THE RIDGE MAGAZINE A NUSSU PUBLICATION MARCH 2011 mica (p) 207/11/2009
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the worldmun issue What is WorldMUN? What’s the big deal? Flip over to our WorldMUN section to find out, where we also have articles for the 2000+ delegates
Opinion
the ‘leaky’ controversy
LIFESTYLE
CALLING ALL FASHIONISTAS
ENTERTAINMENT
THE NUS ARTS FESTIVAL
SPORTS
THE CONCLUSION OF IHG
WIRED
NOKIA + MICROSOFT =?
09 20
Contents news
opinion
lifestyle
06 nus flash
14 THE ‘LEAKY’ CONTROVERSY
17 camera ‘darwinism’
08 photostory: OPEN SEASON
15 Is There No One Else?
18 Calling all fashionistas
09 LAUNCH OF U@LIVE
16 stand a chance to win a l’oreal gift hamper!
20 Their Strength Made our History: The Ridge celebrates Women’s History Month this March
10 NO RISKS IN INVESTMENT OF STUDENT RESERVES, SAYS NUSSU PRESIDENT
22 one phonecall away 12 NUS ARTS CANTEEN IS SINGAPORE’S FIRST ECO-FOOD COURT
24
34
entertainment
sports
wired
23 A GLEEFUL MARCH!
30 ihg finals
34 Nokia + Microsoft = ?
24 Fifteen Minutes with the Asian Contemporary Ensemble
32 sport of the month
36 How-to: connect to nus printers wirelessly
26 looking through tze’s glass
37 Byte-Sized
27 NUS Arts Festival set to close off with a bang! 28 book reviews + what’s in my ipod THE RIDGE magazine is published by NUS Students’ Union. Eight issues are published each year. Each issue is distributed free of cost to the student population of the National University of Singapore as part of the Union’s drive towards providing students with a platform for journalism and a maagzine for their reading pleasure. Formed on December 6, 1985, this March issue is the work of the 26th Editorial Board. © 2011 THE RIDGE Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Contact the.ridge@nussu.org.sg for any further enquiries.
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Revisit our past issues issuu.com/NussuTHERIDGE
02
Ed EDITOR’S NOTE
A
nd it’s the end. With this March issue, I am going to step down as Chief Editor of THE RIDGE. The past year has been a long one and I have thoroughly enjoyed working here for the magazine and I have met so many people and done so much work. I guess it’s with a hint of sadness that I end my tenure. After all, when I was passed the baton, this magazine had been suspended for three months and I barely had a team of 10 members with whom to work with so I have really invested a lot of time and energy into this magazine. I would like to thank those original people for having faith in me and we have travelled long and far in this eventful journey over the past year. Relations between THE RIDGE and the NUS Students’ Union were at their frostiest back then as well. The Union has always supported the printing of a student-run magazine but at the same time, they balked at the role of media police that RIDGE members took upon themselves to carry out. And it is true that past excos were rather stringent in their vetting of the content of the magazine. I experienced it first-hand. But my focus this year was largely on providing a holistic publication to the student population so there weren’t as many potshots taken. However, the Union isn’t a perfect entity and it has many flaws and if there is any news related to the activities of the Union or the administration that students feel concerned about, then THE RIDGE will always be there ready to find out more, and to report and critique. I also spent a considerable amount of energy in enlarging this organisation and in making it a more efficient unit. As such, THE RIDGE is probably one of the few complete organisations within the university with its own units for Marketing, Human Resource, Events Management, Website Management, Social Media etc. THE RIDGE is a place where people can follow their dreams and so a whole host of learning opportunities have been made
available here. Should you care to be part of this project then we’re just an email away (theridge.recruitment@nussu.org.sg). This magazine is a beautiful piece of work produced by some very talented writers, designers, photographers and editors. So I’d like to thank them all for all their hard work, industry and excellence. In no particular order, the people I’d like to thank are: Kisha Tan, Kaden Hoe, Meera Nair, Saheli Roy Choudhury, Chen Yongquan, Caryn Quek, Chua Ai Ni, Sharon Rozario, Sharon Chen, Athena Foo, Anokhi Vakil, Aarushi Puri, Nitya Padmabalan, Vincent Lau, Eunice Ng, Nguyen Son Tra, Peng Yi Fan, Liu Zenan, Augustin Chiam, Heng Mingfong, Luke Vijay, Jane Antony, Herngyih Tan, Chow Yongjun, Bridget Tan, Aditi Anand, Raymond Lau, Shanmugam MPL, Arnab Ghosh, Lester Hio, Tan Heng Wee, Chen Liang, Prateek Sinha, Vanessa Tan, Grace Carter, Ngui Jian Gang, Michelle Chong, Vani Goyal and Joseph Chin. All ridgesters have done a spectacular job. I leave contented. In my first editor’s note, I promised to revitalise student journalism here in this university and I do believe that I have done so. I hope that the new editorial board and future ridgesters carry on the good work and remember the following: “Never underestimate the power of a group of committed individuals.” I started off in the Entertainment desk writing about books and I particularly enjoyed writing about film genres, helmed the Sports desk, became a Copyeditor and the Opinion editor and I was also a designer over the past four years. So I have seen THE RIDGE grow from all angles and I am sure that there’s more to come. Thank you for reading, dear reader. Suhas Bhat Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg
NUSTYLE
03
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Donut Factory - Buy 8 assorted donuts and get 4 more free for $ 11.20 only
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RETAIL Ambient Lounge - 10% off all regular priced items purchased Pedro Group - 10% off all regular priced items purchased - Free lifetime membership card upon purchases of $160 and above Schu - 10% discount off regular items What He Wants Grooming - 10% off regular priced items Peek - 10% discount off all cameras purchased INSURANCE American International Assurance Company - 25% discount for Travel Guard and 15% discount for the Overseas Student Assist Travel Insurance - 10% discount for Motor Insurance - Purchased from www.yourinsurance.com.sg
04 editorial team
editorial board Chief Editor Suhas Bhat theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg Assistant Chief Editor Meera Nair theridge.asstchief@nussu.org.sg Creative Director Kaden Hoe theridge.creative@nussu.org.sg Chief Designer Caryn Quek theridge.chiefdesigner@nussu.org.sg News Desk Editor Chua Ai Ni theridge.news@nussu.org.sg Lifestyle Desk Editor Tamara Kisha Tan theridge.lifestyle@nussu.org.sg Entertainment Desk Editor Saheli Roy Choudhury theridge.entertainment@nussu.org.sg Sports Desk Editor Herngyih Tan theridge.sports@nussu.org.sg Wired Desk Editor Raymond Lau theridge.wired@nussu.org.sg Secretary Anokhi Vakil theridge.secretary@nussu.org.sg Director of Operations and Projects Chen Liang theridge.operations@nussu.org.sg NUSSU Publications Secretary Tan Heng Wee pubsec@nussu.org.sg *email theridge.operations@nussu.org.sg for collaboration, advertisement and sponsorship opportunities
contributors writers
News Desk
Opinion Desk
Lifestyle Desk
Entertainment Desk
Sports Desk
Wired Desk
creative team
Layout Designers
Photographers
OPERATIONS team
Michelle Chong
michelle_chong@nus.edu.sg
Sharon Rozario
sharon.rozario@nus.edu.sg
Yeo Shang Long
shanglong@nus.edu.sg
Sriharsha Bhat
sriharsha@nus.edu.sg
Dawn Tan
dawn.tan@nus.edu.sg
Luke Vijay
lukevijay@nus.edu.sg
Aarushi Puri
a0078550@nus.edu.sg
Augustin Chiam
augustin@nus.edu.sg
Daniel Tay
a0074233@nus.edu.sg
Heng Mingfong
mingfong@nus.edu.sg
Vincent Lau
bchvlsl@nus.edu.sg
Vibha Ghariwala
vibha@nus.edu.sg
Ngui Jian Gang
nguijiangang@nus.edu.sg
Vanessa Tan
vanessatpl@nus.edu.sg
Grace Carter
a0076261@nus.edu.sg
Vani Goyal
vani_goyal@nus.edu.sg
Bridget Tan
bridget_tan@nus.edu.sg
Aditi Anand
aditi.anand@nus.edu.sg
Jasmine Teo
jasmine.teo@nus.edu.sg
Tan Yuh Ting
yuhting@nus.edu.sg
Jocelyn Yeo
a0069497@nus.edu.sg
Nicole Kang
a0069768@nus.edu.sg
Retna Devi
a0071116@nus.edu.sg
Divya Gundlapalli
a0070426@nus.edu.sg
Nathanael PS
u0900511@nus.edu.sg
Vivian Leung
u0901614@nus.edu.sg
Joseph Chin
a0073391@nus.edu.sg
Teo Teng Kiat
a0072411@nus.edu.sg
Prateek Sinha
a0074895@nus.edu.sg
Lester Hio
a0072480@nus.edu.sg
Shanmugam MPL
u0904804@nus.edu.sg
Lam Woon Cherk
u080380@nus.edu.sg
Eunice Ng
u0702964@nus.edu.sg
Liu Zenan
zenan.liu@nus.edu.sg
Nguyen Son Tra
u0905139@nus.edu.sg
Peng Yifan
u0801540@nus.edu.sg
Rishika Anchalia
a0078704@nus.edu.sg
Stephanie Lim
a0071509h@nus.edu.sg
Yvonne Lee
yvonnelee12@nus.edu.sg
Abishek Balasubramaniam
u0905114@nus.edu.sg
Matthew Chee
u0908821@nus.edu.sg
Binu Jose
u0906583@nus.edu.sg
Nitya Padmanabhan
a0078559@nus.edu.sg
Wai Yan Yip
a0078257@nus.edu.sg
Dou Yue
douyue@nus.edu.sg
ASK US ABOUT RECRUITMENT AT theridge.recruitment@nussu.org.sg
05
06
NEWS
NUSFLASH RECORD 4200 JOBS OFFERED AT CAREER FAIR
SHARON ROZARIO
positions were up for grabs. This was a significant increase from last year when there were 120 employers offering 3500 jobs. Positions available include jobs at companies like Singapore Press Holdings and Infineum Singapore, as well as at government agencies like the Ministry of Defence.
T
he NUS Career Fair attracted a record number of employers and companies this year.
A total of 145 employers set up booths and stations at the MultiPurpose Sports Hall on January 27 and 28. 4,200 full-time
The growth of the economy is believed to play a part in the buoyant mood this year. NUS Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye commented that the the job market bode well for job-seekers,
and expressed his hopes that graduates would find well-paying jobs. The partnership between NUS and the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) was also announced at the official opening of this year’s NUS Career Fair. One of the key initiatives under the NUS Global Talent Programme, this tie-up would boost the chances of alumni and students of finding a job by giving them access to internships and job opportunities, and allowing them to take part in programmes organised by SHRI to hone their soft skills such as people management and leadership.
NUS LAW CELEBRATES 50 YEARS BY SETTING UP PROFESSORSHIP SRIHARSHA BHAT
T
he National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Faculty of Law celebrated its 50th anniversary by establishing the Lionel A. Sheridan Professorship in honour of its founding dean.
1962.
This was announced at a reunion dinner for its pioneer graduating class of 1961. The campaign has a $3 million target, which it hopes to raise primarily from the law alumni with the Government matching the donations. Singapore’s Chief Justice Chan PHOTOGRAPH ZAOBAO.COM, NUS PRESS
CLASS OF 1961. CAPTION: FOUNDING DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF LAW, PROFESSOR LIONEL A. SHERIDAN (FRONT ROW, THIRD FROM RIGHT)
Sek Keong, Ambassador-atLarge, Professor Tommy Koh, and former police commissioner Goh Yong Hong were among the pioneer batch of 22 law students who had graduated on July 10,
1961. They were all present at the reunion, held at their old Bukit Timah campus, now home to NUS Faculty of Law. Professor Sheridan had taught the first six graduating classes from 1956 to
He joined the then University of Malaya’s Department of Law in July 1956 after arriving from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He then proceeded to build the school from scratch, planning the curriculum, setting up a law library and negotiating for professional recognition of local law graduates at the then Department of Law.
NEWS
07
APPLICATIONS COMMENCE FOR UTOWN SHARON ROZARIO
T
he NUS University Town’s (UTown) two residential colleges have begun taking applications since February 1. Their operations will begin in August this year. The two residential colleges, Cinnamon College and Tembusu College, can accommodate 600 undergraduates each. NUS Provost Professor Tan Eng Chye said that UTown is “global in orientation yet rooted in Asia.” The student intake will reflect this stance as students from many nationalities and faculties will be admitted, contributing to the cosmopolitan nature of the university.
Offering a fresh experience of learning and living on campus, the UTown educational experience combines the convenience of campus living with a multidisciplinary academic programme, and offers a conducive environment for interaction and learning.
Helming Tembusu College is diplomat, patron of the arts and environmentalist Professor Tommy Koh, who is the College Rector; and Associate Professor Gregory Clancy, who specialises in the history of Japan as well
as technology and culture in the Asia-Pacific region. He is appointed the College Master.
Times.
came in third.
It beat other premiere institutions such as UC Berkeley’s Haas, which was ranked 25th.
Professor Bernard Yeung, dean of the NUS Business School, said that while rankings are just indicators, the school is greatly encouraged by the recognition.
NUS Business students have more to cheer about. According to the rankings, graduates of the programme will enjoy a salary increase of 140 per cent.
Cinnamon College will house the University Scholars Programme (USP) that offers students the freedom to explore a wide range of extracurricular and overseas opportunities across disciplines. The Rector of Cinnamon College is East Asia historian Professor Wang Gungwu and the College Master is the director of USP, Professor John Richardson.
NUS BUSINESS AMONG TOP 25 WORLDWIDE LUKE VIJAY
N
US Business School has achieved its highest ranking on the Financial Times to date, securing the 23rd position in the latest ranking of the top 100 full-time global MBA programmes by the Financial
The Financial Times is a highly regarded London-based international business newspaper. London Business School and the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) both tied for top spot while Harvard Business School
He said, “We are devoted to providing top quality teaching and memorable educational experience for our students, and undertaking rigorous research that benefits both practitioners and academics. We are very glad that the quality of our programme is acknowledged.”
Furthermore, according to the NUS website, the school saw 93 per cent of its graduates employed within three months of graduation, whereas the average of the 22 higher-ranked schools was 88 per cent.
PHOTOGRAPH NUS.EDU.SG
08 NEWS*PHOTOSTORY
OPEN SEASON I
n March every year, the university throws open its doors to welcome prospective students to the sprawling carnival that we know as the NUS Open House. Staff members stress over how best to sell their departments to fresh faces while student leaders struggle to find members to man recruitment booths. Meanwhile, regular students across campus wonder when would be the best time to sneak into the SRC to snag free AUTHOR + PHOTOGRAPHER LUKE VIJAY
food and welfare packages. This year, with the grand opening of UTown on the horizon, I expect the Open House to be busier than ever before, with sceptical prospective candidates eager to discover the wonderful possibilities that await them in this brand new plateau of learning. It seems positively idyllic, looking back to those days when I was one of them. Those were the times when I did not have to spend my weekends in
libraries, when IVLE was not my homepage, and when I did not know the sinister implications of the Curve-Which-Must-Not-BeNamed. Would it seem strange if I confess that I, like the incoming students, am looking forward to the Open House? But unlike them, I am hoping to remember, not to learn. It’s so easy to become jaded about higher education, especially now, when we are halfway through semester 2,
and bogged down with group presentations, individual essays and CCA commitments. During this Open House, I believe it will do us good to look back and remember how badly we wanted to get this far and how happy we were when we received our acceptance letters that day.
“REMEMBERING THE PAST GIVES POWER TO THE PRESENT.” - Fae Myenne Ng
NEWS
09
LAUNCH OF U@LIVE N
US has launched U@live (pronounced ‘U-alive’), a monthly speaker series that showcases outstanding members of the NUS community. Held at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House, the inaugural event’s first speaker was alumna Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under-SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations (UN) and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Dr Heyzer has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science from the National University of Singapore and currently resides in Bangkok, Thailand.
February’s forum was webcasted live where online audiences could join in the conversation and ask questions via the interactive forum using Facebook, Twitter or messenger while watching the live show. It was moderated by Nominated Member of Singapore Parliament and NUS alumnus Mr Viswa Sadasivan. During the event, Dr Heyzer gave a 10-minute talk about her work in the UN and the motivations and ideals that drive her, after which she engaged in a lively discussion with audience members and online participants.
Topics raised during the The idea behind U@live is discussion included the to inspire youth to believe Asian Highway, Millennium passionately in causes that Development Goals and the contributed to making the world a institutional practices of justice better place through the words of and equality, gender and the people who have championed development issues and women’s them. The idea was first mooted security and rights. by the Alumni Advisory Board with the aim of engaging alumni Difficult questions such as those as well as students. focusing on UN bureaucratic
hurdles and the need to ensure policies consistent with principles of the UN were also tackled.
development.
She helped initiate UN policies in Rwanda that ensured that women Dr Heyzer reminded the audience made up at least 50 per cent of about how they do not need to the parliament, the highest in wait for a perfect institution to the world, and she also helped make changes happen. them in acquiring rights to the entitlement of property. Dr Heyzer was the first woman Executive Secretary of ESCAP Future talks will feature other and has visited war-torn cities in distinguished members of the Afghanistan and Rwanda and NUS community. contributed to their recovery and
U@LIVE: SPEAKER DETAILS (MARCH & APRIL)
visit www.nus.edu.sg/ualive for more info
NAME
TALK TITLE
BIO
Tay Kheng Soon (30 March)
Urbanization: Changing the Landscape of Human Settlements
Tay Kheng Soon has been a professional architect since 1964. His abiding concern is sustainable urbanization and the evolution of a proper design process factoring in human dimensions within the Asian context. Increasingly, his concern is also with education. Most Singaporean children are brought up with a left-brain bias while their right brains are underdeveloped. He thus advocates that a Kampong experience is vital to help restore a balance. That is why he is actively involved in setting up Kampong Temasek, a charity project, for families and their children.
Tan Lai Yong (27 April)
Legumes, Leaves & Leftovers: Insights from a Singaporean Doctor in Rural Yunnan
Tan Lai Yong graduated from NUS Medical Faculty in 1985, served as a doctor in the hospitals and prisons in Singapore before Tan and his wife, Lay Chin, went to Xishuangbanna, a Dai speaking area of Yunnan Province (China) in 1996. He has written the book Biting the Bamboo, which is a collection of life stories in Yunnan.
AUTHOR C HUA AI NI + PHOTOGRAPH OFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS
10
NEWS
NO RISKS IN INVESTMENT OF STUDENT RESERVES, SAYS NUSSU PRESIDENT N
USSU President Christopher Cheong promised that the proposal to invest student reserves will not endanger the principal sum, allaying the students’ fears regarding plans of shifting student reserves from fixed deposit to short-term investments. “After calculating the risks of short and long-term investments, there is a high chance that we are going into short-term investments. There will be no risks of failed investment because it is capital-guaranteed,” Cheong said. He was speaking to a 35-member audience at a discussion forum organised by the NUSSU Executive committee. The forum was set up to address any queries students might have regarding the investment of student reserves which amounted to $3,100,000. Under the new investment scheme, NUSSU has the option
AUTHOR CHUA AI NI + PHOTOGRAPH NUSSU VIDEO AND PHOTOGRAPHY COMMITTEE
of investing the reserves in short-term investments that will be spread over a period of six months and is capital-guaranteed, or long-term investments that targets to realise a return of at least 4 per cent over rolling fiveyear periods but is not capitalguaranteed. The shift will generate higher returns for the reserves and guard against rising inflation rates. Over its 32 years of existence, NUSSU has accumulated surpluses from the subscription fees collected from undergraduates. These surpluses were previously placed in fixed deposits monitored by the Office of Financial Services. Despite the guarantee by the NUSSU president, students at the forum and on NUSSU’s Facebook page were concerned about the move to short-term investment. Ivan Lu, fourth-year engineering student said, “I find it very troubling that NUSSU was putting all the eggs in one basket.
NEWS
Perhaps NUSSU can issue a statement of returns as further proof to the students that the money will be preserved.”
the cost of photocopying and printing, which will be tangible benefits that can be felt by students on the ground.
Students also questioned how Interest in the issue of the NUSSU would use the increase in investment of student reserves reserves from the investment. began when second-year history student Chen Jiaxi Bernard Nicholas Lee, a third-year science posted a note on Facebook student said, “Will NUSSU really entitled - “NUSSU - What use the money for the benefit of are you trying to do with students? Because on the ground the students’ monies in the we do not see many benefits from reserves?” focusing on the the students’ side.” negotiations between NUSSU and the administration about the Cheong said that NUSSU will utilization of NUSSU financial explore the ways of pumping reserves and why negotiations more funds into various initiatives started six months ago without like student welfare and services students being aware of it. like the NUSSU travel service and student bursaries. Each Chen was not present at the faculty club also has their own forum. plans on how to use the money. For example, the Faculty of Arts During the forum, NUSSU and Social Sciences club plans responded to the Facebook note. to use the money generated to refurbish the ADM block and for Honorary Financial Secretary student activities. Wilson Lau said, “We did not inform the student population Other students at the forum also about the negotiations six months provided suggestions for the use ago because the facts were not of the money, like subsidising confirmed yet. But now that we
have gotten a satisfactory answer about the transparency of returns and how they will benefit the students, we are ready to answer any questions from the student population.” He assured students that the final decision made would be after consulting them. NUSSU could not, however, provide concrete details of the investment portfolios because the specific portfolio of investment is “changing all the time”. Lau said, “We have chosen to take a consultative approach; for example, this forum, to explain and, at the same time, get feedback from the students to ensure transparency. After we clear all the doubts and feedback from the students, we can then go ahead and make a decision.” However, he emphasized that it is not practical for students to expect NUSSU to constantly go back and forth from the school authorities to the students when details are not confirmed because
11
“it would make for an ineffective Union.” Discussions about the issue are still on-going. NUSSU was unable to provide an estimate on when negotiations would end. Students can email NUSSU at feedback@nussu.org.sg or visit their Facebook page to leave their comments.
12
NEWS
E
nter the Arts canteen and one is immediately greeted with a huge sign bearing the words “Singapore’s 1st Eco Foodcourt” decked out in green and glittery silver. The Deck, as the Arts canteen is popularly known, is one of the first two foodcourts to be awarded the Eco-Foodcourt certification by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). This certification takes into account the environment management system of a foodcourt and factors such as waste, water and energy management. The Deck’s push for greater sustainability include practices like food waste recycling, recycling of waste cooking oil, water-saving devices fixed on taps, promotion of meat-free meals and the use of eco-friendly food packaging and utensils that come in the form of biodegradable takeaway boxes instead of plastic or Styrofoam ones. In addition, consumers will have to pay an extra 10 cents for takeaways in these sustainable containers and for every plastic bag requested.
NUS ARTS CANTEEN IS SINGAPORE’S FIRST ECO-FRIENDLY FOOD COURT
Such measures serve to discourage people from using plastic bags indiscriminately, and to bring along their own non-disposable food containers and cutlery for takeaways. While a number of eco-friendly measures have been put in place, it is unclear if The Deck is truly a green canteen yet. For example, many students are still unsure of what the “EcoFoodcourt” label entails. Cindy Liew, a third-year science student said, “I am aware of the use of sustainable takeaway food containers and meat-free meals,
AUTHOR MICHELLE CHONG + PHOTOGRAPH NUS STUDENTS’ GERMAN LANGUAGE SOCIETY
NEWS
but I do not know very much about other eco-friendly measures to do with the waste, water and energy management of The Deck.” Many students are also not deterred from opting for takeaways even though they have to pay 10 cents more. A representative from the Chinese Food Stall states that many people still take away their food, and few have actually complained about having to pay the extra 10 cents for the takeaway boxes. Some students like third-year geography major Claudia Wong cite reasons such as the lack of seats in The Deck during peak hours as well as back-to-back lectures and tutorials as reasons to take away their food. Convenience is also another
popular reason. “I bring my own tumbler to Starbucks for a 50cent discount. Even this is already troublesome for me, and now my own takeaway container from home?” said Wong. Third-year sociology major Gurubaran Subramaniam said, “For an extra 10 cents, I get both my food and the container to bring it around. It is kind of funny bringing an empty food container to school. If that is the case, I’d rather bring my own food to school too”. Another initiative by The Deck is ‘Meat out Thursdays’ which has met with lukewarm responses even though many are aware of it. ‘Meat out Thursdays’ is an initiative by the NUS Students’ Union Students Against Violation of the Earth (SAVE) committee that started in 2009 to help fight
climate change by urging the NUS population to switch to a vegetarian diet on Thursdays. This is motivated by the conjecture by scientists studying climate change that cutting down meat consumption will help to cut carbon emissions significantly. A representative from the Japanese Food Stall said that most patrons do not opt for meat-free meals. The few who requested their food to be meat-free were already vegetarians in the first place. She added that creating a totally meat-free meal might pose some difficulty as most of the dishes contain meat. Even their sauces are made of fish. A representative from the noodle stall cited similar observations. The stall offers a meat-free meal daily, not only on ‘Meat out
13
Thursdays’. However, few customers have chosen that option thus far. Overall, students feel that the new eco-friendly title bestowed upon The Deck will encourage more steps to be taken to improve and move towards eco-friendly practices. Subramaniam said, “Earning the new title is a great first step for The Deck and this can motivate more students and stallholders alike to do their part for the environment.” He even provided a suggestion - “All the lights and fans in The Deck are turned on even on bright sunny afternoons where there is plenty of natural light coming in. Perhaps something can be done about this.”
14
OPINION
THE ‘LEAKY’ CONTROVERSY T
his website has caused citizens worldwide to gasp in disbelief and has thrown politicians into a state of disarray and confusion – no, it is neither Facebook nor YouTube. I am referring to WikiLeaks - a non-profit media organisation run by an independent global body of people dedicated to the idea of a free uncensored press, devoid of restrictions with the aim of boosting transparency worldwide. Founded by Julian Paul Assange, Wikileak’s editor-in-chief, it has strived to create open governments with transparency as a cornerstone. High-profile stories include the treatment of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay as well as extrajudicial killings in Kenya. For his part in the revelation of the killings in Kenya, Assange bagged the Amnesty International Media Award 2009 in the New Media category. WikiLeaks operates on the belief that in a world where authoritarian power continues to assert itself, it becomes essential to increase transparency. It believes that by empowering people with unadulterated facts, we will expose corruption and fuel pure democracy.
What started off with humble beginnings became entangled with controversy in 2010 as it began divulging information regarding US affairs in Afghanistan, Iraq and North Korea as well as secret US diplomatic cables. One would think that a minor organisation releasing insider stories on abuse and violation of human rights involving government and non-government organisations would eventually be rendered powerless.
“[WIKILEAKS] HAS STRIVED TO CREATE OPEN GOVERNMENTS WITH TRANSPARENCY AS A CORNERSTONE” However, since its establishment in 2007, WikiLeaks has emerged victorious over several legal (and illegal) attacks from the Pentagon, the Chinese Public Security Bureau and Russian companies, just to name a few. Even Assange’s recent arrest due to allegations of misconduct has not caused WikiLeaks to skip a beat. While WikiLeaks has indeed induced favourable changes in the international arena by making
AUTHOR VIBHA GHARIWALA + PHOTOGRAPH THECOMMENTFACTORY.COM, BRAINGARBAGEDYSTOPIE.BLOGSPOT.COM
the public aware of private and state-sanctioned atrocities, not all the leaks are beneficial. Injustice needs to be curbed but transparency comes with a hefty price when in the wrong hands. Several recent revelations by WikiLeaks have also hurt diplomatic relations, especially when taken out of context. In fact, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo told reporters regarding the US cables in December last year that “such cables were interpretations of conversations by U.S. diplomats, and therefore shouldn’t be ‘overinterpreted’.” He also lamented that “these are in the nature of cocktail talk... always out of context [and] like gossip.” Reports late last year quoting MM Lee’s opinions regarding governing bodies of neighbouring countries has also racked diplomatic paranoia and distrust. On the whole, WikiLeaks has brought to light what goes on behind closed doors but are we willing to pay the price for such transparency? What is certain is that WikiLeaks has revolutionized the future of media and democracy. Will it be a successful bid for transparency or a leaky mess? The jury is still out on the matter.
OPINION
W
hen I first saw this
quote, I asked myself,
“Is there no one else?” For the last few years, many Singaporeans
have been complaining about the People’s Action Party’s (PAP)
dominance in politics. Yet, the
PAP still continues to fare well during elections in our little
island nation. And with no signs of any close competition and no
IS THERE NO ONE ELSE?
in complaints from the public, every time elections come by,
the PAP wins by a comfortable margin. For example, in the
general elections of 2006, the
PAP won 82 out of 84 seats in
parliament with Worker’s Party
(WP) and Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) taking one seat each.
15
“THERE IS NOTHING TO PREVENT YOU FROM PUSHING YOUR PROPAGANDA, TO PUSH YOUR PROGRAMME OUT TO THE STUDENTS OR WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE…AND IF YOU CAN CARRY THE GROUND, IF YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU
viable alternative in sight, are we
Amidst the elections, SDA
that a political party can only be
Chiam See Tong was even
Times, Feb 1, 2005
SDA, although he did manage
THE RIDGE invites political analysts from across the ideological spectrum to join the Opinion desk and share their views on the upcoming elections.
worse off? Could we not assert
as dominant as the PAP if they are capable enough to do so? In my opinion, the Minister
Mentor is right – if there is a better alternative, the people
will vote for them. Currently,
the opposition has neither the strong structure required to
form an entire government nor the tenacity and experience to
steer Singapore through crises.
leader and Member of Parliament facing disgruntlement within the to secure Potong Pasir for the
sixth term running. Yet, SDA
fell far short of its initial aim of
This occurred in spite of the fact that SDA had boldly outlined
their manifesto online declaring
their intention to form a shadow Cabinet.
Freedom is an issue that the
and divided with no particularly
government for a long time. But
strong public support.
A complaint among the parties
is that all avenues of expression and for garnering support are
blocked off by the PAP. However, in an age of new media and
high-speed broadband, I do not believe that every single avenue
- Lee Kuan Yew telling students to form political parties, Straits
winning 15 seats in the elections.
What little opposition parties we have in Singapore remain weak
WIN. THAT’S DEMOCRACY.”
public has taken up with the
then does freedom necessarily translate to happiness and
prosperity? To put it in more practical terms, can freedom
put food on the table? There is
no doubt that PAP has put the
food on the tables in all our
concerns.
last few decades – and increased
Being the representative of the
Which other party can guarantee
look into these issues and work
households successfully for the the amount of food manifold.
such growth or match that kind of track record?
Other hot-button grouches
include immigration and social inequality, but which party has
citizens, the government should out the solutions. My point is that we, as Singaporeans and residents, need to be
objective about our complaints. It is necessary for us to seek
improvement and to air our views
come forward with a coherent and on what we think the next step comprehensive policy to deal with
should be but we should focus on
a party is unable to challenge
I am not saying that PAP should
There may come a time when the
they are not as good as the
am I advocating apathy. All
forward but the question still
to propagating views has been
closed. It comes down to this – if the PAP with what they have, PAP. Election results speak for
themselves – despite the increase
these issues? None.
rest on their laurels and neither these problems and complaints by people are real and valid
the problems and not the politics.
PAP is unable to bring this nation remains – is there no one else?
AUTHOR DANIEL TAY + PHOTOGRAPH VIVEKPIX// FLICKR, WIKIPEDIA.ORG
16
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L’Oréal Brandstorm 2011 The world’s leading cosmetics company L’Oréal has announced the finalists of the L’Oréal Brandstorm 2011 marketing competition for tertiary students. L’Oréal Brandstorm is in its 10th edition in Singapore and is a key international initiative that helps the company identify and recruit the brightest marketing talents. Of the 5 finalist teams, only 1 is an all-male team and it happens to be Team Fraiche from NUS! A remarkable note is that none of the members in Team Fraiche has a marketing background. Do girls make better marketers? Or will our guys prove that the odds do not matter? Will the marketing students reign, or will our “outsider” produce fresher ideas? Visit http://www.facebook. com/LOrealBrandstormSG
to support our team and find out more as the next generation of marketers put their creativity and skills to the test at the L’Oréal Brandstorm 2011!
LIFESTYLE
camera darwinism
W
hen the geniuses at Polaroid produced the first cameras developing instant pictures, the whole world (with access to it) went “WHOA!”. Some have serious reservations about the longevity of a polaroid picture. Others are plain steadfast and loyal to developing film. And still some swear by digital cameras (how could you!). Nevertheless, Polaroids were convenient but it came with a price: the films were few and expensive and the cameras were very bulky. Interestingly, just like how nature gets rid of the ‘superfluous’ via evolution, Cameraworld’s mother nature butted out the Polaroid after serving its trigger-happy customers for almost 60 years. The cost for producing the film was just too much for the company to bear and it shut down. It wasn’t entirely a bad thing, though! Like majestic animals that go extinct, people revered the Polaroid even more. A cult following sprung up and many kept their old cameras as treasured antiques. It was also apparent that Polaroid pictures were nastily hard to reproduce via normal film (this was not the age of Photoshop). The urban-acid-feel-meets-light-vignette gave the Polaroids an avant-garde touch. A huge wave of experimental novelty cameras came about in the 70s and 80s. These cameras were produced to replicate the Polaroid effect and at the same time were cost-effective and user-friendly. Amongst the notable examples are lomography cameras, the Dianas and the Holgas.
working class in Hong Kong. It was incredibly cheap because of the plastic lens that it used. It is known for its soft focus effect, which is brought about by a spherical aberration, especially on the areas on the film where light is reflected. The result is a dreamy effect which a conventional camera could not (and still cannot) reproduce because it was an actual technical flaw of the device! The Diana has retained its ‘proletariat roots’ as it is still rather affordable today. The new ‘Mini-Diana’ is a tiny, good-looking device and it’s just as effective.
HOLGA HOLGA! Made in China in the 1980s, it was originally meant to be a toy camera.
THE DIANA
It was the more evolved version of the Diana and was produced with a meniscus plastic lens.
Born in 1960, the Diana was a low-cost camera made for the
The plastic lens distorts the
AUTHOR TAN HERNG YIH + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
17
way the light enters the camera and the result is a beautifully vignette picture with heavy distortion in colors in the pictures. It gives the picture a sort of surreal look. The Holga is also hugely popular with indie crowds.
LOMOGRAPHY Mention the word ‘lomography’ to any respectable photographer and they will pour scorn on you in an instant. These cameras ‘bastardize’ photography in the sense that they encourage a trigger-happy and cavalier attitude towards photography. These cameras often produce ‘happy accidents’ in the form of optical distortions, blurriness and also random light streaks. Today, we continue to witness a counter-culture of novelty cameras against the complex new cameras. These cameras have a certain aesthetic beauty which modern cameras, no matter how sophisticated, will never be able to replace.
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LIFESTYLE
*Three dislikes about shopping in Singapore: Warning! Shop assistants will follow you around everywhere, often showing you products you don’t have any interest in seeing Western import shops They charge a lot more for their products due to tax The smaller sizes They go first which is great if you’re curvy but not so great if you’re petite
*Three loves about shopping in Singapore: A massive selection It’s almost neverending! In ION there is Accessorize for girly designs or Havaianas for a chilled out, beachwear look You will find A lot of unique pieces that no one else will have. You just need to be resourceful Shopping in Singapore = Enjoy sunshine in and out of malls + Fun time with friends + indulge in either retail therapy or window shopping!
CALLING ALL FASHIONISTAS!* N
o matter where you are in the world or which country you come from, we all enjoy shopping. Whether it be a once-a-year event or a religious ritual every weekend, we all find time to do it at some point. Singapore is a thriving metropolis for good shopping and is packed to the brim with a wide variety of shops, despite only being a small island. Many Malaysians come over for the nearest Louis Vuitton and for the Australians, Singapore boasts the nearest Marks & Spencers. The problem which the fashionistas at THE RIDGE have recognised of late is that there are too many shops.
ARAB STREET BUGIS Tucked away in a small pocket of Singapore are the charming shopping gems, Arab Street and Haji Lane. Hidden amongst the maze of roads in the Bugis area, it would be hard to believe that there are roughly 800 shops to choose from. With such an eclectic selection, you can choose between vintage fashion, modern styles, hand-made boutique creations, up-and-coming designers and cute trinket shops. Often described as Singapore’s very own “Brick Lane, London”, one cannot fail to come away with a unique, stylish purchase. If there isn’t enough nestled away in these two thin, trendy roads, then the surrounding area boasts many textile shops and trinket stores for your browsing pleasure.
Where do you start? Where do you go for unique purchases? Where are our favourite stores? That is why we have put together a collection of what we feel are the best shopping hangouts. The easier it is for you to find these places, the less time you’ll spend wandering, and the more time you’ll have for shopping!
LITTLE INDIA If you are looking for traditional Indian fabrics, souvenirs, fresh flowers or fruit, or just some exciting fabric home furnishings, then have a wander down to Little India. While the stores are fairly spread out, it is worth doing a little bit of hunting about. It may pay off and you could come away with a truly bespoke and exciting buy.
LIFESTYLE
19
VIVOCITY, HARBOURFRONT
ION, ORCHARD ROAD
If you’re looking for some fantastic shops, and also a chance to chill out with friends, then VivoCity at Harbourfront is the ideal place. Being a short bus ride away from NUS, it is a popular place for university students. With shops like Forever 21, Mango, Topshop, Zara, Armani, Tangs, G2000 and Ted Baker, you will be spoilt for choice. It also has great food at Marché, Modesto’s and Barcelos which are fantastic places to rest your tired feet for a while. There are also plenty of snug little coffee shops where you can grab a hot chocolate with your friends, relax on the sofas and chat about your day. If that isn’t enough, you can take your day spent shopping through to the night, and catch new movies at the Golden Village theatre, or head off to the nightclub right next door in St. James.
If there ever were a place in Singapore where style and fashion permeated the very air you breathe, then ION Orchard would have to be it. Located at the exit of Orchard MRT, this multi-level, modern shopping centre is a large part of the hustle and bustle of the city centre. There is a wide selection of mainstream shops, ranging from top-dollar designers to familiar high-street names, of both Western and Singaporean fashion houses. Here, it would be impossible to leave without treating yourself to something. If you do find yourself stuck for choice, you can easily exit the mall onto the crowded streets of Orchard Road which is a tourist attraction in itself. Every shop imaginable lines these roads, and dotted along the route are equally large malls such as Paragon, Palais, Orchard Central and Tanglin.
PAGODA STREET, CHINATOWN It is fair to say that the day and night market at Pagoda Street is the most quintessentially Singaporean shopping location in the country. Burgeoning with culture and tradition, the 200 stalls are bursting with trinkets, low-cost fashion, souvenirs, hand-made gifts and unique purchases. Along with many traditional Chinese costumes available in the market stalls, there are several quality tailor shops dotted along the roads that are able to make anything you want fitted perfectly to your shape within a day. Suits, shirts, dresses, skirts – the possibilities are endless!
AUTHOR GRACE CARTER + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
20
LIFESTYLE
THEIR STRENGTH MADE OUR HISTORY THE RIDGE CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH THIS MARCH
T
hings to know this March (drop that thought about your essay/report/ presentation/lab-work/ward round just for a bit): •March 8, 2011: Celebrated worldwide as ‘International Women’s Day’. •March itself is a month-long exaltation of women’s progress in society and hence is known as ‘Women’s History Month’. THE RIDGE Lifestyle takes this opportunity to honour women who have contributed to society’s immense progress in egalitarianism. We’d also like to acknowledge and commend how far many parts of the world have come in terms of women’s rights and women’s empowerment (among many other worthy accolades). Notable ladies who are prominent due to their progressive ideologies and revolutionary lifestyles will never be forgotten. Here we mention some (we wish we could mention everyone we thought of, really!) who had the drive, determination, spirit and courage that should be emulated by women all over the world. Empowering womankind through fashion, we have:
‘COCO’ CHANEL The global United Nation themes used for International Women’s Day to date: - 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women - 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel revolutionized women’s fashion in the 20th century. As a true visionary who grew up in a poor family in France and received little education, she beat all odds to become one of the most well-known and prominent fashion designers the world has ever seen. Coco Chanel took it upon herself to liberate women from the constraints of corsets and other period clothes that were stifling. She thought women had the right, just as men did, to wear clothes that allowed them to move easily and freely. She designed hats, jumpers, jackets, cardigans, knitwear and sailor blouses and many more. Most of her clothes were influenced by
AUTHORS VANESSA TAN, TAN YUH TING + PHOTOGRAPH INTERNATIONALWOMENSDAY.COM, CHANEL.COM
menswear, and thanks to the fluid and comfortable fabrics present there, a modern and easy look evolved from her designs which proved easily adaptable to a woman’s modern lifestyle.
Chanel’s ability in adapting this type of clothing to befit women’s role in society was in sync with an increasing female workforce. Most noted creation: The Chanel suit for women.
MARY QUANT Mary Quant, a British fashion designer who was influential in the ‘mod’ fashion movement (a subculture originating in England in the 1950’s) brought to life ‘hot pants’ and the tiny miniskirt! Designs for skirts became shorter as she saw it as symbolic for the liberation for women - it gave women more freedom of movement. Bringing fun and fantasy to fashion in the 1960s, she showed women how to dress and feel good. Traditional designers looked at her clothes and gradually changed their mindsets to appeal to youth. Never shying from experimentation and always being unique, Mary Quant’s most popular designs included balloon-style dresses, tight sweaters in bold stripes or check patterns and the plastic raincoat - all of which still prevail to this day.
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD Vivienne Westwood, a British businesswoman and fashion designer, was largely instrumental in connecting modern punk and new wave trends to mainstream fashion. Her designs with a brand that is her namesake, features a new collection of VW bags that are hand-made in Nairobi, Kenya
LIFESTYLE
and produced in collaboration with ‘The Ethical Fashion Programme’. The bags are created using recycled roadside advertisement banners and safari tents by communities of women such as single mothers, widows, HIV/AIDS victims and those living in extreme poverty. Now these women have access to a job and an income, enabling them to pay for school fees, medical care and other basic needs. The women involved in Vivienne Westwood’s Ethical Fashion Africa collection have been empowered by the pride they have in their work and the new skills they have learnt in their contribution to fashion. Revolutionizing the conventional notion of female, we have:
AUNG SAN SUU KYI Aung San Suu Kyi tirelessly endured the house arrest imposed on her for 15 years, resulting in social exclusion and absence during her husband’s demise. As an inspiration for women in this age of technology, one must note her unwavering, steadfast belief in a democratic Burma. She formed the National League of Democracy and was originally the winner of the 1990 election that would have made her the prime minister of Myanmar if the military regime hadn’t stepped in. One of her most famous speeches is the ‘Freedom from Fear’ speech which begins with, “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.” Her endurance, persistence and courage has won her immense international vocal support and has encouraged women all over the world to be true to what they believe in and not to be afraid to stand up for what they perceive is right.
STELLA MCCARTNEY Dear Stella McCartney, the fashion icon.
21
She was the daughter of Beatles singer, Paul McCartney, and the late animal activist, Linda McCartney and so we guessed it was only time that Stella contributed her talents to the world. Stella designs clothes, having worked with Chloe in 1997 and for an eponymous joint venture with Gucci in 2001. Being a lactoovo vegetarian and an ardent supporter of PETA, she refrains from sporting fur or leather in her design products. Her worldwide popularity has helped create awareness in discouraging the use of products that were previously tested on animals in laboratories. The masses have been largely influenced by her lifestyle, characterized by the usage of organic products, anti-animal cruelty and preservation of the environment. Although her famous background and not her talents were seen as the cause of her success, in recent years the fashion world acceded that Stella McCartney indeed holds a genuine talent, as evident from her collection of fashion shows. Now, isn’t she the prime example showing us that no matter what people say to bring us down, we should hold our heads high and prove them wrong?
MICHELLE OBAMA
From left to right:
Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United States, has an unforgettable smile that draws you in. She is charismatic but also very handson and down-to-earth – in fact, she is a very successful lawyer, a committed mother and a dedicated wife.
Chanel, Mary Quant, Vivienne Westwood, Aung San Suu Kyi, Stella McCartney, Michelle Obama
She was also listed in Vanity Fair’s 2007 issue as among ‘10 of the World’s Best Dressed People’ and her fashion sense reflects the ‘classic and confident’ look of a First Lady. Her goal in recent years has been to reverse the trend of obesity in growing children with the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign and she constantly encourages people to practise healthy eating. All these ladies, living in different countries and leading different lives have shown us what women are capable of doing – changing the world and making a difference. Hence
this month, we should commemorate the achievements of these women by celebrating their day, their month, and their lifetimes. KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE LIFESTYLE SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE for on-going updates about what THE RIDGE will cover in this year’s Women’s History Month! A sneak-peek: We will be so there for the Love-in music concert at ‘The Lasalle Show 2011’ (love-in2011.com). For a concert that’s making a stand against domestic violence and which is in partnership with UNIFEM (Singapore) means that it’s a definite must-go event that we will love covering! PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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LIFESTYLE
ONE
AWAY
“At night when the stars light up my room I sit by myself Talking to the moon Try to get to you In hopes you’re on the other side Talking to me too Or am I a fool Who sits alone Talking to the moon” ‘Talking to the Moon’ (Bruno Mars)
T
hese lyrics paint a classic picture of a man staring out at the moon, reminiscing the fond memories that he had with his lover and crying his heart out for her. Well, we may not be able to relate to his pain for losing his love to the galaxy above but I guess we can comprehend the sense of helplessness when we have something to say yet we aren’t able to express ourselves clearly. We all know the drill. It might be just that one assignment that bugs you at first. Then another one comes along. And then by recess week you have about five or six major things all pending and due at the same time, as if there’s always a semester-long conspiracy to do you in – things overwhelm you, people make things seem impossible to cope with. Yes, these are just some of the many other manifestations of Stress. But wait! Hold on a second! Stress doesn’t have to be destructive. You don’t have to let it get to you in any negative
way at all. Here’s a new way of looking at stress: it serves as a trigger for both the physical and psychological growth in a person. As a testament to this line of thinking, many individuals are working this way and are able to deal with the stress they face while others just break down. As such, the difference in the outcome lies specifically in the management of stress -- how would YOU brave through Stress? Here’s a good tip to improve your ability in dealing with stress: VENTURE OUT of your comfort zone. Little things do the trick: a simple jog (even for 10 minutes) can do wonders. Most importantly, tackling Stress doesn’t have to be a ‘one persononly’ affair. If you feel insecure in revealing your true feelings to your loved ones/friends/family, and just wish for someone to listen to you, why not consider a HOTLINE?
66011348 Don’t worry; this definitely isn’t the usual gimmick number of
some charity programme that’s going to ask you to donate. More importantly, I promise that you won’t be hearing ‘heavy breathing’ at the other end of the line. Because this is the HOTLINE. Dial it and say goodbye to your stress. At the end of this line is a voice that wishes to listen, that is open to hearing about anything you have to say. Anything at all. It doesn’t matter what the anxiety or confusion is; all calls are welcome and will be kept 100% confidential. Perhaps you’re thinking, “Hey, I’m not so crazy and I don’t need psychological counseling!” This hotline is not for ‘crazy’ people! In fact, this is sort of a really old-school anonymous pen-pal call service. Pen-pals can become the best of friends and add a nice ZING to your life with their differing opinions and interests and anonymous nature - these pen-pals are trained with relevant skills by the experts at NUS Counseling and Psychological Services (nus.edu.sg/uhc/cps/) and they do this because they
AUTHORS JASMINE TEO, ELPIS FU (NUSSU PEER SUPPORT) + PHOTOGRAPH BRUNOMARS.COM
really want to be a friend to those that need one.
66011348 Call this number when you need someone to listen - don’t be deterred by the existing stereotypes of such services. Give it a try and who knows? You might be riding the high clouds sooner than you think, stressfree. This Hotline is manned by members of NUSSU Peer Support, a NUSSU Committee committed to improve mental well-being of students on campus. It is manned six hours per weekday and ten hours per day on weekends.
ENTERTAINMENT
23
A GLEEFUL MARCH!
G
lee fever has come to Southeast Asia. On Tuesdays leading up to the Season 2 premiere, FOX Broadcasting Company had been staging a fiveminute flash mob outside ION Orchard to promote the show. Around 20 performers danced to the tunes of three Glee favourites, after putting in 800 man hours of practice, and judging by the crowd gathered, it appeared to have been well-received. An overnight phenomenon in the US, Glee follows an optimistic highschool teacher as he attempts to inspire an odd group of students to realize their potential and restore the school’s show choir - the glee club - to its former glory. In the pilot episode, teacher Will Schuester, or Mr Schu, begs the headmaster, Principal Figgins, to let him take on the Herculean task of transforming this group of underdogs into a world-class vocal ensemble. The first batch of pupils who join the newly formed New Directions are: Mercedes, who believes she is the new Aretha Franklin; Kurt, the fashion-conscious falsetto; Tina, a punk-rocker;
Artie, who plays guitar and is bullied for being geeky; and the diva-in-the-making, Rachel. Glee club rehearsals get off to a rocky start: Rachel feels that without a formidable male lead to match her talent, they will never be taken seriously. Principal Figgins then threatens to cancel the club in favour of renting the auditorium out. He then strikes a deal with Mr. Schu: if the club earns a spot at Regionals, the club can stay. Needing a miracle to find a strong male lead, Will comes across Finn, the school’s popular quarterback with a Motown voice. The rest becomes history! After failing to place at Regionals (losing out to reigning champions and series rival Vocal Adrenaline and the very unfortunatelynamed Aural Intensity), New Directions are saved by the generosity of the unlikeliest person.
new recruits, and experience an existential crisis while attempting to foil the deviousness of Sue Sylvester. Season two will see a galaxy of stars making guest appearances, including comedy icon Carol Burnett, pop superstar Britney Spears, heartthrob John Stamos, and Broadway sensation Cheyenne Jackson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. As if that’s not enough, there’ll also be new faces added to the regular cast including Dot Jones who plays McKinley’s new football coach, Shannon Bieste, Chord Overstreet, a blond, blue-eyed, older version of Justin Bieber (and a quarterback), Charice as Sunshine Corazon, the new lead for Vocal Adrenaline and also Darren Criss from ‘A Very Potter Musical’ as the lead for new rival group The Dalton Warblers.
COOL SONGS FROM GLEE YOU SHOULDN’T MISS! Don’t Stop Believin’ Journey Bad Romance Lady Gaga Lucky - Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat Just the way you are Bruno Mars Teenage Dream Katy Perry
Don’t forget to catch Glee on Star World Channel 501 at 8.55PM every Tuesday!
Season two sees the McKinley High kids once again battling in Sectionals and Regionals to get to This is Aditi, gleeking out! Nationals held in New York City. En route, they encounter new competition, old competition, fight against budget cuts, find
AUTHOR ADITI ANAND + PHOTOGRAPH FOXBROADCASTING.COM
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ENTERTAINMENT
FIFTEEN MIN THE ASIAN CONTEMP M
aking their debut at the NUS Arts Festival, the Asian Contemporary Ensemble is not one of your average ensembles. Comprising five young composers, led by their Artistic Director Kah Chun Wong, the Ensemble will explore the context of Southeast Asian folksongs. Staged like a variety show, with up close interviews with the members of the Ensemble, as well as teaming up with partner artists from other varieties (dance, poetry and sonic installation), the audience is guaranteed to be treated to a wholly different experience. THE RIDGE caught up with Kah Chun Wong to find out more about the Ensemble and their upcoming performance later this month. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW THE ASIAN CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE CAME TO BE? Kah Chun: As a composer myself, I’ve been toying with the idea of setting up a small ensemble to perform music that’s written by living composers, especially since there has been positive development in the classical music scene in Asia. In the last two years, I have already been working with the members of the Asian
AUTHOR SAHELI ROY CHOUDHURY + PHOTOGRAPH CFA
Contemporary Ensemble in individual projects, giving premieres of freshly-written music by my fellow composers at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. We have been waiting for the right moment to launch a series of performances together as a team, and when the opportunity to present a concert at the NUS Arts Festival came up, we were extremely excited and just said yes to this possibility! WHO ARE THE ENSEMBLE’S MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS? Kah Chun: Our ensemble is fluid and very flexible, in that we work from a core group of musicians - flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano, inspired by the instrumentation of Arnold Schoenberg’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’, an outstanding work in the early 20th century. Depending on which composition we are performing, other instruments can be added or subtracted from the line-up, leading to a wide variety of performing situations. YOUR FOCUS IS ON SOUTHEAST ASIAN FOLKSONGS. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT’S SO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS? Kah Chun: Folksongs are pieces of music which have been
absorbed into the unwritten tradition and culture of a community. It’s extremely fascinating to listen to them in the same way as one would approach a museum, because they document the lives and times of each society. In our performance, we perform five different folksongs, from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore, and then we challenge five young composers from these respective countries to reflect on their native folktune, and then create an original composition that is inspired by them. THIS IS THE ENSEMBLE’S DEBUT PERFORMANCE FOR NUS ARTS FESTIVAL. ARE YOU EXCITED? Kah Chun: We’re extremely excited! We’re hoping to invite guests from all walks of life to be part of our audience for our concerts, be it undergraduates, lecturers, children, the elderly. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR PERFORMANCE? Kah Chun: Our performance is staged like a variety show, almost like what you see on reality TV today. We’ll include tasty interviews with our five young composers,
ENTERTAINMENT
NUTES WITH MPORARY ENSEMBLE and expose what really goes on in their mind when they compose a piece in reaction to their native folksong! At this point, I must add that we have invited guest collaborators from Clementi Primary School (that’s right! 10-year-old student artists!) who will be drawing art pieces in response to one of our original compositions, based on ‘Semoga Bahagia’, and so this is incredibly meaningful to us, because, in our pursuit for artistic excellence, the age and level of training one receives does not really matter. As long as it’s sincere, the musical paintings of young children can also stand alongside experienced, professional performers. YOU WERE A COMPOSITION MAJOR WITH THE YONG SIEW TOH CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AT NUS. WHAT WAS YOUR UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE LIKE? Kah Chun: I am graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons.) in Composition this semester. YSTCM and NUS has been extraordinarily generous with the kind of support I receive to further my studies in music, specifically in composition and in conducting. In almost every semester since I was enrolled in NUS, I would spend at least a couple of weeks overseas to participate in music festivals, master classes and competitions.
Although it’s extremely taxing in terms of my workload, because it means I have to catch up in the classes that I miss, I enjoy and appreciate the balance of both an international exposure, as well as a strong education back in Singapore. WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THE ENSEMBLE? The Ensemble is currently building a concert season between March 2011 and March 2012. Each of our performances will feature at least one freshlywritten composition and a work which is more familiar to classical audiences. Stay tuned for updates in our concert calendar, which will be announced shortly!
CATCH THE ASIAN CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE AT THE UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE DANCE STUDIO FROM 26 MARCH – 27 MARCH 2011, 8 P.M. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT SISTIC. NUS STUDENTS ARE ENTITLED TO A 15% DISCOUNT!
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ENTERTAINMENT
LOOKING THROUGH TZE’S GLASS A
re the arts a reflection of society? Perhaps so. One of the many gripes we face in today’s society is the large array of choices we are forced to make, which is unmatched by the amount of time we have at our disposal. This certainly explains why, despite the abundant choices in music we have, the mainstreamers still continue to dominate our playlists and music charts. Tze n Looking Glass’ frontman, Toh Tze Chin, also shares similar sentiments. He mused on the “fast-paced” nature of modern life and said that music today has “an affinity for instant gratification.” For Tze, “‘accessible’ music is often short (like commercial tunes, three to five minutes), simply because the modern person has little time to indulge in what I call ‘deep listening’.”
Indeed, Tze and his bandmates play music that forces the listener to listen and reflect; a rare quality found in today’s music. Their music “draws from life itself, and [the] stories around [them].” What makes their music stand out is their “uniquely Singapore[an]” flavour as they borrow from the “cultures and sounds around [them]” and blend them together in their works. It somehow offers Singaporeans hope that perhaps Tze n Looking Glass will be Singapore’s answer to a musical identity. Their distinguishing factor thus lies in the blending of the different elements of music to create a new whole of “familiar sounds”. As he anticipates the release of their debut album, Stories from Wonderland, which took five years to put together, the purposeful deliberation and thought that went into the making of the album reflects his seriousness as a musician. Tze’s description of their album borders on the whimsical sometimes. However, it is this quirkiness that his band draws on to convey to the listener. Inspired by the story of Alice in Wonderland, the upcoming performance at the University Cultural Centre Theatre promises to deliver music quite contrary to the fast impetus of life in NUS. Carroll’s tale is one of escapism, alluding to reality; similarly, their upcoming performance may be a symbol of reflection and escaping to new worlds, new possibilities, while at the same time daring us to dream. And like Carroll’s tale,
AUTHOR NICOLE KANG + PHOTOGRAPH CFA
we return to reality, but with a new perspective. So do take time out of your busy lives and schedule “to remember again the simple, beautiful things in life we have forgotten” and relive them through their music. Still uncertain? You can listen to their music at reverbnation.com/ tze to get a glimpse of what to expect at their performance. Tze n Looking Glass features NUS Piano Ensemble alumnus Tze (piano), NUS Chinese Orchestra alumnus Dai Da (erhu), Lazar (violin), Boon Chye (saxophone) and guest musicians and will be held on 20th March 2011 (Sunday), 8pm at UCC. Tickets (priced $16 & $13) are on sale now at SISTIC.
ENTERTAINMENT
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NUS ARTS FESTIVAL SET TO CLOSE OFF WITH A BANG! A
fter three weeks of breathtaking performances put up by our peers, the NUS Arts Festival 2011 will close with a bang! We mean that literally as NUS Dance Blast! is putting together a mother-of-all dance performances! Raise your hands up if you don’t like dance performances! We reckon that there won’t be many who do and that there are only a handful of you who have yet to see the light (and we implore you to come down and check our this dance performance!). Dance is one of the easiest and most aesthetically satisfying performances to grasp; while there’s a saying that ‘A picture speaks a thousand words’, there should also be one that says ‘A dance performance speaks volumes!’ The smooth yet tricky choreography, along with the
musical beats, keeps us at the edge of our seat as we nod our heads to the rhythm and flawless pace set by the dancers on stage. While dance connoisseurs will loathe admitting this, there’s really no special technique or instrument to appreciate dance; it is a universal portrayal of love, life and energy, meant to be understood by all. What better way to appreciate the rhythm of life than to come down for a couple of hours to experience the intense beauty put together by NUS Dance Blast!?
on to succeed and make a name for themselves in the dance scene in Singapore, as well as current members who are sure to entertain you with their explorative styles and concepts.
hip-hop dance.
The show will also feature guest performances from other student dance groups, like NTU’s Modern Jazz, SMU’s Eurhythmix and Ngee Ann Poly’s New Revolving Age.
Blast! places more emphasis on hip-hop dance than on break dancing, incorporating specialized techniques such as waving, popping and locking which are all dance terms in hiphop slang.
So come down and catch NUS Dance Blast! and ‘DanXvolution’ at the University Cultural Centre Hall on 27 March 2011 at 8 p.m.
Entitled ‘Shut Up & Dance 2011: Tickets are on sale at SISTIC for DanXvolution’, its main focus $19 & $16. will be on hip-hop - exploring the evolution of hip-hop dance over the years and its diversity through About NUS Dance Blast! the Asian dance scene. As a member of Centre For the The performance will be put Arts (CFA), NUS Dance Blast! together by 10 generations of was formed in 2001, comprising Blast!’s alumni, who have gone individuals with a keen interest in
Since then, the group’s aim has been to promote the spirit of hiphop dancing within and outside the NUS Community.
They boast a distinctly different repertoire and have previously performed on a variety of occasions including a welcome for Singapore Idol finalists Hady Mirza and Jonathan Leong at the University Cultural Centre. It also won top position in the Open Category at the Chingay Pulse Hip-Hop Knockout in 2006.
AUTHOR VIVIAN LEUNG + PHOTOGRAPH CFA
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ENTERTAINMENT
BOOK REVIEWS Title: Some Girls: My Life in a Harem
Title: Water For Elephants Author: Sarah Gruen
Author: Jillian Lauren
Reviewer: Saheli Roy Choudhury
Reviewer: Meera Nair
A
bout nineteen years ago, an 18-year-old call girl from the USA was selected at an audition, supposedly to be a party guest for a wealthy Singaporean businessman. She was to be paid US$20,000 for two weeks of work. She later found that the businessman was actually Prince Jefri Bolkiah, brother to the Sultan of Brunei. Undaunted by the initial deception, she went to Brunei, and so began her 18-month residence at the prince’s harem. Jillian Lauren’s memoir is an intriguing read because it gives an insight into a world that few can imagine. From the riches of the prince’s palace, to the nightly karaoke sessions, to extravagant shopping sprees and gifts, Lauren gives a detailed account of her experiences at the harem of the playboy prince.
fourth wife making rounds, there was subtle backbiting amongst them, all vying to be the next princess. The hierarchy amongst the women, characterized by an unpredictability that depended on the prince’s whims, is also fascinating. The story of Lauren’s life – from an elite call girl to the prince’s favourite, and her final departure from the harem, does not fail to engage, although it does take a leap of faith to believe everything that she says.
One of the more interesting facets of the book is the dynamics between the women in the harem. With a rumour that the prince was looking to crown his PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
S
arah Gruen’s novel Water For Elephants starts with a ninety-year-old Jacob Jankowski recounting his life: as a young veterinary student in Cornell, his parents were killed in a car accident as he was preparing for exams. Distraught and at a loss, he hopped on board a train to nowhere, only to learn it was a circus train, carrying the BenziBrother’s Most Spectacular Show on Earth. So began his journey into the world of a performing circus in the Depression era as a veterinary doctor. The book is packed with action and adventure, and very rarely will you find a dull moment in the plot; think of this as a bizarre but entertaining soap opera, minus all of the melodrama. For Gruen, the novel started out as part of a writing project for the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which happens every year in the month of November. NaNoWriMo has a substantial fanbase in Singapore as well. The challenge is to write
a story of 50,000 words or more in a period of 30 days. The novel’s success has kept it on The New York Times’ bestseller’s list for Paperback Trade Fiction for 106 weeks. The book is also being turned into a motion picture, starring Robert Pattinson as Jacob and Reese Witherspoon as his love interest Marlena. The film is due to be released on 22 April 2011.
ENTERTAINMENT
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“BRITNEY’S BACK!”
WHAT'S IN MY IPOD? Title: High Society
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Author: Ben Elton Reviewer: Retna Devi
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Hold It Against Me Britney Spears
Grenade Bruno Mars
W
arning! Do not be fooled by the brightly coloured cover and the title! This book is not about socialites living the high life and whining about it. High Society is about drugs, sex and betrayal. While this may seem to run in the same vein as stories about the privileged such as ‘Gossip Girl’, you will be proven wrong. Ben Elton satirizes the impending catastrophe that youth in Britain will soon face. From a society where drugs are slowly becoming part of a teenager’s diet, Elton builds a world that is heading towards the possibility of legalising all kinds of drugs, as a way of dealing with this social problem. When handling such an issue, there is a propensity to become too preachy and annoy the reader. However, Elton cleverly supports this serious topic with a large dose of humour and compelling characters. There is the Labour Party Member of Parliament who
is attempting to pass the bill to legalize drugs in a bid to be in the limelight, a runaway teenager, a celebrity whose 15 seconds of fame is long gone and an earnest young secretary. Even though the characters are caricatures of what exists in reality, we are drawn in by their emotional struggles and the web of chaos that they weave due to their actions. The bleak picture of what the world might turn into will leave a bitter aftertaste but that is only a good indicator that Elton, well known for his satires, has gotten us thinking. A surprisingly easy read for such heavy content, High Society is as addictive as a drug, minus the life-endangering factor.
3 Firework Katy Perry
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Lose My Mind The Wanted
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F**kin’ Perfect P!nk
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I Need A Doctor Dr Dre Featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey
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Rocketeer Far*East Movement Featuring Ryan Tedder
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Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) Enrique Iglesias Featuring Ludacris and DJ Frank E
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Black and Yellow Wiz Khalifa
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What’s My Name Rihanna Featuring Drake
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SPORTS
IHG THE CONCLUSION OF IHG
T
he Inter Hall Games (IHG) season has ended with Eusoff romping home with the overall title. Much of the action happened in the second half of the IHG which featured events that the traditional sports halls Eusoff and Temasek were strong in. Eusoff convincingly won the overall males’ title after winning over their nearest challengers Kent Ridge by a margin of 11 points while Eusoff and Temasek shared the overall females’ title, with their 62 points apiece having a bigger lead over Kent Ridge’s 45 points in the standings.
Table Tennis Kent Ridge took home the females’ silver medal after a hard fought 3-2 win over Temasek while Raffles won against Eusoff more convincingly with a 3-1 win after Eusoff equalized with Raffles leading with one set.
Volleyball Eusoff’s females, boasting of IVP players, convincingly beat Temasek 3-0 while Raffles earned the third gold of their campaign by a similarly lopsided scoreline against Eusoff after the latter took the place of perennial finalists Sheares Hall who were victims of a shock 3-2 reverse in the semi finals.
AUTHOR JOSEPH CHIN
Softball
Netball
Basketball
Eusoff defended the softball title (the only mixed event other than the swimming and track medley races) after defeating their softball arch-rivals Raffles 4-3. Sheares, King Edward VII, Kent Ridge and Temasek rounded off the standings (in that order).
Eusoff edged Temasek 20-19 in a dramatic final that saw Temasek lead for large amounts of time. Such was the domination of the Kent Ridge Drive duo that only Sheares and Kent Ridge came close to ending their monopoly with both halls leading at one point in their respective semifinals encounters before the strength and depth of Eusoff and Temasek showed.
Temasek swept both titles convincingly. Sheares added a twist to the usual Eusoff-Temasek rivalry in the male category when they posted shock wins over Eusoff (in the semi-finals) and defending champions Raffles who were humiliatingly dumped out at the group stages with narrow defeats against Kent Ridge and Sheares. In the female category, little separated the two finalists - Kent Ridge and Sheares - with matches being decided by singledigit margins.
Badminton In battles amongst neighbours, Temasek (female) and Sheares (male) came up tops. Temasek overcame progressively more challenging fixtures to defeat Eusoff 3-1 while Sheares avenged a group stage (2-3) loss by dishing out a 3-0 win against Kent Ridge.
Floorball Eusoff cleanly swept titles in both genders and in dramatic circumstances. A 2-1 penalty shootout win decided matters against Temasek in the males’ final after both teams were deadlocked at 3-3 in regulation time. A frantic second-half penalty against Kent Ridge (1-1) helped preserve Eusoff’s unbeaten record in the female floorball carnival with four wins and a draw, one of which was a 6-0 thrashing of Sheares that saw four goals scored within the first five minutes of the match.
Track The Temasek females and Eusoff males out-ran their opponents for the golds. What coloured their rivalry was the presence of challengers in Kent Ridge (females) and Raffles (males) whose talented sprinters gave these traditional rivals a run for their money.
Road Relay This event had been marred by constant rain but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the runners. A clean sweep of titles for Temasek was prevented by Kent Ridge which boasted reigning NUS President’s Sports Award winner (and national triathlete) Mok Ying Ren among its ranks of talented long-distance runners.
Soccer Kent Ridge produced one of the major shocks this year when they defeated a much more hyped Eusoff 1-0 in the males’ final. Considering that they had not won any of their previous matches in regulation time (a surprise 4-2 penalty shootout win against Temasek was their key moment), Kent Ridge produced the performance of their lives against a Eusoff team with multiple IVP players. In the girls’ carnival, a 3-0 win for Eusoff against Kent Ridge in the final fixture of the day ensured that the Yellows remained unbeaten with both teams boasting four wins going into the match.
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FINALS FINAL GRADES Eusoff: A+ After a slow start to the IHG season, they improved on their A- grade last issue by excelling in the events which they were traditionally strong in. The fact that they won a significant number of their events (if not getting into the finals or the semis at least) was a key factor in them surging away from erstwhile rivals Temasek.
Temasek: A While they may have lost some steam as the season went by, their solid performance was built on the stellar performance of their females, who can give Eusoff something to think about when the Whites are on fire. Unfortunately, their grade was pulled down by surprising group stage exits for their males in three sports (badminton, table tennis and handball).
Kent Ridge: AWhile they have been putting up battling performances in many sports, notably in soccer and road relay, it is their laudable policy of blooding in their freshman players early on in their IHG career (as compared to resultsoriented short-term view of other halls) that helped to ensure that
Kent Ridge can become a serious contender in the years to come.
King Edward VII: B-
Coming in second to Eusoff in the overall male’s standings and to both Eusoff and Temasek in the overall females standings helped to pull their grade up.
Aside from bronze in road relay (males) and a good performance in male soccer (which saw them defeat eventual finalist Kent Ridge before losing 3-1 to a strong Eusoff side), it was a difficult campaign for them. In this season, they are more of a kingmaker than a king, one that can make or break another hall’s title hopes with a shock result.
Raffles: B+ As the season went by, the Greens found the season tougher than usual. While they have made progress in luring away top athletes from the traditional sports halls (Eusoff and Temasek) by offering an alternative option, much more needs to be done in terms of building up a team for the long term, both in strength and in depth.
DISCLAIMER: The above grades are meant to be tonguein-cheek comments on the halls’ performances!
Sheares: B While badminton was a revelation in giving them their other gold medal this year, much more needs to be done with anonymous performances in blue-ribbon events such as swimming, track, road relay and soccer. They have the potential to be formidable; it’s just a question of whether they can contend with the other four above them in the long run.
PHOTOGRAPH WIKIPEDIA.ORG
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SPORTS
SPORT OF T How did you get started on rugby, and how long have you played it for?
long, are there any memorable incidents that have stood out for you?
I first encountered rugby when I was seven. I was in Primary 1 at Saint Andrew’s Junior School. I was very attracted to the sport but never got to participate in it because I was transferred to a different primary school.
The highest and lowest points in my rugby life occurred in the same year - my first year at Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC).
After primary school, I chose to enroll in Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). I was looking out for a school with a good rugby programme and ACS(I) was a natural choice. I remember being blown away at the open-house when the rugby master lined two tables with championship trophies and proudly declared that the school had been unbeaten champions for the past five years. I was sold. I started playing rugby with ACS(I) at the age of 12. I’ve been playing for 11 years now. Having been a player for so
My lowest point was losing the ‘A’ division championship to Raffles Junior College (RJC). My team had had an excellent season leading to the finals and we were the favourites to win. Personally, I was having the best season of my life and my confidence was at an all-time high. As a team, we had never lost a National Championship before and to us the possibility of a loss was really remote.
Full name: Sit Zai Li Darius Age: 23 Year: 3 Faculty/Course: Business/Finance (Major) Religious Studies (Minor) Playing Position: Prop Team) that same year. I was taken in to represent Singapore at the Asian Championships in Hong Kong. Sadly, I was dropped just before the tour because my line-out throws were weak and I never got to play an official test match. But I always saw this as a personal achievement: getting into the National Team at 16 years of age.
Has playing this sport changed you as a person in any way?
It’s really hard to explain within a short sentence how the sport has changed me because a good part Besides that, I’m proud to have of the person I am today comes been captain of the ACJC team from my time playing rugby. As the next year when we took back a teenager, rugby was really my the ‘A’ division title from RJC. life - it dictated my ambition, my The final match was a harrowing I’m also proud to have represented lifestyle and much of my social one and we lost 6-3 in extra Singapore at various age groups life. time on a penalty kick. I blamed in the Asian Championships and myself because I gave away the in the Commonwealth Youth In retrospect, I would say that the first penalty. It was a painful Games. success I had as a rugby player experience. gave me a lot of confidence. More recently, I’m very happy to Rugby is no longer the centre of My highest point was getting into have been part of two Singapore my life but I really do appreciate the Anchor Reds (Men’s National University Games (SUNIGs) all the friendships I’ve made in Champion Teams at NUS. the years playing the sport; it’s something I’ll always hold dear. How would you describe yourself? I would like to take this opportunity to shed light on the false stereotype that rugby players are uncultured jocks. I take my sport seriously but, at the same time, I spend a lot of my free time reading and writing.
AUTHOR + PHOTOGRAPHER TEO TENG KIAT
I like to think of myself as a dedicated individual with a broad range of interests.
You are a teamNUS player; are you proud to represent the school? How is the team like, and what is your role in the team? Definitely! I’m very proud to be an NUS rugby player. When I first started playing
SPORTS
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THE MONTH Games (SUNIGs) seven-a-side tournament and the Inter-varsity Championships. Besides these two, we participate in invitational tournaments both locally and overseas whenever we are invited.
with NUS, I was a little apprehensive about the mix of players from different schools and backgrounds.
leadership.
But from experience, the balancing act is not easy. Training is very physically demanding and beyond just the regular threeBut the NUS team really times-a-week field training, every surprised me. They were really accepting and friendly. More than rugby player is expected to be bulking up with a decent weight that, I was very happy to be part of a unique team dynamic. There programme. I would be lying if I is a lot of mutual respect for each said that rugby has never affected my studies. other and great passion for the sport. We have our fair share of jibes and jokes but when it comes However, it is possible to successfully handle both rugby down to the game, everyone and studies and I think I understands the need to focus. managed pretty well in university. I had to sacrifice a lot of time, I am currently the team captain time that I would have otherwise along with Aaron Leong (from spent with friends. I also had the Law Faculty). to plan my schedule with great detail and I had to muster the will to stick to it. How is training like, and how do you juggle it with your schoolwork and other What are the competitions that commitments? the team takes part in annually? I’m currently out-of-action, The main competitions are recovering from a serious injury. So Aaron is bearing the burden of the Singapore University
There’s always bound to be losses when you compete; how do you deal with losing a game, or if you’ve had a bad game personally? What motivates you to train hard? Having confidence is very important when playing rugby so it’s important not to lose confidence and beat yourself up too much when you’ve had a bad game. If I’ve had a bad game, I would firstly focus on the things I did right and I would remind myself to repeat those positive aspects in the next game. Of course, I would also assess my mistakes and the mistakes made by the team to ensure we correct them in the next game. After that, I would have a nice hearty meal to make myself feel better. The euphoria of winning a rugby game is something really special. The feeling of having been tested physically and mentally, both as an individual and as a team, then coming through victorious is a feeling that’s hard to describe. That’s a big source of motivation. On a smaller scale, the sense of achievement from making a
strong run, a good tackle or (for me) turning over a scrum gives me the will to train that little bit harder.
Finally, any advice for people who are new to the sport? What would you say to encourage people to join? Rugby is easy to pick up but mastering the sport comes with time and experience. And it’s not just playing the sport and getting used to the physicality and the necessary skills, but also thinking about it. Contrary to popular belief, the sport of rugby does require quite a bit of intelligence, from broad strategy to the nittygritty at ruck and maul areas as well as tricks around set-plays. Also, injuries are to be expected when playing this sport so don’t let them get you down. If you really want to play rugby you’ll need to learn how to pick yourself up from both minor and serious injuries. I would encourage people to join only if they are really serious about the sport and only if they are prepared to put in hard work for the long-haul. If anyone joins just to try it out ‘cause it looks like fun and has mindless (yet also harmless) violence then they’d be in for a shocker and there’s a good chance they’d get their skull cracked (but of course, we take all safety precautions as well!).
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WIRED
NOKIA + MICROSOFT =? W
hat did you look out for the last time you bought a mobile phone? Chances are, you probably wanted something that could do all the newfangled things mobile phones are capable of, like play music and movies, surf the web, e-mail, and run lots of other applications that enhance your mobile experience. Gone are the days when we were amazed at coloured backlights, polyphonic ringtones, and interchangeable shells (You guys! Look at this new pink shell I got for my Nokia 8250!). Sure, dumbphones – or feature phones, as they are more popularly known as today – are still selling. Some of us just don’t care for surfing the web on our phones, and who needs a touchscreen anyway? But there’s no denying the allure of smartphones, and we can see a clear winner here: the Apple iPhone. But wait a minute, you say. Don’t Android phones have a larger market share than the iPhone?
AUTHOR RAYMOND LAU + PHOTOGRAPH PCWORLD.COM
WIRED
There are certainly lots of purveyors of Android phones: big names like HTC, Motorola, Samsung, LG, and even smaller names like Cherry Mobile. True, but here’s what we’re looking at: the ecosystem. When it comes to providing an overall mobile experience, from your user interface to the desktop application you use to sync your phone with, no one does it better than Apple. Say what you will about their suffocating rules and greedy policies, but the average user doesn’t care about all that. They just want to play Angry Birds without a hitch. Which brings us to the point of this article: Nokia and Microsoft have now joined hands in the smartphone war against Apple and Google, in what Nokia CEO Stephen Elop calls “a three horse race”. He added, “The game has changed from a war of devices to a war of ecosystems.” Now just stop for a moment and think back to your secondary school days. Say you’ve been rocking a Motorola phone for a while now, and are generally pleased with how it works. But your carrier contract is ending, and you want to get a new phone. What’s this? Nokia just released a new phone with a frakkin’ camera? Let’s buy that! And the switch is incredibly easy. Pop out your SIM, trade in your old phone for a discount, and pop your SIM into the new phone. Go home, hook it up to your PC,
drop all your music and video files into it, and you’re done. What about now? You’ve been a loyal iPhone user since 2007, but you might be tired of the interface and the fact that Apple does not allow users to modify the phone’s software in this day and age when the possibilities for app-development are endless is rather frustrating. You’ve played with your friend’s HTC Desire HD and – holy WiFi hotspot, Batman! – that phone is just so different! But wait just one second! You’ve spent more than $100 on iPhone applications over the past few years. Your AppleCare Protection Plan is still valid, and you paid good money for that. Oh, and there’s no easy way to manage your multimedia content on Android like you can on the iPhone with iTunes. In other words, you’ve completely bought into the Apple ecosystem, and it’ll take real guts to leap out. This is where Nokia and Microsoft are headed with this partnership, with the ultimate goal of building a credible ecosystem to attract users. Although we gave raving reviews for Windows Phone 7, it’s still a version 1.0 product. Microsoft entered the smartphone arena three years after the debut of the iPhone, and many proclaimed WP7 dead on arrival. Nokia, on the other hand, is the global leader in mobile phones. But
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they’ve stagnated for years, and have yet to come up with anything even remotely close to competing with the iPhone. Yeah, Nokia could have gone with Android, you say. That’s obviously a better choice. But even with Android, Nokia would be extremely late to the game. They’d have to deal with competition from all the major Android vendors.
IT SEEMS LIKE A MATCH MADE IN SMARTPHONE HEAVEN. Nokia has the experience of manufacturing stellar hardware, and could market the hell out of the underdog that is Windows Phone 7. It also has a robust cloud platform in the form of the muchmaligned Ovi services, which could be successfully integrated into the WP7 ecosystem. Microsoft is also committed to the platform, and if you know Microsoft, you know they’re just going to keep flinging cash at the product until it reaps some return. Only time will tell if this partnership will succeed. But if that concept phone in the picture is anything to go with, I say go for it, give me some Nokia Windows Phone 7 goodness!
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WIRED
HOW-TO
CONNECT TO NUS PRINTERS WIRELESSLY
E
ver experienced the need to print something urgently – for a tutorial class perhaps – but got frustrated by the long queues at the Central Library print terminals? Check out this guide on how to print directly from your laptop!
Windows 1. Make sure you are logged on to the school network (NUSOPEN or NUS). 2. Key ‘\\172.18.37.210’ (without the quotes, including the two backslashes) into…
a. For Windows Vista/7 users, hit the start orb and key it directly into your search bar and hit Enter.
b. For Windows XP and below users, hit the Start button, click on ‘Run’, and enter it there.
4. Go to the IP tab and fill in the details as follows
a. Address: 172.18.37.210
b. Queue: cl-mac-a4bw (for black/white printing) OR cl- mac-a4color (for colour printing)
5. Under ‘Print Using’, go to ‘Select Printer Software’ and select ‘HP LaserJet 8000 Series’. 6. Click ‘Add’. 7. Check the ‘Duplex Unit’ box and switch ‘Total Printer Memory’ to ’36 MB or more’, then click ‘Continue’.
3. When asked for your credentials, key in your NUSNET ID, including ‘nusstu\’ in front of your user name, and your password. 4. You’ll see a list of printers. Choose any printer that has their name begin with ‘CL-CBLC’. Choose whether you want black & white A4, A3, or colour printing. Double-click the selected printers. 5. Wait for the printer driver to be installed. You might be asked to confirm that the printer is a trusted device. Click ‘Install driver’. 6. Once done, a window will pop up showing the print jobs of the printer you’ve just installed. This shows that the installation is successful, and you can start printing to this printer. 7. Collect your print job from the release station! You’ll use your NUSNET ID as usual to retrieve the print jobs.
Macintosh 1. Make sure you are logged in to the school network (NUSOPEN or NUS). 2. Open ‘Print and Fax’ under ‘System Preference’ -> ‘Hardware’. 3. Click the ‘+’ tab to add a new printer. AUTHORS LESTER HIO, LAM WOON CHERK + PHOTOGRAPH WIRED DESK
8. You’re all done on your Mac’s end. Now proceed to the print job release station, but instead of keying in your NUSNET ID like you used to, key in your Mac’s User ID. You can find it by opening ‘Finder’ and looking for the name of your home drive (it’s normally the second one in the ‘Places’ bar, under ‘Desktop’).
LAST STEP: SMILE SMUGLY AT EVERYONE QUEUING FOR A PC!
wired*byte-sized
/ Guitar Hero franchise dies Remember the fun times when you strapped on a miniature plastic guitar and acted out your wildest rockstar fantasies? You can still have them, but only with the existing games. Activision, the current producer of the popular Guitar Hero franchise, announced on Febuary 9 that no more new Guitar Hero games will be released in the future. And rockstar gamers wept the day they heard the music die.
37
/ Playstation Phone unveiled Yes, the rumors are true – the PlayStation Phone is now a reality. Sony Ericsson announced the Xperia Play during this year’s Mobile World Congress. The Android-based device, which sports 2.3 Gingerbread at launch, is a touchscreen phone that slides out to reveal the iconic PlayStation buttons, somewhat like the current PSP Go. For your gaming pleasure, it comes with a 4-inch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, and has the all the features of a powerhouse smartphone, such as Wi-Fi and dual cameras. No date of release has been confirmed yet but Sony has said it will be before the end of the year.
byte-sized / HP TouchPad announced
HP officially unveiled its foray into the tablet market by revealing the HP TouchPad at the Mobile World Congress. The TouchPad seems clearly marketed as a tablet for productivity and work, possibly meaning no more Angry Birds taking up your valuable productivity time. Running the HP/Palm WebOS, the TouchPad offers a tablet experience unlike the iOS or Android tablets; your open tasks are in the form of ‘cards’ that you can flick through on the screen. With a 9.7-inch display, a 1.2GHz dual core processor and 1 GB RAM, the TouchPad looks to be the tablet for the productive road warrior.
author lester hio
/ Apple releases subscription plan for apps Apple further tightened its hold on consumer apps with its latest announcement: a subscription plan for content-based apps on the Apple App Store. Any app on the App Store that has a subscription plan outside of the app now has to offer that subscription within the app itself, at a price equal to the external subscription. Why would Apple do something like that? Simple: Apple gets a whopping 30 per cent of the share if a subscriber is brought into the product via the app. Opponents are already crying out about antitrust laws and argue that such a move would restrict consumer choice and reduce competition. US and European regulators are already kicking off inquiries.
author LAM WOON CHERK
WORLDMUN*SPORTS
10
WACKIEST SPORTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
29
1
by Prateek Sinha
ZORBING
Not exactly a sport but this is a must-try for everybody. You enter an inflatable ball much like a hamster ball. Safely enclosed in the inner orb, you begin your journey down a slope, all the while trying to figure out which way is up. Initially meant for people to “walk” over water, the inventors found out that rolling downhill was more fun. Aren’t we all thankful for that?
CHESS BOXING
2
Shattering the popular myth that brains and brawn are on opposite camps, this hybrid sport pits opponents in 11 alternating rounds of chess and boxing starting with chess. The winner is the one who either checkmates, knocks his opponent out or the one who has the most round wins. This is one sport that you must try with a friend (or maybe an enemy!).
3
THE COOPER’S HILL CHEESE-ROLLING AND WAKE
Who would be crazy enough to run down a steep hill chasing cheese? Even a mouse has more sense than to attempt something like that! But that is exactly what happens in a remote corner of the British Isles, where people race down the steep Cooper’s Hill to catch a large, rolling block of cheese. An impossible feat, given that the cheese has a one second head start. At the end of the races, candy is rolled down for children. Talk about a rolling good time!
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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WORLDMUN*SPORTS
BOSSABALL
4
This is one of the coolest sports on the list. It is a variation of volleyball but with a trampoline on both sides close to the net. Players use the trampoline to reach spectacular heights in an attempt to spike the ball. There is an active Bossaball club in Singapore in case you are interested.
TOE WRESTLING
5
It originated as a popular past time for children, but has evolved into a competitive sport now. People lock their toes together and try to wrestle their opponent’s foot down to the ground. Current World champion Alan ‘Nasty’ Nash even appeared on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’. The sport’s organizers had even tried to get the sport included in the Olympics but were toe-tally rejected.
SHIN KICKING
6
Yes, you read it right. Words cannot describe the absurdity of the sport and the mental faculties of its participants. The sheer objective is to bring down your opponent twice out of three times by attacking his shins. Though contestants stuff their pants with hay for protection, severe injury to the shin has been reported. In the earlier days, some Welsh fighters even used boots with nails. Do NOT try this at home.
7
WORLD MOUNTAIN BIKE BOG SNORKELLING CHAMPIONSHIPS If you like to get dirty, this is just the sport for you. Held every year since 2000 at a filthy bog just outside the small Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells, this crazy sport involves not swimming but cycling on an extremely expensive and heavy mountain bike through the bog battling putrid smells. If you are wondering where the snorkels come in, well the bog is six feet deep and since you are cycling on a lead bike, you’ll need it. It also helps reduce the stink, I hear.
WORLDMUN*SPORTS
HURLING
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8
Described as air hockey on the field, you may ask why it deserves to be on my list. Well, 30 players divided into two teams use axe-like sticks to smash a small hard ball at head height at speeds over 160 km/h in an attempt to score goals. Oh, I forgot, using protection is only for wimps.
THE ETON WALL GAME
9
This bizarre sport which originated 300 years ago is still played at the prestigious English school. A fusion of rugby and soccer, teams try to score by hitting a target on the opposite side acting as a goal. The only way to move the ball up field is along a wall where it is squashed by a pile of schoolboys. The ball moves inches at a time causing immense discomfort to players who are scraped along the wall. If you like fast paced scoring games then this is not a sport for you. The last goal was scored in 1909.
BABY CRY SUMO
10
Many people would find wrestling men in diapers weird but this one goes a step farther. Sumo wrestlers shake and yell at babies to make them cry. The first one to wail is the winner. The Japanese believe that crying babies grow faster hence the origin of this weird sport. I sure am glad my parents did not abuse me when I was younger!
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WORLDMUN*SPORTS
SPOLITICS by Tan Herng Yih
THE CONFLUENCE OF SPORTS AND POLITICS IS NOT UNCOMMON AND THERE IS MUCH THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT AS WELL, WRITES THE RIDGE’S SPORTS EDITOR steadily ever since and Nixon subsequently visited China in 1972 as the first ever US president to step onto Chinese soil. Sports has also been used as a means to achieve political goals. One of the most notable examples would be the boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games by most of the allied contingent following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviet bloc led a retaliatory boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles games as tit-for-tat. Although most of these political ploys were often only symbolic, they sometimes became violent as well. In the 1972 Olympics, 11
I
remember sitting in front of my television with my entire family, watching the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympic Games. It was a grand affair - the whole production, the synchronised dancing, the atmosphere - it was all breath-taking. More than that, it heralded a whole new era stamping the Chinese presence on the international stage. Being ethnically Chinese, it certainly stirred nationalistic fervor. It is easy to understand how athletes can become pawns in a political chess game. There is a competition among athletes and a winner is decided. Magnified on a world stage, it can also be seen as a competition among countries. If perceived in this manner, armed conflict is avoided by the test of muscles being channeled into the sporting arena. If you have watched Forrest Gump, you’d know that sports can also be a means to diplomacy. Forrest was sent to China for an exhibition match with the Chinese team in what was an amusing moment within the movie. In real life, a similar sporting exchange did really happen in 1971 when the American ping-pong team was sent to China in a bid to improve Sino-American relationship. They became the first American delegation to set foot on Chinese soil since 1949 after the communist victory there. Relationships between the countries have improved PHOTOGRAPH MECHANICALICON.COM
members from the Israeli team were brutally killed by a Palestinian terrorist. The international sporting stage presents the perfect opportunity for making political statements because of the huge audience it draws. However, these actions are often criticized as full of sound and fury but signifying nothing. In fact, it only serves to worsen the situation between the different parties involved. In the 1968 games, the international sporting stage was used by several black athletes to show the plight of the African-Americans during the civil rights movement. It is commendable that these athletes looked beyond their talents in their sporting fields and used their fame to draw attention to important issues. Even if they did not effect any immediate changes, they helped ignite a spark of inspiration for many of their fans and for their own people to follow. The comparison between politics and sports is stark but sometimes not so easy to spot. Here’s some food for thought: athletes compete in the name of sportsmanship while diplomacy seeks compromise in a civil manner; but then, just as how there is no athlete that goes into the arena not wanting to win, countries similarly use politics to further their own interests and no one wants to lose there either. Do be sportsmanlike in your competition as the world stands to benefit from it. Sports truly is a microcosm of life, so don’t ever underestimate its potential as you carry out a diplomatic game of your own in the coming weeks.
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WORLDMUN*OPINION
LESSONS FROM EGYPT by the Opinion Desk
EGYPT SPOKE AS ONE ON 25 JANUARY 2011. WE HOPE THAT THE WORLD LISTENED.
A spectre
is haunting the Middle East and other parts of the world and they’re the new revolutions championed by people seeking for a future where they get to excercise their voice. The Egyptian people were always assumed to be a mild-mannered folk and Mubarak’s hold over power seemed unquestionable at the beginning of the year. But a combination of factors led to massive protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and several other nations as people clamoured for change. What does the Egyptian revolution mean? What lessons can leaders around the world learn from what happened? What does the future have in store? Writers from the Opinion Desk of THE RIDGE share their thoughts.
A New Age Why did it take Egypt 30 years to oust a corrupt and repressive regime? Clearly, public dissent or economic under-performance alone was not enough to catalyse a revolution as that had been going on for decades all over the world in various countries. A platform was needed to advocate the cause. Enter the ubiquitous internet, the controls over which were only recently relaxed. Through it, people learned of what happened in Tunisia, saw the men who set themselves ablaze in protest, joined online activist groups to express their discontent and discovered that their numbers were great. As the saying goes, ‘united we stand, divided we fall,’ and unite they did. - Ngui Jian Gang The Martyrs Must Be Remembered The ‘We are all Khaled Sai’ Facebook page was created in the aftermath of the death of Khaled Mohamed Saeed. Saeed’s death has been widely acclaimed as one of the catalysts towards the Egyptian protests. This human rights movement has created an influential online presence rooted in the local Egyptian context but aimed at affecting a global audience. With more than 89,492 Facebook supporters (at the time of writing), a global community has emerged to remember the
PHOTOGRAPH JONATHAN RASHID //FLICKR, MONZ //FLICKR
efforts of Khaleed Saeed. As online networked movements continue to sprout in this information age, the efforts of these brave individuals will be remembered. The emergence of other online civil societies will also become increasingly hard to monitor and control. We can only hope that Khaled Saeed’s efforts were not in vain and that such online activism will continue to be an avenue for countries stumped with human rights issues to voice their opinions. - Heng Mingfong This Is Not The End Egyptians have rediscovered democracy but they should know what they want with it. A revolution by itself is not a magic pill. Now that the revolution is over and the dictator has been ousted, the question on everyone’s mind is ‘what’s next?’ The youth might be able to agitate and spark a revolution using Facebook but running a government is a whole different proposition. There are fears that the Muslim Brotherhood might turn Egypt into a theocracy similar to Iran or the military might just decide to hold on stubbornly to power. The future is uncertain and people power means nothing if there is no proper means of organising interests into coherent policies and good governance. In a nutshell, democracy is not just about people power - that is just populism - there must be capable people at the helm to actually govern. Uncontrolled and chaotic populism merely leads to anarchy and not democracy. -Augustin Chiam
WORLDMUN*OPINION
But It Is Also a Beginning The revolution has not only ousted Hosni Mubarak but has placed authoritarian governments across the globe in the spotlight. Shortly after the victory of the Egyptian civilian protest, several other neighbouring countries followed suit, namely Bahrain, Iran, Lybia, Yemen, Algeria and Kuwait to name a few. These countries possess governments who yield arbitrary power or a monopoly over politics often spanning across decades. Their stranglehold of power has been allowed to grow like a cancer across time because of subdued voices. The Egyptian revolution has opened people to new possibilities for expression instilling self-belief. In order to avoid a situation like that in the Middle-East from developing in other regions of the world, it is of the utmost importance for governments to give civilians a voice in shaping their country. Unjust treatment or a general feeling that people’s interests are being placed secondary to that of the elites is bound to cause tensions to build-up like steam in a pressure cooker. In spite of the tensions, the civilians stuck to their principles and came out victorious. The Egyptian revolution truly was one of the most beautiful events of this year. - Vibha Ghariwala
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History Repeats Itself The wave of protests in Eastern Europe in the 1950s which led to the Prague Spring, the rise of the Solidarity Movement in Poland in the 80s, the fall of the puppet governments in the old Soviet Union show that these wave of people-led revolutions are nothing new. It’s just that the means are not the same. It is heartening to know that people have spoken out as one when the injustice was too much to bear. But the number of years that were lost in the intervening years were a heavy price to pay. Inspired by Gandhi’s teachings, these revolutions were largely non-violent and that is the way that things should be. Governments should not fire upon their own people but listen to the demands of the protestors. The focus is now on Tripoli but there the revolution may take a turn for the worse. Muammar al-Gaddafi rules over a country that is called the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Jamahiriya meaning People’s Republic) but cares not much for the people’s views. The rebellion has also begun to fortify itself. In a recent political science class, it was remarked that the a thousand deaths on both sides of a conflict is required before it is termed a civil war. For the sake of the Libyans, I hope that a resolution is reached swiftly before the casualties surge to such a number. - Suhas Bhat
WORLDMUN*OPINION 25
A BETTER CLASS OF DIPLOMAT
by Suhas Bhat
THE DIPLOMATS OF THE 21ST CENTURY NEED TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF HENRY KISSINGER AND IMPROVE ON THEIR WORK TODAY.
But Have Not the Diplomats of Today Failed Us? Wikileaks demonstrated, however, that many diplomats don’t take their jobs seriously. Gossip-mongering, meetings and wining and dining at the taxpayer’s expense were some of the images painted. With their pride in maintaining diplomatic communications private, a lot of such information was only hinted at and not known for certain before. But the veil was pulled and what we saw was unseemly. These people are responsible for negotiating the fate of the world and so we perceive them to be larger-than-life individuals who observe international politics from a long-term point of view and who do not hold grudges but are careful about the opinions that they form. But quite clearly, sides have been taken and judgements have been passed and I don’t know if they truly are as sanctimonious as I believed them to be. Moreover, the core conflict that you see in all Model United Nations (MUN) conferences between realist modes of thinking and liberal mindsets has led to a victory for the former. On the one hand, diplomats in the modern world have to think of the common good and look beyond national interests but at the same time, they are responsible for maximising their country’s international standing in
Diplomacy
started off as a very domestic affair. And by this, I refer to the kings of yore who used to expand the reach of their kingdoms through conquest in the battlefield or in the bedroom. The number of wives that kings had and the connections that the royal families maintained stemmed from a very rational line of reasoning. No, I don’t refer to carnal instincts but instead on the sound basis that the fostering of good relationships would less likely lead to conflict and enhance cooperation. The progeny of these families were a curious lot. They couldn’t naturally aspire to kingship (for that was the birthright of the prince, the heir apparent) and their mixed heritage couldn’t help them find any acceptable source of living within the two countries that they hailed from. So naturally these were the first real diplomats. Since then, diplomacy has become more of a professional endeavor with copious literature on the subject. Diplomacy has retained an image of being a glitzy field and also one of serious importance. Indeed, in India, students have to take a nation-wide test called the Civil Service examination and only the top 100 qualify for the Foreign Service from the nearly 100, 000-plus applicants. Diplomats are practically treated like royalty, and in international law, the embassies from which they hail is symbolically seen as a territorial extension of the state that they represent. As powerful middle-men, diplomats can be the agents of change. Their views are respected and they seek to solve global problems.
whatever way they can and that is what they often do today. In each MUN conference, I have seen those delegates who enjoy throwing their weight around if their country’s strength warrants it. And then there are others who keep quiet, holding their breath and waiting for the passage of play as if they’re at a grass court. But it’s the aspiring diplomats that strive to strike a balance and achieve a mutually beneficial deal that impress everyone the most. The world is facing a myriad number of issues that only these kinds of diplomats can solve: repressive regimes need to be talked to, a solution needs to be found for global warming, pollution levels need to be curbed, progress on the Millenium Development Goals has staggered, nuclear war seems eminent this century and the global financial system lurches from crisis to crisis. Broadly defined as coordination failures, there’s consensus on a need to solve all these issues but a reluctance to carry out much-needed action without such leaders. The world today is like an unfinished painting; the colours are there but there is no artist. Henry Kissinger, a Better Class of Diplomat Henry Kissinger was the last real diplomat I really respected. Why? He brought down the Soviet Union and made the world a better place. The fall of the Soviet Union was a complex event with a great many number of factors involved (Mikhail Gorbachev’s misguided assessment of his regime’s popularity was another prominent factor) but Kissinger was the man who oversaw the end of the Vietnam war, the opening up of relations with China and a cooling of relations with Russia. At the time, such policies seemed ludicrous but he understood quite keenly that the world didn’t need to be such a heated place and he played off China against the Soviet Union to great effect. There are no personalities today in the arena of diplomacy that can forcefully bring about a better world. My hope is that the future will contain another Kissinger. There truly needs to be a better class of diplomat.
PHOTOGRAPH DANIEL GENE // FLICKR
24 WORLDMUN*OPINION
SINGAPORE’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS by Julian Ho & Aarushi Puri
Despite
being a little red dot (a phrase popularized by an Indonesian politician), Singapore has constantly punched above its own weight, and held its own against bigger countries. The speed at which Singapore has developed could put the German autobahns to shame and it has now become an excellent role model for the rest of Asia and even the world. Its economic and political strength lies in its ability to forge goodwill and lasting relationships with other countries. Singapore’s leaders have always known that being a small state, it is best that it seeks cooperation with like-minded states to further its causes. This is evident in the number of international organizations that Singapore is a part of, totalling over 60 in 2008. Singapore is also a founding member and strong proponent of ASEAN, an organization which ensures that countries in Southeast Asia have a voice in the international arena whilst maintaining their sovereign rights as individual states. However, Singapore has not lost itself in this process either. Its leaders continue to stress the Singaporean way of doing things, placing huge emphasis on sound leadership and competency. Indeed, the Singaporean model is well-known for its lack of corruption, efficiency and reliability throughout the world and this is also why the country’s views are respected. Looking at the world around us today, the Singapore government also does not seek to change or influence how other countries conduct their own domestic policy. It respects the right of countries to dictate their own rules. Singapore, being a former colony, recognizes the fact that it has to be able to stand its own ground and not be swayed by any great power’s politics. During the Cold War, Singapore was a member of the nonaligned movement. It has also managed to balance diplomatic relations with the need to enforce domestic rule-of-law where appropriate. For example, it did not bow to American pressure in 1994 with regard to the Michael Fay caning incident. Lee Hsien Loong, then Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) of Singapore, also visited Taiwan, much to the chagrin of China. No country, no matter how big it is, can dictate Singapore’s foreign policy. What is even more remarkable about this miniature island is the affable fusion of the numerous different cultures it is home to. It could be argued that Singapore’s international appeal lies also in this welcoming attitude towards all the different cultures and religions that envelop the island. Thus, it has been able to influence both the US and China, the world’s two major superpowers today. With the latter, it shares significant cultural heritage while the focus of Singaporean institutions on ideals such as democracy (the veracity of which has been debated), human rights and the promotion of free enterprise closely resembles that of the American model. It is also a financial
...Singapore has not lost itself in this process either. Its leaders continue to stress the Singaporean way of doing things, placing huge emphasis on sound leadership and competency. bridge between the two powers. Singapore’s foreign policy has always sought to balance the need to defend its interests with its duties as a responsible member of the international community as well. In particular, Singapore has contributed to numerous humanitarian causes around the world and this includes the provision of aid to Indonesia after the tsunami in 2004, to New Orleans in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in 2005 and even to Myanmar after Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Singapore continues to play a strong role in international relations but with an election looming on the horizon, many changes may be on the way. While you simulate diplomacy in the conference, do consider the role that this little red dot plays in global politics.
PHOTOGRAPH KENT.AC.UK AUTHOR DARIUS SIY + PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 28MMSTUDIO.COM, APOLOTHEO.WORDPRESS.COM
WORLDMUN*OPINION 23
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
by Ngui Jian Gang
SINGAPORE IS ONE OF THE FEW COSMOPOLITAN CITIES THAT HAS EMBRACED MULTICULTURALISM WITH SUCH GUSTO AND IT’S ALL DOWN TO A PHILOSOPHY OF ‘LIVE AND LET LIVE’ HERE IN THE CITY-STATE.
but I dare say that we are one of the few that are most successfully so. Getting people to completely change their way of life is oppressive and an impossibly difficult task. It’s far easier to meet each other halfway, which is exactly what we are doing. Having a multiplicity of cultures is not a bad thing, and neither does it have to be divisive. In fact, a society having an inability to accept each individual’s right to express their own cultural beliefs (I’m not counting the extremists, of course) is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. Whichever country you’re from, there’s a high chance that your community is chock-full with an assortment of people. Whether they have been living there for generations or are new arrivals on the lookout for better opportunities in a foreign land, chances are they are there to stay. It might not be easy getting along, but given today’s highly globalized climate it seems to me that this is very likely a do-or-die issue; either learn to make the best of it (like Singapore) or sit back and wait for the gathering storm. But you don’t need me to tell you that, do you?
Singapore
has never been a culturally homogenous society. From our mother tongue to the food we eat, the shows we watch on television and even the holidays we celebrate, we are a harmonious mish-mash of different cultures and peoples. That has always been a defining element of our country. This meshing of various cultures may seem incredible to some outsiders, especially now when there are many racial and ethnic problems popping up in neighbouring countries and around the world. The way we do it, I feel, is rather simple but undoubtedly effective – we learn to accept other cultures for what they are, and we learn to live with it. Since our founding back in the 1800s, people from all over the world have gathered here to eke out a living. In other words, we have been living in a cultural potpourri for roughly two centuries. Despite our forefathers’ vastly divergent backgrounds and lifestyles, they worked as one to transform Singapore from a backwater fishing village to the urban centre it is now. Their story is one that most Singaporeans would dismiss as cliché and overused (and in fact it isn’t all that different from the success stories of other immigrant countries such as America), but the idea behind it – the power of unity – is something that all Singaporeans know and value. Although there is a national identity, it does not call for us to abandon our race or ethnicity. Instead, we recognize and celebrate our diverse roots while simultaneously managing our differences. The ability to integrate our cultures defines what it means to be Singaporean. The celebration of festivities in Singapore aptly showcases that ability. Regardless of ethnicity, all Singaporeans partake in them. For example, during the Chinese New Year celebrations, a number of lion dance troupes perform in the neighbourhoods and on the roads and it is not uncommon to find many non-Chinese onlookers enjoying the noisy yet thrilling sight. In fact, this year I even saw one troupe that consisted of mostly Malay members! As far as inter-cultural relations go, I would think this is an indication that we are on the right track. Sure, we may not be the only cosmopolitan country in the world,
PHOTOGRAPH APP.WWW.SG
22 WORLDMUN*OPINION
EXPLORE SINGAPORE THE RAIL WAY!
by Heng Mingfong
Fort Canning Gate DAY 1 Singapore has one of the best transport systems in the world that makes getting lost almost impossible. So hop on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and explore Singapore via the railway. Some stops that are not to be missed include the city’s shopping belt that spans from Orchard down south along the North South Line to Marina Bay. DAY 2 You can’t really say that you have seen Singapore without heading to the heartlands of the city. More than 80% of Singaporeans live in public housing flats. So be sure to check out some of these gems. Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir are some of the places to consider! DAY 3 In the past, Sir Stamford Raffles divided the various ethnic groups into their respective enclaves. Although they no longer live divided today, their cultures are still deeply entrenched in parts of Singapore. To experience authentic Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan (Straits Chinese) cultures, you can head down to Bugis (Kampong Glam), Chinatown, Little India and Bedok (East Coast Road) respectively. DAY 4 Singapore is a Garden City and what better way to attest to this than to visit the National Parks! The Singapore Botanic Gardens opens daily and houses the National Orchid Garden as well. MacRitchie Reservoir Park is one of the four nature reserves that bounds the reservoirs. Indulge in bird-watching, trekking and water sports . Another great place to trek includes The Southern Ridges. The trail encompasses four parks with several parts of the trail suspended high above the forest; it is also one of the best spots in Singapore to catch panoramic views of the city, harbour and the Southern Islands. The 10 different trails can be accessed from Harbourfront Station (NE1) via the various bus services.
HELLO
WORLDMUN DELEGATES! WELCOME TO SINGAPORE! ON 14 MARCH 2011, SINGAPORE WILL BE THE BIGGEST MELTING POT OF ETHNICITIES AS MORE THAN 2,000 DELEGATES FROM 270 UNIVERSITIES, LOCATED ACROSS MORE THAN 65 COUNTRIES, COME TOGETHER FOR THE LARGEST COLLEGIATE MUN CONFERENCE OUTSIDE OF THE USA. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I PRESENT TO YOU THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO SINGAPORE IN FIVE DAYS! Be sure to stop by Fort Canning Park - the city’s heritage and war memorial park. Fort Canning Park houses the historical Fort Gate, Battle Box, Raffles Terrace and The Archaeological Dig & Exhibition (City Hall Station). DAY 5 Finally, be a true-blue tourist and explore Singapore’s tourist attractions this day. The Singapore Zoo (from Ang Mo Kio Station, take bus 138), Jurong Bird Park (from Boon Lay Station, take bus 194 or 251) and Sentosa (take the train or the bus from HarbourFront MRT) are just some of the highly-raved tourist hotspots. So start exploring today! Oh, and should you have any problems finding the routes then check out gothere.sg. It’s a neat site made by NUS students that makes travelling super-easy in Singapore!
The Henderson Waves
PHOTOGRAPH SINGAPORESHOTS.COM , TREEHUGGER.COM AUTHOR DARIUS SIY + PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 28MMSTUDIO.COM, APOLOTHEO.WORDPRESS.COM
20 WORLDMUN*WIRED
USING YOUR GADGETS IN SINGAPORE
by Raymond Lau
THE WIRED DESK WELCOMES THE DELEGATES OF WORLD MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2011! NOW WE YOUNG FOLK ARE A CONNECTED LOT, AND IF YOU CAN’T STAND TO BE WITHOUT INTERNET ACCESS WHILE YOU’RE IN SINGAPORE, FRET NOT! HERE’S A QUICK AND SIMPLE GUIDE TO GET YOU STARTED:
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Wireless hotspots Everybody loves free WiFi. And in Singapore, we give those out in spades. As part of the Next Generation National Infocomm Infrastructure initiative by the Infocomm Development Authority, Wireless@SG is a wireless broadband programme that provides free WiFi at speeds of up to 1Mbps! Pretty neat, huh? Just head down to your nearest McDonald’s, Starbucks, or any other place with this sign displayed and you’re good to go!
Just head down to your nearest McDonald’s, Starbucks, or any other place with this sign displayed and you’re good to go!
2
Prepaid broadband
Absolutely need Internet access on the go? All three major telcos in Singapore offer prepaid data plans suitable for travellers. Unfortunately, navigating their websites can be an unpleasant task. Here are the links to all three telco’s prepaid data pages: • SingTel: http://ow.ly/40tiT • StarHub: http://ow.ly/40tk5 • M1: http://ow.ly/40tll So do a careful comparison and pick out the best plan to suit your needs!
PHOTOGRAPH ASIAONE.COM, HARDWAREZONE.COM.SG, JANENSANDIE // FLICKR, APPLE.COM AUTHOR DARIUS SIY + PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 28MMSTUDIO.COM, APOLOTHEO.WORDPRESS.COM
WORLDMUN*WIRED
21
3
Using your phone Want to call someone? Singapore’s international dialing code is (+65), but if your phone has international roaming service, there’s no need to add that prefix. If you want to keep in touch with your friends while all of you are in Singapore, get a prepaid mobile plan, too!
Singapore’s international dialing code is (+65)
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Getting around If you plan to travel around Singapore for leisure, there are a few mobile apps that will make your life much easier! BuUuk, for example, is a top-notch restaurant app for iPhone,
Android, and Nokia phones. The app even features augmented reality so you can use your phone’s camera to find the nearest eateries. After you’re done, why not leave a review? And we know the feeling of trying to find something specific like convenience stores or hospitals. ShowNearby, an app available for Android, BlackBerry phones and iPhones, to the rescue! This incredibly useful app shows you what facilities are nearby, and is very easy to use. Handy. Last but not least, shopping! Many tourists call Singapore a shopper’s paradise, and it’s not hard to see why. Make sure you download and use SG Malls Singapore (iPhone only), the definitive guide to virtually every single shopping mall in Singapore.
Check out BuUuk, ShowNearby, SG Malls Singapore!
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Buying gadgets
There’s a possibility that gizmos here may be cheaper than in your home country; we don’t know for sure. But just in case it is cheaper, and you want to buy something back, there are a couple of places you can go. You might have heard of Sim Lim Square, a major electronics mall in Singapore. While we do not deny the potential bargains to be had, you have to be careful shopping there. Vendors have been known to rip off tourists who don’t know their tech. One vendor, for example, sold a cheap Sanyo video camera to a tourist, claiming that it’s identical to a high-end Sony version. Otherwise, just hit Funan the IT mall. The price might not be as low, but the vendors are a lot more reliable.
Enjoy your stay! We at the Wired Desk wish you a pleasant stay on our sunny island. If you have any questions, do write in to theridge.wired@nussu.org. sg and we’ll do our best to help you!
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18 WORLDMUN*ENTERTAINMENT
A LOOK AT SINGAPORE’S NIGHTLIFE by Nathanael PS
TOP TIMBRE @ THE ARTS HOUSE LEFT ZOUK
If
you’re more of the party animal, and if you enjoy dancing away into the wee hours of the morning to heart pumping music, or if you’d like to enjoy a quiet drink with your fellow delegates you’ve just met, then this one’s exclusively for you! Despite its small size, Singapore has one of the most vibrant and safe night scenes in the region. From the huge, world renowned nightclubs like Zouk, to the more quaint and cosy bars and pubs around town, with a wide range of music; from the latest beats and tunes off the charts to the more personalised touch of in-house performances, there’s something for everyone. THE RIDGE’s Nathanael Ps explores the nightscene, and tells us about the hippest and trendiest bars and pubs and the kind of music everyone’s dancing to these days. First up, Timbre! One of the more popular destinations, Timbre was founded in 2005 by then, FASS undergraduate, Edward Chia, Timbre has since grown from strength to strength to become a true stalwart in the local afterhours music scene. Initially starting out with their initial outlet @ The Substation, it now boasts three outlets, a catering service and a soon to be launched ‘mobile food outlet’. Although famous for their exquisite wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, from the start, Timbre was all about the music. The founders were both united and passionate about supporting Singaporean musicians and started out with the mindset of raising the profile of the local music scene. By building a new platform. Through a relatively short time, they
were able to build up a strong audience of music lovers from a wide demographic. Local music acts such as Goodfellas, 53A, Iris feat. Liza and Raw Earth have all been able to leverage on this particular platform to build up a name for themselves. Music that is played @ The Substation attracts a substantially younger crowd. Other than Wednesday nights, which is their designated ‘Blues Night’, you can find bands playing Top 40s radio-friendly music. Their outlet @ old school however features a more intimate music setting and bands such as Pam & Chris, Leandra & Fatt and Liza & Joey offer mainly acoustic sets. Music lovers who appreciate more laid back music should definitely give this outlet a visit. What differentiates Timbre form many other live music venues is their extremely high standard pertaining to the live acts that they feature. You can always rely on Timbre to deliver top notch music any night of the week. Timbre has also forayed into organizing large music events such as Beerfest Asia and their annual Rock & Roots festival which features many internationally renowned acts including Bob Dylan, Imogen Heap and John Legend. Moving on from the cosy atmosphere of Timbre, Zouk is one of the very few nightclubs in Singapore that have withstood the test of time. When it first opened its doors to Singaporean youth way back in 1991, few would have predicted that it go on to establish itself as one of the most celebrated clubs in Asia. With its central aim of propelling Asia’s dance music culture forward and leading Singapore to the forefront of the global clubbing scene by continuously pushing boundaries, Zouk
PHOTOGRAPH BACKPACKERS.COM.SG, GLOBALVILLAGEDIRECTORY.INFO, BLOG.TOKIDOKI.IT AUTHOR DARIUS SIY + PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 28MMSTUDIO.COM, APOLOTHEO.WORDPRESS.COM
WORLDMUN*ENTERTAINMENT 19
INSIDE THE BUTTER FACTORY
has managed to not only put Singapore on the world dance map but has evolved into a subculture of its own. Zouk has won numerous accolades and garnered support from many influential international publications over the years. Music wise, Zouk caters to four distinct groups. Their establishment is split up into four main groups, namely, Velvet Underground, Phuture, The Wine Bar and the main Zouk room. Each of the four clubs are poles apart in their décor and styling, catering to very different groups of revelers. Zouk has undergone numerous revamps in its twenty years of functioning but the one thing that hasn’t changed is its commitment to provide the very latest in music offerings. From house to garage, techno to progressive, big beat to breaks, Zouk has played host to hundreds of top DJs and artists including Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, Bjork, Chemical Brothers, Peaches, Roger Sanchez, Giles Peterson and Carl Cox. Zouk’s resident DJs have also made a name for themselves; many of them releasing their tracks on prestigious labels, helping to spread the distinctive Zouk culture and sound to all corners of the globe. Zouk’s most famous annual event, ZoukOut attracts partygoers from the world over and is held on the beaches of Sentosa. It’s definitely an experience you would not want to miss out on (even if you only experience it once). The Butter Factory or “ButterFac” as it’s known amongst aficionados is home to all things alternative, hip and funky. It is an imaginative, bold and ground-breaking party blend of hip hop, R&B, urban grooves and street art. With two main rooms and extremely eye-catching décor, partygoers often choose The Butter Factory over other clubs as it features a uniquely fun
and friendly vibe. It also offers an extremely wide selection of cocktails and drinks that are specific to the club. DJs that spin their beats there include Andrew T, Dave Does, DJ Stanley and weelikeme. From the hip and funky atmosphere of ButterFac, we head to the enclave of bars and restaurants at Dempsey Road. CMPB is fast establishing itself as the bar of choice for many in the well-heeled crowd to grab a beer in the afternoons or find a nice intimate setting to chat over drinks once the sun goes down. CM-PB’s unique approach to a dining establishment is to fuse a bar, bistro and café all into one. Happy hour runs from opening till 9pm and their menu serves an extremely wide variety of food. Kids get free cereal during weekend breakfast and patrons who stay till closing times are given a complementary ‘Soup of the night’. The live music that’s offered here is also remarkable. It plays host to many local acoustic acts, including Zsa + Claire, Jack & Rai and Ngak. And if these aren’t to your liking, we recommend taking a taxi or the MRT to Clark Quay. You’ll definitely find something to enrich your trip to Singapore!
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16 WORLDMUN*ENTERTAINMENT
A BLEND OF ART AND DIPLOMACY by Jocelyn Yeo
After
a week of fast-paced and intense negotiations, it’s time to let your hair down (quite literally) and enjoy the scenes and sights around Singapore. A small red dot on the world map, comprising just 4.5 million people, Singapore has a lot to offer to the arts and the aesthetics and enjoys a flourishing local arts scene. Blending the rich cultures of the East and drawing from the time-honoured traditions of the West, Singapore offers something for everyone. Over the next few pages, allow us to give you a cursory glance at the arts and entertainment scene in our country and we hope some of our mentioned highlights for this month will help you get started on your post-conference trip across Singapore and Southeast Asia. EMILY OF EMERALD HILL
If theatre’s your thing, then do check out this play which is a story about Emily, a young girl born and abandoned on the streets of Singapore in the 1940s. Through native wit and sheer cunning, Emily manages to maneuver through life and eventually becomes the matriarch (or bibik in more Peranakan i.e. native terms) of a distinguished family. But what fate and obstacles lie in her way, as Singapore’s ‘hostess with the mostest’? Hailed by many as the ‘quintessential Peranakan play’, Emily of Emerald Hill stars Ivan Heng as lead character Emily, keeping up with traditional Peranakan performances which feature males as the leading matriarchs. Brilliant, witty and powerfully engaging, this Singaporean classic offers a glimpse into the decadent days of the Singaporean Peranakan community in the post-war era. Date: 3 – 12 March 2011 Venue: Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive Ticket prices: $29 - $99 More information at SISTIC (sistic.com) MOSAIC MUSIC FESTIVAL
This one’s for the music lovers! In its seventh edition, the Mosaic Music Festival is one of the largest music festivals in Singapore and this year, over 400 artists will be performing over a span of nine days. The festival will be kicked off at the Esplanade Concert Hall by The Manhattan Transfer and the
TOP EMILY OF EMERALD HILL
New York Voices. Other performers include Paris-based Gotan Project, jazz pianist Michel Camilo and English musician Jamie Lidell, just to name a few. Date: 11 – 20 March 2011 Venue: The Esplanade Ticket prices: Check Esplanade box office or SISTIC. For more information, please visit mosaicmusicfestival.com NATYA ARPANA - A DEDICATION IN DANCE
There’s something inexplicably exotic about traditional dances; its origins suggest dance was used as a means of performing rituals, celebrations and entertainment since well before the birth of the earliest human civilisations. Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest forms of classical dance to emerge from South India. It is considered to be a ‘fire dance’ and comprises one of the five major elemental styles of dances in Indian culture. The Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) is putting together a recital, Natya Arpana - A Dedication in Dance. This Bharatanatyam dance recital is performed by Rama Vaidyanathan, one of India’s leading classical dancers. Considered one of the most successful and talented interpreters of the Bharatanatyam, Rama’s rhythmic poise and unadulterated devotion to the art leaves behind a sense of spiritual fulfilment, and her beautiful, unique approach to the dance has struck audiences worldwide, including those in the US, France, Japan, and Russia. Date: 18 March 2011 Venue: Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Drive Ticket prices: $30, $40 (excluding booking fee) More information at SISTIC
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET AUTHOR DARIUS SIY + PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH 28MMSTUDIO.COM, APOLOTHEO.WORDPRESS.COM
WORLDMUN*ENTERTAINMENT 17
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BIENNALE 2008 ENTRANCE, ARTWORK FROM BIENNALE 2008 (BACHELOR - THE DUAL BODY & TEH TARIK)
If you’re more into the more modern, contemporary types of dances, check out page 27 on the other side of this magazine for one of the most exciting Hip-Hop dance performances put together by NUS’s very own NUS Dance Blast! COMEDY MASALA
“I wonder if illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?” said Jerry Seinfield. Comedy is a form of art that takes a mammoth effort to master but almost nothing to appreciate. If you’re into stand-up comedy then drop by the Home Club on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. to catch Comedy Masala in action. Comedy Masala organises Singapore’s first weekly stand-up comedy Open Mic Night, hosted by Umar Rana (2nd runner up at the Hong Kong International Comedy Festival, 2009). Held every Tuesday at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8.30 p.m.), it features a quirky and international mix of young comedians, some stepping up to the mic only for the first time. And you too can try your funny bone at stand-up comedy! Just SMS 9653 7511 or email umar@comedymasala.com for a five-minute spot! Date: Every Tuesday night, 9 p.m. Ticket prices: $10 (includes one drink), $8 for tertiary students (includes one drink, but remember to bring your student card!) Venue: Home Club, 20 Upper Circular Road, The Riverwalk More information at comedymasala.com
BIENNALE 2011 - OPEN HOUSE
If you’re the type to quietly gaze into a mash of colour on a large canvas with a hefty price tag, then the Singapore Biennale 2011 has something to offer for you. Currently in its third installation, the biennale-themed Open House will feature more than 150 works by 63 artists from 30 countries. Open House is presented across four venues – the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), the National Museum of Singapore, Old Kallang Airport and Marina Bay, each carefully chosen for its impression on and representation of the Singapore society. Date: 13 March 2001 – 15 May 2011 (Vernissage: 11 – 12 March) Venue: 1) Singapore Art Museum (including SAM at 8Q), 71 Bras Basah Road 2) National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road 3) Old Kallang Airport, Old Airpot Road 4) Marina Bay More information at www.singaporebiennale.org If these aren’t your cup of tea either then turn over to the next page to find out what are some of the most happening pubs and bars in town!
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WORLDMUN*LIFESTYLE
SCHOOL FOOD GOOD FOOD! by Bridget Tan
ENJOY THESE GREAT DISHES IN NUS & COMPARE THE SAME DISH MADE AT FAMOUS FOOD PLACES OUTSIDE CAMPUS! IT’S DEFINITELY A FOODIE’S CHALLENGE!
Being
relegated to school food every day may not be such a bad thing. After all, there is a plethora of food dishes available all over campus that arguably can rival those found outside campus, at a mere fraction of the price! I don’t know about you but it definitely is reason enough for a student like me to stay in school and load up on the carbs I need to face the long lectures ahead! So to all you delegates, do come down to the campus in the evenings and try some of the food here and see if we’re right (though do remember that most canteens close at 7 p.m.)!
CHICKEN CHOP
$3 at The Terrace, Business School
$4 at Frontier, Faculty of Science
Chicken chop, chicken chop: why are you so tasty? When faced with a lack of time, the easiest and safest bet is the good ol’ chicken chop. A boneless piece of meat drowning in tasty sauce, it is very much like an Ayam Penyet, without the nagging feeling of over-indulging on calories.
Don’t let this seemingly simple yet generous serving of chicken deceive you. Directly translated as ‘Smashed Chicken’, this crispy Indonesian dish has brought delight to the taste buds of multiple cohorts of NUS students. Served with a side of rice soaked in curry, fried tofu, cucumber and feisty chilli paste, it makes me go YUM!
$6.90 at Astons, The Cathay Talk about queues! With no reservations allowed, this is one long wait, and I’m not sure it’s worth the time. The main draw is the relatively low pricing for a restaurant in the town. The food itself is not superbly fantastic or anything worth waiting half the night for since their chicken chop is quite ordinary. For a cheaper and faster alternative, opt for Astons Express at Ghim Moh or better yet, the chicken chop at our very own Business canteen. But if you don’t mind waiting, the chop’s pretty good.
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
AYAM PENYET (MALAY/INDONESIAN DISH)
$6.90 at Ayam Penyet Ria in Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road Once upon a time, I refused to acknowledge all the raving reviews about the Indonesian Panggang stall in Lucky Plaza. Then I tried the juicy fried chicken. After that I decided ‘food gossip’ exists for a reason! The sambal chilli (which Singaporeans are so fond of; we always miss sambal when out of town!) is unbeatable. Both the NUS version and this version provide crispy batter scattered around the dish – it really adds extra crunch to your experience! I vote for enjoying a smashing good meal for less. How about you?
WORLDMUN*LIFESTYLE
YONG TAU FOO (IT’S A CHINESE TERM, GOOGLE TO FIND OUT MORE)
CHAR SIEW RICE
15
KEBABS AND FALAFEL
$0.25 per piece, The Deck (Min 8 pieces), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
$2 at The Deck, $2.50 and $0.70/pc respectively at Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences The Terrace, Business School
Everyone in NUS has heard of the Deck’s Yong Tau Foo – famous, delicious and so affordable. With its laksa gravy’s killer reputation, you’d better go earlier in the day if you want some before it runs out. Choose from a wide variety of ingredients and move on to your choice of noodles and either the regular Yong Tau Foo soup or a more adventurous, and in my personal opinion, tastier option of laksa gravy. The only downside remains to be the (figuratively) milelong queue.
Who would have thought of comfort food manifested in the humble form of roasted pork slices lined over a steaming plate of rice, drizzled in sweet dark sauce? Enter the char siew rice from The Deck to tantalize your taste buds. With slices of meat cut to just the right thickness, each tender sliver complements the rice along with the perfect blend of sauce.
Kebabs at the Business canteen are the way to go for the on-thego busy student! With a gamut of succulent meats to choose from, the only problem would be the time spent standing and thinking of which tastebud-tingling option to choose. The crisp lettuce and tomatoes in the pita bread make this dish not only mobile but also healthy.
$0.50 a piece (on average) at Orchard Yong Tau Foo, Cuppage Plaza
$3 at ABC Market, Jalan Bukit Merah
Approximately $7 at Arab Street
Hidden in a relatively obscure part of the bustling Orchard Road area, this little Yong Tau Foo stall has had a loyal following for years. Also packed with snaking queues during the lunchtime peak hour, the stall offers a wide array of ingredients to choose from. Their claim to fame is the unique sweet sauce which is thick,rich and slurpy. However, for half the price, minus the travelling time, I would rather patronize The Deck.
ABC Market is known for their collection of must-eat foods, with this particular dish being the most well-known. With a generous serving of juicy char siew, you can’t help but finish all that rice, even if you are carb-phobic. In spite of that, being 50% higher than the NUS price is a big drawback. But if you’re a sauce person, then it’s a (big) bang for your buck!
The ambience brings you right into the belly-dancing middle-eastern mood, with shisha provisions aplenty. The difference ends there, however. With the same ingredients and offerings of sliced meat in pita bread as that at the stall in our humble NUS canteen, paying double the price simply doesn’t cut it, if you’ll excuse the pun.
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WORLDMUN*LIFESTYLE
MIGHTY RED DOT by Jasmine Teo
Aloha! Bonjour! Ciao! 你好! A great
big WELCOME to all our WORLDMUN delegates from the 270 universities located in more than 65 countries! The dot on the map that seems so small compared to the great vast sea out there is Singapore. Since her independence in 1965, her landscape evolved from a fishing village to a bustling metropolis in Asia. With new additions like the Singapore Flyer, Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore is turning into a ‘must-visit’ destination! Here are 10 things you should know about Singapore…
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
LION CITY Sang Nila Utama, the founder of ancient Singapore, had named her Singapura (Lion City in Malay after his sighting of a lion on the island). The name ‘Lion City’ had brought great luck and prosperity to the tiny red dot. According to fengshui, the strokes of the Traditional Chinese characters of Lion City (獅城) is the reason why Singapore is so successful today. Should there be 4, 9 or 13 strokes in the chinese character, the word is a good and prosperous word. ‘獅’has 13 strokes while ‘城’has 9. The addition of 13 and 9 gives 22 which can be separated into 2＋2 giving 4. The power of these three lucky numbers within the two words is evident in the years of economic success and development.
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A SINGING DURIAN Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay! This durian-like (it’s supposed to be a microphone) structure houses fine dining experiences such as 7atenine and Harry’s, melodious music by renowned orchestras and shopworthy stores. You’re also in for a relaxing time on the roof terrace which offers a panorama of Singapore’s prime waterfront.
OF SAND, SUN AND SEA Formerly known as Pulau Blakang Mati (Malay: ‘Island of Death from Behind’ as the Japanese shot people from the back in that island), Sentosa is the one of the best weekend getaway places. Gone are the grotesque memories of Japanese Occupation killings that explains its former name… Sentosa is renewed with attractions like the Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon and now Resorts World Sentosa. And then there are sexy babes and hunks getting their bodies tanned up whilst playing volleyball! Take the Luge ride, get wild at the Megazip Adventure Park or give the Segway Sentosa (an eco-friendly vehicle) a try. At the end of the day, come pop a beer bottle and relax at the Wavehouse or Café del Mar in Siloso Beach.
LIFE OF AN EXPATRIATE The influx of foreign talent = increased rate of globalization/cosmopolitanization of our culture. As a result, there is a significant number of expats living in Singapore. If you wish to experience a day or two as an expat, try these amazing brunch places in Singapore: Wild Honey in Mandarin Gallery, the relaxed ‘countryside’ Rider’s Café in Fairways Drive or the Epicurious Café by the riverside. And then head down to town for a whole afternoon of shopping at Orchard Road with stores ranging from high end options in ION Orchard to the cheapest and latest youth fashion in Far East Plaza. After shopping your fill, have some high tea at the Rendezvous Hotel. Thereafter, you can head down to Dempsey Road or the Bukit Timah region to have some exotic fusion food.
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WORLDMUN*LIFESTYLE
ZEST FOR THRILLS?
C. M. I. O. These four letters are the acronyms for the four main race categories in Singapore: Chinese, Malay, Indians and Others. This race categorization began during the colonial era when our colonial rulers segregated the Singaporean people according to their race and ethnicity. Back in 1871, Singapore had more than 28 racial categories (including groups like Dyaks and Persians). In 1881, the people were re-classified to six main categories. A race category like ‘Tamils and Other natives of India’ in 1881 became ‘Indians’ since the census in 1921.
Been dying to satisfy your craving for some headspinning, jaw-dropping, heart-pounding experience? Subject yourself to a 360° ride at the Battlestar Galatica ride in Universal Studios Singapore, the reverse Bungee and Swing at Clarke Quay, the Wild Wild Wet and Escape in Downtown East. These rides will certainly bring your visit to Singapore to greater heights (literally).
For convenience, the wide variety of races in Singapore had been ‘packaged’ and ‘sized’ into four letters by our government in recent years.
ROCK YOUR BODY! PUT YOUR HANDS UP! Groove to the latest club songs and dance your whole night away in the best clubs in Singapore! Here’s how to plan your nights: Monday and Tuesday: drink and chill at pubs like Timbre and Brewerkz. Wednesday night: have a mambo-jumbo good time at Zouk’s Mambo Night and hop in to clubs like Rebel, Zirca or The Butter Factory for a free night (ladies only, oops sorry guys!). For Thursday, set your chopper to the Helipad at Level 5 of The Central @ Clarke Quay and for Friday, head down to St. James Power Station for more dancing! Don’t forget to drink lots of the worldrenowned Singapore Sling and Tiger Beer.
WORLDMUN*LIFESTYLE
OUR OWN SHARE OF FUNNY PEOPLE “Best in Singapore, JB and some say Batam” is Phua Chu Kang’s catchphrase. Played by Gurmit Singh, Phua Chu Kang is the face of Singlish in Singapore. The yellow rubber boots, Afro hair and white striped shirts are the three things that you cannot miss out if you wish to imitate him. Another advocate of Singlish would be Mr Brown, who calls the government ‘garmen’. He does podcasts that portray Singaporean issues and policies with his own sense of humour. Take the increase in number of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries in Singapore for example - he wrote his opinions to the tune of the song ‘Tokyo Drift’. Controversial as they are, many youths do listen to them for the sake of entertainment. Visit mrbrownshow.com to have your share of this humour today!
GLORIOUS FOOD! Experience the world in this tiny small dot with… your TONGUE! Singapore has an astounding number of restaurants for each and every cuisine, whether Western, Thai, Chinese, Peranakan or even Mediterranean! As the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Now that you are in Singapore, try our favourite local food dishes: ‘Char Kway Teow’ (Fried Noodles with Cockles), ‘Bak Kut Teh’ (Herbal Pork Ribs Soup), Roti Prata and Nyonya Fish Head Curry!
AMOUR Paris and Rome aren’t the only romantic places in the world. Feel the air of love in Singapore! Here’s a number of romantic things to do and places to go with your beloved! At dawn, cycle along East Coast Park in a tandem bike and take a breather by the breakwaters. Then catch the most recent movies on the premium seats in Golden Village Gold Class. Afterwards, experience sky dining in either the Singapore Flyer or Mount Faber’s The Jewel Box Sky Dining in the cable cars. After dinner, head down to nightspots like the Henderson Wave Bridge or Merlion Park to have a good time talking and strolling.
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WORLDMUN*NEWS
NEWS IN SINGAPORE by Meera Nair, Chua Ai Ni, Dawn Tan & Goh Ruoyi
WHILE YOU ARE HERE IN SUNNY SINGAPORE, HERE’RE A FEW NEWS SNIPPETS FOR YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES ON IN THE CITY-STATE.
17 JANUARY 2011
18 JANUARY 2011
The Business Times - Mediapolis, the massive 19-hectare media park touted to elevate Singapore to the global media stage, will be completed by 2020. It will house state-of-the-art media facilities capable of supporting the entire media eco-system - from production, financing, distribution to trade, according to the Media Development Authority (MDA) chief executive Aubeck Kam. Mediapolis will focus on the development of high-quality digital media content as well as R&D work on emerging digital media technologies. Four government agencies - JTC, MDA, the Infocomm Development Authority and the Economic Development Board will be jointly in charge of developing the project.
The Business Times – Singapore is poised to play a dominant role in the use and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG), an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fuel and gas oils, a trend the shipping industry is shifting towards. The LNG terminal on Jurong Island, which will be ready by 2013, is likely to expand into areas such as LNG bunkering and industrial gas manufacturing. With its strategic location in the middle of major supply centres in the north, south and east, Singapore is set to lead in the use of this cleaner fuel which can cut down nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 90 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
17 JANUARY 2011
2 FEBRUARY 2011
The Straits Times – Singapore will keep investing heavily in education to maintain the world-class standards of local students, said Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng. These investments include cash awards that range from S$200 to S$400, scholarships such as the S$3.1 million community scholarship scheme and bursaries like the S$126,400 worth of Citizens’ Consultative Committee Bursary awards. Referring to an international ranking of tertiary universities released last year, he reminded students that while Singaporean students were ranked in the top five, they face strong competition from Asian countries like South Korea, China and Japan, as well as countries like Finland, Canada and New Zealand, hence they should not rest on their laurels.
Channel NewsAsia – More than 2,500 medical staff from the public healthcare industry were recognized at the inaugural Singapore Health Quality Service Awards, established to identify service champions in public healthcare. The award, set up by Singapore’s largest healthcare group, SingHealth, is the first of its kind in Singapore. Recipients of the award were chosen based on their contribution to team effort, dedication to quality and service improvement and the number of compliments and service awards received. SingHealth Group CEO, Professor Tan Ser Kiat, said that he hoped that the awards can help to increase service excellence in Singapore’s healthcare.
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///// 15 FEBRUARY 2011
16 FEBRUARY 2011
Channel NewsAsia – Singapore has been ranked the third most expensive city in Asia in terms of rental accommodation, according to a report by consultancy firm ECA International, a solutions provider for companies placing their staff overseas. The first and second places were taken by Tokyo and Hong Kong respectively. Globally, Singapore ranks as the fifth most expensive city, a step up from its previous sixth place. High demand for rental accommodation due to an increasing number of international assignees is the main reason for the increase in rental fees.
Channel NewsAsia, asiaone – The latest national project in Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, reached its first milestone at the capping ceremony of the Flower Dome, a giant conservatory. Slightly larger than the size of two football fields with a height of 38m, the Flower Dome houses plant and flower varieties from the Mediterranean. A second conservatory, the Cloud Forest, will be built and will showcase plant varieties from the tropical high elevated regions. Together, they are estimated to feature about 226,000 plants worldwide. The two conservatories are part of Bay South, which will open its doors to the public in June next year.
16 FEBRUARY 2011
17 FEBRUARY 2011
The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia – “Home – Keeping It Together” is the theme behind this year’s Total Defence campaign. Every year, Total Defence Day is celebrated on February 15 to remind Singapore, a small country, of its vulnerability. On the same day in 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese. This year for Total Defence Day, 39 Singaporean singers and musicians spanning across different generations and music genres came together for a remake of the Singapore classic ‘Home’. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who launched the campaign, urged Singaporeans to commit themselves to the defense of Singapore, especially in the face of the complex and multi-dimensional threats of today.
The Straits Times, Channel NewsAsia – The 2011 economic growth outlook for Singapore looks set to be generally positive with the Ministry of Trade and Industry predicting an expected GDP growth rate of between 4 to 6 per cent this year. The recovery of the global economy and steady pace of growth in advanced countries is expected to lend support to manufacturing activities locally. The inflation forecast, however, was revised to 3 to 4 per cent, up from the previous projection of 2 to 3 per cent. GDP growth for 2010 was 14.5 per cent, which was driven in part by a surge in the manufacturing sector.
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WORLDMUN
WORLDMUN 2011: AN UNEXPECTED SUCCESS
by Kelvin Ong
What
began as a fantasy, has become reality.
At first glance, NUS students Sharmeen Alam and Ngiam Jing Zhi are just like you and I – she is a third-year political science and economics major and he’s a third-year geography major. But this semester, they also wore many other hats. Apart from playing the role of students, both Alam and Ngiam were the co-presidents of the upcoming Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) 2011 in Singapore, multitasking as leaders to a team of 52 members (also NUS students) and they will play caretakers round-the-clock to 2300 tertiary delegates from all across the globe. A Chance Evening
worldmun worldmun singapore 20 worldmun singapore 2011
This all arose remarkably, out of a coffee table conversation one evening 18 months ago. It was June. Both Alam and Ngiam were at a BBQ gathering celebrating the success of the 2009 Singapore World Model United Nations Conference for junior college (JC) Students, which they were involved with. Even the current Chief Editor of THE RIDGE was present that day, having been a part of the organizing team. At some point in the evening, the group began sharing their previous Model United Nations experiences. “I talked about my fun memories at the 2009 WorldMUN in the Hague. Pretty soon, we were all talking about what it would be like if the conference was in Singapore instead. We talked about the places and parts of our country we’d show off to the delegates. Jing Zhi was particularly interested and we began wondering about how we could end the conference with a beach party at Sentosa, how Marina Barrage would be a great venue for one of our events,” recalled Alam. Their uninhibited imagination has become reality. During the weeklong conference this March, a beach party and an event called Asean Night will be held at Sentosa and the Marina Barrage respectively. “It’s so unreal, so unbelievable. These things we spoke about in a casual conversation actually became the impetus for something greater.” Suhas Bhat, the Chief Editor of this publication, adds, “The MUN community here is a dedicated one and I knew WorldMUN would come here sometime but I didn’t have any idea NUS students would end up submitting a bid to host the WorldMUN. It’s like if a simple dinner organized by the Sports ministry led to the FIFA World Cup coming to our island!”
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PHOTOGRAPH WORLDMUN 2011 HOST TEAM
Preparing For the Bid
Not long after and without a concrete plan in hand, the pair decided to see where they could go with this pipe dream of theirs. Their first step was to reach out to the Singapore Tourism Board, enquiring on grants that the government offers for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions), as well as for the renting of Suntec City as the conference’s main venue. Of these early campaigning days, Ngiam said, “In between seeking sponsorship and funding, working on our image for the conference, looking at potential venues and getting NUS on board, we just went deeper and deeper. By the beginning of 2010, we were so immersed that there was just no turning back.” The process in getting the bid proposal ready was not an easy one. “The preparation in submitting the bid was hectic to say the least. The bid team consisted only of Jing Zhi and I and we produced the entire 100-page document by ourselves, detailing exactly why the conference should be held in Singapore,” said Alam. She continued, “However, before we knew it, we were in Taipei to attend the bid briefing and we eventually submitted the bid to Harvard University a few weeks later.”
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WORLDMUN 2011 SINGAPORE WILL BE HELD AT SUNTEC CITY FROM MARCH 14 – 18, 2011.
n 2011
Convincing the World
And the rest is history. On May 2nd last year, the co-presidents received the news from Harvard University that they had won the bid. It was an impressive feat. This was Singapore’s first ever tryout and in winning, they became the first Southeast Asian University in the event’s 20-year history to do so. “Winning the bid was surreal,” said a retrospective Ngiam. “Both of us were literally speechless and had to check repeatedly with the Harvard WorldMUN team’s Secretary-General, Reihan Nadarajah if he was serious!” Nadarajah was full of praises for the duo’s meticulous proposal. He said that “the Harvard team was thoroughly impressed with the overall detail in the bid, the professional layout of the bid itself, and the level of dedication showed by the bidding team throughout the process.” Being Bosses: Carrying Out Recruitment Drives However, the ensuing celebrations following the victory would not last long, much less grant any time for a break. Now the two had to turn their attention towards an equally important task – recruiting members. And they had to do it fast. By this time, it had already been exactly 12 months since that fateful evening in June when everything came into being.
They would find out that the process recruitment was a whole different ball game. It was no longer “just” the two of them doing a lot of writing, perfecting a proposal for submission. They were now bosses looking to employ the best candidates to fill the spots in the different directorates. Being on the other side of the table “felt odd at times”, said Alam. “The applicants were from different faculties and levels of education. I even had to interview some PhD students and that seemed so wrong!” Eventually, with help from the Office of Student Affairs and a series of email blasts, they selected their team. Today, the WorldMUN Singapore team consists of 52 members and ten directorates – Conference, Conference Trips, Finance, Hospitality, Media & PR, Staff, Social Events, Art, Logistics and Sponsorship. *** It’s now mid-February. The semester is well underway - the library is packed every day, students are scampering to keep up with readings and scampering after professors along the walkways with endless questions. But for Sharmeen Alam and Ngiam Jing Zhi, school is the last thing on both their minds. WorldMUN 2011 is the priority. Well, for the time being at least. The WorldMUN 2011 Host Team wishes all delegates a great time in Singapore.
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THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE A CANADIAN, AN AUSTRALIAN AND A BRITISH STUDENT SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES IN SINGAPORE. chartering a boat, doing 100kmph on a moped on the highway, swimming in waterfalls, and eating good food in the street markets. Returning to Singapore for classes, the hard work began. They work extremely hard, so if you are at NUS on exchange, better put on your ‘A game’. We had the support to excel though. In my case, industry professionals from Shell and J Ray McDermott were available for consultations every morning, so excellent results are sure to follow if you do work hard and push yourself. Be sure to cram in a trip during recess week, though. Vietnam/Cambodia followed by a trip to the F1 race is highly recommended. Singapore, being a diverse city with many ethnic groups, is a great location to learn about the various Asian cultures. From enjoying a nice curry dish in little India to a good old shawarma at Arab street, we were most spoilt for choice for a nice meal. Transportation was relatively inexpensive but I had to drop a few ‘bones’ for a good drink. The different races also make for a country with a wide range of festivals. From Eid, through Deepavali, to Christmas and Chinese New Year, a wide range of planned activities can be available in the city. Inasmuch as Singapore may be relatively modern and ‘young’ in terms of history and culture, there is still a buzz of life around the city when the various festivals are being celebrated. The end of semester will sneak up on you like a thief in the night and soon you will have exams and then it will all be over. Hong Kong and Macau it was, for one last adventure with my crazy bunch of
Edem Kwesi Dei University of Birmingham, School of Civil Engineering
Studying
abroad was the best decision I have ever made. No plans - just turn up, be open and friendly and you will be taken on an adventure of a lifetime. Within five days of arriving in Singapore, I was off to Phuket, Thailand, with a bunch I had just met. A crazy unplanned trip – PHOTOGRAPH NUS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE
friends before heading home for Christmas. To begin, there is no question about jumping off 60 floors/233m/764ft from the Macau tower, the world’s highest bungee jump. The view when dangling from 30 floors up is just breathtaking. So I guess, if you are considering a year abroad and reading this article, you are looking for a reason why you should or shouldn’t be doing it. The list of reasons to go abroad is endless. But I met some of the most amazing and fun-loving people I know and I am glad I can call these people who live all over the world my friends. I’m sure I’ll be back to Singapore to do it all over again sometime soon.
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at NUS from 13 to 24 July. I worked throughout the conference to put together a befitting multimedia finale and was also a student liaison for approximately 50 students from 24 member universities in 10 countries. I choose to intern here for several reasons. As my eventual goal is to work for the foreign service of Canada or international organisations, I wished to connect well with people from all over the world on both a personal and organisational level. Having lived, worked, and studied in numerous countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Japan, and now Singapore, I learnt to appreciate the culture and customs, and can adapt quickly to any situation and I am sure the acquisition of these life-long skills will stand me in good stead when I join an international workforce upon graduation. Another reason for interning here was to really see dynamic Asia in action. Singapore is very different culturally and located in an exciting region of the world and I was interested in working, studying and volunteering in Asia. I was really thrilled when NUS accepted my application to study and work for six months from January to July 2009 and I had already been accepted by the High Commission of Canada for a second internship from August to December 2009 so things fitted together superbly. My internship stints here have given me the space and time to hone my skills as I have met some very talented and hardworking people here from whom I’ve learnt a great deal! Going abroad to study has always been popularized but increasingly more students are pursuing international internships and if you are thinking of pursuing such a course, then definitly don’t hesitate to apply and intern now!
Katherine de Visser, University of British Columbia Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & International Relations) on an international internship
This
is my second internship stint in Singapore. My first was with the Canadian High Commission in 2008. I am attached to IRO’s Americas Section, which facilitates student exchange, international internships, and summer programmes between NUS and partner universities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. I got a chance to work on three projects. The first is the NUS-UBC Lee Foundation Report which profiles the impact of the Lee Foundation awards on students who have completed an exchange at either UBC or NUS. Secondly, I also assisted the marketing communications team to conceptualize a bi-annual newsletter: ‘Step-Out’. The third and final project required me to lend assistance to the administration of the 4th Asia Pacific Rim University (APRU) Undergraduate Summer Programme 2009 which focused on the topic ‘Rising to the Challenge: Global Leadership in the 21st Century’ held
Christy Reece University of Adelaide, Australia
I still
remember the moment I got off the plane at 3 a.m. on January 6th. Stepping outside after five hours of air-conditioned air, I couldn’t help but gasp at the 85% humidity and the warm 25 degrees. I must confess my first thought was, “What have I gotten myself into?!” But I was met at the airport by my very lovely welcome buddy who escorted me to the residence, showed me how to find my room and chatted with me a while until I was sleepy enough to go to bed. And then things just got better and better! To my surprise and delight, it only took a few days to adjust to the climate. The nights are gorgeous and I have spent many evenings wandering around with friends, enjoying the breeze and the cooler temperature. Being from Adelaide, South Australia, I have limited experience with rain so every time there’s a rain storm here, it’s a pleasure. It’s usually accompanied by wonderful lightning displays and I watch the gutters turn into mini waterfalls. I received student housing on campus along with many other
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to establish some friendships with local students and I have loved experiencing a different culture. I am very taken with some of the vocabulary here, like the way people say they are ‘attached’ instead of ‘in a relationship’. I’ve also learnt how to use chopsticks, more or less. I spent much of my time dropping things and losing track of my noodles but it was fun all the same and the food here is great! It’s been a real treat not cooking or washing dishes for the last four months and since there are cafeterias in the student housing, I’ve really enjoyed having dinner with friends every night. I don’t think I could have had a better time here. I have met many beautiful people whom I will really miss, although thanks to the wonders of Facebook keeping in touch is much easier. I also learnt a lot in my courses and so much about myself while being here. In fact I’ve loved it so much I have applied to return next semester, and would recommend to anyone and everyone to go on exchange!
About IRO A leading global university centered in Asia, the National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university which offers a global approach to education and research with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. Its 14 faculties and schools across three campus locations in Singapore – Kent Ridge, Bukit Timah and Outram – provide a broad-based curriculum underscored by multidisciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment. Its transformative education includes programmes such as student exchange, entrepreneurial internships at NUS Overseas Colleges, and double degree and joint degree programmes with some of the world’s top universities, offering students opportunities and challenges to realize their potential. The learning experience is complemented by a vibrant residential life with avenues for artistic, cultural and sporting pursuits. Over 30,000 students from 100 countries further enrich the community with their diverse social and cultural perspectives. International students are invited to come to NUS for a semester-long or a full academic year for exchange. Visit www.nus.edu.sg/iro for more details on NUS as an exchange destination. exchange students, making it easy to befriend amazing people from many different backgrounds. Some crazy adventures ensued as we explored Southeast Asia together. My first excursion from Singapore was a weekend trip to Borneo. I don’t think I’ll ever forget getting into a little five-seater boat that was trying to take me and three friends to Bako National Park which required venturing into the South China Sea and holding on tightly as the boat struggled to work its way through high tide and choppy waves. I saw monkeys for the first time when we made it to the park which was almost as exciting as the trip there! I have also found my studies in NUS to be an adventure all of their own. To my surprise I performed in skits for all my psychology classes including biological psychology. I even produced a children’s book for social psychology. I have loved finding out how another university teaches the same topics I study at Adelaide. There were times I found it difficult to adapt to the differences in teaching styles, but I think the challenge was good for me. There was a lot of group work involved for some of the assignments which also gave me the opportunity
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EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome delegates! Many of you might have charted a great distance to come to Singapore. Some of you are feeling jet-lagged while others are keen to explore the city, but all of you are united in your drive to make the world a better place. And with that, you will carry out simulated diplomacy within the next week at the Suntec City conference! I myself am an avid fan of the Model United Nations. I went to Hong Kong and the London versions and was a Chair of the United Nations Development Committee for the 2010 version of the Singapore Model United Nations here. I made some great friends and thoroughly enjoyed finding out how the United Nations works from an insider’s perspective. I hope you have a great time here in Singapore within your one-week stay. In order to help make your stay a pleasant one, all of us here at THE RIDGE (the monthly student magazine at the National University of Singapore, a publication of the NUS Students’ Union) have worked towards creating 32 pages of content tailored just for you! Find out about what students who visited NUS in the past have to say about “The Singapore Experience” (opposite page), “WorldMUN 2011: An Unexpected Success” (pg 6) and some local news (pg 6). If you want to find out more about what the island has to offer then learn a bit more about it first in “Mighty Red Dot” (pg 10). You’ll find neat guides to the arts scene (pg 16), the clubbing spots (pg 18) and for the tech-savvy students, a guide to “Using Your Gadgets in Singapore” (pg 20). And as many of you are from around the world, we dare you to see if you know any of the “10 Wackiest Sports From Around the World” (pg 29) and try out food from our university (pg 10). Finally, the Opinion desk has a few articles about Singapore in order to better acquaint you with the country articles about Singapore’s multicultural outlook (pg 23) and what to check out in Singapore (pg 22). And for the diplomacy enthusiasts, do read our columns on “Singapore’s Role in International Relations” (pg 24), the need for “A Better Class of Diplomat” (pg 25), “Lessons From Egypt” (pg 26) and an article on how Sports and Politics combine in “Spolitics” (pg 28).
The Cover For our cover, we have chosen an image from the Egyptian protests of the past two months. We have done so because the people of Egypt deserve to be honoured for their courage and bravery and are a shining example for all of us today. At the same time, it demonstrates the need for cooperation in order to take on the many challenges of the day. The problems in this world are varied and complex but the capacity for man/woman to tackle them is there if we only realise it. The girl holding the flag probably doesn’t understand why she’s doing it. In the same way we, the youth of the world, are just discovering our own capabilities and limitations and we’re all learning about life every day. But like her, do follow the right path and make a difference. We hope you have a great conference.
Suhas Bhat Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg
CONTENTS 06 worldmun 2011: an unexpected success 08 news in singapore 10 mighty red dot 14 school food good food! 16 a blend of art and diplomacy 18 a look at singapore’s nightlife 20 using your gadets in singapore 22 explore singapore the rail way! 23 unity in diversity 24 singapore’s role in international relations 25 a better class of diplomat 26 lessons from egypt 28 spolitics 29 10 wackiest sports from around the world
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WORLDMUN 2011: AN UNEXPECTED SUCCESS MIGHTY RED DOT SCHOOL FOOD GOOD FOOD! LESSONS FROM EGYPT A LOOK AT SINGAPORE’S NIGHTLIFE AND MORE...
AFGHANISTAN
REPUBLIC
GHANA
LUXEMBOURG
PORTUGAL
TAJIKISTAN
ALBANIA
CHAD
GREECE
MADAGASCAR
QATAR
THAILAND
ALGERIA
CHILE
GRENADA
MALAWI
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
THE FORMER
ANDORRA
CHINA
GUATEMALA
MALAYSIA
REPUBLIC OF
YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC
ANGOLA
COLOMBIA
GUINEA
MALDIVES
MOLDOVA
OF MACEDONIA
ANTIGUA AND
COMOROS
GUINEA-BISSAU
MALI
ROMANIA
TIMOR-LESTE
BARBUDA
CONGO
GUYANA
MALTA
RUSSIAN
TOGO
ARGENTINA
COSTA RICA
HAITI
MARSHALL ISLANDS
FEDERATION
TONGA
ARMENIA
CÔTE D’IVOIRE
HONDURAS
MAURITANIA
RWANDA
TRINIDAD AND
AUSTRALIA
CROATIA
HUNGARY
MAURITIUS
SAINT KITTS AND
TOBAGO
AUSTRIA
CUBA
ICELAND
MEXICO
NEVIS
TUNISIA
AZERBAIJAN
CYPRUS
INDIA
MICRONESIA,
SAINT LUCIA
TURKEY
BAHAMAS
CZECH REPUBLIC
INDONESIA
FEDERATED STATES
SAINT VINCENT AND
TURKMENISTAN
BAHRAIN
DEMOCRATIC
IRAN (ISLAMIC
OF
THE GRENADINES
TUVALU
BANGLADESH
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC
REPUBLIC OF)
MONACO
SAMOA
UGANDA
BARBADOS
OF KOREA
IRAQ
MONGOLIA
SAN MARINO
UKRAINE
BELARUS
DEMOCRATIC
IRELAND
MONTENEGRO
SAO TOME AND
UNITED ARAB
BELGIUM
REPUBLIC OF THE
ISRAEL
MOROCCO
PRINCIPE
EMIRATES
BELIZE
CONGO
ITALY
MOZAMBIQUE
SAUDI ARABIA
UNITED KINGDOM OF
BENIN
DENMARK
JAMAICA
MYANMAR
SENEGAL
GREAT BRITAIN AND
BHUTAN
DJIBOUTI
JAPAN
NAMIBIA
SERBIA
NORTHERN IRELAND
BOLIVIA
DOMINICA
JORDAN
NAURU
SEYCHELLES
UNITED REPUBLIC OF
(PLURINATIONAL
DOMINICAN
KAZAKHSTAN
NEPAL
SIERRA LEONE
TANZANIA
STATE OF)
REPUBLIC
KENYA
NETHERLANDS
SINGAPORE
UNITED STATES OF
BOSNIA AND
ECUADOR
KIRIBATI
NEW ZEALAND
SLOVAKIA
AMERICA
HERZEGOVINA
EGYPT
KUWAIT
NICARAGUA
SLOVENIA
URUGUAY
BOTSWANA
EL SALVADOR
KYRGYZSTAN
NIGER
SOLOMON ISLANDS
UZBEKISTAN
BRAZIL
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
LAO PEOPLE’S
NIGERIA
SOMALIA
VANUATU
BRUNEI
ERITREA
DEMOCRATIC
NORWAY
SOUTH AFRICA
VENEZUELA,
DARUSSALAM
ESTONIA
REPUBLIC
OMAN
SPAIN
BOLIVARIAN
BULGARIA
ETHIOPIA
LATVIA
PAKISTAN
SRI LANKA
REPUBLIC OF
BURKINA FASO
FIJI
LEBANON
PALAU
SUDAN
REPUBLIC OF
BURUNDI
FINLAND
LESOTHO
PANAMA
SURINAME
VIET NAM
CAMBODIA
FRANCE
LIBERIA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SWAZILAND
YEMEN
CAMEROON
GABON
LIBYAN ARAB
PARAGUAY
SWEDEN
ZAMBIA
CANADA
GAMBIA
JAMAHIRIYA
PERU
SWITZERLAND
ZIMBABWE
CAPE VERDE
GEORGIA
LIECHTENSTEIN
PHILIPPINES
SYRIAN ARAB
CENTRAL AFRICAN
GERMANY
LITHUANIA
POLAND
REPUBLIC
WorldMUN
was founded in 1991 by several Harvard students who were looking to create a different Model United Nations experience. It was only natural that the conference’s first session would be in Miedzyzdroje, Poland, a city that had just had its borders opened with the fall of the Iron Curtain. There were about 100 delegates at the 1992 conference. The
conference grew for several years, and, in 1997, WorldMUN partnered with its first host team, the Budapest University of Economic Sciences. With the introduction of the host team, the conference began to develop its social activities to expand the conference experience beyond committee-based discussions, most
RIOTS IN EGYPT
notably the Global Village where delegates bring food, drink, songs and traditions from their homelands, and Cabaret, a global talent show, which began to bookend the conference as much as opening and closing ceremonies did. Now, welcome to Singapore, the Lion City, and we hope you have a good time.