃদႼ ۾Ⴜғ߆֬ಭދ၉ఖက ࣵƗ࣐ۆᆊ۸ྔ֬࠶్è ਦ༼ഺѝ൜ಭи ࢧႼԾၰƗढ़߽ቚ֬۾ ށƗၢาၰᄤཱུჺୄ֬ қ๖֗ቄੇྡྷ۪౾দ༒ႋ ၉è ਦ ༼ ഺ ၀ ᄤ ֬ AW]\]JM൱ഏഏᄢྔ࠶ ్֬ࢤӸƗϣ֗ࠤ֬ঀ ৈთսࡌٺཡè
ׂ!ฝ֬ਦ߰ԓ༼ഺ؆า֬ࠤٌ֗༒ႋਛ҉ങ࿗ഺ ݂֬è ണႜdӮढ़ᄖ ਦ༼ഺಱເ֗ቄࠤ ቒᇞးး൫٩ے౭Ɨ
ണ್౭ےƗғ֗Ԣށႂ ৈèྔٌ֬֗ᅀ็ਛ൱फ
ཹݛƗ۾၉ᇜႼ༒ႋ৶ ֬Ӷཊ١൛èၢྔ֬١ٌ দጲ൫၉൵۪ Ɨшಝ֗ ቄԢ҉၉ဩ֬ےफè দሸ܄Ӹ༩֬ߢሷ ݾනƥõਦໆԓ༼ഺ֬ ཟᆻ֫ۺეܤ৪Ɨ ֬࣡റ႒ئئۅ࿗ ༤֬èཟሇڥਦ༼ഺढ़ ၢ҉ؕႼ௬Ɨᄤࠤ ֬൞ࢿৡ֗Ԣ၉ๆèö ਦ༼ഺѝ൜ൌ෦ ൏ा൚࿗֗ࠤƗؕؕ࿊ ࿊֗ቄਛൌè ൏ႀເ܄ቛܸ֬༩ ٌࣣӏਇ༤֗ቄࠤƗ ၀ٌྡྷཟሸ௬ ֬èࣉႮማ౷ ཟƗᄤ܄ቛેႼᆊીٕ લ֬༶ދЊລ൏࣌ࡍٺ ਇ༤Ɨ၀ကࣵԢྔ֬֗ ቄ൴ٌè Ѱ҉ཟးᄤขഏѝ ဍƗᇁؚႂৈЗሩ၉ᇜ ಪӬè༗ຳᄤႼ३֬൏ ްढ़ၢ҉ؕကࣵƗѰ௬ ሸ࠴è
26
7+( 1$1<$1*
ሕၣսႺྡྷ
ᐜĶИ֨
ඪ֨ሕၣ ༦ ᇢ߷ ࡈৈ Ķ И֨
ເ
ࣉލඪƗ. 8Q\ *]QTLQVOएϾ֬ሕၣ սႺྡྷ൵ᄤӐչϫൌૣ ֬ඪ֨ഏ࣐ྡྷèᆊѝဍႼ ߄ϝ֬ഏᆛƥႼদሸᇖ ݚം།֬Ӑçদሸᇖױ݃ݚ ᅧࢅಭၣඓ֦֬ҫࠌ ၢࠪହս֬ಭƗౖؾቒ۾ޱ Ⴜᇧฅࠥѝဍè ᆊӍႵಭ૽ཿ߽एϾ֬ ඪᇖሕၣႼӘݝϝఫଇᇄᄂᆇ ދѝဍᆇƗ֬ࣉؾᇽõ൞ ࡞ႼπƗ໘Ꮵöܤ৪սࡌ པ߁ܸߏ฿è
ହսᅥ൝ ےಪ౭ ହဣয়܄ս࿗ߋࠊཿ߽ ֬ ଇᇄᄂᆇҜთਛõᅥ ൝Ɨࠊ৶ສᅱö֬ाӍརᆴ ၉ƗᇁࡵϬሩުন႗݂ ੍֮Ɨਠӵ݂֬نè ൵๎սਊ֬ߋࠊཿ ߽ሕၣսႺྡྷᇽ༣ӮवࢴƓ ෦ƔනƗთႼ֬ହսѝဍ ᆇ၉ѝဍƗಥྜྷ֥ۡےè
නƥõҜࡍᆊࠊ ၉۸ࣣ֬ށޚမƗै֥и ֬ᇖ࿗ഺਇ൏ીा ྖƗଔଇ֬ྖèö ׂවҜࡍሕၣ֬ৠ߷ၕ නƥõҜࡍሕၣ֬ےൺ٫к କྠಿ֬èಝး༔഼൏ ࡞ދණ૫Ɨࣣ֓ݝਛئޚ֬ ਇƗ୍֙ᇛᄤܻᇠఴѝ ဍ൏Ɨ๗֥֬ᅮഹƗ୍߽ ཟး၉ᆷѝဍ༶ಇèö
ाӍӐ ༒ႋဋ Ⴕᇖݚം།߆༸३ᇖၣඓ ाنႼདྷ܋යւদ֬õړ Ӷཝöढ़නϣཊӍ֬ఞٹ སቒۡèӐչ ૣӐ֬ ૣ ދӐ֬ړƗሩႂৈܻދ ᇠ֬ߒഹᄤ३ᇖ٭ᄈèྔഏ ರ֬ӮဇቀӷቜᲳϷᑃ ཊӍඪ֨ƗቚເᆊሕၣսႺ ྡྷ֬ाଥè
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CHRONICLE 08
ହဣয়܄ս࿗ߋࠊཿ߽֬ ଇᇄᄂᆇҜთਛõᅥ൝Ɨ ࠊ৶ສᅱö֬ाӍརᆴ၉è ണႜdᅭධࢴ
ᇽ
ଇເûඇ౭߆ၰüׂ֬ ࣄݚඇٌսೞᄤ ହဣৣฝᄣ؎ाೞèႵହսᇖ࿗߽ᇽϾ֬ᆊ རೞൠ༒ႋਛඛ ᇖཱི࿗ቍؙఴদҜೞèೞൠ௦ ۾দሸྔࡍ௨ඇٌཿ߽֬ඇٌࡌƗಥࣉ֬ඇ ٌսೞ۾कႼࣰᆡྦè õ࠲ఴःा൚ҜࡍႵହսቍᆵ֬ᆊརඇٌ սೞਛèö֕ѥୋԡ࠰࿗ᄄ֬ڼᄺᆩুൄනƥõᄤ ݝӐչ၉֬ਇᆴޱƗࣉჂߴদਛƌö ᆩুൄ༗ຳ֬࿗ഺܛݝиೞࠍ֫ئ۾ Жࣣ֬ݓမƗ၀՝ఊ֬Ҝೞᆇ֬ቛᇖ࿗֥҉ ങᆰൔè൏၀֬ࣉؚҜೞ࠾ეਛ֬ށ༗ ຳƗõ༗ຳࣉ֥֫ܛ၉۸ࢉརƗൗ ᇁਛଇ࿗ഺҜೞèö ቛເ၉၉རསྔࡍ௨۹ࢯؔ࿗ཱུၢࠪധ߽֬ ඇٌսೞƗԂ࿊एϾਛ ࣄ֬ჷႀ၀ᄤྔࡍ௨Ⴜ Әݝఅӵ֬߆ಭèᇽϾ١ѝ൜༗ຳເඇٌπށᆇ ֬܉ށขƗգൗਛඇٌᆊ၉ᇖ߆Եߋᄤ ྔࡍ௨çവᇇױହ׀౼֥֫ਛ݃ٞ݃è õඇٌᇠئԵၣඓ၉ဩᄤྔࡍ௨ൺ֥࿗ཱུ ࡌދӐ֬ᇞ൱Ɨ࿗ഺ၀֫ၢ՝ཱིၢඇٌເπؾށ ࡛Ԃਇ༤èö ඇٌսೞڳԛӐຬᤔႝන֨è ്ჴឣთඇٌࢹჿၟႼ ۸èಇҜࡍ܋ा ቍкиೞƗၢ၉൴ཱིሑඇ྆ۺୄಿ֬అင ሺ ཱིƗ၉एلׂ֫اଇè്ჴឣѝ൜ƥõںफ ֫ଋሺ๕྆֬҉շःಥಇ࿗ਛඇٌèö फ ֫ඇٌиࢧྰഭဨྦƗౖؾᆊ၀ෟ၉࠶ᆴӐƗѓ ഡ҉֫לװƗ၉ᆷ࡛Ԃਛ༶দè ൏ƗЮඇٌսೞԛӐ้൏ზ၀ؚᆊ֬ඇ ٌսೞۺეޯຳƗѝ൜ƥõԛШਛࣔϽ֬ඇٌ սೞƗ֬༒ႋئ۾ඇٌπށᆇƗႴఊྔࡍ௨ છদ།ၢࠪఊ٫߆ಭᇜ֬πށᆇƗ՝ށ۾ؾ ֬݃ᇖ߆ߋèö
ݚ ඇ ٌ ս ೞ ඇ ౭ ߆ ၰ
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08 CHRONICLE
ငઉ ѐࠧ൰
ग़࠶თࢤჩྔఛࠖƪ ࡈၕ ᇖѐࠧ
ࣔ
࠲ྔࡍ௨ࢤჩᇌ ؎बϣૉ฿ग़࠶ ւ್ࢤ൰ৡƗಥ࿗ഺၢ ߁ྠ൛࿗༤è Օࡀߊ՝ਇࢤൄ۾ ࡋᄕႯૉ฿ग़࠶֥ܚઠލ ൨֬܄कٵނਛս֬ ሮࣈè ԩਛᄤ۹սսሌ࿗ڰ ന৲༼࣐֬ૉ฿ग़࠶ന േƗ྿ئᇖཱི࿗၀ၟࡍ್ Օྡྷਠè ҉ࣹఴƗИᅪИ֨ਛ ࡌӐ҉ન࿗ཱུႋ࣐Q8IL֙ ࢤ࿗Ⴏक֬ڋѶèᆊ҉࣓ ಥкᆇߴཟఖ֙ԡሸ࠴ᄤ ᇖ࿗࠰ل൏၀ᅂᄤ࿗ ཱུӎ൲ݝൗႯૉ฿ग़࠶֬ ࣣမè ൏Ɨ࿗ཱུྡྷਛ ಥ࿗ഺւϷା <IJ TM\ 8+ ֥࿗ཱུ֬ࡀߊèႀ Օ Ɨ ࿗ ഺ ԩ ਛ ֫ ւ ֬ॢЮƗߕ֫ौሩދ࿗ ཱུࣀ֬Ϸାഏॢè ᆊ҉࣓ᅀࡍਛ࿗ഺඇ Ў֬ᇞਏƗߕಥ࿗ഺᄤ ഏॢ൏ٺೢਛሆၰ৶è֙ ൏ƗະકߕેႼીࠪ ߋƗ֓࿗ഺၟࣣ߽৭ ႯϷାພৡ֬֍ Ⴚ༫è кᆇಱເᄤࣉະક ീྡྷ֬൏քƗჁࠏ৶и֙
ҳǧ ອๆҔ
൏းս֫ئƗᇖ࿗ഺڕ ࣣ֫ܛఖჁࠏѰ֫״ ތτሸ࠴֬൏࡞ƪ ࡌӐ֬Ⴓкᆇ၀ ܛয়ࢺèѓᄤ࿗ཱུ ৡƗࢤൄ၀ٌ൏൏ॠॠ գ۹۸࿗ഺᄤQ8ILഏ֬ ࠊè ࿗ഺ၀ၟഏະҷ ᅺሮਟເႵƗᛔল۹۸ധ ະᅦèঊౖᆊཻ࿗ഺᆥ ༦ߒทෳྔ༾ൠ֬ ࡇƗະક֬Ⴡࠏࠎ྿҉ ીಿၥःЫϬຉ֬è ֙ಝƗкᆇѰ҉ڕಱ Q8ILԂႼ֬དྷవè ೖϷାӵ׀܆ಃք
Ⴜࢤ࿗ॢЮƗᆊ ࿗ഺУഏ҉ങڼè ၉ᆣ֬צሮਟ၀Ы Ԭհ֥ାৡƗ١ѓ࿗ഺ ҷᅺދቍᆵè ֓Ɨкᆇߕफ֫ ᆊဩ֬ࡀߊߕ໊֥ ྡྷ֬൏ࠖè кᆇफ֫ࡀߊးӵ ܆Ɨ҉ᇁ֫ॐੵ֥Q8IL֬ ႱთಓƗߕ֫നཟ֥ ྿҉ئ֬ບᄤႀුè ႼࢤҒးಙГ ܛඛሺߋғ҉߽ւۺõ မöࡀߊ֬࿗ഺشບ֬ ڼèп࣯ႋ࣐ग़࠶֬ቒ ս֬ःး١ѓ࿗ഺƗ
ಥ࿗༤Ⴜ߁֬ئ۾è ౖؾƗ҉ો၉࿗ ཱུ֬࿗ഺ֫ڼܛఖ Q8ILèᆦڰ࿗ཱུ֬࿗ഺ দሸ۹۸҉ധ߽ࢯұ֬ ࡌƗၢкᆇफ֫ೖૉ ฿ग़࠶ߕેࠪᇇսҍٺ ૽ᇠܛӼ֬ࡕ۳Ɨ േෂ֬ࡀߊᇁ߽Аا၉ ཻ࿗ഺࠍಃ܋ࢫൺࢤჩ ֬ಊ৭è ᆓؚᆊࡀߊƗкᆇಱ ເࠕЮۇᆻ֫ྔࡍ௨ ಭܤ৪თఀև֬èढ़Ɨ ࠎ྿ྡྷՕࡀߊᆴఴߕ֫ ࣣئ۾ݝॐਏދҭߊғ ܛಃ֫ᆎᆥ֬ӵ܆è
ާ߹᪫
ୱ ৬ ྔ ഺ ႋ ن ྔ છ ᆡ ၷ
ሇୱ৬ྔƗሸಝങ҉ਛা ഺèഺཧᆟၰࠤཝၢࠪ ႼƗ֨٫ӏႼၰၳ֬ҙè֓ ᆊી၉֨წၰ֬ށҙᄤቒࣔಖႋ ఖਛྔછݚᆴ࡞֬ᆡၷè ᆊఖᆡઉ൚၉໑ྔࡍ௨ࢤ൸ᄤ Ҍഏ֬ၷƥ༗ຳ৺ࢤݚލग़ቍᆵ ϣഺਠເ൞ࢿၓӈèᆊᄶӵ྿ئછ দ།ႉ၃ᆇ֬҉નƗᆾනഺ છদ།༼نଃ֬è кᆇಱເᆊӍᆡၷѰၰၳè൵ ༼Ɨ၀྿ئޚಭ҉ᆰ֨Ɨഺᆊ֨ ҙѰ҉ᇁདྷྔછݚғႼè ఊƗᇖئݚ۸׀౼၀Ⴜᆊ֨ ҙƗߕౖؾ৬ൕႲࣹƗᇁဩાთ Ⴏ١൛Ⴜཻ҉Ɨ၀ેੇԵाদèᆊ ીैদƗഺࠪႼढ़ۻЮः҉ჾ ྔછݚè ᄣদƗૌ҉႒ٺۅರࢿݚތ ֬Ɨؾ႒၉ఖٺཡèތ۾ঊƗःෟ ౼Ѡਛഺֿ֥ମ၉نݚଃ֬Ɨᆊ ֨ҙ၀҉߽ႀՕؾє֫۾ૌ໌Ɨݚ াഺ֬༤ී၀҉߽Ⴜۆєè ֙ಝƗ֬ݚಭ૽ཟးໂ߀ሸ࠴ݚ ࡌ֬ႉߋ֬ྖၰढ़ၢয়ࢺ֬è ؾᆊఖᆡၷः٘႟ਛ૽ݚ֬ݚ٫ ӏܸྖሸ࠴֬ࡌݚႉߋƗࡌݚؚ Ⴜ݉ඒےƗಥಭྒ֥ے໕è ֓ເਛማࣵᆊ֨ҙ֬ۻჾؾഋਛ ֬ݚႽၸൌ҉ٺᆻ֫֬èތ۾ঊƗ ᆊၟࣣ҉ׂ၉ྔછݚເਛ༅ ֬ۻჾؾႋఖᆡઉਛèᆴఴƗݚ၀ ເਛণᱍྉçೄܧҶְҙؾᆡї ఖদè кᆇफ֫҉ݚ႒ᆺᇾٺ౩ମ၉ ֨ҙମ၉ن༼ݚଃ֬èᆊ֬ᆡઉ ᇁ߽ഋਛދ֬ݚఞèთఊࠫሩٺі ඩ༼نଃ၉֨ҙƗ҉၉ఖ୴৶ࢃ ྔછૌنဟ݂սƗಥئ۾ಭਛࢺྔ છ֬ݚႉߋƗ၀ढ़ࣀՕգ࣐ྔ છݚᆴ࡞ܸ֬༩è
ಭ҉ᄂࢫൺࢀሄॴҼ ອ
ᄤ
ڢڢƗႼఞ֬ߓ ࣩ༶܄ቛؚսҍࡍྔٺ ௨ಭؾင٫ӏ֬è ֓ݛ၉ᆣ۸ྙఀƗๆᄤ ਢಷ༶܄ቛൌ࠲۸ཱི൏ƗႼئ ങಭ߽ᄂၰࢫൺᆊဩ၉ځ ॴҼൠୂƪ ࣔ࠲ྙఀƗИᅪႼИ֨ྔ ࡍ௨ࢀሄ၃ࠫྺྔࡍ௨֬ ࡍ್è кᆇಱເྔࡍ௨ᆴၢ ҉ᄂၰࢫൺᆊ܄ځቛႀເ फ֫ሸ࠴Ⴜ၉Ӹ؎֬࿗৬ ၀ൺݝቇࢤ֬ܛჩƗၢܛ ᄤ਼֬ށ۾პنᅡƗ҉ྺးᄤ ਢಷ༶ռè ౖؾƗؚদනᆊ՝ൠ ࢀሄ၉ູځཉྦۡƗ܄ቛ൏
࡞ӐჂԀ৶֬ॴҼƗ၉ؿ၀ ҉Ԁབྷè ֓ເਛಥؕ҉ࡌݚӋീƗ ྔࡍ௨֬ࢀሄ၃шಷၴᅀ Ӑèࣉྔࡍ௨҉ᄂၰ ࡍ್ࢀሄ၃Ɨᆊ֤ᇈಭਛ൴ؒ ಓ֬ཊཧèྔࡍ௨ᆦڰସш ౯ບিদຢӵ၉རར֬ࢀ ሄ܄Ӹè кᆇಱເྔࡍ௨֬ࢤჩთഺ ࠊߓࣩෘᄶਛྔࡍ௨ಭဨቔ Ⴑ֬༤ܿè ঊౖƗྔࡍ௨֬ഺࠊඪ Ԃ࿊ഽƗݠሷ՝ཱིݝሩ ൨֬ഺࠊƗ໘൰ৡཱི֬ ߄Ɨ၉ᆷЫ߀ޅሩè ႀՕཊքಭࢧಿၥൺ֥ ഋݤ၀ࣣ҉ఖॐမèᄤਢಷ༶ ܄ቛƗؚদන४ஊԀ҉ ֬èںଢ၀ѰેႼ՝ཱི݀ං ཱིྒྷݠ܄ቛދၱ৶ӵ֬܆
ܸࡶᆴ၉è ֓၀Ѱ҉ો۸ྍम ᆊ܄ځቛèкᆇ٧ਛ၉ଇ ࠖთሷ܄Ӹ࿗ᄄ֬࿗ഺèൺ ٧൏Ɨѝ൜Ѱ҉Ԏᆊ܄ ቛèႀເफ֫ഭ฿မࢀ ሄ܄ቛ৯Ɨތҧቛ၉ཻࠖ ఝؚၢن֬ޱᅡ၀ޚႼЁሀ ֬è၀ѝ൜ೖႼ߽ࠖܛҜ თѰຢӵ၉རࢀሄ܄ӸƗࢃ߽ ಥ٫ӏႼનቇےè ႀಭ൴ؒಓؾ౯ບিѰ҉ ӐᄀᆴҭèкᆇಱເшႼ ཻࠞ৪յേғ༒ႋ֬ྔ ࡍ௨ಭƗ৯ಙГτњሠç Ԑቇ֬ГཉГᅷދ൨֙֬܄ቛ ൏࡞èӼࢀഌढ़ᅀࡍܼ֬ য়њሠၢಥྔࡍ௨ᄤՕ ਼პτྖ܄׀ቛèཔྗႼਛᆊ ཻࠞ৪յേѓಥྔࡍ௨ ۾ಿၥࢫൺᆊ܄ቛè
ҳǧ <Z]VO
28
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CHRONICLE 08 р┤║раК
╘╛сБ░роерл▓╒╜сЙЫсЕе сДдр╖Ър┤брж│╓лр▓Зр╡Ср╕Эркар╡Ср╝Е╞ЧсЗБрнЖр╣Жр╣ЖсГЧроерл▓р╗Ар╗┐╞к█╣сЗЬреор╗М╓мроерл▓сДЗ╘АсДЗрнП╞Ч╓Лр╛ЦсИ╕ра┤сДЗ╘АсДЗ╥Йрб╣ реЙ╞Чр▓Ц╥ЙсЖ░р│ЙтАл▐МтАмр╡етАл▐БтАм╞к╨ор░Ар┤║раКр▓ербБсЖЗсЕВронсбБ╓ВрнНр╖╛р│НсЕе╙Н╞Чр▓еро│сШисЕер╡ЭрлУр╡Ч╘враЗр┤нрв║р╢Ы╞Чр╣ОсЕероерл▓ р╛ФсЗ╣┘М╞Мр╡д╤ИрвдрнНтАл█ЖтАмр╣п▀Ч├╡рл▓├╢╞ЧтАл█╝тАмр░лрпРсБЙрй╖╓мроерл▓сЗ╣┘Мр╢▒сДгрб╡╞М р╗║р░ЭсБЙ╞ероерл▓раа╓Ш╤н
р│Цр╜Ярвлр╡║р╣ОсЕе╓мро╗сВ╜рлУ╥Й┘ер╡▓р╡▓╒Х╓и ╥Щ╞М
ром╨и╞е роерл▓ ╨О ├зраа╓Ш рз│├з роерл▓ тАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ╨О╧╜╨О├зр╜Ч╙Тракр│Яр│лтАл╫┐тАмр╡ириП сВп┘М╞е роерл▓сЗ╣р╢Крж╛╘в╓ЗсВп├ираа╓Ш╒╝р│в├зр╜Ч ╙Тр▒ФрпТ├зр│Яр│лтАл╫┐тАмр▒йр╝итАл▐▒тАм╨исВп├и рвГр╖╡сВ╝╥ТриЯраИтАл▐НтАм╞ЧрбНр│НтАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ╨О╞Ч ┘С╧║рдпсДТ├и тАл▌ШтАмрзб╓бр│Нр┤ЩриП╓мсВ╣╞ЧрвГроерл▓╤н╓б р│Н╞Чр╜│раМрбЯсЗ╣╞Чр║в╙╡╞М
сЕн р╛Т сВЭ
сЕетАл╫╜тАмрз╢╞е ╘╛сБ░╞е
сВЦсАи╞е
р╗М╓и╞е рбмсБе╞е
р╣╛рб░сЖ╛р╢Ы╞е
роерл▓раа╓Ш╤н
р╗║р░ЭсБЙ ╞есЖлр╡Эроерл▓
р╗М╓и╞е
сЕетАлрм╝ргН╫╜тАм╞ербЯ╓Ш╤нр╡ПсА╕╓░╓е╓┐╥Нрм▒рл▓ р╢КриЫ╞Ч╥У┘СтАл▌ЭтАмржжрбЯри╜сБЙрл▓рн╛╞МреЭсБвсДд тАл▌ШтАмсЗЦ╧г╓Ш╤нтАл┘║тАм╙╡р╖АтАл┌БтАм╞ЧрдГр╗┤р╛║╓Лр╛Ц┘С рл▓╓мр╡П▐░╧грл▓╤нрн▓р│вржд╞М
ром╨и╞ероерл▓ ╨О├з KPMLLIZсЖлр╡Э рпТ├з роерл▓тАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ╨О ╨О├з┘Рр▒Х├зр╜Ч╙Т├зр╛Й рйИ├зр┤║╥Щр╡ириП
рбмсБе╞е
р╗║р░ЭтАл┘ДтАм╞ероерл▓рпГр│Ъ
р╣╛рб░сЖ╛р╢Ы╞е
ром╨и╞е┘б╤Урл▓ ╨О├зр╜╗р╛┐рл▓тАл┘┐тАм├зроерл▓тАл╫ЯтАм р╗МриЯ╨О ╨О├зр╜Ч╙Т├зр╛ЙрйИракр│Яр│лтАл╫┐тАмр╡ириП
сВп┘М╞е роерл▓сЗ╣р╢Крж╛╘в╓ЗсВп├ир┤║╥Щр╝ирг▒╞Ч┘Р р▒Х├зр╜Ч╙Т├зр╛ЙрйИр▒ФрпТ╓ЗсВп├ирвГроерл▓тАлр╗М╫ЯтАм риЯр▓╛сГЖр╜╗р╛┐р▓кр╢ксЗЦ╨исВп├и рвГроерл▓┘йр│НроФсЗЦ╞ЧрбНр┤Пр╜Ч╙Тракр╛ЙрйИ╞Ч тАл█ЙтАмр┤ПKPMLLIZсЖлр╡Э╞Чримр┤Проерл▓тАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ├и ┘йр│Нр║╕╤╢рйЭсДЖ тАл┘║тАмсЗЩ╞Ч╓░╓есЖлр╡Эр▓╝▀ЛрдГ реЭсБврмн╘вр╜бсВприЫ├и
сЕетАлрм╝ргН╫╜тАм╞есЖлр╡Эр▓╝▀ЛтАлсБЩ▐▒тАм╙пр▓к╘А╞ЧтАл┌ХтАм сД╝сЖлр╡ЭтАлржА▐ЪтАмсГВ▀╜рнзтАл▄мтАмриЫрн╛╞М┘Рр▒Хракр┤║ ╥Щ╥ЙсБЩ┘йр│Нр║╕╤╢рйЭ╞ЧреЭсДдсЖлр╡Эроерл▓р║в ╙╡тАл▐▒тАмсДгрбНр│НтАл╫ЛтАмсИЮ├и
сЕетАл╫╜тАмрз╢╞е ╘╛сБ░╞е сВЦсАи╞е
р╗║р░ЭтАл┘ДтАм╞е роерл▓╥╢р║гсЖЬ ром╨и╞ероерл▓╧╜╨О├з╓Ш рз│├зр╢к UT├з роерл▓тАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ╨О╧╜╨О├зр╜Ч╙Тракраар│Др╡ириП сВп┘М╞е роерл▓сЗ╣р╢Крж╛╘в╓ЗсВп├и╓Ш╒╝р│в╞ЧрбНр│Н р╢крактАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯ╨ОсБЙр░Ц╒╝сДТ├и рвГ╒╝тАл╓Ш╓м▐БтАмсЖ│╓бр│НреЭсЖЬсЗ╣╓мр║гсЗЦ╞Ч рбНр│Нроерл▓╞Чр╡ириП┘йр│Нр▒ФтАл╓м▐БтАмр╜Ч╙ТсГЧраа р│Д├и ┘йр│НтАл▌ШтАмсЗЦсЖЬ тАл┘║тАмсЗЩ╞Чр║в╙╡╞М
сВп┘М╞е тАл▌ШтАмрзб┘йр╢кр┤Хрд╛╞ЧрвГр│Яр│лтАл╫┐тАм├зр╛ЙрйИ├з р╜Ч╙ТсВпрд╛р╢ксЗ╣сБЙр╝╢рж╛╘в├ир┤║╥Щр▒ФрпТтАл▐▒тАм р╕жр╢К╨исВп├и роерл▓сВпр▓кр╢кроерд╛╞УсЗБсА╕р▓ерл▓р╣Пр│врд╛ рдГр╛в╞Ч╥ЙсВпроер╕Ер│П╞Ф├и рвГрл▓тАл┘┐тАм┘й╓ер╜│р║грзб╞ЧрбНр▒йр╢ктАл╫ЯтАм╙╡рвз р╝Х╓мрл▓тАл▐╗┘┐тАм├и тАл▌ШтАмсЗЦ┘йсВ╣╞Чрд╛р╜│раМ╞Ч┘йр│Нрл▓р╣П├ирвГ р│Яр│лтАл╫┐тАм├зр╜Ч╙Т├зр╛ЙрйИ├зр┤║╥Щрпгрдпр│ШсДд р┤Прл▓╞ЧсДгрвГроерл▓тАлр╗М╫ЯтАмриЯр│Ш╓ерл▓╤нр┤П├и рвХр┤ПтАл▐╗рл▓╓м▐Б╫ЯтАм╞ЧтАл█ЙтАмр┤ПтАл█Й▌ШтАм╞ЧсВпсЙТ р╜│╓мраМ╞ЧрвГрл▓╤н╓м╓┐╥НрклрклрбЯ╙╡ргИ▀в р│л╞Чрл▓▐╗╙╡р╢КраореЭ├и
сЗЦ р╗Ъ р╝й ╒╜ р╖А р┐Ч р┤║
─Гр╜│р╣Ур╡Э╞ероерл▓╓мрб╣реЙсЗ╣┘М─Д тАл▌ЭтАмр▓ЗтАл╪ж▐ЪтАмр▓нсБвр╗А├╡роерл▓тАл▌ктАмсВ╝┘дтАл┌▒тАм ра╗╞Ч╘АтАл╪жтАмриЫ▀╜╤Ф╙╡рмирм╡сБП├╢├ир░Кр╡У сЖКр╡е╥ЙсЖер▓Щ╓м╞ЧсБЙр╜╗роерл▓сЗЦ╓мрл▓╤░ рлЗсВ╝тАл▌ктАмр╡РрлА┘дтАлра╗┌▒тАм╞Ч╨ор┤нрлЗсВ╝р╗а р╕╝├и╓Ур╗АриЫ╨У╒░┘б╤У╞Чроерл▓тАл▌Эргг╪ВтАм сВ╣сЕР├ир░Кр╡УсЗБсА╕сЖер▓Щро│тАл╫ЯтАмроерл▓╞Чра▓ ▐│╥Й▀╜тАл╓е▐ЖтАмсЕРроерл▓╓мсВ╣╞Ч╨╕рвзрб╣ реЙ╞ЧтАлр▒Ц╪╛тАмроерл▓сБА╥Йр▓┐сБер│ПтАл╫ЬтАм├и сВпр▒йр╢ксЗ╣тАл▐БтАмроерл▓ ╧гроерл▓рж╛╓ер║грзб рвГсЗ╣тАл▌ЭтАмроерл▓╓мр╢к╓бтАл╫ЬтАм сЗЮр╛Фр░ЦсБЙтАл▌ШтАмр╢ксЗ╣тАлр╗М╫ЯтАм╨О сВприЯсЗБ┘йр│ЯтАл┘║тАмсЖ┤сБЙраОсБЙ╧╜╞ЧреЭри╜ рбН╓ШраОр╡╜╥Щ сЗ╣тАлргР╓б▐▒▐БтАм┘йроерл▓╓мр║грзб
роерл▓рпГр│Ъ
сЕетАл╫╜тАмрз╢╞е сЕетАл╫╜тАмрз╢╞е ▀Л р┐Ч сГЧ р┤║ р╝Е ▀Л р┐Ч р╝й р╜в рмй сИМ сГ╗
▀в сЖЩ сЗд
╘╛сБ░╞е сВЦсАи╞е р╗М╓и╞е рбмсБе╞е р╣╛рб░сЖ╛р╢Ы╞е сЕетАлрм╝ргН╫╜тАм╞ер╜Я╘Ароерл▓сГВр╜Я╘АсЖЬ╓Ш╞Ч╒Х сЙЫ┘Мр▓ернНсБЙ╒ШтАл╫о█етАм╞Чраорбм╓НсГВрлМр╗М╞М
╘╛сБ░╞е сВЦсАи╞е р╗М╓и╞е рбмсБе╞е р╣╛рб░сЖ╛р╢Ы╞е сЕетАлрм╝ргН╫╜тАм╞есДдсЖК╓и╥Щ╓мро│сЗ╣тАл▌ЭтАм╙╕сЗЦ╞Ч рл▓▐╗рм╗сБврнзрв╣╞ЧсЗ╣╘вржж╓м╙╡рпЭсБАсГЧрпГ р│Ър╜Ф╥╝р┤╡сДА├исВ╝╘╛сБ░╞Ч╓Урвзрм╗╙╡тАл▄ЖтАм╞Ч
р┤гсВЬd сЕнсабрд┤
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08 CHRONICLE
ვৈ ߆ၣࢲށQV""ৈဍԢ ܈ᆫᙢႂৈ߽
ເႂৈ߽ࢲൻഭ ᅡཊõቒ֬ށö ᅼѩ ĶИ֨ ᇖѐࠧ
܈
ᆫᙢѝ൜ሸ࠴ເਛ ᆊ֬ႂৈ߽Ɨ၉ ᆷࢲদГԂቒ֬ށሯ ฆƗःৼսൌ֬၇ ٝ၀ᇁैሩࡌಭԀૌ è܈ᆫᙢླྀӲƥõࣉๆ ѝဍࢹඖᆴޱƗ୍ಥԀ ીԀèö Юᄌ ރƗѥݡၣඓᇖ ྖႂৈ൰႙দਛ܈ᆫᙢࣉ ֬൵ႂৈ߽è ಝᇁཱིྟ֬ႂৈ ߽Ɨ֓܈ᆫᙢߕᆣᆣӖ ቇਛ၉۸Ͻཱི൏Ɨເఴদ ۪֬ૠཋഏਛ ൵ڋ۳۹ ၺ۪֬౾è ֙ລƗ܈ᆫᙢ၉ഭޘ ೫ཱིৣڢཔขè൵౾ ເྔ۪ûሸႵüƗۘౝሸ
֗ሸӖè၀྿ႀເݝ ࣌ᅭƗ၉ᆷ֥Ӗׂ൵۪ ౾ғཟఖদິࡁࣁജाӍ ۪౾Ɨߕ҉ິ׀ํᦦޚ սࡌڕ༦ߒ֬ྔ۪è ᆴޱƗொ֬܈ᆫᙢ ߕদւদਛྔ֬ްè ࠤሸ֗ሸӖûྔޖü Ɨ܈൛ཱི֬౩ྔ౾ڋƗ҉ Ⴕಥಭـ၉ྔè ֙ಝƗቒਾಭـඊ ཞ۪֬౾ûቒ֬ށüሸ ಝ၀ᆊႂৈ߽֬шဍ ౾è ܈ᆫᙢ֙ᆰ֨û ቒ֬ށü࣯თ٣ቊ ଇލӖ൏Ɨၟࣣ࠾Ԣ ,-57Ӗᆴ֬ޱ၉è ֙ԡ֬ሸ࠴ᄿી၀ેཟ ֥Ɨಷ൲Ӗ۪֬౾࣯ ܛᆎᆥЫ൳್֥ሌࠧᇖè फ֫ᇁးॣ୴৶ڸԢƗ ߕְ֥ܛ൳ࠍ֬è ܈ᆫᙢߕѝ൜၉ၢ
দးںྍےଢދႽ֬ܤ ৪ދᆭԂ֬ႂৈཟ ၢఴߕഏϲ ֬܈ᆫᙢƗોๆ༶ϲߴࡌ ޱƗःᄤ٣࡞ৡቛՔቛ ౾èၢൗࣣӏᄤࡌ ᇖƗಖޚങࡌދಭࡵè ֙ၱಝबಝ׀Ցಇ܄ ቛƗᄤࡌৡቚሸ࠴ׂ֬၉ ᅭሌࠧޱƗಝોๆᄤࡌ ᇖࡵ֥ଢƗ٘҉ؾᆰ֨ ތཔਛè ࣉ֬܈ᆫᙢቒ༗ຳ ֬ଔݝׂلᅭྔሌࠧ ࣗঀთսࡌࡵè ܈ᆫᙢླྀӲሸ࠴ढ़ ۸иࢧПܻ֬ಭƗၢ ԾቛԢদ֬սҍٺи ࢧഋ۪֬ے౾è ᄤႂৈ߽֬ቒޱƗ ൵۪ے౾ᅡཊ҉၉ဩ֬ ܈ᆫᙢèཱིুݬൄ၀ѝ ൜Ɨᇛ๗֥õाྖö ֬ྔቛਛè
ொ֬܈ᆫᙢߕদւদਛྔ֬ްèࠤሸ֗ሸӖûྔޖüƗ܈൛ཱི֬౩ ྔ౾ڋƗ҉Ⴕಥಭـ၉ྔè ᅽdѥݡၣඓᇖྖ ܉
ಷЮߋқੇ߽ ৈ௦ ႂৈ2]SMJW`
ڌঅქᅔ ݱӍ
ሌࠧƥõ?PMZM AW] )ZMö ۪൴ƥ +6 *4=ࡰƥõ?PMZM AW] )ZMöçõ.MMTQVOö
ᇢሓᡁ ĶИ֨
ಷ
ݩ
ݚሷ ৈ + 6 *4=-֬ྔྡྷن ಷმ֍౾ሌࠧõ?PMZM AW] )ZMöè ᇽռ۪õ?PMZM AW] )ZMö֬Ք౾ႵӐ ᆩಿދԾቛ֬èᆊ൵ု ۪ݖ౾֬ఴቄःႯਛ ࠤ֗ԢృؾႼ৶֬ႂ ƗࡍഏᇽӖᆩಿދ௭
৶ൌቇ֬ႂƗਾಭ ـ၉ྔè ບ၉൵ᇽռ ۪õ.MMTQVOöಖӶཊ ਛࢰಝ҉֬ےफè ়۪၉ϵƗ ၰࣩ٫ӏೃދႱૌè
ቀ฿দනƗՕሌ ࠧ۸པ֙Ԣ೫֬ቛ Ɨ֓ᄤ౾ڋഏഔ БƗढ़ၢս׀ӎ ൲ᄤ၉൵۪ৡ಼್ ྔჴුè Ɠƚާ߹᪫Ɣ
ሌࠧƥ õ/ZW_VƘ]Xö ۪൴ƥ .< 1[TIVL ࡰƥ õ;M^MZMTaöç õ?M 0WXM <W *MKWUM 4W^MZ[ö
ࣹົ֬.< 1[TIVL ᄤ ᄌ ಷւሩׂවᅭૠ୍ ሌࠧõ/ZW_V ]Xöߴ݉ ݚݩৈญƗሌࠧޱྡྷن ֬൵ᇢः֯ഏਛݚݩ۹ ս൹ྡྷЃ֬ܺलè ሌࠧᇖ൳੪֬൵ ۪֬౾ࢬڋເ.< 1[TIVL
ᅽdະક༶ᄢ
֬໌֨è ܿႼ֬ඁ౭ုݖè ྔሌࠧᄣᅡཊ ྔ۪õ;M^MZMTaö Ԣޱսൺށ௦Ɨ۪ ਛ჻֬ޫ۪ށთ ౾ങਛၢັࠊ௩֬ ے৶è Ɠƚ ᅭමࡈƔ फƗ֓ئਛ၉ځඊ
બቛເဍࢊᇽ൏ްƗЮગߴݓ պƥõႀເಇ֬ᆊ۸ࠊᇽးሌሆ ಷЮԵߋ߄֨çҶְ֨Ɨࣁജ֬ ӏࡵ֬ੱႺࣦèᆊཟئ۾ ֬ᅡ൜ಷЮੇྡྷߋƗಥ҉֬ࡌݚ Ⴝਛࢺ֙ք֬ಷЮധ߽èö ֥Ӎܻᇠᆴ၉ࠖთሷ܄Ӹ࿗ᄄ ၉࠰֬Әѝ൜ƥõಝಇݝ၉ಷ ЮƗ֓๗ࢊຢƗߕཟᄣಇಷЮদ ၉മ؎Ⴚèö
Ю࿗ഺᄤੇ߽ཊӍ٦ڌঅ ֬õქᅔöਾսࡌսנဋ ࣫èõქᅔöႵᅔᅔ୶نଃ֬၉ ᇜาѠ֬֠ƗၢՕদѝչؚ ཥ֬ۡ؎ಪӬè õქᅔöႵᅔᅔ୶نଃ֬၉ᇜา Ѡ֬֠ƗၢՕদѝչؚཥ֬ۡ ؎ಪӬè Ⴕହսࡄݚ࿗ഺᇖྖएϾ֬ಷЮߋ қੇ߽ࠊ҉ݝ֬ѝဍދӶཊ ١൛ಥҜთᆇؚܛಷЮ֙քੇྡྷߋ Ⴜ۾മұ֬ಱൔè ࠊ၉ा൚֬Եძၐᅡ൜ѓႋఖਛ ֥Ӎܻᇠ֬ྜྷಆè ძၐႼѠڢދƗ ၉ᇜ۾ເ֍çѓ֬ಷЮԵڢ൬è ้ཱི࣊ϫލསսࡌᅡ൜ਛԳძၐ֬ද ࿄Ɨҋᇮ௪ເٕෲƗਾಭၰཟ҉֥è ࠊޱƗЮગݓනƥõಝ൏ ֫߄ ٺᇙғԳށƗ֓Ⴕ൏࡞ႼདྷƗ ᇁۺսࡌᅡ൜ٺᇙƗႼཻढ़༛èö ൏ߕѝ൜Ɨۅძၐࡕᆻۡչྔт ჴè ບಷЮߗഺτ้ࣹ߰ߕࣁജਛཊ ᄤಷЮੇྡྷ֬ཥቍލè৯҉ࣹఴ֥ ྔࡍ௨Ե֬ങ୶ቍ)ލ3* è҉ݝτ ้ӲƗཊᄤ2 8WXᆥ༶߈ࢯؔƗႀ ເ3 8WXᆥາè ฒ֥ಷЮቒເ݃ٞԵѳ֬ߋଔݝ બè֥Ӎ֬҉ങ࿗ഺᆊཻબ߉֬ ᇘ؇ᆇè ้ཱི࣊ϫލསսࡌᅡ൜ਛԳძၐ֬ද ֙Ы֨ເތ࿑ᄻཥçᅔߋç ࿄Ɨҋᇮ௪ເٕෲè ണႜdᇢሓᡁ
30 SHOW
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CHRONICLE 08
photo : spotlight
WHEN
} STRIKES Kenneth Taw, a third-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, plays Cupid.
Every February 14th, Cupid makes his rounds around the campus, sparking romance at every corner. Photographers MARK LEONG & ALEX TAI join in the festivities and bask in the atmosphere of love.
Swedish exchange student Lisa Sonesson meets her mortal, Kiew Hengyi, for the first time. The angel-mortal game is part of the Valentine’s Day celebration at Hall of Residence 8, and is also a chance for residents to get to know other residents across blocks.
Muhammad Dinie, a student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, dedicates a song at the school’s Valentine Day’s booth to his girlfriend of 6 years, and even sings it over the phone to her. Couples compete to see who can pick out clothes pegs off their partners’ shirts the fastest, as part of the Valentine’s Day Celebration at Hall of Residence 8.
Opinions frankly, my dear
EDITORIAL
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IN THE PUBLIC EYE Last Wednesday, the Workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party announced it was expelling the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hougang, Yaw Shin Leong, from the party. Yaw has allegedly committed several extra-marital affairs, including one with a fellow party member. Yaw maintained his silence over the rumours, which led to his downfall. Party chairman Sylvia Lim, MP for Aljunied GRC, stated that Yaw was expelled for not addressing the allegations in a satisfactory manner. As a result a byelection may be called in the Single Member Constituency of Hougang. The Yaw saga is reminiscent of the affair President Bill Clinton had with his White House intern Monica Lewinsky in 1998. Other American politicians such as John Edwards, Newt Gingrich and Arnold Schwarzenegger have also been hit with scandal. In Europe, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is notorious for allegedly fooling around with women less than half his age. Even in Singapore, the Yaw case was preceded by the investigation of both the Commissioner of the Singapore
C i v i l D e fe nc e For c e a nd the Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau for alleged corruption linked to extramarital affairs. Although Yawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s instinct to keep mum and not say anything incriminating was understandable, the threshold of public opinion for a public ďŹ gure is naturally higher than ordinary civilians. Actors will tell you that the camera magniďŹ es all physical ďŹ&#x201A;aws, but all aspects of a public ďŹ gureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life is mercilessly scrutinized. Some feel that Yawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal life is irrelevant as long as it does not affect his ability to perform his duties. The opposing view is that as an elected ofďŹ cial, Yaw has a duty to be a role model and hold himself to a higher standard, both personal and professional. Yawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case serves as a stark reminder to all who decide to assume a more prominent role in school or at work. Although we might not be as closely watched as a politician, we are still representing something greater than ourselves. Our actions will be viewed as a reďŹ&#x201A;ection of the organization we represent. It might be unfair, but that is the price you have to pay by being in the public eye.
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New year, new distractions HUANG SHUQUN SPORTS EDITOR
I
t was a lively atmosphere at my relativesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; houses when I went visiting during Chinese New Year. At the same time, there was a group of people sitting quietly in a corner, seemingly oblivious of the festive occasion. No, these were not my aunts or uncles who want some peace and quiet. They were my younger cousins, all sitting together, wearing their ďŹ ngers out on their iPads and iPhones. In contrast, my older relatives were busy chatting, catching up on the latest gossip. Chinese New Year has always been a time for family, where we meet up with relatives to enjoy the festivities. Houses are decorated with ornaments said to bring good fortune, and the aroma of food is always in the air. Jars of New Year goodies will be placed on the table. Who can forget the red packets, or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ang paosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as they are traditionally called? We look forward to collecting these red packets from our elders, thrilled by the prospect of amassing a fortune as we begin counting our â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;spoilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. While these traditions are still part and parcel of the celebrations, it is unfortunate that youths no longer view the festival the same way our forefathers did. With technology rapidly advancing and inevitably shaping the way we interact with one another, it is unlikely things will go back to the way they were. Technology is isolating us from one another, and this is particularly true for the younger generation. As a child, I would spend Chinese New Year playing with the other children. Tag was one of our favourite games. We would use an entire HDB block as the playing ground, running up and down the staircases to escape the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;catcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Games of the past were a noisy and lively affair. Fast forward 10 years, and things are massively different. The young kids are playing with their parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mobile devices, some even possessing devices of their own, while teenagers are listening to music on their iPods, and checking Facebook ever y few minutes. As a result, family bonds are no longer as strong as they used to be. I cannot claim to be innocent of this, as I am a regular
GRAPHIC | TRUNG
Facebook user during the New Year too, checking my friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; stat us updates on t hei r New Year celebrations. Despite this, I refrained from holing up in a corner glued to my electronic devices. I still interacted with my relatives, immersing myself in the festive occasion. Yet, technology is not entirely to blame. Attitudes towards the Chinese New Year have changed drastically in our generation. What used to be a season for family gatherings is seen as nothing more than an extended holiday today. Youngsters do not care much for upholding any festival traditions, and do so only at the insistence of their parents. The children of today scoff at these age-old traditions, looking upon them as mere superstition. T hey prefer embraci ng t hei r electronic gadgets to immersing themselves in practices deemed backward and foolish. In essence, it is no longer â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;coolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for youths to be seen hanging out with older relatives participating in Chinese New Year festivities.
With schools striving for excellence in English and Mandarin proďŹ ciency, dialects are gradually becoming a thing of the past. This presents a generation gap, manifested by the language barrier between dialect-speaking elders and youths ďŹ&#x201A;uent only in English and Mandarin. Often, I ďŹ nd myself clueless when relatives speak to me animatedly in Hokkien. While it may be premature to say that the Chinese New Year tradition will die out in the years to come, this bold claim is not entirely unfounded. It is saddening to see how a festival that once excited us tremendously as kids no longer holds the same meaning for children nowadays. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enjoy it while it lasts, and make no mistake about itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Chinese New Year is indeed a time for family. While we enjoy catching up with our relatives now, one can only hope the future generations will pay just as much attention to the festival and allow the traditions to continue.
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a matter of perspective
Class on, Wi-Fi off MEGHA MANSHARAMANI
E
arlier this month, Yale Un ive r sit y P r ofe s sor Alexander Nemerov set up the venue of his popular Art History class at a lecture theatre without wireless Internet (Wi-Fi). Professor Nemerov’s move brought on mixed reactions from the Yale students. T he Econom i st w rote, “Dr Nemerov has no illusions. The gale winds of wireless will soon sweep across the lecture hall, especially now that its electromagnetic drought has been highlighted. But he remains concerned about the nature of attentiveness, and the lecturer’s role in the future of education.” Nemerov’s Wi-Fi ou ster is
Not only are we just plain bad at doing multiple things simultaneously, we are also unable to think analytically and clearly when we are multitasking.
not unprecedented. In 2008, the University of Chicago Law School stopped Internet access in most classrooms to facilitate optimal exchange of ideas and engagement between students and faculty. Like professors at Yale and the University of Chicago, our NTU faculty has to compete with the wide array of digital tools and platforms for students’ attention in class. Look around a typical class in NTU: students on laptops, iPads and smartphones surfing Facebook, checking their Twitter timeline or email, and occasionally looking up at the lecturer. In my experience, most professors in NTU do not object to the use of laptops and Internet in classrooms. Yet when professors do so, should students be outraged by curtails on their Wi-Fi access in classrooms? There are two common causes for student outrage when the issue of restrictions on Internet access in classrooms surfaces. One, they can effectively mul-
titask. Two, they are adults. Dean of the Universit y of C h ic a go’s L aw S c ho ol S au l Levmore said in 2008 that students overestimate their ability to multi-task during class. As students, we naturally disagree that our multitasking abilities are inadequate. Yet, scientific studies prove otherwise. A t S t a n f or d U n i v e r s i t y, Professor Clifford Nass studied a hundred “chronic multi-taskers”— students accustomed to doing five to six things simultaneously. Their multitasking abilities were measured using a computer program that required them to alternate between various tasks. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2009. They indicate that not only are we just plain bad at doing multiple things simultaneously, we are also unable to think analytically and clearly when we are multitasking. The second reason students often give is that we are adults and should be free to decide what’s best for us. Yes, technically we are adults. Yet, that does not mean that we make sensible choices all the time. In a study conducted in 2010 examining Facebook use among students at a large Midwestern University in the Unites States. Resea rcher s fou nd t hat Facebook users have a mean GPA of 3.06 out of 4.0 compared to a GPA of 3.82 out of 4.0 reported for non-users. If the study is any indication, then our freedom to choose is more of a detriment to us because of the way we use it. Given that we cannot multitask effectively and we do not always make the smar test of choices, we should perhaps be open to the idea of not having Internet access in certain classes. If a class does not require much assistance from Google, we should not complain if professors restrict Wi-Fi access. Nevertheless, it is impractical to implement a blanket ban on Wi-Fi in University classrooms,. This is simply because there are classes in which access to the Internet can benefit students. However, in classes where it is not required, perhaps we would be better off without it. Professors are in the best position to judge which category their classes fall into. Therefore, it should be left up to them to decide whether to restrict Internet usage in the classroom.
GRAPHIC | ALFONSUS WONG
SITI MAZIAH MASRAMLI
E
arlier t his mont h, a Yale University professor’s decision to move his popular art history class to a venue without Wi-Fi access raised an online furore among students and educators about Internet usage in class. Professor Alexander Nemerov told Yale Daily News that teaching students without access to Facebook or email will provide a “better quality experience.” Distractions on the Internet abound. More students are going online in class, and not always for pertinent purposes. Should NTU similarly restrict students’ Internet usage? I say no.
In classes with poor student-teacher interactions or uninspiring lecturers, restricting Internet usage will not help. More students have grown up with information technology (IT) as part of their learning. In Singapore, Crescent Girls’ School pioneered personal tabletenabled learning in 2004. At Hwa Chong Institution, an integrated virtual campus leverages students’ personal devices to support diverse learning styles. These ‘Future Schools’, chosen by the Ministry of Education (MOE), experiment with IT to en ha nce st udent s’ lea r n i ng.
Students are expected to access the Internet and study according to their individual learning styles. Internet access has changed how students learn. The Internet now enables students to co-create knowledge and teachers to receive better feedback on students’ learning habits, said Dr Cheah Horn Mun, Director for Education Technology at MOE. W hen a lec t u rer ment ion s something unfamiliar, students can immediately look it up online with Google or the search function. Even Yale’s Dr Nemerov, according to The Economist, agreed that some students use the Internet to get a closer or different view at the artworks he discusses. Lear ning now goes beyond the classroom and syllabus. The Internet complements education. Without which, classroom discussions are confined to prepared teaching material. Applications li ke Windows L i ve @ e du , G oog le Doc s a nd Dropbox allow for learning collaborations, while Facebook can be used as a learning portal. At the tertiary level, exploration of knowledge should be encouraged, not limited. It would be a sad step backward for eager digital natives who come to university, expecting greater freedom, only to find Internet restrictions in class. Undergraduates are adults who want to be self-directed learners, said Professor Jana R. McCreary, author of The Laptop-Free Zone in Valparaiso University Law Review. She wrote that treating undergraduates as children creates conflict between their strong sense of self as adults and their urge to regress to feeling like child learners.” Moreover, some students’ disengagement in class and poor
grades are not due to online distractions. In classes with poor student-teacher interactions or uninspiring lecturers, restricting Internet usage will not help.
Students learn best from the consequences of their actions, rather than restrictions imposed on them. Instead of totally removing WiFi access or disallowing laptops, another way NTU can restrict access is by blocking certain websites like social networking sites. Besides, loud chatter and falling asleep are equally disruptive. “I think it’s not just about technology. It’s up to us to make sure we pay attention and not distract ourselves or others,” said Tan Yan Fang, 22, a final-year student in Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS). Unlike younger students who require close monitoring, university students should be responsible and self-disciplined in managing their social lives and studies. It is important that tertiary students exercise their independence in accessing information wisely. Students learn best from the consequences of their actions, rather than the restrictions imposed on them. After all, failure is the best teacher. “We’re too old for the university to still ‘parent’ us. In the end, students who don’t pay attention in class will get the grade they deserve,” said Natalie Tang, 23, a final-year student from HSS.
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08 CHRONICLE
The beast in beauty SNEHA GURURAJ OPINIONS EDITOR
J
udging people by their appearance certainly does not give others a complete picture of them, but it deďŹ nitely leaves a lasting ďŹ rst impression. The recent safety scare behind faulty breast implants that affected some 400,000 women in 65 countries underscores the vast number of women willing to put their lives at risk in the pursuit of idealised beauty. In Singapore, the number of teenagers with eating disorders has increased six-fold since 2002. They cannot be completely blamed for such disillusionment. Size zero ďŹ gures, high cheekbones and being of a particular height are now ways people judge their own and othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; attractiveness. The mindset that beauty and the presentation of the self as visually appealing are crucial for success generally is something that has become rooted in our psyche. In her book titled The Beauty Bias: The Injustice of Appearance in Law and Life, Stanford law professor Deborah Rhode argued that better-looking women tend to get more workplace beneďŹ ts. Rhode states that between 12 to 14 percent of workers suffer from appearance-based discrimination on the job. The perception that beauty is a pre-condition for success is hence not a false one in the minds of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth. Within schools, there is an emphasis on dressing well for presentations. Kindergartens today have little girls sporting their
canteen talk 2Q )HEUXDU\ WK WKH 6WUDLWV 7LPHV UHSRUWHG WKDW WKH HFRQRPLF RXWORRN IRU DSSHDUV EXOOLVK ,V LW ZLVH WR ZDLW RXW IRU RQH¡V GUHDP MRE XQGHU VXFK FLUFXPVWDQFHV" :H Ă&#x20AC;QG RXW ZKDW VWXGHQWV WKLQN
I will jump at any job opportunity. I will establish my career as soon as possible, as ďŹ nancial security is my ďŹ rst priority.
â&#x20AC;?
Asri Rokim, MAE, Yr 3, 24
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
Tan Kor Woong, CS, Yr 1, 19
GRAPHIC | NICHOLAS ONG
bags with idealised princess cartoon characters that further standardize the deďŹ nition of beauty. Universities also emphasize the need to be good-looking for success through active grooming workshops like NTUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Personal Attention (Grooming) workshop. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These workshops aim to help students project a professional image to give them an edge in interviews and jobs,â&#x20AC;? said Miss Wendy How from NTUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Career and Attachment OfďŹ ce. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Preparing us for the expectations in the corporate world is
louder than words
not a bad thing. Eventually, it is a competitive world, and I appreciate any effort to give me that additional advantage,â&#x20AC;? said Abhishek Ganesh, 19, a second-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student. It is imperative to remember that eventually, looking good will probably always be a social expectation. Looking good may land you that job, but what is more important is performing well. Beauty never lasts, so it would be wise for you to look beyond that.
NICHOLAS ONG GRAPHICS EDITOR
People who wait for their ideal job only end up wasting time. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more sensible to work towards my dream career after securing my ďŹ rst job.
It really depends on how dire the job market is. I am satisďŹ ed as long as the job is in an industry relevant to my interests.
â&#x20AC;?
Kwek Xiang You, HSS, Yr 2, 24
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
As long as the job is related to my undergraduate course, I will take it to establish my ďŹ nancial stability. Chia Shu Fen, SPMS, Yr 3, 21
I am willing to wait for my dream job. If I get into something Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not passionate about, I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be an asset to the company.
â&#x20AC;?
Raihan Mohamed Yusoff, HSS, Yr 3, 21 TEXT | ALOYSIUS LAI ; PHOTOS | ANGELINE YEO
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bpl talk
Transfer window serves few surprises +DOI RI WKH VHDVRQ LV RYHU DQG FOXEV DUH RQFH DJDLQ LQ WKH PDUNHW IRU SOD\HUV +XDQJ 6KXTXQ FKHFNV RXW WKH WUDQVIHU VLJQLQJV RI WKH 3UHPLHU /HDJXH FOXEV ARSENAL In: Thierry Henry ( New York Red Bu lls, loan) , T homas Eisfeld (Borussia Dortmund) THIERRY Henry was brought in as a short term loan to ease the goalscoring pressure on Robin van Persie, and he has done just that, while Thomas Eisfeld is one for the future. Manager Arsene Wenger is under pressure to deliver, and there is a seeming lack of reinforcement. ASTON VILLA In: Robbie Keane (LA A Galaxy, loan), Enda Stevens (Shamrock k Rovers) A SHORT term loan similar to Thierry Henry has reaped rewards as well with three goals in four league games, while young Enda Stevens provides cover in defense. BLACKBURN ROVERS In: Anthony Modeste (Bordeaux, loan), Marcus Olsson (Halmstads), Bradley Orr (QPR) ADDITIONS in defense, midďŹ eld and attack would go a long way to helping manager Steve Kean avoid the drop. Blackburn Rovers currently sit right outside the relegation zone on goal difference. BOLTON WANDERERS In: Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Ryo Myaichi (Arsenal, loan), Marvin Sordell (Watford) RYO MYAICHI is an exciting young winger while Ream has to ďŹ ll the boots of Gary Cahill. Bolton are currently in the relegation zone and Owen Coyle will be looking to them to help escape relegation.
EVERTON In: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy, loan), Darron Gibson (Man Utd), Nikica Jelavic (Rangers), Steven Pienaar (Tottenham, loan) EVERTONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S signings have made an instant impact. Landon Donovan has made seven assists, while Gibson and Pienaar have already scored for the club against Manchester City and Chelsea respectively. Manager David Moyes has made some shrewd signings. FULHAM In: Jack Grimmer (Aberdeen), Lasse Vigen Christensen n (FC Midtjylland), Ryan Williams (Portsmouth), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart) PAVEL Pogrebnyak is the key addition and has already opened his scoring for the club. The rest are young prospects that are unlikely to feature in the ďŹ rst team.
GARY Cahill is the only notable addition to reinforce the squad, with Alex and Nicholas Anelka leaving the club. Despite Fernando Torresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; poor form, de Bruyne and Bamford are mere prospects in attack.
NEWCASTLE UNITED In: Papiss Demba Cisse (Freiburg)
A DR E A M debut for the Senegalese striker was summed up by his stunning strike against Aston Villa. With national teammate Demba Ba alongside him in attack, it is certainly a partnership that can trouble any defense in the league. NORWICH CITY In: Jonny Howson (Leeds), Ryan Bennett (Peterborough)
THE FORMER Leeds United captain, Johnny Howson, should prove to be a capable addition for the Canaries. Currently sitting in the top half of the table, manager Paul Lambert would be hoping for his current players to continue their form.
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In: Jordan Ibe (Wycombe Wanderers)
DESPITE lying seventh in the league table, manager Kenny Daglish has opted not to make any major reinforcements in the transfer window, choosing to put his faith in underperforming players such as Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing. MANCHESTER CITY In: David Pizarro (Roma, loan) EVEN though the club is at the top of the league, manager Roberto Mancini is not taking any chances and has opted for cover in midďŹ eld. The squad has been depleted by players such as the inďŹ&#x201A;uential Yaya Toure departing for the African Cup of Nations. MANCHESTER UNITED
In: Samba Diakite (Nancy, loan), Taye Taiwo (AC Milan, loan), Federico Macheda (Man Utd, loan), Nedum Onuoha (Man City), Djibril Cisse (Lazio), Bobby Zamora (Fulham) MASSIVE reinforcements have been made in their bid to stay in the top ďŹ&#x201A;ight. Cisse, Zamora and Macheda are all capable of scoring goals while Diakite, Taiwo and Onuoha would shore up the defense. STOKE CITY In: None
AFTER spending relatively huge amounts in the summer, manager Tony Pulis has been contented with his squad which has so far managed a mid-table position, making no additions to the squad. SUNDERLAND
In: Paul Scholes (free)
In: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, loan), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Wolfsburg, loan)
SIR ALEX Ferguson has re-signed Paul Scholes to reinvigorate their title bid and overtake Manchester City. So far Scholes has proven capable to continue playing at the top level. With players like Darren Fletcher out for the season, Ferguson may well be relieved at the signing.
NEW MANAGER Martin Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill has made a dream start in the Sunderland hotseat, guiding the club back to the top half of the table. He has wasted no time bringing in defensive cover, with Bridge and Krygiakos being experienced Premier League defenders.
they said that?
SWANSEA CITY
In: GylďŹ Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim, loan), Rory Donnelly (Cliftonville), Curtis Obeng (Wrexham), Darnel Situ (Lens), Josh McEachran (Chelsea, loan). HAVING displayed some good football so far, manager Brendan Rodgers has made some useful reinforcements in midďŹ eld to try to continue the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steady climb up the table. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
In: Yago Falque (Juventus), Louis Saha (Everton), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers) HARRY Redknapp has made some puzzling additions, opting for experienced players like Louis Saha and Ryan Nelson to strengthen the squad despite the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe. But Saha has answered his critics with a brace against Newcastle.
QPR LIVERPOOL
CHELSEA In: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Kevin de Bruyne (Genk), Patrick Bamford (Nottingham Forest)
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WBA In: Scott Allan (Dundee United), Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham), Keith Andrews (Blackburn) LIAM Ridgewell will be a useful addition with his versatility in the backline, while Keith Andrews would add some much needed experience to the midďŹ eld. WIGAN ATHLETIC In: Jean Beausejour (Birmingham)
DESPITE being ďŹ rmly rooted at the bottom of the table, manager Roberto Martinez has merely opted for a left winger to strengthen his squad. It remains to be seen if it will be enough to stave off relegation for the club. WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS In: Eggert Jonsson (Hearts), Emmanuel Frimpong (Arsenal, loan), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham, loan) MANAGER Mick McCarthy has been sacked following a poor run of results that left the Wolves in the relegation zone. Emmanuel Frimpong has since returned to Arsenal after sustaining a long-term injury. Eggert Jonsson and Sebastien Bassong are key additions to the defense in the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bid to stay in the Premier League.
PHOTO | INTERNET
It s a tough thing they ll have to accept thinking Gosh, why do I have to wrestle one of the greatest wrestlers in US history in the ďŹ rst round? TNA wrestler Kurt Angle (above) on facing younger opponents for a slot in the US 2012 Olympics team.
OK. I GIVE IN!! ITS LEGIT!! WOW!! Ex NBA player Reggie Miller admitting on Twitter that New York Knicksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; point guard Jeremy Lin is the real deal following his recent sensational performances.
I sound like I m some kind of psycho, manicdepressive, unstable individual. But I just say it how it is. US 2012 Olympic hopeful and world champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton on how people perceive her.
Outside the pitch he s a fantastic player and person. In the game, he does everything to win but sometimes he does some stupid things. Ajax coach Frank de Boer on Luis Suarezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behaviour, when he refused to shake Manchester United defender Patrice Evraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand ahead of their league match.
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Champions after 18 years
FIRST-TIME CHAMPION: Hall 9 cheerleaders forming the pyramid according to the stricter safety regulations this year.
SIOW WEILIANG FOR N E A R LY t wo d e c a d e s , they could only watch others celebrate. But t h i s yea r’s Ha l l Olympiad Opening Ceremony (HOOC) saw Hall of Residence 9 f inally clinching gold in the annual inter-hall cheerleading competition on Febr uar y 8th for the first time in the 18-year history of the competition. Hall 9 cheerleading captain, Chua Boon Tarn, 24, said that he was rather surprised by the win. “When it was announced that Hall 13 came in second, I was shocked. “I thought that they had a good w i n n i ng c ha nce,” sa id the second-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). Chua attributed the victory to the motivational culture of his hall. “We train seriously, but have fun as well as motivating each other in the process,” he said.
C hu a a l s o e x pla i ne d h i s team’s strategy this year was to focus on their routines’ stability instead of difficult stunts. E v ide nt l y, t he i r s t r ateg y paid off. “Our stunts are less fanciful than other halls but we seek to minimize our errors and keep the spirit high. That is probably why we won the judges over,” he said.
Retro-toons T he t heme for t h is year’s competition was “Retro-toons”. and teams had to base t heir costumes and mascots on various cartoons. Coming in third place for the cheerleading competition was Hall 1, who also won the Best Mascot Award for their Dor aemon d i splay. T he Be st Banner Award went to Hall 8. Hall 7, three-time defending champion, was unable to retain t he t it le for t he fou r t h yea r running. Hall 7 cheerleading captain, Quek Shao Xuan, 24, stated that
the team was disappointed but had no regrets, having pushed the boundaries with stunts that were not seen before. “ T he tea m was e xcel lent . A lt hough we did not win, it was a memorable routine and e x per ience for u s,” sa id t he third-year student from MAE. The inter-hall cheerleading compet it ion had it s judg i ng criteria altered this year, to place more emphasis on the creativity, perfection and synchronisation of cheer routines instead of the stunts. Co - c h a i r of HO O C 2 012 , Parthiban S/O Mathevanan, 24, shared that this year’s interhall cheerleading competition placed more emphasis on safety. The new rules and regulations restricted higher-level pyramid stunts to curb the high risk levels associated with cheerleading. “Although the higher level stunts have been restricted, there is always a chance for mishaps to happen,” said Parthiban. Spotters are deployed during cheer routines to enforce the
PHOTO | VINNIE QUEK
safety standards. As a second level of safety, they only intervene if the cheer teams fail in their stunt and a flyer happens to fall.
“Our stunts are less fanciful than other halls but we seek to minimise our errors and keep the spirit high.” Chua Boon Tarn Hall 9 Cheerleading Captain
“Safet y is a lways of paramount impor tance to our committee. “ N T U A c e s , t h e s c ho ol’s cheerleading team, kindly provided us with the spotters for the event,” added the second-year student from the School of Bioengineering.
The performance lineup of HOOC wa s sl ig ht ly d i f fer ent this year. The event started with per for mances f rom Ha l l Ja m Bands, with Hall 10’s band as the opening performance. “An external film company, helped put together the starting video for HOOC this year,” said Low Wei Hui Daryl, 23, second co-chair of HOOC 2012. The second-year student from MAE added that the committee had a new way of introducing the participants by showing a video of each team before they performed — a method inspired by popular reality series American Idol. “A short video of the teams was played before each performance, which was quite well received by the audience,” said Low. With the change in judging criteria and scoring standards, NTU’s cheerleading scene is set to change. “Winning is not everything. More often than not, it is the process t hat lead s up to t he compet it ion t hat is t he most important,” said Parthiban.
Sports
Hunks and babes bash it out – Page 34
12 years,
STILL CHASING FIRST-TIMER: Calvin Kang (above) said there was disappointment at failing to end NTU's 12-year title drought, coming the closest in years.
NICHOLAS QUEK HE DID not expect his actions to cost the team the track and field championship title at the Instit ute-Varsit y-Poly technic (IVP) games. But when Tan Tze Jung, the first runner for the NTU 4x100 men’s relay team made a false start, the team was disqualified from the final. And that may have cost NTU the IVP track and field championship title. Tan said he heard the shot go off, so he started to run before the athletes were allowed to. “This was the first time I have made a false start in my 14 years of competitive sprinting," said the 24-year-old, who is also the team captain. "But even Usain Bolt f a l s e - s t a r t e d i n t h e Wor l d Championships last year, so you just have to accept that things happen," said t he t h ird-year school of Civil and Environmental Engineering student. Tan also said that it was a costly mistake for the team, which had been touted as the favourite. “It was disheartening to not be in the finals of the 4x100 relay event. We would have had a good chance of winning it." While sprinter Calvin Kang, 21, acknowledges the significance of the disqualification, he believes that it was a good test of the team's unity.
“At that point, we didn’t know it was going to be this crucial. There was definitely disappointment, but there will be more opportunities in the future,” said the first-year Sports Science and Management undergraduate, who competed for the first time in the IVP championships. The controversial false start rule came into effect in 2010 after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) stated that “any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified”.
Closest in years For the IVP track and field championship, teams accumulate points for every event and the team with the most number of points wins the championship. The final standings stood with National University of Singapore (NUS) at 338 points, just four points ahead of NTU. Given that the 4x100 relay was worth between one and 16 points, it would almost have ensured a championship win had the team qualified for the finals. T his was t he closest N T U had come to winning since their last victory in 2000. Past years had seen them trail powerhouse NUS - who have now won it for 12 consecutive years - by over 100 points. However, the narrow margin this year would not have been possible without the victorious NTU women’s team.
With a stellar performance, they pipped NUS, who had won the women’s title for 12 consecutive years, to become champions. Dipna Lim Prasad was their best performer, winning gold in five events after participating in the maximum of three individual and two relay events. The marked improvement was largely attributed to an increased pool of talent this year. “Both the men’s and women’s teams managed to get quite a number of national athletes to join us, which allowed us to send representatives to ever y event — something we couldn’t do previously," said Shalom Danielle See, 22, captain of the women's team. But the second-year student f rom t he Na nya ng Bu si ne s s School was also quick to credit the entire team for their efforts. “In the build up to the competition, trainings were almost a daily affair. Ever yone played their part and I’m really proud of the team,” she said. Yet both the women's title and the influx of talent were not enough to make up for the loss in the men's title as NUS took the overall championship. T he I V P Tr ac k a nd Fie ld C h a m pion s h ip w a s he ld on January 29th and February 4th. The annual affair sees tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education, compete in track and field disciplines.
PHOTO | COURTESY OF ZHANG WEILIANG
Sport
NTU Ranking
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Men Women
2nd 2nd
Floorball
Men Women
1st 1st
Netball
Women
2nd
Table Tennis
Men Women
2nd 1st
Touch Football
Women
3rd
Track & Field Volleyball
Men Women Overall Men Women
2nd 1st 2nd 3rd 1st