The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 21 Issue 01

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

VOL. NO.

21

01

12.08.14 ISSN NO. 0218-7310

GRADE EXPECTATIONS New grading system seeks to ease transition into university life

Flumpool 好棒!

Canteen A reopens this week

北区食阁本周重新营业 食物价格预将调涨 南苑 | 17

Lifestyle Editors try out three unique exercises

BREAKING A SWEAT LIFESTYLE | 6-7

NEWS | 3

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NEWS

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The Briefing Room:

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

Quake death toll rises

Preparing for Ebola

THE DEATH toll from the earthquake that hit southwest China’s Yunnan province rose to nearly 600 people on Wednesday.

The 6.1-magnitude quake, which struck the remote region on 3 Aug, caused school dormitories to collapse and landslides which blocked roads and hampered rescue efforts.

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs said that at least 2,400 people had been injured, 230,000 evacuated, and more than 80,000 homes partially or fully collapsed.

THE SINGAPORE Ministry of Health distributed individual Health Advisory Notices to nationals from affected areas at air and land checkpoints, starting last Thursday.

The note advises travellers that show Ebola symptoms, like a sudden onset of fever or muscle pains within three weeks of being in affected areas, to see a doctor early.

The move comes amid the escalation of Ebola cases in West Africa.

The World Health Organisation declared the Ebola epidemic a global health emergency on Friday.

PHOTOS: INTERNET

Monkey business

Celebrities say no to independent Scotland

Khmer Rouge leaders charged

SIR MICK Jagger and Professor Stephen Hawking were among 200 people from around the United Kingdom urging Scotland to vote against independence from the sovereign state.

They signed an open letter — presented at an event in London on Thursday — which stated that they “value the bonds of citizenship” with the voters of Scotland.

The list of people was set up by Let's Stay Together, a group of campaigners who do not get to vote.

WIKIMEDIA, the organisation behind Wikipedia, last Wednesday rejected nature photographer David Slater’s request to remove one of his images from its royalty-free collection.

It maintained that Mr Slater does not own the copyright of the image as a monkey had pressed the shutter button.

Mr Slater was in Indonesia in 2011 to take images of crested black macaques.

FORMER Khmer Rouge leaders, Noun Chea, 88, and Khieu Samphan, 83, have been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia on Thursday.

The men were senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime which ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. The regime was responsible for enforcing radical social engineering policies which left at least 1.7 million people dead.

Both had pleaded not guilty and sought acquittal.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE on the web

Video Exclusive: Interview with NTUFest Chair NTU announces changes to grading system Starting this academic year, NTU freshmen can exclude up to six modules from their Grade Point Average (GPA), should they fail it on their first attempt. The school has also tweaked its Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading system for electives for all undergraduates. Several one Academic Unit (AU) courses have also been introduced and offered to freshmen.

NBS camp prematurely cancelled The Nanyang Business School Freshmen Orientation Camp was terminated as a precautionary measure, due to a series of seizure cases among camp participants. It was a joint decision by the organising committee and the school.

SPOT SOMETHING INTERESTING? Find us at www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg

Send us a photo at www.facebook.com/ChronNTU and it could be featured.

Chief Editor Liu Ting Ting sits down with the NTUFest's Chairperson Wu Guoyi and got her to share her experience being in charge of the mega event at the Padang.

The Nanyang Chronicle is recruiting We are looking for writers to fill positions at our News, Opinions, Lifestyle, Sports, Reviews, and Chinese desks.

Aspiring sub-editors and photographers are also welcome. Join us at the information session on the 13th Aug at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. Details on page 23.

News

North Spine undergoes revamp — Page 4

Tweaks to grading system NTU freshmen to get a second chance in first year of study; undergraduates to get Satisfactory grade more easily Sharanya Pillai Louisa Tang, News Editor

T

he recent changes to the university grading system aim to give students who have done badly a second chance, but some have expressed concern about potential loopholes.

As part of changes to the grading system announced last Wednesday, a maximum of six failed modules will not count towards freshmen’s Grade Point Average (GPA). This will apply to any module taken in their first year.

Freshmen will still have to retake the examinations in another semester — only for core and General Education Requirement Core (GER Core) modules that they fail — to earn letter grades that will be computed into their GPA. But students raised concerns that some might purposely fail the modules to maintain a high GPA. “A student aiming to get a perfect GPA in their first year, for example, may fail a certain module they know they can’t get an A in, so as to get a second chance later,” said Lutfi Kamaludin, 23, a thirdyear student from the School of Biological Sciences.

Ni Leibin, 22, a first-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), said that with the new system, some freshmen may place less importance on doing well in their first year, thinking that they can “work harder” later on.

Professor Kam Chan Hin, Senior Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education), who announced the slew of changes, said that with the exclusion of failed modules (F grade) from their GPA, freshmen can have more time to discover the vibrance of university life.

On whether the change will affect academic standards, Prof Kam said that only a small percentage of each freshmen cohort fail their modules on the first attempt, thus few will have their module grades excluded from their GPAs. Also, all F grades will be recorded on students’ transcripts.

However, some students noted that F grades printed on transcripts may not deter exploitation of the revised system.

Matthew Ng, 22, a third-year student from the Wee Kim School

ACADEMIC OATH: Freshmen taking the Honour Pledge during the 2008 Freshmen Welcome Ceremony.

of Communication and Information, said: “I think the new system of excluding failed grades might result in an all-or-nothing attitude.

Personally, I prefer NUS’ system of a grade-free first semester, as it removes the competition and stress of having to catch up with peers.”

In May, the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced a grade-free first semester for all their freshmen, also beginning this academic year.

NUS freshmen can opt to S/U up to five modules in their first undergraduate semester, so that the modules do not affect their overall Cumulative Average Point — the equivalent of GPA. NUS students will not receive credit for modules that are marked Unsatisfactory.

Despite concerns, most NTU freshmen welcomed the changes.

They told the Nanyang Chronicle that it would help them adapt to the rigour of university.

Tay Yiting, 21, a first-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), said: “I feel relieved because the transition from polytechnic to university is quite great; I can use this chance to adapt to the university system.”

Timothy Ho, 20, a first-year SPMS student, felt that it was a good initiative as students who have gone through National Service may need more time to transition from the army camp to the routine of school life.

S/U adjustments Meanwhile, NTU has also adjusted its Satisfactory/Unatisfactory (S/U) grading system for gen-

How do the changes affect you?

Freshmen: - Can exclude from your GPA up to any six modules you fail in your first year - Required to take five new online GER-CORE modules, worth one AU each All undergraduates: - S/U grading adjusted — D grade and above now counts as Satisfactory, F counts as Unsatisfactory eral electives — General Prescribed Electives and Unrestricted Electives — for all undergraduates.

All those who pass — get a D grade and above — will be given the Satisfactory grade, while those graded F will be given the Unatisfactory grade. Previously, only those graded C and above were awarded the Satisfactory grade.

The Nanyang Chronicle understands that the S/U time frame will not change. “(The S/U adjustment) is to encourage students to not just stick to their comfort zones but also look a bit further,” said Prof Kam. Students that the Chronicle spoke to approved of the change, though some like Lim Kok Meng, 23, felt otherwise.

“As a second-year student, I feel it is unfair that we did not get to enjoy this privilege earlier, which could have ‘saved’ some of us from getting an Unatisfactory grade for D and D+ grades,” said the secondyear student from EEE.

New modules for freshmen Freshmen matriculating this academic year are also required to take five new GER Core modules of one Academic Unit (AU) each, amounting to 13 hours of instruction per semester. These new modules will be run entirely online.

Two of the modules — Absolute Basics for Career, and Career Power Up — will be run by the school’s newly established Margaret Lien Centre for Professional Success.

The remaining modules — Sustainability, Enterprise & Innovation, and Ethics & Moral Reasoning — are developed upon three of the university’s core values, which are civic-mindedness, creativity, and moral character respectively.

Ethics & Moral Reasoning will replace the existing two Academic Integrity modules. They will be available to Nanyang Business School freshmen from next semester onwards, and to the rest of the new freshmen cohort from the next academic year.

“The beauty of online modules is that we move away from the constraints of time and space. You don’t have to do the (module) in one sitting. Students can take modules at their own time, anywhere,” Prof Kam said.

The career-related modules will span the length of each student’s undergraduate education, while the other three will have to be completed within the first two years.

Instead of a final examination, students will take Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) quizzes. Those who fail any of the online modules must retake and pass them before they are able to graduate.

photo: lin junjie

Key questions with Associate Professor Kwok Kian Woon, Assoc Provost (Student Life) Q: Why introduce this change of excluding up to six modules when only a minority of freshmen fail on first attempt?

A: The GPA exemption is about giving a second chance to freshmen, as most of them are transitioning to university. Every student of ours is precious and we want to make sure that all of them graduate, get a good job and contribute to society.

Q: Is it theoretically possible for a student to fail the whole first year and repeat?

A: I would say (it is possible), but it is highly unlikely. Not so many students will fail too many (modules). It will be a pity if good students coming in (have poor) time management in their first year and get involved in many things, so this will help.

Q: Why announce this now, instead of before freshmen chose their universities?

A: We don’t mean this to be a goodie to entice students to choose NTU. We want them to choose NTU because we offer good programmes — programmes that others cannot offer, and they choose us for that, not because we are making things easy for them.

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NEWS

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North Spine makeover Come August 2015, the North Spine will boast more shops, eateries and spaces for performances and student recreation

“Union Street is a good place for students to bring new fashion trends and hobbies into the school, where foreign students can get to understand Singapore's youth culture.”

Sharanya Pillai

W

ith new retail outlets, student performance spaces and improved architecture, the North Spine area is set to become a meeting point for student activities by next August.

The revamped space will be tentatively named the North Spine Hub while suggestions for the official name are being sought from NTU students and staff. It will feature student-run pushcart businesses, as well as more than 10 new shops and snack kiosks. The exact outlets have yet to be confirmed.

“The refurbished hub offers a wonderful space for students to connect ideas and build relationships that will help them in their learning and personal growth,” said Associate Provost (Student Life), Associate Professor Kwok Kian Woon.

The rental carts will enable students to apply their entrepreneurial knowledge and skills by creating and launching their respective businesses.

“Similarly, the new performance spaces will create new opportunities for students to present their talents in music, dance and drama,” said Assoc Prof Kwok.

NTU’s performing arts scene will gain prominence with The Spotlight, a performance space just outside the Student Activities Centre (SAC) for aspiring student artistes.

Canopy K, the existing open space in front of Lecture Theatre 1A, will also be retrofitted with a new mini-stage and amphitheatrestyle seating to ease the cost of organising events in the high-traffic area. Pillars will also be removed to widen the entrance and make the area more spacious.

Another new feature of the North Spine Hub is Union Street, a marketplace for student-run pushcart businesses. The NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU) is currently in charge of renting pushcarts out to budding student-entrepreneurs and will continue to manage the system.

The existing retail space will also be expanded. NTUSU Student Relations Executive Kwok Meng Kei said that the Office of Housing and Auxiliary Services (HAS) had received feedback from students hoping for more confectionery shops and pharmacies.

The second floor of the North Spine will be transformed into a timber deck with meeting and booth spaces, sheltered by a weather-proof ‘bubble’ roof.

Mooted by the university administration and planned together with the NTUSU, the renovations aim

Ong Linette, 22 Final-year student Wee Kim Wee School

MULTI-PURPOSE: Students can look forward to open spaces for live performances and meet-ups.

GRAPHIC: NTU

RAIN OR SHINE: The North Spine Hub will be covered by a "bubble" roof to shelter it from rain.

GRAPHIC: NTU

to “create a more vibrant campus life and make it more convenient for campus community to access amenities on campus,” said NTUSU President Nico Dharmawan.

Beneficial facilities Student artistes and entrepreneurs that the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to were encouraged by the move to provide them with a creative space.

Chairperson of the joint Hall of Residence music festival FUSE 2014 Gran Ooi, 22, said: “After coordinating FUSE, I discovered that NTU has a lot of talent just looking for a chance to perform.”

“The new staging areas will give them a home to display their talent to fellow students,” Ooi said.

But the second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences pointed out that

The Spotlight might not be practical for NTU bands. “The difficulty of lugging their bulky and delicate equipment, such as amplifiers, might deter them,” he added.

Nevertheless, he thinks it is a suitable place to hold small-scale performances and celebrate individual talent.

Similarly, Ong Linette, 22, who sells handmade clay accessories on online marketplace Carousell, welcomed the revamp as she felt that Union Street would be an ideal space for student interaction.

“Union Street is a good place for students to bring new fashion trends and hobbies into the school, where foreign students can get to understand Singapore’s youth culture,” said the final-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

However, Ong noted that some might choose to sell online instead,

especially when their goods are small and renting a pushcart is not worth the cost.

During the year-long construction, pedestrians will be unable to access some pathways along the North Spine. For instance, the carpark space between the Cheers outlet and OCBC branch will be offlimits.

But an NTU spokesperson assured that remaining pathways will still be wheelchair-accessible, with additional lighting installed where necessary. Throughout the construction period, the libraries, learning areas and shops in the area, as well as the SAC, will remain accessible and operate at the same hours.

Wang Ya Nan, general manager of the North Spine food court The New World, expressed concern that the construction might deter customers from frequenting the food

and beverage outlets there.

“We are very worried, because our shop is hard to find, so people go through a lot of trouble to come here,” she said.

Drivers will face more hassle in parking their cars nearby, as several lots within Carpark A, located between the Tan Chin Tuan Lecture Theatre and the Cheers outlet, will make way for the expansion.

Dhanashree Shelgaonkar, a final-year student from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering (SCBE), was concerned that parking lots in the vicinity would not be able to make up for the shortfall.

“Some carparks, such as the ones in SCBE and the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, are already removing parking lots,” said the 24-year-old, who usually parks at her hall of residence.

“I’m worried that people will start taking up more space in hall carparks and hall residents may not be able to park,” she added.

While there are over 3,000 parking lots on campus, parking in Halls of Residence 3 and 16 carparks near the North Spine costs 1.5 cents per minute, compared to current North Spine carpark charges of 2.7 cents per minute on weekdays.

Other inconveniences include the relocation of ATMs, vending machines and other self-service machines one level up.

Rachel Phoa, 20, said that she was concerned about the inevitable dust and noise from construction works, but admitted that the new facilities would benefit students in the long run.

“I wouldn't welcome the additional air and noise pollution but if we want further improvements to our school environment, this is unavoidable,” said the second-year student from SCBE, which is located in the North Spine.

The Nanyang Chronicle understands that a date has not been set for an announcement about the rules, and potential fees for usage of the new facilities are in the process of being firmed up.

HAS is inviting students, faculty and staff to suggest an official name for the North Spine Hub. Those interested have until 30 Aug to email their suggestions to leasing@ntu.edu.sg.

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THE NANYANG

01 CHRONICLE

NTU revises student code The university has issued a new Code of Conduct instructing students not to engage in acts of ragging during Freshmen Orientation Camps

ing camp means stronger friendships created.”

“A sense of closeness is also fostered when freshmen go through the hardship of participating in physically demanding activities together,” he added.

Chew Wee Hong, 23, a secondyear student from the School of Computer Engineering, agreed, saying that camp organisers should be given a choice on whether or not to follow the new guidelines.

Aqil Haziq News Editor

N

TU has announced a new Student Code of Conduct to reinforce the school’s policy on banned acts of ragging.

Ragging — which includes compromising situations, sleep deprivation and forced consumption of food — are any acts that harm a person's physical, emotional or psychological well-being.

The Code includes a new guide for students on how they can design appropriate activities that “promote and conform to the ideals of the University”.

In an email sent to students last month, Associate Professor Kwok Kian Woon, who is the Associate Provost (Student Life), said the new guidelines would increase support for students’ well-being.

The new Code came on the back of Nanyang Business School’s (NBS) Freshmen Orientation Camp (FOC) last month, which was cancelled two days before it was due to end after four freshman participants suffered seizures on separate occasions.

However, the Director of Students from the Student Affairs Office, Associate Professor Lok Tat Seng, said that the review of the

Shared responsibility

FORGING BONDS: Freshmen attempt to untangle themselves as part of a team-building activity during an FOC held last month.

PHOTO: NTU FACEBOOK PAGE

“It would be fairer if participants knew the specfic risks of their FOC, like the possibility of losing sleep.”

Chew Wee Hong, 23 Second-year student School of Computer Engineering

Student Code of Conduct started a year ago and was unrelated to the recent spate of incidents.

Student-organised activities in the National University of Singapore are not free from controversy either.

A woman took to socio-political website The Real Singapore to express concern regarding her nephew who was allegedly made to strip for freshmen of the opposite gender to lick whipped cream off his chest during his FOC.

Balancing act While such incidents highlight the need for improved safety and moral standards in studentorganised activities, students the Nanyang Chronicle spoke to were concerned that the new guidelines might affect bonding during FOCs. Ameer Mattar, 23, a final-year student from NBS, said: “Although freshmen may get less than the required amount of sleep per day, the added time spent together dur-

But he felt that organising committees also need to be more transparent about their programmes.

“It would be fairer if participants knew the specific risks of their FOC, like the possibility of losing sleep. That way, participants can make a more informed decision before signing up for camp."

“The responsibility of safety shouldn’t lie only with the organisers,” he said.

Currently, organising committees that flout the rules could find disciplinary action taken against them. The Code did not specify what form these actions may take.

A separate Policy on Campus Community Approach to Student Health and Wellbeing also maintained that school authorities “may decide whether and what restrictions should be placed on the student’s activities".

The new Student Code of Conduct came into effect last Monday.

Read more about Freshmen Orientation Camps in the Opinions section, page 25

Prof with a cause Louisa Tang News Editor FOR the past 14 years, Assistant Professor Liew Kai Khiun of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) has fought hard for causes such as national heritage, animal welfare, and migrant workers.

Asst Prof Liew has been involved in several civil society groups since 2000 — including being on the Singapore Heritage Society’s executive committee, as well as running adoption drives and looking after shelters with animal welfare groups.

His book on Bukit Brown Cemetery took over a decade to publish due to a lack of funding as it was deemed ‘inauspicious’. The book ended up kickstarting nationwide conservation efforts when launched in 2011.

It was the 41-year-old’s passion for causes that led him to apply for the position of Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) — despite his admission that he is not the most

charismatic of people.

“Applying to be an NMP was something I did not really expect to do. But when volunteers in the animal welfare groups felt that there was a need for greater visibility in Parliament, I felt obliged to go for it,” the bespectacled, softspoken professor told the Nanyang Chronicle.

Should he be appointed, he will become the second NTU professor to sit in the 12th Parliament. The first was Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education and Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency.

Asst Prof Liew plans to bring civil society into public debate.

“I want to come up with more sensitive and stringent legislation in regulating activities — for example, the current draft on the legislation of trafficking of women and children," he said.

“I also want to push for more responsible pet ownership, which includes more formalised regulation on pet ownership in HDB

estates, and also keep tabs on redevelopment activities,” added the professor, who lives in a HDB flat with his wife, along with three adopted rabbits.

It was in WKWSCI, where Asst Prof Liew joined as a faculty member in the Division of Broadcast and Cinema Studies in 2010, that he realised he could align his interests with those of his students’.

“Through my involvement in non-governmental organisations, I’ve seen all types of new places and different types of people. This has helped in several Final Year Projects (FYPs) I’ve supervised,” Asst Prof Liew said.

One such FYP was the multimedia project Potong Pasir — My Kind of Town. Asst Prof Liew, a Potong Pasir resident, provided both a place for his students to store their equipment, and also exposed them to the heritage of the HDB estate.

He also integrated his conservation and heritage concerns into courses — students in his past Visual Literacy and Communication classes were required to produce heritage-centric video projects.

ANIMAL LOVER: Asst Prof Liew has been a long-time champion of animal rights.

PHOTO: KELLY PHUA

These projects got his students featured in national newspapers, and even provided them with potential business ventures.

“Had I not been involved in the broader affairs of the state, I wouldn’t have been able to benefit my students that much,” Asst Prof Liew said.

Moving forward, he plans to integrate university activities with civil ones, like bringing classes out of lecture theatres, so students can discover Singapore’s built and natural heritage.

“This will help students’ long-

term employability. University should be fun to be in, where you get to do things you can explore instead of merely taking esoteric subjects,” he said.

In addition, he hopes to bring student-made projects to wider audiences, such as SG50 next year.

“I think academia should not be just an ivory tower," "We should be involved in what is happening on the ground, or at least know that there is something happening outside your campus.

There is a bigger world out there," he said.

Lifestyle feature

STANDOUT WORKOUTS Summer holidays are over, but all that hard work put into working out for your dream summer body shouldn’t stop. With the monotony of school life setting in, Lifestyle Editors Justin Kor and Serena Yeh try out three extraordinary exercises that revitalise mundane workout routines.

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KINETIKA XTREME 200 Turf Club Road The Grandstand #07-09 S287994 Opening hours: Daily: 8am–9pm Tel: 6465 4990 Price: $65 and above per 45-minute session NTU students and alumni get 10% off per package FORGET the usual dumbbells and barbells; Kinetika Xtreme’s pièce de résistance is the Kinesis Class machine, which looks straight out of the future.

A pulley system aimed at incorporating both functional and strength training, the Kinesis Class machine differs from conventional cable systems — it advocates a multidimensional approach to working out.

This means that an individual would incorporate working out different muscle groups in a single exercise — the Kinesis Class machine can conduct over 400 exercises on one individual platform, said Kinetika Xtreme founder Ghaneswaran Sukumaran.

“The body moves in a multi-dimensional manner. As such, the Kinesis Class machine simulates real-life body movements in its workouts,” said Mr Ghaneswaran, 32, a fitness trainer of seven years and one of two Technogym Master trainers in Singapore.

Following the body’s motions means that we are less likely to injure ourselves.

The Kinesis Class machine caters to people from all walks of life, ranging from professional athletes to couch potatoes.

In fact, it is even wheelchair friendly, which ties in with Mr Ghaneswaran’s belief that “wellness is for everyone”.

My introduction to Kinesis training began when my amicable trainer Harvey started me on a set of five conventional exercises — ranging from shoulder presses to squats.

Pulling on the cables connected to the machine, I felt a marked increase in my mobility as compared to when I was using a traditional cable system. My body could also adjust itself comfortably according to how I

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liked it.

The safety aspect of Kinesis training was highlighted when I felt no unnatural tension on my shoulder joints, which allowed my body to easily accustom itself to the machine.

I got my first taste of the Kinesis’s multi-dimensional workout when I did a set of shoulder presses, coupled with squats.

In addition to working out two muscle groups, there was the added effort of coordinating both my upper and lower body movements in one sitting.

Coupled with a supplemental weight stack, that quickly had me breaking out a sweat.

ARKE

Another unconventional workout the gym offers is its core-centric ARKE training classes, which is making its debut in Singapore.

Also developed in Italy, ARKE means ‘origin of things’ in Greek.

True to its namesake, the class simulates the developments that the body goes through, from crawling on all fours to assuming an upright position.

The class was no walk in the park, with a huge amount of effort focused on the core muscles to keep the body stable.

The Kinesis Class machine caters to people from all walks of life, ranging from professional athletes to couch potatoes.

I encountered a particularly challenging exercise where I had to balance on two stability discs. The added cushioning of the discs made it a challenge to even stand on, much less do any exercises on them.

Imagine my utter dismay when Harvey asked me to perform a squat.

As can be expected, ARKE training classes are comparably more strenuous than the Kinesis classes as they engage more of the rarely used stabiliser muscles.

Kinetika Xtreme may seem like your archetypal contemporary gym, with a sleek interior and trendy music blaring in the background. However, with its unorthodox approach to training, this up-and-coming gym definitely gives big-box gyms a run for their money.

-Justin Kor

1. BALANCING ACT: ARKE training engages the core muscles by focusing on balance and stability.

2. DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Kinesis Class Machine’s dual cables ensures that both arms are worked equally as compared to your standard barbells.

3. SURF’S UP: The RSX simulates the feeling of being out at sea and riding the waves.

4. LIVE WIRE: Electric currents activate entire muscle groups and give the body a tingly buzz.

WATCH Justin take on Kinesis and ARKE at www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg/multimedia PHOTOS: CLIFFORD LEE

SURFSET 454B Joo Chiat Road Level 3 S427667 Opening hours: Refer to class schedules found on their website: www.surfset.sg Tel: 9751 0793 Price: $35 for a single class BALANCING precariously on the board, I focused all my energy on trying not to fall face-first on the floor instead of listening to the instructions issued by Shuyi, my chirpy instructor at SURFSET Singapore.

It was my baptism of fire being on a surfboard. However, instead of being out in the open waters, I was in a small and cosy studio along Joo Chiat Road, sweating up a storm.

Recently opened in January, SURFSET Singapore provides a fun but challenging experience for fitness enthusiasts looking for something new.

Participants are subjected to a gruelling 45-minute workout on a surfboard simulator, the RipSurfer X (RSX), that tones one’s physique and strengthens the core muscles.

SURFSET was developed in the United States in 2011 by a professional hockey player who realised that the results of heavy weightlifting did not match up to his physique and fitness levels gained during offseason surfing.

SURFSET Singapore founder Melissa Goh, 31, a former Pilates instructor, brought the concept over after she tried it out in the US and found it beneficial.

Compared to traditional stability equipment like exercise balls, the RSX provides a platform to place your entire body weight upon, which gives the body a bigger challenge to stay balanced, said Ms Goh. “The RSX aims to utilise one’s stabiliser muscles which are rarely engaged in conventional exercises,” she added.

Indeed, the biggest challenge of being on the RSX was trying to balance. Stepping up onto the platform, I instantly began to wob-

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ble and had to put in tremendous effort to stay upright.

I was trying out the introductory BALANCE class, the easiest of the three classes offered. It is a prerequisite for the more advanced CORE and SWEAT classes.

However, I was already starting to sweat just trying to stay on top of my board — and the session hadn’t even started yet.

Shuyi held nothing back. She had us do a set of back extensions, coupled with our arms swinging back and forth to mimic paddling through water. The imbalance made everything harder. I had to coordinate my upper and lower body movements while trying to stay on the board. My arms and legs felt like lead weights.

And that was just the warm-up.

We were then instructed to perform a multitude of exercises such as planks and squats.

One exercise I found particularly enjoyable was getting up from a prone position to assume a surfing stance.

Undulating waves, simulated by the rocking board, tried to knock me off balance. It took every fibre of my being to avoid, as surfers say, a wipeout.

During the entire session, there was hardly any time for rest – the only breaks we snatched were when Shuyi demonstrated new exercises. We were relentlessly put through our paces, with each exercise lasting about a minute.

SURFSET is not recommended for people who hardly exercise since there is a minimal fitness level required to keep up with the pace of the class, Ms Goh said.

By the end of the workout, I was completely drained.

Unsurprisingly, my core muscles ached most the next day, due to the staggering amount of effort it took to keep my body upright for the most part of an hour.

However, Ms Goh assured me that once customers have gone through their first session of SURFSET, there is a marked improvement in balancing in the second session, because the body is already accustomed to trying to stay on the board.

SURFSET is an innovative way to keep fit by catching the waves, all without hitting the sandy beach.

-Justin Kor

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Bodytec studio 200 Turf Club Road The Grandstand #01-34 S287994 Opening hours: Daily: 9am-9pm Tel: 6466 0638 Price: $50-65 per session

I WORKED up a sweat in the mere 20 minutes of Electro Muscular Stimulation (EMS) training at Bodytec Studio.

Minimally decorated, the small studio can conduct EMS training for two individuals at a time. This means that people who fear being looked at while exercising in large gyms will feel more relaxed exercising here.

People from all walks of life, including those who hardly exercise, are welcome to try, said General Manager of Bodytec Studio, Ron Hanerfeld, 31.

The studio especially targets individuals who are time-strapped.

A 20-minute EMS training session once a week is said to be as effective as two 60-minute gym sessions.

EMS is an unconventional workout that involves the discharge of electrical impulses — this involuntarily contracts muscles while the individual does static exercises led by a personal trainer.

To begin, I put on a wet vest — sprayed with water for better conduction — with wires attached. Then, bands were strapped around my thighs, arms, and buttocks. All were pulled tight, and it felt like I was wearing a corset.

Once I was connected to the machine, Mr Hanerfeld, my personal trainer for the day, tested out the current levels with me. I was asked to clench my muscles as he adjusted the levels according to how comfortable I was with the intensity.

I felt a tingly sensation, similar to that of sitting on a massage chair, throughout my body as the current came on, but it was not

uncomfortable.

One of the greatest points about Bodytec Studio is the one-to-one EMS training sessions with a personal trainer, who makes it fun and safe and customises the exercises and levels of current based on the individual’s fitness level and goals.

While some customers may have concerns about being electrocuted, Mr Hanerfeld assured me that EMS is a safe practice that has been around for 40 to 50 years.

Bodytec brought this technology to Singapore from Germany, with its first outlet which opened in July last year. EMS is used extensively worldwide to not only strengthen and tone muscles, but also as a rehabilitative tool to help injured muscles recover.

In the 20-minute session, I did a range of about eight exercises that included squats, lunges, planking and mountain climbers.

These exercises were designed to target a total of eight different muscle groups.

There is a variety of static exercises available so there is no fear of getting bored.

Moreover, advanced clients can move on to more challenging exercises such as boxing.

It was harder to do the usual exercises because of the tight straps, but with repetition, the movements became more natural.

Unlike usual squats where the lower body muscles are activated, the vibrations from the electrical impulses made every exercise feel like the entire body was being put through an intensive workout.

The vibrations came in four-second intervals, so for every four seconds of movement, I had four seconds of rest.

By the end of the 20 minutes, I did not feel exhausted. However, I felt like all my muscles were stimulated. Even after removing the vest and bands, I felt as if there were still some vibrations throughout my body.

I expected soreness, as I was told that it was normal for EMS first-timers to feel tenderness, but I felt fine the next day. It made me wonder whether I could have handled higher current levels.

Even though it was impossible to see any immediate benefits from just one session, it was certainly a novel experience — the black attire, tight vest, and being hooked up with wires made me feel like an action star.

-Serena Yeh

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travelogue 1

2

3

REALISING RURAL JAPAN PHOTOS: AMANDA CHAI

Forget the streets of Harajuku and Shibuya. Amanda Chai explores the unassuming town of Kyonan-Machi in Japan, two hours by bus from Tokyo.

W

hat a rude shock it was when we discovered we girls had to shower together. Our coordinator for the trip, Fujimoto-san, informed us that the bathrooms at the dormitory only allowed communal showering.

I was well aware that my stay in a little fishing village on the outskirts of Tokyo wouldn’t come with the modern comforts I am accustomed to, but showering together was something completely different.

My home for the next six days was the quaint town of Kyonan-Machi, located along the southern coastline of Chiba, Tokyo. The town is roughly the size of Tampines and Pasir Ris combined.

I was part of a group of 100 students from Singapore, on a learning trip fully sponsored by the Japanese government.

The programme, titled JENESYS 2.0, is an initiative by the Japanese government intended to expose us to the culture and technology in Chiba, and to increase awareness of this suburban prefecture.

We were the pampered Singaporeans, plucked from a cosy first night in a central Tokyo hotel and planted in a dormitory, where no one batted an eyelid at showering with a naked stranger.

However, as the days went by and we learnt more about the Japanese culture, we found the simple tatami mats we slept on comfortable, and the shared bathroom merely an amusing new experience.

We girls worked out a shower roster so only three people would be in the bathroom at one time. We bathed with our backs to each other and suppressed the occasional snigger of embarrassment.

People say to go to Japan for two things — the food and the hospitality. Over the next few days, Kyonan-Machi exceeded expectations in both aspects and more.

What it lacked in modern entertainment, it more than made up for in scenery and weather. Golden sunsets along the coast were

ethereal and nightfall simply meant a world of peaceful quiet.

Sights like grandparents bathing their grandchildren outside their houses emphasised the rustic charm of the town.

However, there were very few youths in Kyonan-Machi, so we were looking forward to our day trip to Chiba University — a 60-minute bus ride away — where we could interact with students our age.

Despite the language barrier, we were able to hold honest conversations with the students. I found it particularly adorable when Misaki-san, a pint-sized first-year student from Chiba University, whipped out her phone and Googled a picture of her favourite Chinese food — prawns in red sauce — when she struggled to tell us in English.

Soon we had to part, but not before we snapped group photos with an Instax camera. We gave each student a picture to keep.

To my surprise, although we had only just met, they clasped the photos to their chests in gratitude and bowed repeatedly.

Imagine our surprise when our homestay hosts reappeared, damp from the afternoon drizzle, having walked a good 10 kilometres from home to meet us.

The Japanese students gifted us with tasty snacks and handwritten notes with heartwarming phrases — “Have a good life!”, “We are friends!” and “I enjoy our time” (sic).

A two-day homestay was also scheduled, and seven of us girls were assigned to stay with a mother-daughter innkeeper duo.

The daughter, a middle-aged housewife, single-handedly prepared all our meals. We were stunned when we sat down on the first night for a welcome dinner — fresh fish,

sashimi, a massive king prawn each, and even steamboat.

Her mother is a hunchbacked old lady, who sat by the window and waved us goodbye every morning. She hardly spoke, except on our last day in their home. It was when we presented them with presents, and she thanked us profusely in a flurry of hand gestures and rapid Japanese.

A mass farewell party awaited us back at the dormitory to conclude the homestay experience, so we gave our hugs, said our goodbyes and left their house.

Imagine our surprise when our homestay hosts reappeared two hours early at our dormitory, damp from the afternoon drizzle, having walked a good 10 kilometres from their home to meet us.

Unable to attend the farewell party, they had come early to say their final goodbyes, bearing souvenir T-shirts they bought for each of us.

Just then, both mother and daughter suddenly started tearing.

Our coordinator helped translate when the mother mumbled in her high, cracked voice: “Every time guests come, I feel so happy at home to have everyone here. But when they leave, it is like my children leaving, and I have to sleep alone again.”

We were so overwhelmed by such sincerity and genuine emotion from two complete strangers, who hosted us for only two days, that we became crying wrecks. There we stood, nine sobbing females hugging in the dormitory hallway — a moment that became the most memorable part of the trip.

We spent our last night in Japan gallivanting around Shibuya, Tokyo’s famed shopping

district, when we returned to Tokyo.

As fun as Shibuya was, I preferred the natural warmth of Kyonan-Machi. Of course, the people in Tokyo were undoubtedly gracious, but the bustle of the city was somewhat unfeeling — purposeful businessmen in their tailored suits were less approachable than wizened fishermen; the silhouette of the pier by the sea would always be more comforting than the towering Shinjuku skyline.

Kyonan-Machi captivated me with her quiet beauty and tranquility. Most importantly, what made the trip for me were the residents and their hearts of gold.

4

1. THAT VILLAGE BY THE SEA: The quaint fishing village that sits serenely along the coast.

2. FORGING FRIENDSHIPS: The real masters of kawaii showing us how it's done.

3. MOUTH WATERING: Our delectable meal that was prepared from scratch and with love by our innkeeper was a feast fit for a king.

4. HEARTS OF GOLD: The writer, together with her homestay mother-and-daughter hosts in Kyonan-Machi.

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food snoop

TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE DOUBLE DUTY: The sleek bar area at Bincho (main picture) is the only hint that yakitori and cocktails are served at this coffeeshop. At Two Face Pizza & Taproom (second row centre), giant chalkboards cover the hawker stalls that operate in the morning.

PHOTOS: CLIFFORD LEE

As night approaches, casual kopitiams transform into hip dining hotspots. Foo Rong En explores the duo-dining concepts that offer modern menus while retaining heritage charm.

Two Face Pizza & Taproom 56 Eng Hoon Street #01-46 S160056 Opening hours: Tues-Thurs: 5pm-11pm Fri-Sat: 5pm-12am Sun: 2.30pm-10pm Tel: 6536 0024 DON'T be fooled by the giant chalkboards covering up what looks like abandoned stalls at this kopitiam at night.

By day, this kopitiam operates as your typical coffee shop, selling local fare such as yong tau foo and mee pok. By night, the unassuming corner of 56 Eng Hoon Street gets jazzed up into a Western eatery.

Workers in the area flock down to savour the local fare. The yong tau foo — soupy bee hoon topped with items such as beancurd skin with fish paste and fishballs — had a rather steep price ($4 for five items). But the soup was flavourful and was complemented by an addictive sweet sauce and chilli.

At 3pm every day, the original stall owners close shop. Come nightfall, the transformation is complete.

Large chalkboards taller than a person are propped up to hide the stalls, and the decór turns casual chic for the dinner crowd at

Western eatery Two Face Pizza & Taproom.

The coffee shop by day, pizzeria by night idea struck owner of Two Face Pizza & Taproom, Victor Tan, 50, when he moved into Tiong Bahru two years ago and found that it lacked casual and affordable Western fare.

“The master tenant was initially skeptical about this new concept, but we formed a friendship and eventually agreed that he would let me take over the premises when they close for the day,” Mr Tan said.

“I had to eat many bowls of yong tau foo!” he joked.

The original floor tiles of the traditional coffee shop are retained, contributing much to the pizzeria's vintage charm.

“We wanted the décor to be more authentic and to retain the rich heritage of the place,” Mr Tan said.

Since December 2012, this charming pizzeria has been serving up its signature thincrust pizzas and hearty pastas.

A family-friendly place, the menu is reasonably-priced without Goods and Services Tax and service charge.

Appetizers include the funky-sounding Fristo Misto of Calamari ($10), Truffle Fries ($10), and ha cheong gai (prawn paste chicken; $10). The chicken was ensconced in tender, juicy and crisp batter, which made up for its slight oiliness.

The aptly named duo-flavoured 2 Face Pizza - Chef’s Choice ($16, second row left) packed a punch with one half topped with ham and the other pepperoni. But the ingre-

dients of this pizza change weekly, according to the chef's mood. The base was crisp without being too thin, and it was spread with a generous amount of cheese and fragrant basil.

For those game for unique flavours, the Kiam He Pizza ($14), inspired by Singaporean flavours, combines Western ingredients (black olives, oregano, capers and basil) with Chinese salted fish, which is more commonly spotted in a traditional bowl of claypot rice.

Happy hours here are a steal — $8 pints of beer all night (with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays). It takes courage to order the uncommon vegetable-based Two Face Signature Drink ($4). But thankfully, the mix of sour plum, cai xin (Chinese mustard greens), and pineapple juice was a winner — zesty, sweet and refreshing with just a hint of cai xin.

With its novel concept and menu, Two Face Pizza & Taproom might just kickstart a trend of duo-dining food joints.

BINCHO 78 Moh Guan Terrace #01-19 S162078 Opening Hours: Tues-Sun: 12pm-3pm, 6pm till late Tel: 6438 4567 THE dimly-lit interior of Bincho unveils a kopitiam setting — with only a bar and grill as the only hint that Japanese yakitori and cocktails are served at this refurbished

70-year-old coffee shop.

For breakfast, diners can dig into oldschool bowls of either dry or soupy mee pok ($3) and traditional toast sets ($1.80) from the Hua Bee kopitiam — featured in the Singaporean cult classic movie Mee Pok Man. As lunchtime arrives, breakfast operations cease at the metal food cart, and the focus turns to the grill, where chefs at Bincho serve up Japanese fare.

The vintage marble tables and wooden chairs double up as furniture for both Hua Bee and Bincho — a nod to Tiong Bahru’s mixed heritage.

One quirk of Bincho is the servers lugging an entire standing chalkboard menu when they take orders. There are no printed menus here, due to constant revisions to keep things fresh and interesting.

The Yakitori Don Set ($20; second row right) and Kaisen Don Set ($25) are recommended for their grilled fare and fresh sashimi respectively. Each set consists a main, appetizer, salad, chicken karaage, soup, pickles and ice cream, making them surprisingly value for money.

Even after some time, the chicken karaage, though slightly charred, remained crispy and full of umami goodness. The savoury Simmered Squid with Braised Radish was a good palate cleanser while the salad, sprinkled generously with crispy strips of chicken skin, was refreshing.

While the yakitori don was not drenched in gravy, the generous serving of chicken was well-marinated and incredibly tender, exuding a decadent smoky flavour.

Bincho's affordable set meals and duodining concept makes it stand out among the many food joints in Tiong Bahru.

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movies GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Action/Comedy (PG) Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista 121 min



H

aving charmed fans with a memorable superhero team like The Avengers, Marvel is introducing a riskier and stranger ensemble into the fray.

In Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel challenges the stereotype of the comic book hero with a motley crew of misfits, while keeping audiences rooted with a heady dose of 20th century nostalgia.

Fronted by Peter “Star-Lord” Quill (Chris Pratt), a smuggler who was abducted and raised by aliens, genius raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and walking tree Groot (Vin Diesel), the Guardians stretch the limits of audience belief.

The team’s brawn, Drax (Dave Bautista) – armed with huge fists and a Shakespearean verbosity – and Gamora (Zoe Saldana), the adopted daughter of a galactic tyrant, round off the oddball register.

The strange crew find themselves working together to avoid capture by their many enemies, including Ronan (Lee Pace), a maniacal alien bent on world domination, and Gamora's sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan).

Pratt brings a good-natured exuberance to adventurous scoundrel Quill, which complements Cooper's cynical Rocket, and the two provide the most entertaining of the film’s dialogue.

The quieter members compete for their share of humour in other ways: Drax's inability to understand jokes and Groot's threeword vocabulary ("I am Groot").

However, the characters' light-heartedness also hide tragic backstories. We get tantalising glimpses of these in the movie, but they

OUT IN THE DARK

Drama (R21) Nicholas Jacob, Michael Aloni 96 mins

 ISRAELI filmmaker Michael Mayer delivers an outstanding piece of work with Out in the Dark, a delicate exploration of the Israel-Palestine conflict through the eyes of a troubled gay couple.

Nimr Mashrawi (Nicholas Jacob), a Palestinian psychology student, meets charismatic Israeli lawyer Roy Schaefer (Michael Aloni) in a bar one night.

While their initial attraction was characterised by lust, their mutual attraction soon evolved into an impassioned, albeit forbidden love — their nationality, religion and gender impede their union.

While Roy has come out to his parents and seems to have come to terms with his sexuality, Nimr remains closeted due to his religion.

Nimr occasionally sneaks across the Israel-Palestine border to allow himself shortlived nights of freedom in gay-friendly bars.

Whatever brief hope characters possess are wrested away. Nimr’s bright future is dashed when the Israeli secret police revokes his student visa — and the chance to study under a renowned professor — on grounds

PHOTO: MARVEL

HIT THEM UP: Peter "Star Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) and his motley crew of misfits prepare for action.

are enough for us not to dismiss the team as likeable but superficial crooks.

Gamora and Drax's thirst for revenge is motivated by the murder of their family members, and Rocket's bitterness stems from surviving brutal scientific experiments.

Even the film's nostalgic and groovy soundtrack of classic 70's rock serve as a bittersweet reminder of Quill's lost familial connections, especially when the character is dancing to Redbone's 'Come and Get Your Love' in the hilarious opening scene.

As entertaining as the team is, the movie is undermined by a tired plot structure and cutout villains. While our heroes quickly endear themselves to us, the villains fail to terrify.

The sibling rivalry between Gamora and Nebula could have been further explored,

while Lee Pace's mass slaughterer Ronan is all bluster, and does not show enough of his reputed cruelty to be truly menacing.

Sadly, action scenes in Guardians of the Galaxy lack the creativity present in its dialogues. The movie is also disadvantaged as it follows a recent onslaught of superhero movies, which left moviegoers too familiar with its plot.

A squabbling team setting aside their differences to defeat alien bad guys seems like a rehash of The Avengers, and when compared to Marvel's previous films, the fights in Guardians of the Galaxy plod along slowly.

Even the well-executed special effects are unable to compensate for the predictable battle outcomes (good guys win, bad guys lose), and the climactic battle fails to get the audience's adrenaline pumping.

Marvel's many story crossovers may explain the similar plot devices, but the story presentation could have done more to match up to the characters’ refreshing banter.

Fortunately, the charms of Peter Quill and gang are sufficiently entertaining, and they provide enough stand-out moments for Guardians of the Galaxy to count among Marvel's successes.

With a sequel already in the works, these characters will hopefully develop stronger backstories and continue to shine.

However, if you cannot wait for the sequel, stay for a post-credits sting featuring a very unexpected and longforgotten character.

-Serene Low

gle to live their lives freely without the fear of political consequences, Out in the Dark shines the spotlight on the people's day-today struggles amid the Israel-Palestine tensions.

As Nimr aptly puts it when he confronts his terrorist brother (who aims to eradicate suspected Palestinian spies hiding out in Israel): “I don't care about the Jews, the Palestinians, Fatah, or Hamas. I'm talking about a person, and you killed him.”

Through the struggles that the characters face, Mayer reminds his audience to shift their focus from a macro perspective to observe the drastic effects of conflict on people's everyday lives.

The film’s inconclusive ending leaves the audience wondering about the respective characters’ fates, and whether they will eventually lead a life together.

The futility of Roy’s efforts in helping Nimr obtain legal residency in Israel also serves as a poignant reminder of the deepseated and irreconcilable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Out in the Dark provides a refreshing take on a current issue from the perspectives of Roy and Nimr.

While the movie may not provide the anMichael Aloni (left) and Nicholas Jacob indulge in a love against all odds.

PHOTO: BREAKING GLASS PICTURES swers to the Israel-Palestine conflict or the gay debate, it allows viewers an intimate of his alleged involvement with Palestinian his sexuality to his family. look at the situation and encourages them conspirators.

Similar hints of prejudice against homoto not be swayed by the opinions of popular Yet, the audience can't help but feel that sexuals are strewn throughout the film, conmedia.

Nimr's sexuality has had a part to play in the stantly provoking the audience to consider sudden nullification of his visa, further am- their struggles. plified by the secret police's threats to expose By choosing to focus on a couple’s strug- -Lilian Lee

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performances SLOWDIVE LIVE IN SINGAPORE

31 Jul *Scape: The Ground Theatre



T

o catch Slowdive, a seminal band of the 90s, live in Singapore would be something fans of shoegaze, a subgenre of alternative rock, could only dream of — but Symmetry Entertainment made that dream come true on 31 Jul. The English band, part of the big names in the shoegaze genre alongside bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins, announced their reunion in January after 20 years of inactivity.

They followed up the news with a world tour, and their stop at Singapore comes after performances at festivals such as Pitchfork Music Festival in America and Primavera Sound in Spain and Portugal.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a band that have been on hiatus for the past two decades to sound a little dated, or their performance to be rusty.

But all uncertainties were dispelled with their opening song, Slowdive. The familiar, all-too-comforting guitar reverbs and drifting vocals of a song from their self-titled debut EP hushed the audience, setting the mood for the rest of the night.

Every word and chord throughout the night was sung and struck with passion and intensity.

Even during the seemingly lazy chants in Crazy For You — a song from their third album Pygmalion — lead singer Neil Halstead delivered every line with palpable force.

The band members performed in true shoegaze style — guitarist Rachel Goswell and bassist Nick Chaplin had their heads bowed low, while Halstead looked detached and introspective on stage, barely addressing the audience the entire time.

There was no need for conversation in

THE PILLOWMAN

17-26 Jul Drama Centre Black Box 135 min

 Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman, staged by homegrown theatre company Couch Theatre, is as dark as it is humorous.

It successfully mixes comedy with the macabre while telling a compelling story of oppression, corruption, and human nature.

The play follows the persecution of Katurian (Lim Shien Hian), a writer of stories too gruesome to be published.

A series of murders and disappearances bear an uncanny resemblance to his stories, triggering his questioning by the sarcastic detective Tupolski (Uday Duggal), and the bulldog of a policeman, Ariel (Ziyad Bagharib).

The slew of crimes: a girl fed apples riddled with razor blades, a boy’s toes severed, and a third child missing, her fate possibly imitating another of Katurian’s brilliantly horrific tales.

Facing possible execution and the threat of his books getting burned, Katurian fights for them to survive him.

To his despair, his mentally challenged brother, Michal (Shrey Bhargava), confesses to the crimes after being held in the next

ARMS RAISED AND SPIRITS HIGH: The return of Slowdive was greeted with aplomb — fans from as far as Australia and Indonesia flocked over to catch them.

PHOTO: MARIA CLARE KHOO/ SYMMETRY ENT

the theatre, however, with wave after wave of heavenly noise enveloping the eager audience, sending their hearts soaring.

Goswell also contributed vocals to some songs, most hauntingly in a Syd Barrett cover of Golden Hair. It was a breathtaking cover that accentuated the beauty of dreamy minimalism, as opposed to louder genres like grunge and Britpop that dominated the ‘90s.

Many songs started softly and warmly, before gradually billowing into intricately woven rumblings of noise.

Some, such as Catch The Breeze and When the Sun Hits, allowed the audience to reach a state of catharsis, losing themselves in the songs.

Frankly, the two hours could at times be disorienting. The songs drifted from ethereal and gorgeous to haunting and wintry in such short amounts of time, we didn’t know to feel uplifted or depressed.

Alison, a song from an album widely regarded as Slowdive’s magnum opus, Souvlaki, drew the concert to a bittersweet close — its washed-out melodies and wistful loops were among the standout moments of the night.

The end of the concert, however, may not necessarily spell the end of Slowdive’s reunion for us.

In an interview with British online music magazine the Quietus, Halstead responds

to a question about the band’s motivations for getting back together, saying: “There are loads of artistic reasons, especially if we can get a new record together.”

So, there it is — a long wait for a possible studio album that hopefully matches up the classic status of Souvlaki.

Meanwhile, the memory of an incredible live performance serves as a reminder that modern-day bands we love, such as M83 and Washed Out, would not be making the lush, sensual music they are now without pioneering shoegaze bands such as Slowdive illuminating the way.

-Zachary Tang

For Katurian, the latter comes in the form of Michal. Bhargava's masterful portrayal of Michal explores more than just Michal’s mental disability, but also what makes him human: his motivations, his innocence, and his love for Katurian.

It is based on this that the relationship between Michal and Katurian becomes the highlight of the performance.

While Michal depends on Katurian for care, there is also a sense that Katurian depends on him for love, and, to a degree, a reason to live.

During the play, a weeping Katurian recites one of his stories, The Little Green Pig, to Michal as a bedtime story, with Michal lying on his lap.

It is in this moment, with the two entrapped in prison, that the bonds of brotherhood are the strongest.

The performances were not perfect; the length of the first act (1 hour 45 minutes) seemed to faze the actors, who at times looked tired and lacking in the energy to pull QUESTIONING IN PROGRESS: The eerie Pillowman keeps watch while an interrogation goes on.

PHOTO: GEOFFREY LIM through.

However, that can easily be forgiven, givroom for questioning. to lead terrible lives that would drive them en the strength of the script and the enthusiThe set consists of a prison with stained towards suicide. asm of the young actors. grey, oppressive walls and, behind them, This allegory reflects Katurian and While Couch Theatre’s memorable run of an imposing backdrop with the seemingly Michal’s desire for liberation from their sufThe Pillowman may have come to an end, there friendly Pillowman in the centre. fering, and provides them solace from their will be no rest for the company — their next The play’s eponymous character comes inescapable death. production, Beneath the Fold, is set to be from one of Katurian’s stories, about a man Behind the allusions to oppression and staged in December. made of pillows travelling back in time to corruption, The Pillowman questions the naconvince children to kill themselves. ture of our existence and what we consider -Mark Cheong These children would otherwise come dear to us.

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14-15 SHOWCASE

(CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Green With Envy: This new development is the first among existing halls to sport a half-court for residents to have a game of basketball.

Gazebo by THE Water: Relax under a rustic hut while enjoying the greenery and waterscapes that have earned Crescent and Pioneer halls their Green Mark Platinium status.

Sky Terraces: Chill out with neighbours in the shaded bliss of the nature at your doorstep. The facade on the outside blocks out sunlight while ensuring effective cross ventilation throughout the blocks.

Sporting fACILITIES: The new artificial pitch of the Sports and Recreation Centre sits right next to both halls -- providing students with an array of sporting options.

Garden in the Sky: Water used to irrigate the plants are drawn from the waterscape below.

Contemporary Functional Rooms: Crescent and Pioneer halls house 860 single rooms and 195 double rooms, as well as 30 apartments for staff and Hall Fellows. il

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A FRESH START

From sky terraces to low-lying marshland cascades, NTU’s two newest halls of residence mark the fruition of an ambitious green plan. Photo Editors Clifford Lee and Tan Xiu Qi check out an innovative model of sustainable living.

T

owering over lush greenery and rustic gazebos, the new Pioneer Hall and Crescent Hall have gotten the green thumbs up from residents for their slew of eco-friendly features.

The eight Y-Shaped blocks, designed a nd con st r uc ted to complement t hei r nat u r a l environment, have achieved the Green Mark Platinum status by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for environmental sustainability. Amenities include a rain garden, solar-powered water heaters and open communal spaces.

“There is a visible effort to incorporate a lot of nature into the space, which is a breath of fresh air when you look around,” said Yeo Tze Hern, 21, a freshman from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

A popular hangout spot is the gazebo, where residents can enjoy br eat hta k i ng v iews of the picturesque landscapes and water features, said Aishwarya

Narayanan, 19, a second-year student from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.

However, residents have also noted that the halls, which are not fully completed, have some teething problems.

“The gazebo in the lake is quite striking, though at the moment, it seems rather uninviting as its brown water looks like a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Yeo. A spokesperson for the Housing and Auxiliary Services said that the water will turn clear once sediments have settled down as part of the natural downstream filtration process. The water in the recreational ponds by the gazebos will be clean, allowing students to enjoy close proximity to the water.

Other residents like Daryl Lim, 22, a second-year Linguistics and Multilingual St udies st udent, have raised concerns about the minor construction works ongoing within the compound and the unavailability of basic services and

amenities within the halls.

“There is a lot of dust and noise generated by the minor works.

Moreover, facilities such as the gym and canteen have yet to start operation,” he said.

Agreeing with the sentiment, Aishwara said: “Finding food can be a little bit inconvenient, especially when it starts raining and you have to walk to either Canteens 1 or 2.”

But minor inconveniences aside, most of the residents in the two new halls express optimism about their new living quarters.

Some are already relishing the opportunity to develop a distinct hall culture from its infancy.

“It would be a challenging and interesting journey to establish the cultures and traditions of the new halls. I look forward to fostering a sense of community among the first batch of students,” said Lim, who is also currently serving on the Pro-Term (interim) Committee of Pioneer Hall.

flumpool狮城首场售票演唱会 ——— 刊19页

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北区教学楼食阁本周重新营业 陈祎婷● 报道 中文编辑

位

于南大北区教学楼N2.1 的最大食阁经过两个月 的整修后，将在本月14日之 前重新营业，并从原本的招 牌“Food Connection”重新命 名为“Northspine”。 配合N2.1区的大整修，周围 的Executive Cafe也暂定在10月 完成翻新工程。 届 时 除 了 现 有 的 桃 苑 （Peach Garden）中餐厅，也将 另设国际食阁，提供韩式、中 国北方以及意大利料理。 学校也计划引进台湾、越 南、泰国与日本料理，以满足 消费者的需求。 对于食阁重新营业，南大职 员和学生都表示欢迎，尤其是 受食阁关闭影响最大的李伟南 图书馆职员以及在学校打假期 工的学生。 多数受访者说，他们自从食 阁在5月底关闭整修开始，经 常因为没有时间到其它食阁用 餐，只能选择以快餐果腹。 这期间在校内图书馆打工 的罗佳玮（化学与生物医学工

程学院三年级，20岁）说： “我平时不吃快餐，但自从食 阁关闭后，我一个星期平均会 有三次到麦当劳买食物，其它 时候就去The Quad Cafe和口福 吃饭。” 如今情况即将改善，让之前 受影响的职员和学生都觉得终 于拨云见月。

食物价格引起学生关切 不过，也有学生对食阁是否 会调整食物价格表达关切。 就读于中文系四年级的 何 欣 恩 （ 2 2 岁 ） 说 ： “ Food Connection是很多学生经常消 费的地方，当然希望价格不会 上涨。” 对此，南大住宿与后勤服 务处（Office of Housing and Auxiliary）总监李淑德表示， 部分摊位可能会调高食物价 钱，但强调校方将会确保价格 不高于校外食阁，以照顾学生 的福利。 负责Northspine和Executive Cafe的 胜 乐 集 团 （ Select Group）也作出相关回应。 其执行董事陈祖鹏表示，集 团将在校方批准各摊主提议的 食物价钱后公布定价标准。

南大食阁Food Connection关闭期间，造成附近职员和学生缺乏食物选择，只能选择快餐果腹。 摄影:李志湧

校内快餐店价格上涨 另外，部分学生留意到校内 麦当劳和赛百味（Subway）调 高食物价钱一事。 据麦当劳员工透露，快餐店

已从上个月17日调高价格，例 如麦金鸡汉堡套餐已从之前的 3.60元上调至4.05元。职员也 说，基本套餐还是会提供校园 优惠价格，但有些食品价格可

能会调至跟校外分行一样。 赛百味经理蔡先生也解释， 调高物价是正常的营业决策， 目的是为了提供更加优良的食 物品质以及优秀的服务。

南大开办新课程 提升学生语言能力 蔡欣颖● 报道 中文编辑

为

了让学生提升语言的 掌握能力，现代语言 中心（Centre for Modern Languages） 在 这 学 期 推 出韩文第五级、高级实用 日文（Advanced Practical Japanese） 和 高 级 实 用 华 文 （Advanced Practical Chinese） 三种新课程。 从下个学期开始，原有四个 等级的法语课程，也将增加至 五个等级。 中心负责人表示，高级实用 华文和高级实用日文将以培养 学生的沟通与表达能力为主。

前者侧重于教导学生掌握在正 式场合的沟通技巧，后者则注 重如何与他人协商以及与长辈 沟通。 高级实用华文课程将采用报 纸、网络、电视剧与电影等教 材，让学生从中学习有关中文 写作与沟通技巧，帮助他们日 后在商务或工作场合有效地使 用中文。 此课程没有考试，以学生的 课堂表现、商业写作、演讲呈 现和作业成绩作为评估标准。 校方规定，有意愿选修此课 程的学生必须拥有O水准华文 B4相等的成绩，而中文系、台 湾籍与中国籍学生则不能报读 该课程。 另一方面，高级实用日语的

课程是提供给在校外修读并考 获日语能力考试N3级相等成绩 的学生修读。 负责人表示，校内的学生之 前只能修读到日语第五级，而 经过课程调整后，可继续修读 至第六级。

新开设的高级实用华文 侧重于教导学生掌握在 正式场合的沟通技巧， 而高级实用日文则注重 如何与他人协商以及与 长辈沟通。 目前，学校打算开办一班高

级实用日文和两班高级实用中 文。每班将开放约22个名额。

学校依据学生反馈开班 中心负责人说，由于校方不 断地吸取学生们的反馈，因此 推出一系列的新课程是呼应学 生的要求，顺理成章而延伸现 有的基础课程。 她举例，中心之前收到学生 们的意见，表示想要修读更高 级韩文课程的意愿，所以校方 便决定在这个学期增设多一个 等级，并开办两个辅导班，录 取共40名的学生。 对此，目前修读到韩文第三 级的许俊伟表示，期待新的韩 文第五级课程，但也希望其它 语言能推出其它级别的课程。

就读数学科学系四年级的他 说：“有些语言课程，如泰语 和越南语，只提供初级班，让 想专研的学生无法就读，而我 认为要掌握一种语言，就是需 要不断地学习。” 然而，有学生也表示，除了 推出新课程，学校也应该确保 所有的语言课程有足够的收生 人数。 就读材料工程系四年级的蔡 淑芬表示，有朋友曾经想要报 读法语第二级，却因为学生人 数不足，无法开班，所以只好 另外选修其它课程。 对此，负责人说，学校会发 电邮给受影响的学生，建议他 们加入其它时间段的相关语言 班，或者选修其他课程。

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CHRONICLE 01 生活

游走高雄 打工换宿新体验 打工换宿之旅-台湾高雄 简约却温馨的背包客住宿，是许多年轻台湾人与外地人到高雄旅游时留宿的热门选择。

照片：佰客高雄青年旅馆

打工换宿在西方国家是常见趋势，目前在亚洲也有日益 盛行的现象，尤其是台湾和日韩等地方。记者黄志伟去 年在台湾游学时便听闻过打工换宿，因此决定在今年挑 战自己，尝试用劳力换取免费的住宿。

今

年暑假，我再次造访去年曾经留 宿过的佰客高雄青年旅馆（Bike Kaohsiung Hostel），展开我的打工换宿 之旅。 出发前，我先跟老板李怡瑾和罗豪伟 通过电邮洽谈详情。打工换宿通常为其 两个星期，所以想打工换宿的外国人无 须担心办理签证的复杂手续。 由于和朋友一同出游，我并没有在抵 达高雄后立即投入工作，而是在旅馆住 了三天后，才从房客变成员工，正式开 启我的打工换宿体验。

宿舍打理的苦与乐 我的工作性质跟一般旅馆客房服务相 似。每天早上十点，我便开始一天的工 作。每当有住客退房，我就得把房里的 棉被套、枕头套和床单套取出来换洗。 我也会清洗厕所及确保宿舍的地板整洁 干净。由于工作量取决于当天退房人 数，因此一旦遇上旅游旺季或客房爆满 时，就会非常忙碌。 宿舍共有五层楼，而我为了打理各个 房间，每天必须上下阶梯至少20次。虽 然一天的工作结束后，双腿难免感到酸 痛，但我把它视为锻炼双腿肌肉的好机 会，乐观看待每一件苦差事。 庆幸的是，自己遇到两位经验丰富的 老板。他们会在客人较多的时候加派人 手帮忙，所以工作即使再多再忙，我也 能够准时在下午三点正式下班。 老板罗豪伟十分热情友善，也时常会 将粗活留给自己做，不想让打工换宿者 太过于劳累。

工作以外的快乐时光 这次的打工体验也让我在宿舍里结 识了一群来自世界各地的好朋友。我们 素未谋面, 却因为一起在宿舍打工的契 机，产生了深厚的友谊。 工作之余，我们经常结伴到新崛江商 圈、世运馆、驳二艺术区等景点参观游 玩，尽情地享受在高雄的每一天。 不仅如此，我也接触到几位性格鲜明 的住客。其中包括一群骑自行车环岛的 三人帮、在野外搭棚过夜的男子，以及 身价上亿的富翁。 很多台湾人会趁年轻时，进行一次环 岛旅游，而那三人帮正是时下年轻人的 写照。虽然只是高中生，他们个个都抱 着 “年轻不留白” 的态度，骑着脚踏 车探索自己既熟悉又陌生的台湾。 与他们交谈的过程中，我从他们身上 学到种种不同的人生观与心态，看见了 他们豪迈的态度与勇气，对他们也有所 敬佩。 此外，宿舍的主人也细心安排一些特 别活动，带领住客发掘被隐藏的台湾景 点。我曾参与其中一次郊游，乘坐事先 安排好的巴士，前往屏东的大津瀑布。 经过一小时的车程和20分钟的上坡路 程后，总算抵达目的地。看到眼前的瀑 布倾泻而下，伴随着微微的凉风，我整 个人顿时精神起来。而且，我在跳入水 中的那一片刻，阵阵凉意似乎把夏日的 暑气一扫而空。

放胆挑战 获益良多 结束了近两个星期的打工换宿体验，

黄志伟（身穿条纹上衣）在佰客高雄青年旅馆结识其他来打工换宿的新朋友。 摄影：黄志伟 我不只顺利地以劳力抵消了旅费，同时 也和不同的人和文化有了近距离的交流 与接触，更充实自己的人生经验。 更重要的是，能以经营者的角度了解 管理宿舍的体验后，我体会到保持一间 宿舍的良好品质并非想像中容易。 除了每日不停地劳动，重复着相同的 工作，有时我们还会遇上一些较难应付 的住客等种种挑战，讲求意志与努力。 对我来说，旅行是一个让自己成长的 好机会。这趟旅程使我开始发现，自己 放下了以往的作为一名旅客拘谨与扭捏 的态度，我还学习到台湾人直接与豪爽 的生活方式。 我关注的，不再只是一个旅游景点或 哪位擦肩而过的路人甲，而是在意日常 生活的一景一幕，和身边的朋友们。 对台湾，我少了陌生，多了认知。 打工换宿或许会让人犹豫却步，不过一 旦抛开犹豫，提起行李，勇敢踏出第一 步，必能发掘出那地方最真实的一面。

不少住客在旅馆老板的推荐下来到大津 瀑布游玩。–

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01 CHRONICLE

娱乐 flumpool“Moment”新加坡演唱会

跨越语言隔阂 flumpool与歌迷拉近距离

影评 电影播映室 电影：《白发魔女传之明月天国》 主演：范冰冰、黄晓明、赵文卓、 王学兵 类型：动作、奇幻



照片：网络下载

主唱山村隆太卖力演唱，带领乐迷走入他们的摇滚世界。

王敏丽●报道 中文编审

日

本乐团flumpool（凡人谱）大展语 言天分，整场演唱会不依赖翻译， 直接使用中英语与歌迷沟通。 他们也演唱一段英文版的《Let It Go》，要歌迷放开自己，尽情享受现场 的摇滚气氛。 主唱山村隆太在开场连唱三首歌曲 后，以华语、英语、韩语、泰语以及马 来语向在场歌迷问好。其他团员则以英 语进行简单的自我介绍，突破语言隔 阂，与歌迷进行零距离的互动。 乐团8月2日在*Scape 的 The Ground Theatre所 举 行 的 五 周 年 巡 回 演 唱 会 中献唱中文歌曲，包括台湾电影《共

犯》的主题曲《孤独》，以及乐团单曲 《AKASHI》的中文版《证明》。山村 隆太更以中日双语演唱台湾摇滚乐团五 月天的《OAOA》，把现场的气氛推向 高潮。 山村隆太在演唱《证明》前自嘲说， 尽管花了五天时间完成中文版的录音， 但因为“有很多的时间”，所以不成问 题，引起全场哄堂大笑。 长达两个小时的演唱会中，团员们展 现了多年来的好默契，不时走向彼此互 飙音乐，掀起现场一阵阵高潮。 flumpool也舍弃华丽的舞台设计， 单靠音乐和简单的灯光效果紧扣现场观 众的心弦。尽管舞台前的贵宾区设有座 位，但歌迷们都选择全程站立参与，跟 身后摇滚区的观众一同挥舞着双手，尽 情摇摆。

摄影：Rock Records / Marcus Lin 到了安可部分，歌迷们清唱了 flumpool去年发行的单曲，呼唤他们回 到舞台上表演。团员们再次出场时，也 对此感到感动，并夸奖他们唱功了得。 面 对 现 场 800名 观 众 的 热 情 ， 山 村 隆太感谢本地歌迷对他们多年来的支 持。他们也希望歌迷能让更多人认识 flumpool，期许大家携带亲友们观赏他 们下次的演出。 演唱会结束时，团员们两度向歌迷们 献上90度的鞠躬。在演唱最后一首日语 歌曲《给明日的赞歌》前，山村隆太也 感性地激励在场歌迷。 “我们来自不同国家与文化背景，却 都存有希望与梦想。虽然大家都会经历 困难的时期，但希望这一首歌能够带给 大家正面力量，勇敢面对生活中的各种 挑战。”

以五月天为榜样 flumpool期盼获得更多赏识

flumpool演唱出道曲《Hana ni nare》。 摄影：潘昱文

日本乐团flumpool（凡人谱）向 台湾摇滚乐团五月天看齐，希望日 后能吸引不同国籍的人欣赏自己的 创作。 主唱山村隆太表示，两个团队建 立了亲密与深厚的友谊。阿信负责 填写了flumpool的两首中文歌曲的 歌词，而4名团员也对五月天在非华 人地区的成就感到十分敬佩。 此外，团员们也一致表示，最喜 欢的本地美食是肉骨茶，也对辣椒 螃蟹的馒头情有独钟。 山村隆太开玩笑说，只要能吃到 沾有酱汁的炸馒头，团员们甚至可 以放弃吃螃蟹。逗趣的答案让当天 到场的歌迷笑开怀。 演唱会前一天，记者会与粉丝见

面会联合在裕冰坊（JCube）购物中 心进行，促使歌迷们能够近距离看 到flumpool接受媒体访问的模样。 他们也带来特别演出，现场演 唱了无插电版的出道曲《Hana ni nare》，让观众惊喜不已。 此外，他们也各自向持有贵宾票 的歌迷分发签名海报。 对于四度来新加坡演唱，团员们 都表示非常高兴，因为这是他们在 本地的首场售票演唱会。 山村隆太也以流利华语补充 道，2月份在本地举行的音乐会上， 歌迷们在表演即将结束时涌到舞台 前大合唱的场景让他记忆犹新，并 希望也能在这次表演和大家再创美 好回忆。

改

编自著名武侠小说家梁羽生 的成名作《白发魔女传》， 故事以腐败的明朝末期展开，围绕 着明月峡妖女玉罗刹（范冰冰饰） 和武当派新掌门卓一航（黄晓明 饰）的爱情故事。 身处动乱的两人在维护正义时， 进而萌生情愫，却间中波折重重， 最终上演一段旷世绝恋。 作为一部武侠片，武打动作自然 是电影的卖点之一。然而，两位主 角的武打场面不多，但胜在场景设 计美观。另外，赵文卓饰演川陕大 军副统领金独异，而他也不负“功 夫皇帝”称号，沉着稳健的使枪弄 棒实力让人印象深刻。 演员的服装设计也是此片一大亮 点。例如，金独异身穿的黑底金纹 长袍， 其黑色棉布结实厚重，使身 上的金丝绣纹显得更加耀眼。无论 是深宫中的“九千岁”魏忠贤，还 是沙场上征战的川陕总督，片中的 服饰做工都极为精细华丽。 另外，由王学兵饰演的慕容冲也 以 “卖萌”演出，缓和电影的紧凑 节奏和气氛。 倪大红饰演的朝廷大反派魏忠贤 可谓是阴鸷入骨、金句迭出。中国 内地小生严宽塑造的另一反派皇太 极，颇具威严霸气的表演也令人眼 前一亮。 美中不足的是，这部电影对卓一 航和玉罗刹的感情进展处理得有些 急促，令人觉得些许突兀，甚至会 让人产生“老调重弹”之感。 二十多年前，张国荣和林青霞主 演的《白发魔女传》虽然已成为许 多观众心目中的经典作品，但新版 的呈现也可圈可点。 值得一提，新版电影也延续使用 当年的主题曲《红颜白发》，歌词 充分表达主角们藕断丝连的爱恨情 仇，至今依然令人回味。 （文／陆雅雯）

Opinions EDITORIAL

frankly, my dear

Licence to fail?

“GRADE” news is making its rounds in NTU: freshmen can now afford to fail up to six modules without any impact on their Grade Point Average (GPA).

Before the administration gives itself a pat on the back, consider this: freshmen might seek to game the new system. Some will strive to fail a module than risk a bad grade. Phew for second chances.

Indeed, the new grading system is a safety net for those who cannot score a minimum passing grade for core modules and general-core electives (GER Core) that they have failed.

It should not, however, be abused by students who simply want to do better than they deserve.

Some students may see this as the perfect opportunity to score a higher GPA (they have one chance to retake the examinations they failed before they graduate, in essence, giving themselves more preparation time).

So long as one doesn’t break the rules, there is nothing wrong with working within the confines of a system.

But a tactic that entails failing to snag a better GPA comes too close to treating university education like a computer game, which allows players to simply restart.

Studying is not meant to be easy. Students who seek to exploit perceived loopholes in the system may develop a sense of complacency that the new grading system never meant to encourage.

NTU is not treating it as a game either — students will not be able to escape scot-free.

The F grades will still appear in the academic transcript shown to prospective employers, even if the grades are left out of the GPA computation.

Of course, for Unrestricted Electives (UEs), students can simply take and intentionally fail them, without having to retake the examinations.

But freshmen who still decide to game the system must realise that they may lose out in the long run.

A university education is about meeting new friends, forging connections, and experiencing a more vibrant school life, but these are not excuses for deliberately failing examinations just because one is not prepared enough to live with the grade he deserves.

Freshmen must learn to only take up what they are able to tackle, as learning how to balance work and play is an essential part of university life.

Academic life will not be a bed of roses simply because freshmen can have six modules exempted from their GPA in their first year. At the end of the day, hard work is inevitable so that we can meet the great expectations in the workplace.

Education should always be about learning new ideas, and never about learning new tricks to circumvent the system.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE chief editor

opinionS editor

Managing editor

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Liu Ting Ting Tiffany Goh

sub-editors

Amir Yusof

Camelia Ting Choy Xin Ying

Kerri Heng Alfred Chua Audrey Tan Eunice Toh Fiona Lam Han Hui Jing Isadora Ong Ng Jian Yang Ong Lynette Steffi Koh

Photo editors

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Aqil Haziq Louisa Tang

Lifestyle editors

Clifford Lee Tan Xiu Qi

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Justin Kor Serena Yeh

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Zachary Tang

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A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446 Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

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A column by Chronicle Editors on issues close to their hearts

Don’t Be Different, Be Yourself Zachary tang Reviews editor

“T

he most different thing to do is to reject being different altogether.”

By opening this article with an unattributed quotation, I have committed journalism sacrilege.

But allow me to explain: in adopting the style of an everyday blogger – ­ despite having attended media writing lessons – I am identifying with normcore, a theory that rejects the need to stand out from everyone else.

The quotation was extracted from the manifesto of a New York trend forecasting agency, K-hole.

Titled A Report On Freedom, the report first introduced the term normcore.

It asserts that normcore is an attitude that “moves away from a coolness that relies on difference to a … coolness that opts in to sameness”. Simply put, normcore is about consciously embracing the mainstream instead of shying away from it.

After the manifesto’s release in October last year, a flurry of influential news sites such as New York Magazine and The Guardian reported about it. In the midst of that, however, the phenomenon got reduced to an anti-fashion movement, causing loud, distorted echoes to reverberate throughout the fashion industry.

Steve Jobs’ signature look of a nondescript black turtleneck and faded jeans was suddenly in style, Vogue Paris dressed Eddie Campbell in dull Birkenstock-inspired sandals and Urban Outfitter’s email advertisements regressed to tackily written copies (“OMG! Lisa Frank Stickers!!”) paired with kittens in Santa hats.

Similar patterns are also emerging in the music industry, where authoritative sites that covered mostly alternative music are moving towards a critical appreciation of pop music.

Popular indie music blog Stereogum wrote that Coldplay’s latest album, Ghost Stories, was “testament to [their] unheralded greatness”.

Taylor Swift’s 2012 album, Red

GRAPHIC: LYDIA TAN

, has appeared on several year end best album lists, such as on Rolling Stone and Spin.

There’s even been a term coined in music circles that resembles normcore: poptimism.

“Normcore is about consciously embracing the mainstream instead of shying away from it.”

These are our collective attempts at championing normalcy.

In an era where bespoke goods are snapped up like hot cakes, VSCO Cam filters are applied with abandon and indie bands receive endless airplay, almost nothing comes across as subcultural or novel anymore. In this climate, normcore can simplistically be seen as a rejection of hipster culture.

However, the act of slapping a label onto something that is ‘normal’ is paradoxical, as it no longer becomes a norm but the next trendy thing to aspire towards.

That said, I think that normcore is not the superficial trend that detractors think it is — it has the potential to reconcile hipster culture and mass consumerism.

There will always be people who

hate Abercrombie and Fitch but also feel the need to connect with the ones who wear them.

Moreover, people who cry uncontrollably on their fifth viewing of 500 Days of Summer, but also own a DVD box set of Wes Anderson’s work, exist. As do people who reblog lyrics to Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop, but also regularly attend Laneway Festivals.

The concept of normcore seeks to bridge the divide between these dialectics, where the act of consciously fitting in can also mean being subversive.

As K-Hole phrases it, “the truly cool attempt to master sameness”.

For a young adult in Singapore, what does it mean to be normcore, then?

To me, it would seem that to master “sameness” would be to carry Fjällräven backpacks, wear your hair in a pomp, put on tortoise-shell Ray Bans, party at Zouk and have a cold brew at Chye Seng Huat Hardware — if and only if you know full well that these things are neither special nor exclusive.

Then again, if to be normcore is to be emancipated from trends, the truly normcore guy would be decked in plain Giordano tees and army-issue running shoes, blending in so perfectly with the masses that we would never do a double take as he saunters past.

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Always hear the other side It’s human nature to take a stand in any controversy, be it global problems like the Gaza conflict or local issues like the NLB saga. But we must curb our tendency to read from news sources that mirror our perspectives. Read on to find out why. cle about a Dutch paedophile club fighting to remove the ban against them in the European Court of Human Rights likens the club’s rhetoric to that of LGBT communities.

On the other hand, the pro-LGBT community has also played a significant part in community labelling and name calling.

The Wear White campaign, a protest in response to Pink Dot, has been compared by pro-LGBT members to the Klu Klux Klan (KKK), an American terrorist organisation that suppresses the African-American population in the States.

Another member even called these pro-family organisations "religious extremists with stunted growth". This constant volleys of name-calling is facilitated by the open nature of the internet.

Community-building tools on social media platforms create opportunities for the like-minded to agree with each other and demonise those who are different.

This method of information sharing hardly fosters understanding or promotes solution-building.

Lo Yi Min

A

ctress Joan Rivers isn’t shy about taking sides in the Gaza conflict. Neither does she mince her words.

In a camera interview with TMZ, the former co-host of reality show Fashion Police, blames Palestine for starting the war and defends Israel’s right to launch attacks on the ground that Hamas “put weapon stashes in private homes”.

The 81-year-old goes further to lambast news channels such as the BBC for being pro-Palestine in their reporting.

Like many other international media outlets such as CNN, FOX News, Al Jazeera and Russian Today, the British public service broadcaster has found itself in the crossfire of blame for biased coverage.

The BBC has worn its badge of objectivity honourably, with its World News edition amassing a total distribution of over 400 million households.

Its audiences range from the average man on the street to world leaders.

It is easy for people like Rivers to sit on their moral high horses and point fingers at the media for being biased, but maybe it is time for them to do some introspection.

Solutions to the problem

Is The Media Biased?

Depending on whom you speak to, especially on issues that divide public opinion, it seems that all media outlets are biased.

No doubt, there are professedly biased media outlets, but perhaps the issue has less to do with the objectivity of the media outlet than with our tendency to read the news selectively.

It is easy for people like Rivers to sit on their moral high horse and point fingers at the media for being biased, but maybe it is time for them to do some introspection.

We tend to interpret the news we read in a way that suits our beliefs.

Moreover, we actively seek out news channels that support only our views of the world, neglecting and castigating outlets that reflect “the other side”.

This is facilitated by the Internet age, where we are allowed the luxury to cherry-pick the news we want to read. So we should turn the scrutiny on ourselves.

Are we more likely to consume and endorse media channels that are aligned to our prior beliefs?

The answer has consequences because our individual views of the world inform the decisions that we make collectively as a society.

GRAPHICS: PAMELA NG

Incomplete views will affect the quality of decisions we make, and our ability to come to an informed consensus.

This tendency to pick a side — and completely dismissing the opposing camp — has some scientific basis.

Based on the views of the American public on hot-button issues, scientific researchers from the Cultural Cognition Project concluded that people often make up their minds based on pre-existing cultural beliefs, rather than a rational assessment of available information.

Commenting on the group’s findings, Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt said: “When people go to the trouble to learn about a topic, they tend not to learn about a topic in an open-minded way,” “They tend to seek out exactly those sources, which will confirm what they’d like to believe in the first place,” he said.

Culture wars in S'pore

This tendency to consume news based on our own prejudices is also prevalent here in Singapore, especially with the rise of culture wars. across its cosmopolitan society.

In the last few months, several issues have threatened to expose a societal divide.

We tend to interpret the news we read in a way that suits our beliefs.

Moreover, we actively seek out news channels that support only our views of the world, neglecting and castigating outlets that reflect “the other side”.

In June, tension rose over the the staging of the annual Pink Dot event — an annual gathering for the supporters of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. There was also recent furore over the National Library Board’s decision to remove three children’s book titles deemed not to promote family values. The move has brought up pivotal concerns from different facets of the local community.

But these issues may have been taken out of context, given the excessive mud-slinging and namecalling that is prevalent, especially in online circles.

In the case of the NLB saga, the community was divided into labels,

with those in favour of the decision being called narrow-minded and "religious fundamentalists" out to restrict the rest of society into adhering to their values.

On the other hand, those against this move set up petitions requesting NLB to reinstate the books.

This camp has been described as a minority of liberals pushing the "gay agenda" onto a largely conservative society.

Such labels and assumptions of sinister motives only add friction, hindering both sides’ ability to listen and converse with one another.

If both sides instead make an effort to comprehend each other’s views and respective beliefs, public discourse would evolve from childish name-calling and mud-slinging to something more constructive..

Indeed, social media like facebook and Twitter brought out the worst of both camps during the respective fiascos. Facebook group “We are against Pinkdot in Singapore” describes the LGBT movement and Pink Dot event as a kind of 'cancer' that should be acted against 'without mercy'.

Another Facebook community, “Singaporeans United for Family”, has members who actively post links to articles that have anti-LGBT leanings.

A member who posted an arti-

One way to resolve the issue of polarised viewpoints is for individuals to advocate solutions rather than merely state a position, as advised by our Education Minister Heng Swee Keat in a speech last Tuesday.

He stated that differences of opinion would still exist, but sharing solutions would help foster understanding between the groups that are campaigning for different causes.

Focusing on the problem simply encourages people to dig in their heels and resort to finger pointing as they campaign for a win-lose scenario.

A more desirable win-win solution can be achieved by focusing on a forward-looking solution in controversial issues, like the NLB saga.

For instance, the current stance by the NLB to put the books in the adult section can be considered win-win, a solution that could have been reached much earlier.

But individuals must first overcome the challenge of technology, which can create strong and repulsive forces between opposing camps.

Perhaps there is a learning point in Minister Heng’s words. If we start seeing technology as only doing half the work of transmitting the news, we will need to match it by consuming news widely and discerningly.

Keep an eye on multiple media platforms (online, print and broadcast) that offer different perspectives on controversial issues.

To take a stand, we have to first understand multiple points-ofview and make an effort to hear what the other side is saying.

After all, the truth is probably somewhere in between.

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Louder than words: National Pride

GRAPHIC Editor: PAMELA NG

We are recruiting journalists.

C

For 21 years, we have brought you stories that mattered the most to NTU students. From suicides to satellite launches, these stories have got you talking.

No matter what the story, there has always been a team of dedicated story-tellers on the ground, listening and presenting the most relevant facts to you, readers. And who better to tell these stories, then you? If you have a keen interest in telling your stories to our NTU community, we want you in our team.

Find out more about the changing journalism landscape at our information session — held on 13 Aug, 5.30pm at the Executive Seminar Room (Level 2) in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

Join the Nanyang Chronicle and tell your story.

Positions available:

Writers | Sub-editors | Photographers | Illustrators

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

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THE NANYANG

01 CHRONICLE

Freshmen Orientation Camps: The Dangerous Side Of Fun

canteen talk

The Chronicle speaks to our fresh graduates as they look towards life in the working world.

They also took time to reminisce about their school days.

I am starting to realise how easy life was to just focus on studying. There was no need to worry about office politics or paying bills.

Lee Wen Qiang, 24, NBS

PHOTO: NTU Facebook Page

Nicholas Lee

F

reshmen Orientation Camps (FOC) are designed to be fun.

Mingling with other people in close quarters over multiple days induces a sense of shared euphoria. The exhausting activities add a frisson of excitement.

Perhaps it comes as no surprise, then, that many university students forge lifelong friendships and even meet potential spouses during these FOCs. But when four camp participants suffer seizures and are hospitalised within a couple of days, fun takes a turn for the frightful.

That was what happened during last month’s Nanyang Business School (NBS) FOC, prompting organisers to break camp two days earlier than scheduled.

According to the Associate Dean of NBS, Professor Low Kin Yew, the possible causes of the seizures ranged from inadequate sleep after watching the World Cup to fatigue from camp activities. He stressed that the camp’s activities were scheduled to end by 11pm every night. It is unclear if this cut-off time was kept to, with NBS camp organisers remaining tight-lipped on the issue.

However, past FOC camp programmers have pointed out that camp schedules submitted to the Student Affairs Office and faculty advisors were rarely adhered to.

Common practices to circumvent NTU’s safety guidelines include submitting conflicting proposals.

One would be sent to the SAO and teacher advisers when seeking approval for camp activities.

Yet, there is usually another unofficial version jam-packed with activities expressly forbidden by SAO due to health concerns like ‘Fright Night’ and ‘Initiations’.

‘Fright Night’ is where freshmen undergo a series of scares by seniors dressed as spooky characters.

Meanwhile, ‘Initiations’ are rites of passage that typically involve seniors throwing soap and food

items at freshmen to welcome them to their hall or faculty.

Other brow-raising activities that are being conducted way past bedtime include eating mealworms from the local pet store.

Some might argue that these contentious activities are the ones that help to bond incoming students, as they are forced to overcome adversity in the face of fear.

Others might add that without them, FOC becomes a dreary affair.

According to SAO’s student code of conduct, ragging is defined as "any action taken or situation created that causes a risk of harm to an individual’s physical, emotionalorpsychological well being ... and consent of the participants is not a valid defence".

But to compromise health and safety standards in the name of fun is a step too far. ‘Fright Night’, ‘Initiations’ and similar activities can be deemed unsuitable based on two points.

Firstly, they are usually conducted late into the night and prevent camp participants from getting sufficient rest. Fatigue is a known cause of impaired decisions and a corollary uptick in avoidable injuries. Secondly and more importantly, the nature of these activities may constitute ragging.

According to SAO's student code of conduct, ragging is defined as "any action taken or situation created that causes a risk of harm to an individual's physical, emotional or psychological well being... and consent of the participants is not a valid defence". Clearly, asking freshmen to ingest wriggly insects as a forfeit and pressuring students

who are petrified of the supernatural to complete tasks during ‘Fright Night’ can constitute ragging.

Camp organisers frequently fall back on the defence that participants are free to withdraw from any activities that make them feel uncomfortable, but peer pressure means that few ever do.

While student organisers may argue that their games are in the spirit of good fun, the recent spate of cases — in NTU as well as other local campuses — suggests otherwise. In The Straits Times last Monday, a concerned observer blamed the National University of Singapore (NUS) for ‘sexually grooming’ their freshmen.

Many undergraduatess who experienced similar games confessed to feeling disturbed and distressed.

This was in reference to students being made to strip, lick whip cream off one another and do push ups over members of the opposite gender. It would be dangerous to call this fun. The resurgence in public attention towards the issues of sleaze and danger in university camps present a fresh opportunity for campus authorities to demonstrate their resolve in arresting the trend.

Official responses to incidents thus far have been lukewarm,, and they often amount to a mere slap on the wrist. This is in spite of the growing prominence of these undesirable activities that circumvent the university’s guidelines. The campus authorities must consider taking harsher action and greater enforcement of SAO’s policies.

As much as student organisers may protest, SAO officials or faculty advisors must play a role by conducting physical spot checks during the course of camps, to see if health and safety rules are adhered to.

It may chafe to have an adult constantly looking over our shoulders, but until FOCs are safer, direct school intervention is necessary to stop the fun from teetering over the edge into outright danger.

NTU has given me invaluable exposure in learning about diverse cultures. This will help in my new job at Reuters when I return home to India.

Radhika, 24, RSIS

I am eager to start work as an auditor with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

It was always my ambition to work in such a prestigious firm Wong Hui Long, 23, NBS

I feel an urgent need to get a job. With the degree in my hands, there is now a pressure to sort out my short-term future. I don't fancy idling.

Amber Poh 21, BCE

NTU has taught me that the world is my oyster. I am excited to begin my next adventure at a midtier accounting firm in Shanghai.

Charlene Zhung, 22, NBS

TEXT: aMIR yUSOF pHOTOS: cLIFFORD LEE

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they said that?

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Wave of success

“I was a bit of an idiot to do what I did to settle (the case).”

Bernie Ecclestone, owner of the Formula One franchise, who was rather ironically made to pay £60m in compensation to get prosecutors to drop a bribery case against him.

en route to victory: The NTU Canoe Polo men's team clinched top spot in the Opens Category B Division in the Canoe Polo National Championship 2014.

PHOTO:LEONGAC

Nicholas Tan

PHOTO: INTERNET

“I know people want to see me run fast in the 100 but I love my 200 and I want to do something special for myself.”

World 100-metre record holder Usain Bolt (below), sharing his intention of refocusing his career around the 200m event.

“I think what he’ll find is the competition in this league will be different from any other league that he has worked in.”

Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers, foreseeing tough times ahead for new Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal.

W

hile most spent their holidays relaxing, NTU’s water sports athletes were busy scoring big at national and inter-varsity competitions.

Medals galore

The NTU Canoeing team attained a respectable tally of two gold and eight silver medals at the National Canoeing Championship 2014, held early last month at MacRitchie Reservoir. The competition saw 11 participating teams from schools and external organisations.

Bryan Loy, 23, a third-year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, won two individual silver medals in the Men’s K1 (Individual Kayak) 1,000m and K1-200m categories.

Soh Szeying, 21, and Deborah Saw, 22, both Sports Science and Management students, brought home four silver medals in the Women’s K2-200m and K4-500m categories. They also struck gold together in the K4-1000m category.

For team captain Alan Tan, this feat was all the more impressive due to the number and variety of teams competing with them.

“There was the usual stiff competition from the polytechnics and other tertiary institutions, but the really strong adversaries were the National Team paddlers from external kayaking clubs who definitely made winning a lot more difficult,” said Tan, 23, a second-year Computer Science student.

Dual roles

Another team that has been busy over the summer break is the NTU Canoe Polo team, which organised and co-chaired the Canoe Polo National Championship 2014.

Canoe polo is one of the competitive disciplines of canoeing.

Players have to navigate their canoes and score goals. Goals are scored by throwing or flicking a

“With many experienced players graduating last year, it was always going to be a tall order to achieve excellent results.

However, we believed that our hard work would pay off, and our morale was never down.”

Lim Wen Yi Captain NTU Canoe Polo team DOMINANT: The NTU Canoeing team amassed a total of 10 medals at the National Canoeing Championships 2014.

PHOTO: TESSA TAN

ball with the paddle.

The men’s team clinched 3rd place in the Inter-Varsity Category, as well as 1st place in the Opens Category B Division, despite having to train for the event, as well as carry it out.

The competition was held at Yishun, Clementi, and Jurong West Swimming Complexes for three consecutive weekends, from late July to August.

As pointed out by team captain Lim Wen Yi, 25, this was the first time the competition was held at a public swimming pool, rather than in a school.

This required plenty of prior planning to ensure smooth and safe running of the event.

“We had to set up nets to prevent the ball from flying onto the main road, and hitting the public,” said Lim, a final-year student from the school of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE).

Steep learning curve

As the team comprised mostly inexperienced players, and the learning curve for canoe polo is steep, the achievement was all the more

satisfying, said Lim. “With many experienced players graduating last year, it was always going to be a tall order to achieve excellent results," “However we believed our hard work would pay off, and our morale was never down,” he added.

Also making waves this summer, was the NTU Wakeboard team, which clinched several medals at the Wakeboarding Inter-varsity Championship.

In addition, they were also declared the overall champion for the event, which was held in June at Bedok Reservoir.

Among the medalists, male riders Ng Guo Bin, 24, a third-year student from Nanyang Business School, and Donavan Tan, 23, a second year MAE student, attained a gold and silver medal respectively in the Intermediate category.

Female riders Lesley Low, 25, a recent graduate from the school of Material Science Engineering clinched a gold medal in the Women's Open category. Her teammate Daphne Lim, 22, a final year MAE student, attained a bronze medal in the same category.

Against the odds

Tan, who is also the team captain, shared that preparation for the event was not smooth sailing.

“Most of us did not train as much as we would have liked to, due to financial constraints and other commitments," said Tan. “However, we tried our best to maximise every one of our training sessions, and we forged bonds within the team.”

Looking ahead

Despite the team’s remarkable efforts at the event, Tan refuses to get carried away.

He is now focused on preparing for upcoming events such as Wakefest, a regional wakeboarding competition, and the Singapore University Games 2015.

“Many of our team riders have either gone overseas for attachment or have recently graduated.

As the wakeboarding community is very small, we hope to recruit more riders this year.”

With the water sports teams leading the way, the next sporting season looks to be a promising one for team NTU.

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sports talk

Focus on S-League Saeful Hakim Sports Editor

T

he new Sports Hub will see its first football match on 16 Aug, with a Singapore Selection team taking on Italian champions Juventus.

With a retractable roof and individually cooled seats, the stadium’s architecture is a far cry from the old, wooden benches and poor playing surfaces that characterised its predecessor.

The state of the local football league, however, has gone in the other direction, with attendance figures plunging in the past few years.

Its declining popularity can be attributed to an unlikely source — the establishment of the LionsXII project in 2011.

With the S-League plagued with dwindling attendance, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) signed a memorandum of understanding to allow a Singaporean team to participate in several Malaysian football competitions.

Known as the LionsXII, the team played in the Malaysian Super League (MSL), and the Malaysian Cup. The LionsXII project turned out to be a success, with the team attracting near fullhouse crowds each time they played on home ground, the 8,000-seat Jalan Besar Stadium.

For the first time since the Malaysian Cup in the ’90s, a local football team could attract thousands of spectators.

The team’s performance on the pitch did not disappoint too, as they finished their inaugural season in the MSL as runners-up, and emerged champions last year.

However, there was no such spillover effect of fans to the local league.

In fact, a mass exodus of the S-League’s top players to the LionsXII in its inaugural season proved to be detrimental to the quality of play in the S-League.

The attendance in the 12-team league worsened from an average of 1,417 spectators per match in 2010, to a paltry 932 spectators in 2012.

Ironically, growing local interest in the forays of the LionsXII in a foreign league has led to neglect of the teams which ply their trade in the local league.

Undoubtedly, the FAS had established the LionsXII for the greater good of the local football scene.

But for the project to reap the most benefits for the local scene, the LionsXII should be converted into a team devoted purely to youth development, consisting of players under the age of 21.

The experience of playing in full-house stadiums in a foreign league would undoubtedly help a group of budding professionals.

The suggested overhaul of the current squad would likely result in a vast inflow of much-needed talent into the S-League.

neglected: The popularity of the LionsXII's advents in Malaysian competitions has led to a neglect for the local S-League.

PHOTO: INTERNET

Having a national team of players from a wide range of clubs means that selectors have a more versatile pool of players to choose from, for future squads.

On top of this, pitting top local players against each other would boost the competitiveness of the league.

A decline in the standard of play in the S-League has triggered a dip in attendance figures over the years.

In the long run, this could mean the loss

of major corporate sponsors.

The S-League is the pride and joy of our football scene, and it should be where the core of the national team ply their trade.

The LionsXII has played its role for the development of local football by renewing interest in the sport among local fans. The next step is to bring this interest over to our own league.

As they say, if you put all your eggs in one basket, you risk losing everything at once.

bpl talk

Some will come, some will go Matthew Mohan

F

rom Luis Suarez's hasty departure from Liverpool to Cesc Fabregas' return to England, the transfer activities of the Barclays Premier League's (BPL) top five clubs has thrown countless twists in the plot thus far. The conclusion of a hugely successful World Cup has fueled the frenzy, with clubs clamouring to sign standout performers. On top of that, the new Financial Fair Play rules — where clubs are required to balance their books in transfer dealings — may have thrown a spanner into the works.

Chelsea

With fan favourite Didier Drogba returning for a final swansong and the arrival of Felipe Luis, the Blues have a world-class left back to add to their outstanding defence.

The Blues' most significant arrivals however, are that of Fabregas and Diego Costa.

Tried and tested in the premier league, Fabregas' creativity would be an invaluable asset to the team.

The jury, however, is still out on Costa, who has had a woeful World Cup campaign.

Chelsea has become a graveyard for many a striker (Fernando Torres, anyone?) and Costa has to take care not to head in the same direction.

In spite of all the transitions, Chelsea could just prove to be defending champions Manchester City's strongest competition.

Tried and tested: Following a successful first stint in the Premier League with Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas returns for a second spell with Chelsea.

PHOTO: INTERNET

Manchester City

With an already strong squad at his disposal, Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has kept his powder dry this transfer window.

Bacary Sagna's transfer from Arsenal is an astute one, with the experienced right back lending cover for the overworked Pablo Zabaleta. The arrival of international Juan Fernando from Porto for £12 million (S$25m) will be a more than adequate replacement for the departing Gareth Barry.

Liverpool

Following the departure of talismatic striker Luis Suarez, the Reds have moved quickly to snap up the Southampton trio of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Rickie Lambert. At

£4 million, 32-year-old Lambert is a bargain, while Lallana and Lovren were standout performers in an overachieving Southampton team. Lazar Markovic also arrives from Benfica to boost the Merseysiders' attacking options.

Despite being blessed with trickery and pace, Markovic's lack of top flight experience could mean that he would struggle to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.

The lack of a marquee signing to replace Suarez could ultimately come back to haunt them in the season to come.

Manchester United

Manchester United's top transfer has been that of a new manager. Louis Van Gaal ar-

rives with a wealth of experience and a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and master tactician. The Dutchman has made his mark on his team with the sale of Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand, and Nemanja Vidic's switch to Inter Milan completes the phasing out of the Red Devils' old guard.

New signing Luke Shaw will fill Evra's role with ease, but Van Gaal's problems lie in central defence, with Johnny Evans proving to be the only reliable centre back during the previous campaign.

Signed from Athletic Bilbao, Ander Herrera will bring about much needed stability to the midfield, and has already begun to show glimpses of his potential in preseason.

This will be a season of transition for the Red Devils, but with a few more shrewd signings, a return to Champions League football will be imminent.

Arsenal

By the end of this transfer window, Arsenal fans are likely to be most the satisfied of the "Big Five", with Arsene Wenger uncharacteristically splurging on players, most notably Alexis Sanchez. The forward arrives from Barcelona with an impressive pedigree and undeniable talent. Following a solid World Cup, Mathieu Debuchy's transfer from Newcastle United marks another canny Wenger purchase.

David Ospina and Calum Chambers round off the Gunners' purchases. Ultimately, Wenger has built a team capable of a strong push for the title.

Sports

Transfer talk — Page 27

Flying the flag high

The recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2014, which lasted for 11 days and ended on 3 Aug, saw Singapore sweep a total of eight gold, five silver, and four bronze medals. Sports Editor Lisa Oon speaks to two alumni who competed at the illustrious sporting event held in Glasgow.

Mr Lee Cheng Wei, 27 Sprinter National Institute of Education Graduated in 2014 Events: 200m, 4x100m Relay

What was it like competing in the Commonwealth Games?

It was an eye-opening experience. Athletes of different countries and cultures came together (to compete), and we witnessed how the different athletes prepared for their competitions.

We learnt training practices and tips from each other to improve ourselves.

All the athletes ate their meals at a common dining hall, and one day, we saw this particular athlete take a plate full of meat.

We, the Singapore athletes, were all rather surprised because we usually try to have a balanced diet, with some proteins, some carbohydrates, and some vegetables.

That said, we picked and chose what to emulate from the other athletes.

We actually got to race against Usain Bolt.

We observed how he warmed up for his race.

He started with a 10-minute massage, followed by some striding. He ended his warm up by practising the passing of the baton with his teammates.

His warm-up was much shorter than ours, but we understand that different athletes warm-up differently. He could have been conserving energy for other events.

It was a fantastic experience. We were in the same holding area and the same warmup area.

To be professional, we did not talk to him before the race, but after that, I got a picture with him.

Ms Teo Shun Xie, 25 Shooter School of Biological Sciences Graduated in 2011

Events: 10m Air Pistol, 25m Sports Pistol What was it like competing in the Commonwealth Games?

I am very proud and honoured to be able to represent Singapore at the Commonwealth Games. The Games is a major competition, so you tend to get a lot of media attention, which is good because more people would understand what part-time athletes are going through.

This would hopefully help Team Singapore athletes gain support from schools and employers.

FAST AS THE WIND: Sprinter Lee Cheng Wei represented Singapore at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

How did you juggle school, training, and competitions?

It was not easy to juggle both training and studying when I was in school. Time management was of the utmost importance. During breaks in between classes, I would head down to the track or gym in school to complete my workout.

In addition, I had to skip classes many

times due to overseas competitions. When the competitions were close to the exams, I always had to sacrifice my studying time to prepare for races. I had to bring my notes and books along with me.

Now that you have graduated, what are your plans?

I will be serving a bond with the Ministry of

PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE

Education as a full-time teacher.

The school I’m teaching at is supportive of my national commitments and participation for major games.

I will continue to train part time outside of school hours.

I will try to train for as long as I can because running is my passion. But looking at my age, next year’s SEA Games may be the last games I will be participating in.

anybody’s game.

I wasn’t expecting to win because there were much better shooters competing as well — India, Australia and Canada are power houses in shooting. I just gave it my best shot, and thankfully it turned out good.

After I won the medal, President Tony Tan actually called me to congratulate me. I also received calls from my family and friends.

How did shooting affect your university experience?

Life in NTU was mainly just going to school, and training after school. I did not stay in the halls of residence due to my shooting commitments.

I also did not go for exchange programmes because of shooting.

What was it like to win the gold medal?

Would you do it all over again?

I am very happy and honoured to be able to win Singapore’s first gold medal in this year’s games. It is also the first gold medal I have won overseas.

With the new score format at the finals, where everyone starts from zero, it is really

I wouldn’t. I want to try something else, like open a bakery, because I enjoy baking.

That said, through shooting, I learnt how to persevere. Even if you don’t see results now, that does not mean you won’t see results the next time.

HOT SHOT: Shooter Teo Shun Xie won Singapore’s first gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

PHOTO: SINGAPORE SHOOTING ASSOCIATION