The Nanyang Chronicle Volume 22 Issue 08

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE

VOL. NO.

22

08 4.04.16

ISSN NO. 0218-7310

MINISTERS ON CAMPUS Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam highlights challenges, warns students all jobs ‘at risk’| Page 4

Acting Education Minister Ong Ye Kung says grades alone won’t suffice, ‘soft skills’ also important| Page 3

Students’ Union cancels NTU Fest | Page 4

02 NEWS

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news bites USP STUDENTS TO GET SPONSORED EXCHANGE INCOMING undergraduates from the University Scholars Programme can now experience a fully-sponsored semester abroad at top universities as it undergoes a revamp.

They can choose among the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College in the United States, or Australian National University.

The move aims to provide scholars with an immersive intercultural experience, NTU announced in a press release last month.

ADM STUDENTS FEATURED AT I LIGHT FESTIVAL A GROUP of students from the School of Art, Design and Media had their light installation featured

at the i Light festival at The Float @ Marina Bay from 4 to 27 Mar. The installation, called “Ode to the Wind”, creates dynamic lights that vary with the strength of the wind. Drawing from various wind datasets around the world, visitors were able to observe visualisations of the wind across continents.

It also aims to inform the public about sustainability issues and encourage them to take on a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

NTU ADVOCATES GREEN MONDAY, EARTH HOUR NTU adopted the environmental campaign Green Monday on 14 Mar, following the likes of other universities such as Columbia University and Tsinghua University.

The campaign seeks to encourage the public to reduce their car-

bon footprint by making simple changes to their lives, such as giving up meat for one day a week.

Non-essential lights along common corridors in Academic Buildings, covered car parks and linkways were also switched off on the evening of 19 Mar to celebrate the annual Earth Hour, a global movement organized by the World Wide Fund to raise awareness about climate change and its consequences.

19 NTU SUBJECTS IN GLOBAL TOP 50 NINETEEN of NTU's subject fields were ranked top 50 in the world, according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject announced on 22 Mar. The engineering disciplines led the university's improved stand-

ings, with Materials Science rising to its highest position so far at 6th place, up from 8th last year, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering maintaining its 8th position.

NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson credited the university's good performance in the world rankings to professors for their teaching and research.

NTU SCIENTISTS FIND WAY TO IMPROVE ANTIBIOTICS IN A research breakthrough, NTU scientists have discovered a way to tackle antibiotic resistance, which is becoming a growing concern.

Led by Assistant Professor Yang Liang from the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences, the team of researchers found a way to disrupt the line of resistance put up by a type of bacteria against

antibiotics. The findings were published in Nature Communications, a prestigious academic journal.

Associate Professor Kevin Pethe from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine said this discovery could result in new treatment options that doctors can employ against chronic and persistent bacterial infections.

NTU TEAMS WIN BIG AT SHELL COMPETITION WITH a total of six awards, NTU was the best performing university at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia, an annual international race where teams from tertiary institutions compete on eco-car fuel efficiency and innovation. Two NTU teams comprising 16 engineering students bagged a total of four offtrack awards and bronze awards in two electric vehicle categories.

What's happening on campus?

HERITAGE TALK: SINGAPORE MYTHS AND LEGENDS Find out how Redhill got its name, and the origins of the hot springs of Sembawang.

Singapore heritage buffs can join the NTU Heritage Club as they uncover the histories of iconic locations across the island.

The talk marks the opening of Heritage Week.

When: 4 April at 12pm to 12.30pm Where: Library Outpost at The Hive

MIE SPEAKER SERIES: SHARON AU Come down to get some interesting insights from popular local artiste Sharon Au. She has not only spearheaded and successfully launched Mediacorp’s first fashion community portal www. stylexstyle.com – her efforts have also brought Asian talents together on one giant runway.

When: 5 April, 6.30pm to 8.00pm Where: Lecture Theatre (LHS-LT) at The Hive

NTU EPIPHANY PRESENTS OPEN MIC

HSSE 'BROWN BAG' SEMINAR

These sessions are held in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences where students express themselves in the best way they know. Come down to HSS Blackbox (HSS-B2-01) next Wednesday at 6:45 pm to get your monthly dose of literary pizzazz.

In this talk, titled "Shame on the Fringes of the Philippines' 'Little Italy'", Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Evangeline O. Katigbak examines the emotional geographies of internal migrants.

When: 6 April at 6.45pm Where: HSS Blackbox

PUBLICLY FUNDED CONTENT: A PROGRESSIVE MODEL OR SLICK PROPAGANDA? Veteran Channel NewsAsia presenters and editors Lin Xueling and Steven Chia will be speaking on state funding for local productions. With more than $738 million set aside by the government to fund such programmes, the two speakers will discuss whether public service broadcasting programmes could become the main means of supporting local productions in the near future.

When: 6 April, 11.30am to 1pm Where: Newsplex Asia at WKWSCI

When: 6 April, 10.30am to 11.30am Where: Environmental Studies Lab, NIE (Blk 3, Level 2, Room 27)

HOW CAN YOU BE A SUCCESSFUL PERSUADER OR INFLUENCER? Organised by Institute on Asian Consumer Insight and Marketing Divison, speaker E. Tory Higgins will share his thoughts on the importance of persuasion.

When: 12 April Where: ACI Seminar Room 2, Block S4, B5, Nanyang Avenue

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ASEAN UNIVERSITY GAMES Singapore is hosting the 18th ASEAN University Games (AUG

2016) from 7 -21 Jul. Some 1,600 athletes from 11 countries will be competing, and NTU is assigned as the Athlete's Village for the games.

NTU needs 1,000 volunteers to help in accommodation, food, security, as well as in the following sports events: archery, athletics, basketball, and table tennis. Those interested can get more information at www. aug2016.sg.

When: 7-21 July

43RD SHIP FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN AND JAPANESE YOUTH PROGRAMME (SSEAYP) Nominate a youth for the 43rd edition of SSEAYP 2016 to help develop their interpersonal communication skills, leadership, critical thinking, and facilitation skills. The programme is tentatively scheduled from late October to mid December 2016. Send your queries to sseayp_enquiries@nyc.sg.

to provide a platform for budding songwriters to demonstrate their passion and musical ability. The competition is open to citizens, residents, and students in Singapore and Malaysia from 13 to 35 years old. Register at http:// www.ntumusicexpress.com/.

When: Until 8 May

ONE-WAY CAR SHARING TRIAL WITH V2X TECHNOLOGIES Students and staff can try out the in-campus car mobility service, managed by the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The cars are shared via virtual keys in smartphones.

Drivers must have a Class 3 or 3A license with at least 24 months of driving experience, and at least 26 years old. Visit www.carclubntu. com for more information or e-mail oneway@carclub.com.sg When: Ends 4 Sep

When: Until 22 April

NTU CHINESE SOCIETY 22ND MUSIC EXPRESS Organised by the NTU Chinese Society, Music Express is a Mandarin songwriting competition that aims

The Nanyang Chronicle invites clubs and societies from all over campus to contribute their events for this Calendar. Get in touch with us about your event at chronicle@e.ntu.edu.sg.

News

NTU students pay tribute to the late Mr Lee | Page 5

Grades alone not enough: Ong

In an exclusive interview with the Nanyang Chronicle, Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung encouraged students to take up internship programmes to increase their appeal to employers.

PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

Undergraduates should develop soft skills for employability, says Ong MIRANDA YEO CHARMAINE NG GOOD grades alone won’t guarantee success in the workplace.

In an exclusive interview with the Nanyang Chronicle, Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung reminded students that they should also start honing their “soft skills”.

“We can have a lot of knowledge, but we must have skills. Otherwise, we will be like an appliance with no socket to plug into,” Mr Ong said during his visit to NTU on 16 Mar. He said that being a team player, as well as having skills in negotiation and intercultural communica-

tion, would increase one’s chances of getting employed.

“The best way to develop these skills is by doing. That is why internships become so important,” Mr Ong added.

The minister said that, in general, graduates in Singapore are wellprepared for employment and have done well in the workforce, with starting salaries going up in the past few years.

Compared with other developed countries, where graduate unemployment and stagnating wages are a problem, Singapore is still “on a good run”.

Mr Ong also said that universities in the country are doing well.

He gave NTU as an example, which he said has done “fantastically well” on world rankings.

Universities in Singapore have also done well in terms of employment for fresh graduates and quality of teaching, he said, adding that

university rankings matter to potential employers.

He said: “If you come from a good university with a good ranking, employers do look at you differently. It’s a premium that students will enjoy.”

“We can have a lot of knowledge, but we must have skills. Otherwise, we will be like an appliance with no socket to plug into.”

Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung

But he said the challenge now is for local universities to use their research capabilities to find solutions to local issues.

“I think the next phase is research,” he said. “If we can translate (research) more into enterprise,

into innovation — that is an area we should shoot for.”

He cited the example of how Carnegie Mellon University helped its city, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, transform from a steel town to a place for entrepreneurs and startups to flourish.

“In universities, a key role is to develop the talent and our human resource. That is the basis of growth, job prosperity, and a better life,” said the minister.

Mr Ong took on the new portfolio last September and has since been visiting various tertiary institutions to meet with students and staff.

During his campus visit, Mr Ong met with NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson along with a group of student leaders.

While his counterpart, minister Ng Chee Meng, is in charge of preschools, primary and secondary schools, and junior colleges, Mr Ong is overseeing tertiary institu-

tions as well as several skills training programmes.

One of these programmes is the SkillsFuture initiative, which provides each Singaporean aged 25 and above with $500 in credit to take up courses to continually upgrade themselves in more than 50 areas, such as languages, digital animation and finance.

SkillsFuture is not targeted solely at undergraduates, but Mr Ong hopes the initiative will encourage students to discover and pursue their passion — a key ingredient for success in their future careers.

“If you can go into an area you are interested in, then you’ll be curious about it. When you’re curious about it, there is a good chance then that you will spend your entire career, your whole adulthood, learning about it.

“If you do that, then chances are, you will be a master in your field,” he added.

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No NTU Fest this year, says NTUSU The Students' Union cites low student involvement and close timing to a regional sporting event QUAH JIA LING DAWN PUAH THIS year's NTU Fest has been cancelled as the NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU) takes a step back to review the annual event due to declining student involvement.

“We want to better engage students in the event to get them more involved,” the union said in an email sent to students on 30 Mar, a few days after the Nanyang Chronicle sought clarification on the status of the event this year.

First held in 2014, NTU Fest was a day-long carnival, accompanied by a concert and charity run.

Its aim was simple – to bring students together and welcome freshmen into the NTU community.

But only 14.3% of the tickets sold went to undergraduates last year, according to the minutes of the NTUSU’s 5th Council Meeting held on 9 Nov last year.

The remaining tickets were purchased by university staff and members of the public.

Last year’s NTU Fest also saw student participation decrease by more than half, from 7,360 in 2014 to 3,441.

The annual NTU Fest, which has faced declining student participation and a lack of X-factor, will make way for the ASEAN University Games.

PHOTO: CORINE TIAH

The minutes cited a lack of “Xfactor and publicity” as possible reasons for the decline.

Sought for comment, student engagement executive Grace Foo also cited the ASEAN University Games (AUG) which NTU will host in July.

Foo said NTUSU wished to avoid having two major events in close

proximity to each other. Cancelling NTU Fest this year would allow significant resources and manpower to be diverted to the AUG. During the AUG, Halls of Residence 3, 12, 13 and 16 will serve as the Games Village, while the National Institute of Education canteen will become its dining hall.

NTU Fest has seen big names.

Korean star Kang Gary and K-pop group Dal Shabet graced the event in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

However, during the November council meeting, some NTUSU members felt that the invited stars had become the focus of the event, overshadowing its objectives.

Waiting a year could help to erase this stigma, one suggested during the meeting.

A 21-year-old organiser for NTU Fest 2015 who declined to be named said: “For now, I think it’s good to step back and relook at NTU Fest’s goals, and consider how it can better cater to the students’ interests if it should continue."

Some students, like Daniel Tai, 21, felt the event was not significant enough for many students.

The second-year Renaissance Engineering Programme student said audience turnout at last year’s concert was poor, adding: “I think more incentives are needed for people to come."

While it remains uncertain if the festival will return in 2017, there were students who lamented the cancellation of the event this year.

“There are no other events like it that brings the whole university together,” said Germaine Tan, 20.

“But I guess it is understandable that they’re cancelling it, considering the university games,” the firstyear student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information added.

Zoey Ho, 22, who helped to organise last year's edition of the festival, agreed. The second-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Science said: “It was great seeing everyone come together for the event last year and it really showcased our spirit.”

All jobs at risk amid stiff global competition: Shanmugam KARL LIM LIM CHING YING NEWS EDITORS LOCAL jobs for the younger generation are in danger of migrating overseas due to an increasingly competitive global landscape, said Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam at this year’s Ministerial Forum on 28 Mar. Speaking on the theme “Progressing Towards SG100,” Mr Shanmugam warned citizens not to rest on their laurels as regional and international competitors are gaining parity with Singapore. “(People may) think that the current situation is pre-ordained and very settled," he told the 430-strong crowd of students, faculty and members of the public at the School of Art, Design and Media auditorium.

"But in reality, our situation is like a spinning top spinning on a very narrow base and dependent on the region.

“Don't take your position in the world for granted.”

Mr Shanmugam highlighted four industries here that are at risk from fierce regional competition.

Providing roughly 306,000 jobs combined, they are: finance, aviation, maritime and chemical.

The finance industry, which accounts for 12.6 per cent of Singapore’s gross domestic product, faces threats from Hong Kong and neighbouring city Kuala Lumpur, and with Malaysia ramping up work on its financial centre, competition will become inevitable, Mr Shanmugam said.

He added that other regional economic players could easily catch up and overtake Singapore even in industries where the country has historically excelled in.

Although Singapore remains the regional leader in aviation, Bangkok is well-poised to overtake us given its cheaper land and better flight links, he said.

The minister also cited how a number of airlines shifted their operations to Thailand when

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2006.

Globally, the nation is just as vulnerable as technological advances aid the outsourcing of local jobs to countries such as China and India, where labour is cheaper.

“The competition doesn’t even need to come into Singapore to compete with us. They can compete with us wherever they are,” said Mr Shanmugam.

“So ask yourself: 'Which of your jobs are not at risk?’ That's the nature of competition today.”

In the following dialogue session that lasted for over an hour, students raised issues ranging from the death penalty to integrating transient workers into society to policy-making dilemmas.

They also asked the minister how the country's century milestone could be achieved.

"Will we reach SG100? It depends on you," he replied.

“I’ve a lot of faith in our young people. I believe our young people know what it is that makes Singapore successful.”

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam urged students not to be complacent about Singapore's success.

PHOTO: JAMES NG

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NTU students remember Mr Lee in their own ways QUAH JIA LING RY-ANNE LIM TO COMMEMORATE the death anniversary of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, aspiring artist Ong Yi Teck did it the best way he knew how — through art.

Last month, Ong, 21, a first-year student from the School of Art, Design and Media (ADM), embarked on a black-and-white digital sketch of Mr Lee. He then uploaded it online as a way of paying tribute to Mr Lee's contributions to Singapore.

“I wanted to sketch something to remind my followers and myself that we should not take the things we have for granted, as they are privileges that were given to us by the people who fought hard to build this nation,” said Ong. “Without Mr Lee and the pioneers, I would imagine a very different Singapore than what we have today.”

Last year, when Mr Lee was battling severe pneumonia in the hospital, Ong spent 15 hours painstakingly writing Mr Lee’s name 18,000 times to create a portrait of the nation's founding father.

He subsequently uploaded his artwork onto Instagram, where it drew thousands of likes and was even shared by Mdm Ho Ching on her Facebook account.

Two uploads of his masterpiece drew over 3,400 likes each. His Instagram account also has a few other sketches of Mr Lee. “I was really surprised by how quickly it went viral but I'm glad that people who shared my social media posts, shared the same sentiments as I did and they affirmed my hard work,” said Ong.

A muted affair

When Mr Lee passed away on 23 Mar last year at age 91, students thronged the Nanyang Auditorium, filling up all 1,729 seats at NTU’s memorial ceremony.

His death anniversary last month, however, was a much quieter affair, save for a video tribute that played on campus screens.

No memorial events were held on campus, as confirmed by Associate Provost Kwok Kian Woon, the NTU Events Office and the NTU Students’ Union.

Prof Kwok also advised students who wished to pay tribute to Mr Lee to do so on social media plat-

Last year, students gathered outside the Tan Chin Tuan Lecture Theatre to watch the university's memorial service for Mr Lee. The service, which took place in Nanyang Auditorium, saw all its 1,729 seats filled.

PHOTO: NTU

forms, or attend the various exhibits and remembrance events held outside of school.

“I wanted to sketch something to remind my followers and myself that we should not take the things we have for granted, as they are privileges that were given to us by the people who fought hard to build this nation."

Ong Yi Teck, 21 First-year student School of Art, Design and Media

No NTU without Mr Lee

ADM student Ong Yi Teck has drawn numerous sketches as his way of paying tribute to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. PHOTO: JAMES NG

Still, this did not stop students from going out of their way to commemorate Mr Lee’s passing.

Fang Yi Shen, 21, took an hourlong trip from campus to Woodlands to attend Causeway Point’s “Remembering Lee Kuan Yew” event on 23 Mar. He felt it was apt to pay his respects to Mr Lee there as Woodlands – Fang's neighbourhood – owes its transformation from old kampong to contemporary town to Mr Lee’s policies.

“The commemoration reminded us of the values and legacy Mr Lee left for us which we have to continue to uphold and build upon,” said Fang.

The first-year student from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) added that it would have been fitting for NTU to commemorate Mr Lee with an event as higher education had long been a key focus of his government.

Echoing his sentiments was firstyear HSS student Ezrella Kho, 20, who also wished NTU had held a memorial event.

“I think it’s quite odd that NTU didn’t hold one this year when the National University of Singapore did. After all, he did help the university develop in its earlier days,” Kho said.

Mr Lee had closely observed NTU’s initial progress through unannounced campus visits.

Various improvements, such as covered walkways to shelter students from the sun, were implemented upon his suggestions, noted NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson in his speech at last year’s memorial ceremony.

Paying tribute their way

Like Ong, many NTU students paid tribute to Mr Lee on social media platforms. Among them was one by Jayne Lam, 20, a second-year student from ADM. Lam had posted her acrylic portrait of Mr Lee on her Instagram account, captioned: “I will never forget how for once, I felt like the entire country was truly united, exactly one year ago.”

She worked on the colourful canvas painting over six months and estimated it took about three weeks' worth of work to complete.

To Lam, the late Mr Lee felt like a grandfather figure.

Her own grandfather had passed away before she was born, but she heard many stories about him from her family and relatives.

"Similarly, for Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I've never met him but I've read about and seen him in the news," she said.

"I feel like he's looked out for all of us Singaporeans very much like a father or grandfather would.”

“The commemoration reminded us of the values and legacy Mr Lee left for us which we have to continue to uphold and build upon."

Fang Yi Shen, 21 First-year student School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Others, like Hsieh Chyi Yan, 21, a first-year student from Nanyang Business School, carried out unconventional acts of remembrance of their own.

Hsieh, for example, watched the livestream of the closed-door Cabinet meeting on 23 Mar, where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong dedicated a speech to his father.

“It felt very surreal when the Cabinet observed a minute of silence for the late Mr Lee," he said.

"I can’t believe that it has been a year since he left us.”

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Students split over cat event NICOLE LIM RY-ANNE LIM FOR two hours, Adora and her friends were on duty in a tutorial room at The Hive. Their job scope entailed: befriending strangers, bringing a smile to their faces, and letting out the occasional “meow”.

Adora is no human, but a white and furry one-year-old female Maine Coon.

She was one of 10 cats brought here by Cat-Assisted Therapy Singapore (CATS), who joined hands with NTU’s Cat Management Network (CMN) and Animal Lovers Society (ALS) to hold the university’s first cat therapy event on 17 Mar. Cat therapy is a form of animalassisted therapy that uses humananimal interaction to promote relaxation and healing.

Although CATS rarely brings its cat therapy events to schools, founder Mohamad Sharil Abdul Rahim, 30, said he agreed when CMN proposed a collaboration as the event was for a good cause.

“We decided to work with CMN because they were raising funds for stray animals on campus,” he said.

CMN did so by charging a $10 entrance fee, which did not stop the event from selling out its two onehour sessions as students showed up to pet, cuddle and take pictures with the cats.

Still, some questioned the $10 charge as students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) were given free admission to a similar cat therapy session held on their campus in November.

Cats were the centre of attention at the university's first cat therapy event, organized by the NTU Cat Management Network and the Animal Lovers Society.

Chen Jianhong, 21, a first-year student from Nanyang Business School, felt that the event organisers should have followed suit and waived the entrance fee.

“If I want to take care of cats, I can just do it with the cats on campus,” he said.

Wong Si Ting, 22, a third-year student from Nanyang Business School, agreed. The fee might change a student’s mentality when playing with the cats, she said.

“There’s the mindset that I need to make full use of my $10, which wouldn’t make the therapy very relaxing,” she added.

CMN president Ng Yi Shu defended the admission fee and said

the aim of the event was to raise funds for the club, adding that total proceeds would be split evenly between the CMN and ALS. “The total amount of money collected will go towards treating campus cats with illnesses, buying cages to hold them, and rehoming the stray dogs around campus,” said Ng, 22, a second-year student from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

But having to fork out $10 did not deter cat lovers from attending the event. Many expressed an understanding towards the price tag.

Ng Xiu Yi, 23, a final-year student from the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering,

Poll: Campus wishlist 2016 KARL LIM LIM CHING YING NEWS EDITORS MANY changes will soon take place on campus as NTU unrolls the second phase of its Campus Master Plan, projected for completion in 2020.

Students can expect more residential halls, more faculty housing, new academic wings, and an improved Sports and Recreation Centre within the next five years, said NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson at his State of the University Address on 8 Mar. He also quashed initial concerns over the environmental impact of proposed radical changes to Yunnan Garden.

The area in front of the Chinese Heritage Centre will make way for the garden's expansion.

NTU’s Campus Master Plan will not be the only blueprint to give the university a facelift.

The first phase of the Jurong Innovation District should be in place by 2022, announced Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget 2016 speech on 24 Mar. NTU will be part of this industrial park.

Touted as the future of enterprise, learning and innovation, it aims to bring students together with researchers and businesses during production processes.

The Nanyang Chronicle polled 106 students to find out what they make of the news, and if such changes accurately reflect the student population’s wants and needs.

TOP THREE PICKS FOR CAMPUS ADDITIONS

Cinema

Common study/lounge areas

thought the event was a good way for her to care for campus cats.

“I know that the donations will turn into welfare for the cats and I trust the society because based on past records, they’ve been pretty transparent in their work,” she said.

For Muhd Iylia Asyraf, 24, a second-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the session was a stress reliever after a long day of school.

“For cat lovers who do not have cats at home like myself, the session was a good opportunity to experience what it’s like to own a cat,” he said.

Others felt that the event was more convenient and less costly

PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

than visiting local cat cafes, which charge an average of $12 for an hour-long visit.

Alfred Ang, 22, a first-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, said: “It's in NTU, which makes it extremely convenient.”

Despite the divided reception, CMN raised around $450 from the collection of entrance fees and additional donations, prompting them to consider making the therapy session a yearly affair.

CMN president Ng said: “We hope more students will understand our cause for fundraising and be more interested to attend cat therapy sessions in the future."

SPORTS FACILITIES: % ANSWERED YES Do we NEED more on campus?

59 75

Do you WANT more of these on campus?

RESPONSES TO YUNNAN GARDEN EXPANSION

22.6% 44.3% 17%

RESPONSES TO JURONG INNOVATION DISTRICT 28.3% 14.2%

5.7%

51.9%

16%

Sports facilities

I'm in favour

I'm neutral

I'm not in favour

I don't care GRAPHIC: LIM PEI YI

Lifestyle HOCUS POCUS MAGNUS OPUS With close to 80 clubs and societies in NTU, it can be overwhelming deciding which one to join.

Lifestyle writer Kimberly Parkes checks out NTU’s new magic club Magnus Opus to meet the magicians behind it.

Magnus Opus member Liu Zhangteng.

W

ith just nine members, NTU’s new student-run magic club Magnus Opus might not seem like your typical campus interest group. But the club’s weekly meetings and training sessions say otherwise, and founder Vicente Tangcueco III is eager to prove Magnus Opus is here to stay.

“Build the club up and keep it going for years, that’s the plan,” said Tangcueco, 21, a first-year student from the School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, who founded the club last semester.

“We want to share our love for magic and make people happy by showing them something they don’t see every day.”

The self-taught magic enthusiast dived into the world of magic three years ago, after a close friend taught him a few tricks.

Magnus Opus member Cassidy Lee.

Upon entering NTU last year, Tangcueco started Magnus Opus so that other students interested in magic could join the club and learn from one another.

“I just wanted us to have fun and share and do what we love.”

While the name “Magnus Opus” means grand operation, in reality, the club’s weekly sessions are intimate affairs held at the Dunkin’ Donuts on campus.

“We get together to show off our stuff, share what we know and give one another tips on how to improve,” said Tangcueco.

“We have a guy who is trying to learn magic, so we’re also teaching him the basics.”

Newcomers aside, Magnus Opus also boasts seasoned magicians such as Cassidy Lee, 24, a member of the Singapore Association of Magicians since 2013.

Like Tangcueco, Lee also formed his own campus magic club during his first year at Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and is hopeful Magnus Opus will grow in popularity.

“The SP Magicians club had 130 members and I have hope that the same thing will happen here. I want to help and support people with the same passion and hobby as myself,” said Lee, a third-year student from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

For Lee and fellow Magnus Opus member Liu Zhangteng, 24, the best part about being a magician is watching the audience react to their performance.

“One of my favourite parts about performing magic tricks is seeing the amazement and laughter on people’s faces. It’s very rewarding,” said Lee, who won this year’s MAE Got Talent with a magic routine.

Magnus Opus founder Vincent Tangcueco III.

Liu, a first-year student from the School of Art, Design and Media, said: “My favourite part about magic is seeing the audience enjoying the tricks as I’m performing.”

“I want to become a magician because magic tricks give everyone a chance to be awed by things they can’t figure out and for me, it makes me nostalgic for my childhood,” added Liu, who has been learning magic on his own since he was 8 years old.

Despite its members’ skills and talent, Magnus Opus has been unable to work its magic on the Student Affairs Office (SAO), which rejected the club’s application for endorsement last semester.

Without endorsement, Magnus Opus cannot call itself an official student body. It also cannot book school facilities or receive funding from SAO.

PHOTOS: JAMES NG

One key obstacle standing in Magnus Opus’ way is its membership size — clubs must have at least 20 members in order to be recognised by the university.

But Tangcueco, who wants to increase Magnus Opus’ visibility around campus, has a few tricks up his sleeve to help the club hit the 20-member mark.

“Moving forward, we want to start performing around NTU and get ourselves known,” he said.

“Maybe we’ll do some sort of exam welfare and entertain people with magic tricks. Even if we don’t get approval, we will continue performing because it is our passion.”

Facebook: Magnus Opus - Magician Society of NTU Email: magnus.opus.magic@gmail.com

08-09 LIFESTYLE foodsnoop

In collaboration with Come Let’s Eat, an initiative to encourage Singaporeans and foreigners to interact through food

Let’s get Calle Real

Filipino cuisine, which draws inspiration from its Spanish colonial roots, is a fusion of East meets West.

Lifestyle writers Sherlyn Goh and Loy Kheng Wee discover the bold flavours behind this homely cuisine.

CALLE REAL RESTAURANT 6 Changi Business Park Avenue 1 #01-37, UE BizHub East Singapore 486017 Monday: 11am - 2pm Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 9pm Closed on Sundays With ample natural light and brightly coloured walls, Calle Real Restaurant’s welcoming ambience instantly makes one feel at home. The restaurant serves a la carte Filipino dishes that are best paired with steamed rice.

Filipino cuisine is known for balancing different flavour profiles. With minimal use of herbs and spices, the food usually has individual sweet, salty and sour flavours that combine to create distinctive dishes. At Calle Real Restaurant, the crew were eager to share with us how each dish was prepared, and how each is typically enjoyed in the Philippines.

1 LECHON DE CARAJAY $14.80

THIS Filipino version of sio bak has a rind of crispy skin, a thin layer of fat, and well-seasoned, tender meat.

Unlike the Singaporean version where chunks of pork are roasted, this Filipino rendition is baked first, then deep-fried.

Eaten on its own, the pork was bland but did not leave a greasy aftertaste.

The dish went well with its creamy dipping sauce — a sweet sauce made of pork liver specially imported from the Philippines.

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TRUE TO HIS ROOTS

RELLENONG BANGUS

Mr Joefre Lascano, 38

$18.80

THE flesh of the milkfish is first extracted then minced before adding green peas and raisins to the mix. It is marinated with vinegar, then stir-fried before it is stuffed back into the fried fish skin.

The result is a good mix of texture — with crunchy fish skin wrapping and tender fish meat mixture.

A dish unique to Filipino cuisine, the Rellenong Bangus is a must-try because it is so difficult to find in Singapore.

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3 SIZZLING PORK SISIG $12.80

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PHOTOS: NICHOLAS YEO

THE sweet and savoury blend of minced pork, chilli and spring onion was served on a piping hot skillet with a raw egg sitting atop.

After setting the plate on the table, our server broke the egg with her hands and mixed it in with a spoon, coating each morsel of meat with runny yolk, before finishing with a squeeze of lime.

On its own, the minced pork was a little salty but eaten with the sweet raisins and a hint of lime, our tastebuds were left dancing.

According to Chef Lascano, after receiving feedback that Singaporeans are not fond of strong sour tastes, the pork was marinated with pineapple juice instead of vinegar.

FOR four months, Chef Lascano boarded flights to the Philippines every Friday, then caught the red-eye flight back to Singapore the following Monday to helm the kitchen of JoLogs at Lucky Plaza.

Chef Lascano had been enrolled in culinary classes at the University of Philippines by his then employer and went to great lengths to juggle his work and his studies.

His dedication to his craft never left him, even as he took on a demanding role as head chef at Calle Real Restaurant, where he oversees the menu and personally prepares his customers’ orders.

Ten years ago, Chef Lascano moved to Singapore at the age of 28, in search of greener pastures and has worked in the food & beverage industry here since then.

He said: “I’ve always dreamt of working abroad. I love cooking and I’ve always been interested in Filipino food.”

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Sharing in a bit of Spain Milagro’s generous portions and sheer variety of tapas make it the perfect place for group eat-outs.

Goh Pei Xuan and Muhammad Syafiq try out the restaurant’s Spanish fare.

MILAGRO SPANISH RESTAURANT

181 Orchard Road #08-06/07, Orchard Central Singapore 238896

Monday to Friday: 12pm - 3pm. 6pm - 10pm Weekends: 11am - 9pm Open on Public Holidays FROM little plates of tapas to overflowing pans of paellas, the Spanish fare at Milagro encourages customers to partake in Spain’s vibrant dining culture of sharing.

Milagro is often packed with large groups of diners, thanks to its dazzling spread of 50 different tapas — bite-sized appetisers served in Spanish cuisine — ranging from cold cuts to stews.

Its tastefully simple decor, coupled with natural light flowing through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, creates a relaxed ambience, making Milagro ideal for both romantic daytime dates or after-work gatherings with friends.

1 PAELLA VALENCIA Mini: $38 Standard (pictured): $59

FILL your tummy with this generous portion of Paella Valencia topped with chunks of juicy chicken and savoury string beans.

Served in a skillet pan slightly larger than a six-inch pizza, the paella was cooked in a herb and tomato-based stock that you can taste in each grain of rice, which was al dente and firm to the bite. Dig deeper and you’ll find a layer of crisp caramelised rice at the bottom of the pan.

Some might find the rice a bit too crunchy but we understand from the head chef that paella is commonly served this way in Spain.

Staying true to its Valencian roots, the Paella Valencia was our favourite dish of the evening.

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2 TAPAS

$3 - $32

THE Spanish Meatballs in Almond Picada Sauce ($10) is a dainty appetiser of minced beef meatballs soaked in a rich almond blend. The meatballs were a tad too dry on their own but the nutty and creamy picada sauce still made the tapas a dish worth ordering.

Seafood lovers can opt for the Prawns in Mojo Verde ($15). Salty on the outside, the prawns retained its subtle sweet flavour when deshelled.

The raw coriander sauce had a fresh clean scent and its refreshing taste brought out the seafood’s sweetness.

A little goes a long way — be sure not to dunk the prawns in the dip or the minty aftertaste of the sauce may overwhelm the star of the dish.

LEAP OF FAITH

Mr Raymond Chong, 28 WHILE his peers dived into the corporate world after graduation, the Nanyang Business School alumnus swapped the suit and tie for a chef’s apron in 2014.

It was only fitting then that Mr Chong named his restaurant Milagro, or miracle in Spanish.

“It’s surprising I would pick up Spanish cuisine, and open a restaurant without any prior kitchen experience,” he said.

His love affair with the cuisine began in 2009, when he travelled to Spain during his exchange semester and attended a cooking class in Barcelona.

He and head chef Erwin Francisco, 38, who has 20 years of culinary experience under his belt, regularly invent new dishes to surprise their diners.

3 CREME CATALANA $9

THIS confection was flame-torched at our table and it was a feast for the eyes to watch the top layer of the creme brulee turn golden brown right before us.

The resulting wafer-thin caramelised sugar was crispy and carried hints of bitterness, the perfect foil for the creamy vanilla custard underneath.

Sweet without being overwhelmingly cloying, the reasonably portioned dessert brought our meal at Milagro to a beautiful end.

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PHOTOS: JAMES NG

10-11 LIFESTYLE

Horror across borders Travelling can be a dream come true, but it can also turn into a hellish nightmare in the blink of an eye. While bad travel experiences make for fun anecdotes, it’s a lot less fun when you’re the protagonist of the story. Graphic artist Lim Pei Yi illustrates the horror travel stories local and foreign exchange students recounted to Lifestyle writers Goh Pei Xuan and Sherlyn Goh.

ALPAC-UP MY BAGS

HOTEL OR BROTHEL?

CURRENTLY ON EXCHANGE AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

CURRENTLY ON EXCHANGE AT NTU

My friend and I went backpacking in South America over the winter break. On our journey, we stayed on an island on Lake Titicaca (located on the border of Peru and Bolivia). We went for a walk along the area in the morning and passed by a cute alpaca grazing by the pathway. I was so amazed that I went closer to take a video of it but while I was trying to do so, the alpaca gathered some cud in its mouth and spat in my face.

During recess week, my friends and I went to Penang, Malaysia, and when we arrived at our hotel at about 2am, the hotel staff told us they didn’t have our reservation even though we booked it weeks in advance. We were stranded with no place to go, so we decided to head to a bar. The bar owner learnt about our situation and directed us to a place to stay for the night. But it turned out that the place was a brothel. Fortunately, we managed to find another hotel after refusing the “accommodations” offered at the brothel.

As told by Amber Tan, 21 Second-year student Renaissance Engineering Programme, NTU

As told by Ogulcan Selcuk, 22 Third-year student Middle East Technical University, Turkey

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ROLLY POLLY

CURRENTLY ON EXCHANGE AT NTU

CURRENTLY ON EXCHANGE AT TAMPERE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, FINLAND

I travelled to Bintan with my friends during the Chinese New Year week and stayed at a resort on stilts out at sea. On our final night, the tides were high and water was coming in through the floor of our room. We had no choice but to evacuate to the hotel’s restaurant — a hut one metre higher than the rooms.

That night, we had to sleep on the restaurant floor. It was a really scary experience. I would still consider us lucky though. I heard some people had to swim in the water to get their stuff from their rooms because the boardwalk was gone in the morning.

I was on exchange in Finland when my friends and I thought we would take a trip to Inari in the north. We decided to try out riding on a snowmobile and rented one for two hours from a local shop.

After getting the hang of it, we got a little too confident. We rode the vehicle to its maximum speed — straight into a massive pile of snow. We flew off the snowmobile and ended up rolling all the way down the hill. Thankfully, my friends and I did not get hurt. I still laugh at myself for it but I would do it all over again.

As told by Rebecca Johnson, 20 Second-year student Missouri University of Science and Technology, USA

As told by Shaun Kam, 24 Third-year student School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NTU

THE GREAT CHASE CURRENTLY ON EXCHANGE AT NTU I was at a hawker centre in Chinatown, Singapore, when I noticed packets of tissue paper displayed prominently in front of a stall. Impressed that the stalls gave out free tissue paper, I casually reached out to take a packet from a hawker stall and went off.

The stall owner, a Chinese lady, chased me down relentlessly and started yelling angrily at me in another language, likely shouting profanities. She then snatched the packet of tissue away from my hands indicating that I was stealing them. It was only then that I realised that those packets of tissues had to be paid for. I was left gawking in confusion.

Sydney Edwards, 21 Third-year student A. James Clark School of Engineering University of Maryland, USA

12-13 SPOTLIGHT

Dr Carol Lim, a veterinarian at Vets For Pets in Jurong West, discusses Zorro’s medical condition with Cat Management Network president Ng Yi Shu and faculty advisor Ronald Lin.

CARING FOR CAMPUS CATS NTU’s Cat Management Network is not just about feeding hungry cats. By providing medical care and a loving home for sick and injured felines, CMN is also their silent guardian.

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY NICHOLAS YEO

A

broken bone, a fractured tooth and liver disease — these are just some of the health issues afflicting little Zorro, a 5-year-old male cat.

But thanks to NTU’s Cat Management Network (CMN), Zorro is now receiving medical attention and being cared for by loving volunteers.

The black domestic shorthair was first spotted limping around Hall of Residence 10 in January before volunteers tipped off CMN. When found by CMN president Ng Yi Shu, Zorro was walking around gingerly as his right hind leg appeared to be injured.

“When I started petting him, he was rather docile.

“But when I touched him on the right side of his body, he let out a

shriek,” said Ng, 22, a second-year Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information student.

An X-ray scan at a veterinary clinic showed signs of a broken bone, which Ng believes may have been caused by a fall.

Zorro needed a month of cage rest and medical attention, which CMN provided.

The student-run CMN gives cats like Zorro a new lease of life and expects to see more cats with health problems as the campus cat population is slowly ageing.

While some cats are released once they are nursed back to health, others with chronic health problems go under the care of CMN’s group of fosterers — faculty members who take in these cats.

She needs pills in the morning and I have to give her injections every day.

Assistant Professor Kathrin Albers, 41 School of Art, Design and Media

Assistant Professor Kathrin Albers, 41, is a fosterer for Midnight, a 10-year-old female campus cat with severe kidney disease.

Prof Albers, a faculty member at the School of Art, Design and Media, has been housing Midnight in her Nanyang Crescent residence for the past two months — no mean feat considering Midnight’s blind right eye and need for daily injections to keep her hydrated.

“She needs pills in the morning and I have to give her injections every day,” said Prof Albers.

“Since I grew up with cats and like cats a lot, I don’t mind taking care of her.”

Apart from providing campus cats with medical care and foster homes, CMN has been running a trap-neuter-release-manage (TNRM) programme since its founding in 2004, which helps keep

the population of campus cats at a manageable level.

“Not neutering would lead to overpopulation and stretch our resources as we would have old cats and kittens to take care of. Stopping them from scavenging would also be more difficult,” Ng said.

The network’s TNRM efforts, which aim to prevent as many stray cats as possible from being put down, have earned praise from local animal welfare groups.

Ms Veron Lau, 44, a committee member at the Cat Welfare Society, said that TNRM is crucial to the humane treatment of animals.

She said: “I think it’s really wonderful that there are groups in educational institutions that follow the programme and make it happen.”

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Top: Ng searches for a recently neutered cat at Pioneer Hall, as cats can be territorial and are prone to getting into fights. CMN responds to calls within three hours of a tip-off.

Middle: Assistant Professor Kathrin Albers (middle) hands Midnight, a 10-year-old female cat which has not been eating well, to Ng (left) and Mr Lin (right), who will take it to the vet for a checkup.

Left: Zorro is a 5-year-old domestic shorthair suffering from an injured hind leg, a broken tooth and liver problems.

Right: Ng shows a $346 bill for the checkup and treatment of two campus cats. CMN conducts regular fundraising activities to defray such costs.

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DAPPER

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (from top, clockwise direction)

Elvia Necklace, $29, The Lorem Ipsum Store Mika Necklace, $31,The Lorem Ipsum Store Avant Gardist Earrings, $14.90, Stack.Edition Mahaut Cuff in Gold, $12.90, Stack.Edition

Grab some popcorn and join us in our style-inspired movie marathon!

Here, we mash films and jewellery together for looks guranteed to steal the limelight.

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DAPPER

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CAST AWAY

(from top, clockwise direction) Medusa Earrings, price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry Wanderer Necklace, $12.90, Stack.Edition Double Flail Danglers, price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry Samantha Necklace, $33, The Lorem Ipsum Store

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT Dapper speaks to three homegrown accessory labels to find out more about their jewellery and design philosophy.

Stack.Edition Describe your label in three words.

Simplified, timeless and unpretentious.

Describe the girl that wears your accessories: She wants to be more than just dressed. For her, it's all in the details. She doesn't try too hard but just enough to know she's going to look fine for the rest of the day.

How would you style your favorite piece in your collection?

Most women tend to gear towards loud and bold designs when buying accessories but we believe in subtlety, as displayed in the Mahaut cuff. It’s a graceful boost to the simplest of looks.

Above: Mahaut Cuff in Gold, $12.90, Stack.Edition

Sue Ling, Founder of Sue Ling Jewelry Describe your label in three words.

Bold, sophisticated and edgy What are your favourite pieces from your label?

My favourite pieces currently are from my latest series The Matrix, which will roll out over the course of the year. It’s a collection of jewellery inspired by the very potent cyberpunk sci-fi iconography in the film.

Describe your design process.

A personal benchmark for me when designing is that I want to experiment with and introduce something new and different than what's in the market, or to make technical advancements in my designs.

KK and Boon, Co-founders of The Lorem Ipsum Store What inspires you?

Travel. It makes you see things differently. The cultural differences, the colour combinations that you’d never expect to see on a normal day and the different shapes and forms of objects — they all serve to inspire each piece of accessory.

THE GREAT GATSBY (from top, clockwise direction)

Caroline Necklace, $33, The Lorem Ipsum Store Adamo Bracelet, $15.90, Stack.Edition.

The Embrace Ring price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry.

Faceted metal Ring, price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry.

Doves of Peace,price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry.

Cliff Ring, price unavailable, Sue Ling Jewelry

Photographer: Gary Khoo Art Direction: Kimberly Ong Styling: Kimberly Ong, Gracia Ow Text: Kimberly Ong

Describe the girl that wears your accessories: She’s a girl-next-door who likes to dress casually and is unpretentious.

How would you style your pieces?

With a simple plain top or a sleek plain dress that will bring out the uniqueness of the accessory.

Opinion EDITORIAL Minister visits reveal cracks in students’ skills LAST week, undergraduates had the rare opportunity to pose questions to Minister for Home Affairs and Law K Shanmugam at this year’s Ministerial Forum.

But those anticipating a thought-provoking discussion at the School of Art, Design and Media auditorium on 28 Mar would have been sorely disappointed. Although the forum was professionally organised, with a choice venue and an articulate emcee and moderator, the quality of questions put to Mr Shanmugam by students failed to match up.

While the issues behind some of the questions were pertinent, such as the rights of transient workers and the effectiveness of the death penalty, the way these questions were asked left some attendees looking baffled.

From mispronouncing words to using incorrect terms, the students seemed to fumble for words when they stood in front of the microphone. To be fair, most people would probably be intimidated by the prospect of asking a minister about a touchy issue. But perhaps these incidents are indicative of a larger issue.

Two weeks before the forum, Acting Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung pointed out in an interview with the Nanyang Chronicle that undergraduates are still lacking in their communication skills. These soft skills, he added, are becoming increasingly important for fresh graduates to remain attractive to employers.

This is especially so in an ever more competitive labour market, as later pointed out by Mr Shanmugam in his forum speech. He added that undergraduates should not be complacent when they enter the workforce as their foreign counterparts are quickly catching up.

While the two ministers visited NTU separately, the common thread in both their visits underscored the importance of being more than just book-smart. For students preparing to embark on their careers, let’s hope they can connect the dots better.

THE NANYANG

CHRONICLE CHIEF EDITOR

Charmaine Ng

MANAGING EDITOR Kenji Kwok

CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Godwin Ng

NEWS EDITOR

Karl Elliott Lim Peng Lim Ching Ying

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Constance Yeo

SPORTS EDITOR Nicole Chia

OPINIONS EDITOR Dipshikha Ghosh

DAPPER EDITORS Gary Khoo Gracia Ow Kimberly Ong

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PHOTO EDITOR

Dawn Puah Goh Pei Xuan Ignatius Koh Loy Kheng Wee Muhammad Syafiq Nicole Lim Quah Jia Ling Ry-Anne Lim Sherlyn Goh Sean Loo

Kenji Kwok

COMMUNITY EDITOR Miranda Yeo

BUSINESS MANAGER Sheena Wong

PRODUCTION SUPPORT

James Ng Nicholas Yeo

STAFF

Joe Tok Kenny Wong

FACULTY ADVISORS

Edson Tandoc Zakaria Zainal

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 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Facebook: The Nanyang Chronicle Website: www.nanyangchronicle.ntu.edu.sg General Enquiries: chronicle@ntu.edu.sg

Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

Signed opinion columns, letters and editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the writer or artist and are not necessarily those of The Chronicle.

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frankly, my dear

A column by Chronicle editors on issues close to their hearts

To give my all, I burnt my boats

BY KARL LIM NEWS EDITOR

O

ne of the most impactful things that has ever been said to me came from my father in 2010. In his first handwritten letter to me, two months into his deployment in Afghanistan as part of the United Nations-mandated International Security Assistance Force, he explained the meaning of true commitment.

On the chalky brown parchment paper, the self-professed graduate from the School of Hard Knocks wrote a fable about a chicken and a pig: For a simple breakfast of ham and eggs, the chicken makes a contribution but the pig has to make a commitment.

He ended off by telling me about the kind of commitment the pig has to offer and how this could be applied to life as well — by giving it your all.

This had a profound impact on me for two reasons. Firstly, my father was never one to encourage his children. An apathetic man, he adopted a tough love approach to parenting, disciplining us whenever we made mistakes.

Corporal punishment was the dessert commonly served after dinner. So him penning a letter to me was unusual, although it was a heartwarming surprise.

Secondly, just a week before receiving the letter, my form teacher gave me an ultimatum to either pull my grades up or retain in secondary three.

I had been consistently failing most of my subjects; my grades were mediocre at best.

Grappling with a video game addiction, I explored the virtual lands of the World of Warcraft from 10pm to 5am on most days. Consequently, most of my time in school

GRAPHIC: LIM PEI YI

was spent sleeping.

The pig gives its all to become that breakfast ham, it has nothing more to give.

It gives it all its got. I knew my purpose was not in the lack of commitment that I was displaying. “If you want to take the island, burn the boats,” goes the quote from motivational speaker Tony Robbins. And he was absolutely right.

Just like how the ancient Greeks would burn their boats upon landing on the enemy’s shore to infuse themselves with the spirit of commitment with no fallback, I too decided to commit myself to the daily grind, armed with a newfound never-say-die attitude to pull up my grades.

I burnt my “boat” by uninstalling all the games on my computer and gave myself the goal of getting promoted to Secondary Four.

I also started studying regularly, gradually increasing my attention span from only 20 minutes to about three hours.

To instil myself with a sense of discipline, I would either hit the gym or run around my neighbourhood daily.

That was when things began to change for the better.

From being frustrated with my

lack of direction in life, I found something to work toward. From being last in class, I slowly inched my way up, eventually topping my class for the final examination of Secondary Three.

Apart from helping me get promoted to Secondary Four and eventually getting into Jurong Junior College, this change in mentality spurred me further to do well for the GCE A-Levels, nabbing me a spot in the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.

My father’s words still resonate with me even today, and whenever I feel unmotivated, I take out his letter to remind myself to be like the pig.

No longer do I settle for mediocrity. Just like the Greeks, the pursuit of excellence is no longer a choice, it is the only option.

A few days ago, I received a call from my mother informing me that my 12-year-old brother received a similar ultimatum from his teacher.

Just like how my father taught me, I too will have a lesson to teach him when I get home this weekend.

One that teaches him to go the full distance in committing to something, instead of merely making a one-time contribution. But first, I’ll buy some ham.

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canteen talk Besides attending lectures and tutorials, what are you doing to equip yourself with the skills needed for your future career?

“

I joined a competition called Sumobot, organised by the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, where I was grouped with students from different courses to build a robot.

That built up my ability to interact with complete strangers. I also learnt that everyone is good at different things, so we worked together with the different skills we each have.

Sherman Tay Junyang, 21 REP, Year 1

“

Wong Ying Tyng, 22 HSS, Year 3

“

I work part-time selling insurance, which develops my social skills. After talking to many people, I realised people have their own problems, and being more than just an insurance agent but also a friend to them allows me to develop my listening skills that will serve me well in my future career in psychology.

V Nashvinntherann, 22 HSS, Year 1

by invitation

Getting the job with the right attitude

BY TIM CLARK

I organise camps and events for the NTU Chinese Society. Doing so builds up my communication skills, which will be important in my future career as a Chinese teacher that will require me to interact with different kinds of people.

19

I’M OFTEN asked how I got into advertising. The short answer: I was lucky to get an interview at London’s then top advertising agency and even luckier to pass it.

Fortunately, I knew someone who knew the creative director of Ogilvy & Mather. Unfortunately, he only granted me an interview because he felt an obligation to my contact whom, as I discovered later, he actually disliked.

To make matters worse, I arrived at his office wearing a suit and tie, which was appropriate for my first job in marketing, but the job I had set my heart on was in the creative department, where staff members dress casually.

The first question the tall ogre of a creative director asked me as he took his seat behind an enormous desk was: “So what makes you think you’d be any good as a copywriter?”

I was expecting this. As I passed him a few samples of promotional materials I had written, I answered (and which I blush to recall): “I like to write and play with words.”

I thought my penchant for crossword puzzles might impress him.

But he banged his fist on his desk.

“We don’t play with words here. We work with them.”

He told me he had received more than 300 applications for the job of a trainee copywriter and had only six vacancies, all of which had been filled.

My heart sank.

Eyeing the cut of my suit, he added he could offer the position of a junior account executive.

I replied curtly that I would rather stay in my present job, which was untrue.

There was a long icy pause. “All right”, he said, “I’ll give you the copy test to take. Bring it back in a week and we’ll see.”

In the end, I got the job and embarked on a career in advertising that lasted over 30 years, took me all over the world and fulfilled my dream of becoming a regional executive creative director.

Now, I have far more experience of interviewing candidates than being interviewed, but looking back to that first dodgy but decisive interview, I must have gotten something right.

I was single-minded. I convinced the creative director there was only one job in only one advertising agency that I wanted. The writing samples I offered were rubbish. Yet, he offered me a second chance to prove myself: the copy test.

Why did he bother? Probably be-

louder than words

“

Since Singapore does not offer a degree in speech therapy, I have to count on internships to learn the necessary skills. I volunteered at an autism school, where I learnt classroom skills and applied the theories I’ve learnt in school to real-life situations.

Shahirah Begum, 21 HSS, Year 2

PHOTOS: KENJI KWOK GRAPHIC: LOW ZHANG QUAN

cause he simply liked my attitude.

Attitude is the most important criteria for hiring creative people in advertising. Ask any creative director in Singapore and I bet the majority will agree.

And it may well apply to other industries. If you have a portfolio to show for yourself, it may get you an interview, but it won’t get you a job. Possessing the right attitude will clinch the deal.

Being single-minded, displaying charm and enthusiasm, showing self-confidence without appearing cocky will endear you. You also need to demonstrate curiosity by expressing a genuine interest in the company you wish to join.

Your attitude is what will distinguish you from other candidates, just like a good ad would distinguish a competing brand.

Remember, with the right attitude you can sell yourself. And if you can sell yourself, you can sell anything.

Tim Clark has spent 20 years as Executive and Regional Creative Director with international agencies in Singapore and Hong Kong, producing advertising throughout Asia. He is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing Communications at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information and he teaches part-time.

Sports

NTU professors make time for exercise | Page 22

Hat-trick for NTU canoeing Canoe team takes home men’s, women’s and overall titles IGNATIUS KOH

N

TU’s canoeists made a clean sweep of the annual InterTertiary Canoe Championships on 19 Mar, clinching both the men’s and women’s overall titles for the first time in the competition’s four-year history.

The team emerged as overall champion from a tough field which included two-time champion National University of Singapore, Singapore Institute of Management, Singapore Institute of Technology and various polytechnic teams.

The women’s team successfully defended its title as overall champion in the category for the fourth consecutive year, winning five golds out of six events.

“This year’s team was more united as compared to last year, and our efforts paid off with NTU winning everything,” said women’s team captain Angelica See, 21, a secondyear student from the Asian School of Environment.

“The win shows that if we put our mind to it, we can do it.”

For the men, who had finished second the past three years, their overall victory was a result of the team’s dedication, said team captain Benjamin Ho, 23, a secondyear School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student.

Contributing to the win was Southeast Asian Games canoeist Luke Yap, 23.

Yap, a second-year Sports Science and Management student, crossed the finish line first with his three teammates in the four-man 1000m kayak race.

The victory was even sweeter considering it was only the second time the quartet sat on the same boat — the first time was during the morning heats.

In contrast, it was a case of reestablishing chemistry for Marvin Tan and Benedict Chong, both 23.

The duo won the two-man 1000m canoe race, reigniting their winning partnership from their Singapore Polytechnic days.

“We were nervous as it’s been three years since we raced together,” said Tan, a second-year School of Materials Science and Engineering student.

PHOTOS: JAMES NG

Top: (from left) Collette Seow, Phua Yu Ning, Linnet Xue and Grace Yong won the WK4 200m race.

Left: (from left) Wong Heng Jin and Bryan Loy were champions of the MK2 200m event.

Right: Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Mr Ong Ye Kung (centre, in red), was this year’s guest-of-honour at the Inter-Tertiary Canoe Championships.

Chong, who returned from exchange just over a month ago, only had six weeks to prepare.

In addition to attending regular training sessions, he put in extra hours to catch up with Tan. Organised by the NTU canoeing team for the second straight year, the competition saw Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) in attendance as guest-of-honour.

Also present at the event were Mr Desmond Lee, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, and Mr Yip Kwan Guan, president of the Singapore Canoe Federation.

Organising committee chairman Wong Heng Jin, 21, lauded his canoeing teammates, who doubled as organisers, for balancing their organising duties with their already gruelling training.

“Some of us had to travel from school to MacRitchie Reservoir for training, and then rush back to school for morning classes.

“It’s been very hectic for us,” said Wong, who is a first-year School of Civil and Environmental Engineering student.

Wong also won two golds in the four-men 1000m and two-man 200m kayak events.

“We actually had time to rest be-

tween races but most of us were on the ground to keep the event running smoothly,” Wong added.

NTU’s win came after eight months of preparation.

“We’ve also been paddling before our morning lessons,” said men’s team vice-captain Christopher Huang, 23, a second-year Sports Science and Management student.

“In the end, the tough training was worth it,” Huang also said.

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08 CHRONICLE

Friendly foes NTU footballers Anders Aplin and Gary Loo will feature on opposing sides of the field for the S-League season

GOLF TOURNAMENT 1 MASTERS (4-10 APR)

SEAN LOO

Defending champion Jordan Spieth returns to Augusta to defend his title in the first men’s golf major of the year. The 22-year-old won his maiden major in last year’s edition and followed it up with a second major win at the U.S. Open en route to winning the 2015 PGA Player of the Year award. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson will be keen to wrest the title he won in 2014 from Spieth after losing out last year. Also in the mix is former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who has yet to win in the tournament.

T

hey may be teammates on NTU’s Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic football team but Anders Aplin and Gary Loo kick their friendship aside whenever they don their S-League jerseys. ` In January, Aplin signed for Geylang International while Loo joined Balestier Khalsa.

Despite being on a rival club, Aplin, a midfielder, insisted his relationship with Loo will remain friendly — unless Geylang goes up against Balestier.

“I won’t hesitate to kick him,” joked Aplin, 24, a final-year student at the Nanyang Business School (NBS).

Loo, 23, a second-year NBS student, concurred: “It’s just about being professional.

"If Balestier plays against Geylang, I’ll also go all out and prevent him from scoring."

The Balestier midfielder added: “Off the field, we are still good friends who represent the same university, but in S-League matches, we must focus on giving our best for our clubs."

His signing for Balestier will not be his first S-League stint.

Loo made his league debut with Tanjong Pagar United in 2011 and joined Courts Young Lions (now known as Garena Young Lions) the following year, before a knee injury forced him out of the game for the next three years.

Now in his third S-League season, Loo, a former Southeast Asian Games player, believes the hard

Five must-watch competitions this month

S-League debutant Anders Aplin (right) joined Geylang International FC in January and hopes to be in the starting lineup by the end of the season.

PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

work he put in during his recovery has paid off — he made the starting lineup in five of the eight matches Balestier has played this season.

When he was unsigned, Loo would jog or visit the gym at least thrice a week to maintain his fitness level.

“I’m not a naturally gifted footballer so I have to work on my fitness to make up for it,” said the Manchester United fan, whose favourite player is Paul Scholes.

S-League debutant Aplin is also aware of the effort needed to succeed in the local football scene.

Apart from attending club training six times a week, he also runs and visits the gym thrice weekly.

“When I signed for Geylang, my NTU coach reminded me that it was important to work hard and be humble,” said Aplin, who has yet to be in Geylang’s starting lineup.

“We have many experienced players on the team and I want to improve, so I hope to break into the first 11 by the end of the season."

Balestier Khalsa midfielder Gary Loo (right), who was unsigned for three years due to injury, hopes his comeback will lead to a national team call-up.

PHOTO: KENJI KWOK

“If Balestier plays against Geylang, I'll also go all out and prevent him from scoring.”

Gary Loo, 23 Balestier Khalsa midfielder

Future goals For his debut season, Aplin set his sights on contributing to an improved finish for Geylang — the club placed eighth out of 10 teams last year.

“We obviously hope to win the S-League title, but I think any improvement from last season is a step in the right direction,” said Aplin.

“I will also try to break into the first team. As long as I train hard, I think I have a good chance.”

Asked if he had any aspirations of donning national colours, Aplin said: “If it comes, it comes; my focus is on Geylang at the moment.”

Loo, however, hopes to receive a national team call up in the future.

He said: “It is always a dream for football players to represent their own country. I hope that I can represent my country again, as I did in 2011 for the SEA Games.”

Although Loo did not feature in any of the 2011 SEA Games matches, the experience of training alongside many current national team players has improved his game significantly, he said.

“There is so much to learn from them on and off the pitch.

“It’s certainly helped me to become a better player.”

2

HOCKEY WORLD LEAGUE ROUND 1 (9-17 APR)

To be held at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium, the third edition of the biennial Hockey World League Round 1 will be the “biggestever” tournament since its inception in 2012, said Singapore Hockey Federation president Mathavan Devadas. The tournament, which will feature 11 men’s teams and nine women’s teams, is also a qualifying event for the 2016 Olympic Games and the Hockey World Cup. The top seeds for the men’s and women’s teams are China and Kazakhstan respectively while Singapore’s men's team is seeded second and their female counterparts, fourth.

SINGAPORE OPEN 3 OUE (12-17 APR) This year’s badminton competition features a star-studded field led by two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, world No. 1 Chen Long and defending champion world No. 3 Kento Momota. Twenty-four local players are slated to compete in the tournament, including Derek Wong and Liang Xiaoyu, Singapore’s top-ranked men’s and women’s singles shuttler respectively.

4

HSBC WORLD RUGBY SINGAPORE SEVENS (16-17 APR)

For the first time in 10 years, the annual World Sevens Series will be held in Singapore. Defending champion Fiji leads the overall standings, with powerhouses South Africa and 12-time champion New Zealand just one and two points behind respectively. With Sevens rugby making its debut at the 2016 Olympic Games, teams are expected to field their best players at the National Stadium to prepare for their road to Rio.

5

BOSTON MARATHON (18 APR)

Unlike other marathons, participation in the Boston Marathon — widely regarded as the most prestigious event for runners — requires a qualifying time from another marathon. Now in its 120th year, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon.

This year’s marathon will see Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa and Kenya’s Caroline Rotich return to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s races respectively. Also on the entry list is the all-time course record holder Geoffrey Mutai, who completed the race in 2 hours and 3 minutes in 2011.

22-23 SPORTS

In a class of their own

They are in school every day doing what they do best – teaching. But students often forget that teachers have lives outside work. For some teachers, regular exercise is an integral part of that life. Sports writer Ignatius Koh takes a look at three professors who dedicate time to exercise.

Top: Switching from one racket sport to another, Assoc Prof Lee Yong Tsui picked up squash while warming up for a table-tennis match 40 years ago.

Bottom: Assoc Prof Lee hopes more students make exercise a part of their lives.

SERVING WITH PASSION Associate Professor Lee Yong Tsui, Assistant Chair, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering

“Studying is important, but in order to keep up with your studies, you need a healthy body.”

Assoc Prof Lee Yong Tsui, 61

A

ssoc Prof Lee Yong Tsui has played squash in the past seven editions of Inter-Hall Games (IHG) for Hall of Residence 12 and even helped the team finish second — their best achievement — last year.

“Before I participated in IHG, I didn’t know hall fellows were allowed to play,” he said.

“When I became a hall fellow in 2009, the team was practising in the next court, and invited me to join them after seeing me play.”

Prof Lee’s first encounter with the sport took place by accident over 40 years ago.

A table tennis school team player until his university days, Prof Lee had walked into a nearby squash court before training to warm himself up on a wintery day in Leeds, England, where he studied.

The rest is history.

“After a few rounds, I didn’t return to the table tennis room – I stayed on in the squash court,” said Prof Lee, 61.

Despite suffering from a torn Achilles tendon in 2004, he retained the skills he acquired in

England, where he worked for eight years after graduation.

While he was there, he represented a club in a local league in Nottingham and competed weekly in the second tier.

His experience fuelled Prof Lee’s love for squash, as the sport doubled as a social event.

“I enjoyed post-match outings as much as the matches as the home team always put out a spread of good food and drinks,” he said.

“Players from both sides would gather after their shower and have good banter all evening.”

After returning to Singapore, he continued to play squash competitively, participating in the annual Public Service STAR Games with his colleagues.

As a strong advocate of regular exercise, Prof Lee urged students to make it a part of their lives.

He said: “I will not accept anyone telling me that they have no time to exercise. Do a little, if that’s all you can afford.”

“Studying is important, but in order to keep up with your studies, you need a healthy body.”

THE NANYANG

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CHRONICLE 08

DUNKIN’ DAILY Associate Professor Wu Yuan, Division of Banking & Finance, College of Business (Nanyang Business School)

IN CLASS, Prof Wu Yuan is all business while giving lectures on Actuarial Science.

But on the basketball court, he becomes a formidable ally — if you are on his team.

Prof Wu said: “The classroom is different from the court. In class, I’m their teacher but on court, our relationship becomes much friendlier — we are basketball buddies.”

He is a familiar face at the Sports and Recreation Centre.

“I represented my secondary school and high school in basketball but I was too short for the university team,” said Prof Wu with a laugh.

The sport gives him a chance to let off steam after a long day.

“I’ve been playing every night for two hours since I joined NTU in 1994.

“I need the exercise because I’m very busy – it makes me more refreshed,” said the 59-year-old.

Prof Wu said his age does not hinder his passion for basketball.

“Sometimes when I play basketball, I forget my age. I feel the same age as the students.

“I’m slower than them physically but mentally, I am as young as them.”

A familiar face at the Sports and Recreation Centre, Assoc Prof Wu Yuan has been playing basketball every night since he joined NTU in 1994.

Being in the game for so long allows him to go toe-to-toe with students, most of whom are less than half his age.

“As I play basketball every day, I usually have better stamina than

some students who only play once or twice a week,” said Prof Wu. While exercising consistently may be a struggle for many students, Prof Wu believes the motivation will come naturally if they

stick to an exercise plan.

“The most important thing is to keep going after you start. One month is no problem; one year is fine. But for 10, 20 years, it’s not easy,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s easy to find an excuse to skip exercise. But if you strongly believe in improving the quality of your work and life, you will find the motivation to keep going,” he added.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK Associate Professor Lee Yee Hui, Assistant Chair (Students), School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering

Assoc Prof Lee Yee Hui, who runs every day, takes part in at least one marathon a year in Europe.

PHOTOS: NICHOLAS YEO

FOR Prof Lee Yee Hui, running is second nature — not even pregnancy could stop her from doing what she loves.

“During my first pregnancy, I was still running every day, even until the day before my delivery,” said Prof Lee, who is also the Assistant Chair of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

“My gynaecologist told me not to do it, but I knew my body well. So I continued to run.”

Prof Lee, who is in her 40s, has been running daily without fail since 1994.

“During my first marathon, I fell out at the 32-kilometre mark as I didn’t train beforehand so I was sent back to the starting point. I was so disappointed at that time,” she said. “Since then, I’ve been running every day.”

The mother of two begins her daily run at 7am every day. On weekdays, she wakes up at 6am to get her children ready for school.

“After sending my kids off, I run one round around NTU,” said Prof

Lee, who is also a hall fellow at Hall of Residence 3. The NTU campus loop is an estimated 5.5km long.

For Prof Lee, running is a way to relax and clear her mind amid her busy schedule.

Her love for running knows no rest. Even while on holiday, she takes part in at least one marathon each year in Europe.

She said: “Some marathons are at places with beautiful landscapes, so running there is an experience.”

“Running the marathon forms part of my holiday experience with my family.”

Describing her love for running as an addiction, she added: “Running, to me, is how smoking and alcohol are to others.

“Once you’re used to it, you can’t live without it.”

Sharing tips with students eager to pick up running, Prof Lee said: “You have to start slow. Go at a comfortable pace before slowly building up for more.

“Don’t push yourself too hard as everyone has a physical limit.”