Inkslingers complete final 1

the inkSlingers Thursday, 29 October 2015

•

IS#30:291015(2)

News

Jonathan Yabut Shares Success Secrets

>3

•

For internal circulation only

News

Feature

A Race to End Slavery

Living a Life of Irrational Fear > 11

>4

Bus Fare to Remain Unchanged

By DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) has decided to replace Wawasan Sutera with a new bus operator on 17 November with the same bus fare of RM1.50 per trip.

Vice President of Facilities, Environment Health Safety and Administration Murali Rajoo said, “To ensure our commitment to students, the price will remain at RM1.50.”

He said the university pays Wawasan Sutera RM47,000 a month for six shuttle bus services.

However, this amount was found to be only sufficient to cover the costs of petrol, maintenance and salary without profit, he added.

“The university therefore allowed the bus operator to charge students a fare of RM1.50 per trip as additional income,” Murali said.

Murali added that they are looking into adding more routes to reduce parking problems.

“The current routes will remain but we are exploring 10 additional pickup points which will be announced soon,” Murali said.

The termination of Wawasan Sutera’s contract was due to the unauthorised use of a TU bus to ferry rally-goers to the red shirt rally on 16 September.

TU students hope for better bus services in the future to accommodate the large number of students.

Murali said TU has invited various bus companies to present their proposals for shuttle bus services.

“We’re currently conducting background checks on these new bus companies to ensure they are not affiliated with the current operator,” Murali said.

According to Vice-Chancellor and President of TU Professor Datuk Dr Hassan Said, they are reviewing the new bus operator proposals.

“We will ensure that the level of service should be equal or better than the services given by the current bus operator,” Professor Dr Hassan added.

School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts student Hu ZeHao, 19, said, “There are only two time slots per hour and that is just not enough.”

Hu added that the destination routes are also very limited and prefer it to reach further regions.

School of Biosciences student Shazleen Ahmad, 21, said, “I think free rides should be offered to students as we have paid a lot for our resource fees.”

“It would be good if the buses could be more punctual too,” she said.

Shazleen also agreed that there should be more time slots with an increase in shuttle buses to accommodate the large number of students.

According to School of Communication student Ooi Jia Yee, 20, the training provided participants with knowledge and skills related to digital marketing.

Ooi said the programme gave her basic knowledge of Google Adwords, an online marketing tool, as well as a deeper understanding of the advertisements that appear on digital media.

The focus on digital marketing is related to the commercialisation of social media, according to SOCIT student Chan Wai Hoe, 20.

Chan said the frequency of advertising across digital platforms proves its importance.

“Advertising on social media triggers and draws you in,” he added.

School of Engineering student Abdul Aleem Seeni Mohamed, 20,

said the programme offered him skills on a more practical level.

“My family is in the business field,” said Abdul Aleem, adding that learning digital marketing skills could help his family’s textile business expand.

Abdul Aleem added that he is interested in learning new things even if they are not related to his current field of study.

Students Learn About Digital Marketing Platforms

By YEONG XIU HUI SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University’s (TU) School of Computing and IT (SOCIT) collaborated with Google Malaysia to provide TU students an opportunity to learn about digital marketing platforms.

Google Ignite, a training programme by Google Malaysia, conducted a series of workshops last month for students on Lakeside Campus.

2

NE W S

October 2015

DVC: TU Fee Reflects its Value

By OW JI JING

the ink

Slingers Editor Ow Ji Jing

Deputy Editor Farah Nadhirah Muhammad Khairun

Chief Sub-Editor Kelly Wong Yee Lin Layout Editor Nadya Sulaiman

Online Editor Law Cheng Jing

Writers Abel Khor Ju Yi Angelina Lee Tze Theng Au Hui Shan Darius Shu Chen Keong Foong Kah Mei Goh Song Wei Karmugilan Panneerselvam Kelly Cheng Chiali Krishna Kumar Apparao Lee Jie Yin Lee Ting Lyana Rosalini Mohd Yunus Sacha Malli Gerard Christopher Siti Nabila Hashim Nicholas Jessey Lim Tan Yong Loke Teh Woon Ya Teong Yi Xin Tiffany Maree Lim Yap Ying Ying Yeong Xiu Hui Yong Chun Khuen Visit us at theinkslingerstulc.weebly.com Write to us at inkslingersaug15@gmail.com

Printer C&T Graphics Mr. Ng Hock Swee AS 82 (1st Floor) Jalan Hang Tuah 4 Salak South Garden 57100, Kuala Lumpur

Contact Number +603 7981 2250 016 277 8201

SUBANG JAYA: High quality experience is one of the reasons behind Taylor’s University’s (TU) fees, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Pradeep Nair said.

“Education is intangible. The price is determined by the value in terms of experience and return of investment,” he said.

He added, “Its value is determined by the fact that students actually get higher salaries and greater recognition for a degree.

“A recent Tracer Study done by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia showed that fresh graduates from TU command higher wages.”

He added that the lecturer to student ratio is kept at an optimum amount so that students will have a great learning experience.

“For example, the ratio for medical students is one lecturer to eight students,” Professor Dr Pradeep added.

“The value is also determined by the additional opportunities in programmes such as the SHINE Awards, student mobility opportunities and extracurricular activities,” he said.

He added that TU is a private entity and therefore, it is entirely dependent on fees from the students.

“We do not get any financial aids from the government, thus we have to charge a certain amount so that we can sustain ourselves and have some surplus,” he said.

He added, “With the surplus, only then we are able to reinvest in the university, and for every ringgit

earned from the students, we give 50 cents back to the university.”

“The remaining 50% are kept in a reserve so that we can invest in something new,” he said.

However, some students think that the education price in TU is expensive and its service does not reflect the fees paid.

School of Architecture, Building and Design student Harris Aziz, 22, said, “The education provided is what I expected but when it comes to service and maintenance, TU has a big room for improvement.”

Design School student Raymond Yau Poh Chuan, 20, said, “We want to know exactly how our fees are being utilised.”

“I hope that TU management could explain that to the students,” Yau added.

Co-organising chairman Kanicen Nix said, “More than 180 participants have competed in the contest despite the haze.”

Kanicen said, “Although many did not turn up at the last minute but I think that the response was

still better than what we had originally expected.”

He added, “The haze became worse yesterday but we decided to go ahead since it had turned slightly better today.”

Kanicen said the organising team had prepared first-aid kits and an ambulance on stand-by at the campus roundabout.

One of the participants, medical assistant Muhammad Khuzairie Muhammad Rosli, 28, said, “My friends and I decided to take leave from work to participate although it’s hazy because fishing competition is seldom organised in the city.”

Co-organising chairman Kay Fairuz said, “We are hoping to make this a yearly tournament.”

Businessman Mohd Khairil Janudin, 27, won the tournament with a 54cm-long snakehead fish.

Fishing Contest Receives Good Responses Despite Haze

By FOONG KAH MEI SUBANG JAYA: Metropolitan Anglers Tournament 2015 held at Taylor’s University on 4 October received good responses from participants despite a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index reading of more than 200.

Muhammad Khuzairie carefully handles the fish that he has caught.

TU Students to Represent Malaysia in Malta

By OW JI JING SUBANG JAYA: Three Taylor’s University (TU) students will represent Malaysia at the Common Purpose 33Sixty Malta programme from 17 to 20 December to explore ways to stop people profiting from migration.

Designed for young leaders from Commonwealth aged 18 to 25, the 33Sixty leadership programme will be held in Malta.

The TU students participating in this event are School of Engineering

student Melanie Yong Ze Siin, 21, School of Communication student Elisabeth Chen Siew Hoon, 22, and School of Education student Lum Kit May, 21.

Chen said, “I hope to understand challenges and obstacles faced by both the local government and international political bodies alike.”

Life Skills Development specialist Dorcas Lam Yarn Pooi said, “They will attend the programme with 97 young leaders from the

Commonwealth to explore the migration issue.”

She added, “These young leaders will meet world leaders and also visit detention camps for illegal immigrants.”

“The students are currently exploring partnerships with companies who are willing to invest in the cause,” Lam said.

She said, “They will use their experience to give back to the TU community when they return.”

NEWS

October 2015

Yabut: Focus on One Big Thing

3

By DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG SUBANG JAYA: The Apprentice Asia winner Jonathan Yabut encouraged students to focus on one passion for a successful future career.

“If you look at successful people today, they focus on one big thing, make a name out of it and work hard for many years,” he said.

Yabut said students should start envisioning, debating and listing down what they want in their future as early as now.

“Humanity was never made to multitask,” he said at the 2nd iLead Conference on 3 October.

He added, “What I don’t like about our generation is that we

are all made to believe that we can become everything.”

Yabut reminded students that they do not have to say yes to every opportunity of success.

“If we are too ambitious, we would not succeed at anything at all,” he said.

Yabut said grit was his motivation to success.

“No matter how many times you fall down, you must learn to love the failures and commit to get that goal accomplished,” he said.

He added, “It is your responsibility to harness grit and when you focus hard on it, you will reach the goal

because you want it that badly. This is what separates successful people.”

Taylor’s Business School student Chen Zi Juin, 20, said, “Jonathan’s talk was what a lot of student leaders and the Gen-Y needed to hear as we seem to define success the wrong way.”

Chen added that some of their definitions of success are a product of their parents’ generation but now they have to learn to prioritise opportunities and know which ones to let go.

Taylor’s Business School student Ajeeta Rathakrishnan, 20, said, “Jonathan’s talk was great as it was

very nice to see a passionate man speaking about his achievements.”

School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts student Said Azizov, 20, said, “I was very motivated during the first session because Jonathan Yabut’s vision of life matches mine.”

“The talk has not only motivated me to change, but also to have stronger beliefs, to envision success until my goal is reached,” he said.

He added, “The greatest leader is the one who creates new leaders.”

“I was very satisfied with the 2nd iLead conference and I hope everyone learn to use it as a trigger to be an inspiring leader,” he said.

Underdogs Win Adventure Race

By LEE TING SUBANG JAYA: Team In Haze came out as champions over the threeday Adventure Race despite being the underdogs.

Adventure Race Organising Chairman Mohamad Haris Mohamad Subki said, “I definitely did not expect them (In Haze) to win at all.”

In Haze team member Lewis, 20, said they had no strategy coming into the race.

“We just wanted to have fun.

We didn’t aim to win at first because we were in one of the last positions at the end of the second day,” Lewis said.

According to Lewis, the turning point for them was the second last challenge where participants had to work together to make a lantern.

“I do not know why but we finished it in five minutes, making us the fastest,” he said.

In Haze team member Calvin Tanata, 21, said the reason they succeeded was probably because

they did not expect or pressure themselves to win.

“I guess slow and steady really wins the race,” Tanata said.

“We saw that some were so into the win that they started making mistakes,” he added.

Tanata said the toughest part for him was not the challenges but waking up early for the 5.30am start-off.

Paradigm Shifters member Oswald Tee Mak, 18, said he would not let his team’s forfeit stop him from enjoying the race.

Oswald said his team had to forfeit on the second day due to his teammate’s injury.

“I decided to go on with the race without my teammate just to experience the rest of the challenges,” Oswald said.

Oswald, who is also part of the media team, added that he was thankful that the organisers allowed him to tag along just for the experience.

“The race was definitely an adventure that really tested our physical and mental limits and allowed us to do things we normally would not do,” Oswald said.

Adventure Race is an annual event organised by the Sky Adventure Club

to promote Malaysian tourist spots and culture.

Forty-one teams raced across Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Perak with the hope to be the winners of The Adventure Race 2015.

where start-ups can seek for potential investors from four experienced Lion investors-cumpanelists who will watch their business project presentations.”

Traquer, a mobile application that aims to enhance bus safety and promote awareness, was thought up four years ago.

“My friends and I had planned a trip to Penang but our parents disapproved due to safety reasons as we were taking a bus,” Shi Jin said.

“During the journey, we decided to observe the bus and that is when the solution of creating Traquer was thought about,” Shi Jin added.

Shi Jin said Traquer enables bus passengers to check the speed and location of the bus.

“Traquer also enables bus passengers to give comments or complaints to the bus operator about any cases of misconduct,” he added.

Shi Jin said, “This application also helps bus operators to monitor drivers’ performance.”

He said they hope to contribute to the society by reducing bus accident rates though this application.

Shi Jin presented the project on behalf of the team on 21 October in Hangzhou.

Dean of SOCIT Professor Dr Hiew Pang Leang said, “Traquer has potential as it can address the concerns of public transport users.”

Tanata (left) and Lewis delighted over their unexpected win.

Photo Credit: Darius Shu Chen Keong

Road Safety App Traquer Makes Lion’s Den Shortlist

By LEE JIE YIN SUBANG JAYA: Traquer, an app created by the team Little Hunter from Taylor’s University School of Computing and IT (SOCIT) was shortlisted in Lion’s Den at Hangzhou, China.

The winning team consisted of team leader Ting Shi Jin, 19 and members Ting Shi Chuan, 20, Ahmad Shahid Nassir Rogers, 21, and Janice Chau Sian Lu, 20.

Shi Jin said, “Lion’s Den is a subevent of World Entrepreneurship

4

NE W S

October 2015

24 Hour Race to End Modern Slavery

By LAW CHENG JING SUBANG JAYA: Running To Stop The Traffik will organise the 24 Hour Race KL with a mission to end modern slavery by fundraising and raising awareness.

The race starts from 9am on 14 November until 9am on 15 November at IGB International School, Kuala Lumpur.

Executive Director of 24 Hour Race KL Cindy Leow Thung Thung said, “We hope to instill motivation, drive and leadership into the minds of the youths.”

Leow added that she hopes to inspire the younger generation to become front-liners to tackle the issue of modern slavery.

“Students will challenge themselves to experience the hardships that slaves face on a daily basis,” Leow added.

Leow added that there would also be a 24 Hour Music Festival with local artists, a food festival and inter-school bonding activities such as water balloon fights.

Participants of the Hong Kong 24 Hour Race 2014 run with the mission to end modern slavery.

Photo Credit: 24 Hour Race

According to Leow, all the money raised will go towards two anti-slavery beneficiaries which are SUKA Society, Malaysia and Circus Kathmandu, Nepal.

She said these organisations focus on rehabilitating child victims of slaves back into society by educating and giving them support in terms of physical and mental well-being.

“We are expecting to raise RM600,000 for our anti-slavery beneficiaries and we’re looking forward to attract 800 runners and 150 marshals and 600 tickets to be sold for our music festival,” she added.

Leow said there will be prizes for the fundraiser who collects the most funds, the most active school and so on.

“We also want to focus on rewarding youths in an engaging manner that transcends their limitations,” Leow added.

According to Leow, they currently have 20 schools signed up for the race.

Some of the schools that have signed up for the race are Taylor’s International School, Taylor’s College Subang Jaya, Nexus International School and IGB International School.

TU Management to Add ReWIND INTELLECT Launches New Systems Upon Request Teaching Engagement Scale

By KRISHNA KUMAR APPARAO

SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University has made the lecture capture system, ReWIND, available in classrooms and will add more upon requests for a better interactive learning experience in lectures and tutorials.

“The main aim of ReWIND is to increase students’ participation in blended learning activities,” said ReWIND representative Donny Yeo Chuan Hoe. “We recently added the lecture capture system at BG.16 and E6.10 upon request from various schools,” Yeo said.

Yeo said the video quality depends on the constant download bandwidth which allows the videos to stream without needing to buffer.

School of Engineering student Shakeera Mohd Sham, 22, said, “I find this system convenient as it shows lectures that are taught in class, even when I miss lessons.”

“However, ReWIND needs to be improved for smoother access because it is slow even when I have a stable internet connection,” Shakeera said.

By KELLY CHENG CHIALI

Shakeera using the ReWIND system.

School of Communication student Nurul Farhanah Zolkefli, 22, said, “ReWIND is efficient for me, but the video quality needs improvement.

“It also helps me in my studies as I get to revise what I have learnt in class,” she said.

However, she added that lecturers should use the microphone to get better audio quality for ReWIND recording purposes.

SUBANG JAYA: Integrated Teaching and Life-Learning Centre at Taylor’s University (INTELLECT) has launched the Teaching Engagement Scale (TES) to assess the efficacy of lecturerstudent engagement.

The assessment has replaced the previous course evaluation survey, which were conducted on a voluntary basis.

INTELLECT Director Assoc Prof Dr Tang Siew Fun said, “The biggest difference now is that students are required to take 10 minutes to fill up the TES during class hours.”

Tang added that this new approach is to combat the low level of student participation in course evaluation surveys.

Tang said she is confident the new system will receive at least 70% participation from the students.

“Only then will the findings of the survey be representative enough for us to interpret,” Tang said.

Tang said lecturers who received poor feedback will undergo internal

and external trainings to improve on their teaching methodology.

She said, “TES creates a selfregulating ecosystem where lecturers are constantly mindful of their performances.

“Of course, this can only happen when students themselves play their roles in giving proper feedback,” she added.

School of Communication student Valerie Bong Li Hwa, 18, said, “This is a good initiative because I would not remember to do the survey unless being reminded to do so in class.”

TES is a system designed to cultivate professional development among lecturers based on the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), a new feature to fill in the lackings of the previous course evaluation used.

For a well-balanced feedback system on part-time and full time lecturers, TES uses the assessment from four key stakeholders, which are self, students, peers and superiors.

October 2015

NEWS

5

Haze Cripples Largest TU Run Event

By KELLY CHENG CHIALI SUBANG JAYA: Unhealthy Air Pollution Index (API) reading of 172 forced a last-minute cancellation of My Partner Advisor (MPA) Charity Run on 27 September.

The 8km-run with about 1,500 participants, the largest in Taylor’s University, was cancelled about an hour before the event was scheduled to start.

Organised by Scholars@Work under Mission Aspiring Better Lives Everyday (ABLE), the run was held to raise funds and create awareness for the Handicapped and Disabled Children’s Association of Klang (HDCAK), Selangor.

Mission ABLE Chairperson Melanie Yong Ze Siin said they already had a contingency plan a day before in case the haze worsens.

“Our team unanimously decided that if API reaches 140, we will cancel

the run and announce it through Facebook and SMS,” Yong said.

Riding for Disabled Association committee member Cheryl Victor, 38, said Mission ABLE team’s prompt action and engaging communication was comparable to other nationwide marathons.

Around 500 people attended the Move On Hope charity bazaar, originally scheduled to run concurrently with the marathon.

School of Communication student Nicole Joy Sim, 20, said, “I came to collect my goodie bag and to show support to my friends who worked very hard for this event.”

The run raised approximately RM40,000 for HDCAK and also donated sponsored food items including bread and milk to five other charity homes in Klang Valley.

Student helper Simon Foo Wei Ming, 23, arranges items on sale at a booth during the charity bazaar. Photo Credit: Mission ABLE

Lecturers Share Innovative e-Learning Systems

By TEH WOON YA SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) lecturers and students from 11 schools shared their experiences using different innovative e-learning systems during the Teaching and Learning Festival 2015.

The Design School (TDS) lecturer Charles Sharma Naidu Achu Naidu incorporated a gaming system in class by implementing Classcraft, a role-playing application.

“Whenever students fulfilled a task or answered a question correctly, they will be rewarded with experience, health points, power, and gold pieces in Classcraft, which can be used to upgrade their avatar,” Charles said.

“This application encouraged students to collaborate with one another, and let me keep track of their learning progress,” he added.

TDS student Foo Sher Ming, 18, said, “With the reward system in Classcraft, I strived to achieve better score to customise my avatar.”

American Degree Transfer Program (ADP) lecturer Dr Wong Yau Hsiung implemented a new blended learning system, Kahoot! last semester.

“Kahoot! is a free game-based student response system with attractive features to make learning interesting, fun and engaging,” Dr Wong said.

He said Kahoot! encouraged friendly competition, with rewards for five students who scored highest marks by answering questions accurately in shortest time.

ADP student Kwan Fu Xuan, 18, said, “Kahoot! is different from traditional and boring teaching

styles, and I found myself improving after the system was implemented.”

After attending Dr Wong’s session, Centre for Languages lecturer Sujatha Krishnan said, “I will consider implementing Kahoot! in my classes, as students’ attention will be higher when they become more involved in the learning process.”

Festival organiser Lim Chee Leong said, “This is a signature annual event organised by the Integrated Teaching and Lifelong Learning Center at TU from 22 to 23 September.”

“This year, we invited lecturers and students to share their e-Learning and First Year Experience to gain different viewpoints,” he added, noting that approximately 30 lecturers attended each session.

SPART tackled social issues such as abortion, homosexuality and AIDS in their first three plays which were rotated between groups of audience in LT22, LT4 and Experimental Theatre simultaneously.

SPART Co-Director Surayyn Selvan said inspiration from Artistic Director of Theater Three Sixty Malaysia, Christopher Ling led the team to try site specific theatre, which was something new to them.

Surayyn said, “The hardest part was to let go (of convention) and we weren’t really keen at first as it scared us.”

He added that site specific acting meant audience rotated instead of plays, which gave a different perspective and a more intimate setting.

Surayyn said the team set aside the worries and decided to try something new.

Charles shares his experience implementing Classcraft in classes during the festival.

Photo Credit: e-Learning Academy @ Intellect

SPART Amazes Audience With New Direction

By LYANA ROSALINI MOHD YUNUS SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s Society of Performing Arts (SPART) amazed audience this year with a new direction consisting of five ‘au courant’ topics, three different locations and one big surprise from their SPART directors.

They received multiple standing ovations throughout the showcase from 7 to 10 October at Taylor’s University Lecture Theatre (LT) 20.

SPART directors surprised audience and SPART members with The Wolf, the last play that was only made known to directors and cast.

SPART Co-Director Esther Tan Jen Chze said, “Each of the scripts were written for a purpose as we wanted to put our message out there.”

She added, “It was never for personal gain or about making money, but for the love of theatre and the love of SPART.”

6

NE W S

October 2015

Architecture Students Encourage Senior-Junior Bonding

By DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG SUBANG JAYA: School of Architecture, Building and Design (SABD) finalyear students encouraged building relationships between students from different semesters through various activities at the Chaparty event on 3 October.

President of T-Ribe (SABD’s committee team for Chaparty) Jolene Hor Wei Fern said, “We want to strengthen the relationship between seniors and juniors because this can really help students to excel.”

“We realise that university life shouldn’t only be about assignments,” Hor said.

“We want the students to look back at this chapter of their lives and talk about it someday.”

Hor said the event was successful because everyone took some time off from their work to bond with each other and build long lasting relationships to cherish.

Chaparty Project organiser Garnette Dayang Robert said the committee came up with a Mamak theme for this event.

“We wanted an atmosphere where people feel comfortable and could mingle around.

“It’s also a place that we could all relate to. That’s when we decided

on the theme of Mamak that represented our aim,” Garnette said.

Garnette said the Chaparty event has brought the team closer to students from other semesters as they went through various challenges in organising this event.

SABD student Chia Sue Hwa, 19, said, “One of the most memorable

School of Architecture student Jack Too Mun Fai, 19, (left) performing a class dance themed ‘Milo Ais’. Photo Credit: SABD T-Ribe

moments I have was when a few seniors voluntarily shared their words of wisdom with the crowd.”

Chia said there was a sense of sentimentality in the air as it reminded everyone why they belonged in SABD. “This event was definitely a success because everyone was socialising and cheering,” Chia said.

School of Communication student Annabel Michael, 19, who attended the event said, “I think it was a really good initiative and the organisers did an amazing job for this event despite their busy schedule.”

School of Engineering student Darren Lee Jun Weng, 21, said it would be good to have similar events in other schools.

“It is a great way to bond, make new friends from different semesters and we can improve our soft skills too,” he added.

Digital Engagement Centre Mentees Engage Students to Apply to TU

By LAW CHENG JING SUBANG JAYA: Taylor’s University (TU) students are given the chance to engage with school leavers and encourage application to TU. Under the Digital Engagement Trainees Mentoring Programme (DETMP), students can be mentees of the Digital Engagement Centre, Sales Planning and Development (DEC).

DETMP was initiated in August

by DEC to let TU students actively engage with customers or school leavers by making calls to encourage enrolment.

Mentee of DEC and Taylor’s Business School student Rachel Zahn, 19, said, “We would call up the students and tell them about the scholarships that we are offering

here in TU and encourage them to apply.”

“We would also explain the courses that they are interested in for better understanding,” Rachel added.

Rachel said contact information and customer leads were gathered from TU booths at high school Open Days, with high school students providing contact information that were later used by the mentees to make the calls.

Rachel added, “The mentees would be able to benefit from this programme, such as better communication skills.”

She also said the overall programme is designed to improve interpersonal skills.

“This programme is a preparation for our future work environment and the best thing about it is you don’t need to leave the campus to get these experiences,” she added.

Taylor’s Business School student Cheong Kar Mun, 20, also a mentee, said, “This programme has helped me boost my confidence and enhance my communication skills.”

“I was nervous when I was making calls in the beginning of the programme but slowly it got smoother as time goes by,” Cheong said.

She added, “The language barrier is one of the challenges I faced, as I had difficulties explaining to students in Malay and in Chinese.”

Cheong said she had to deal with different types of people while conversing through the phone.

“You have to deal with the way they reply, regardless if they are polite or rude, and you have to deal with rejection too,” Cheong added.

Cheong said the mentors of the programme are very friendly and comfortable to work with.

DEC Content Manager Executive Zechariah Bux said, “The mentees will get a certificate of recognition at the end of the mentoring programme.”

This mentoring programme is open to all students who are interested in developing their interpersonal communication skills by engaging with school leavers.

The initiative aims to set up a food redemption system where students could purchase meals to be given out to others who needed them.

Thian said, “For now, we are working with Temptations and DIB so it is food-related, but we do not want it to end there.”

“This is still at its testing period and depending on the response, we may have different initiatives so that kindness as a lifestyle does not end there,” said Thian, adding that they hoped to encourage students on campus to make kindness a habit within their daily life.

Students could purchase a T-shirt and sponsor a meal at the same time for RM25, according to the Pay It Forward’s official Facebook announcement on 5 October.

Thian said proceeds from the T-shirt sales would be used as funding for any costs incurred by Pay It Forward’s projects.

Thian added that the initiative was set up to be sustainable and could be passed down to juniors in the future.

Pay It Forward organising chairperson Joel See Yue Jian said the initiative will create a sense

of belonging among students by providing them with a platform to help others.

Pay It Forward is led by about 20 students from various schools such as TBS, School of Communication and School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts.

“At the moment, we are not recruiting anyone to help out with this initiative.”

“We will start recruiting from January to May next year,” See said.

For more information on Pay It Forward, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PIFtaylors.

Students to Have Opportunity to Pay It Forward

By YEONG XIU HUI SUBANG JAYA: Students have been given a chance to share acts of kindness by taking part in the Pay It Forward initiative.

The student-run initiative started mid-October, in collaboration with Taylor’s University’s (TU) student-run restaurant Temptations and the TU branch of Deaf in Business (DIB) cafe.

According to one of the founders, Taylor’s Business School (TBS) student Raymond Thian Sie Yee, 22, the initiative was first conceived to help students who could not afford meals on campus.

October 2015

FE AT U R E S

Through the Eyes of a Janitor

7

By KELLY WONG YEE LIN

Everyone has their own life story.

A story that you can call your own, one that defines who you are.

Taylor’s University (TU) janitor Tamil Shallvi K. Subramaniam has her own story to tell too.

Tamil has been working as a janitor in TU commercial block for half a year. Before this, she was working as a guard in a primary school, but she had to look for another job when the school decided to change the security management.

“I studied until Form 3, but I had to stop because my family was poor,” Tamil said.

She added that she loves studying, and if she was given a chance to finish her studies, she would want to venture into the sciences as it was her favourite subject.

Adulthood was also not exactly a bed of roses for Tamil. She lost her husband 10 years ago and has no children. She is now renting a house with a few housemates.

Most women at Tamil’s age would be thinking of retirement, or maybe just staying at home and taking care of their grandchildren, but Tamil did not have the privilege to do so.

Tamil works every weekday from 7am to 7pm and from 7am to 5pm on Saturdays. Even with the long

hours, her income is just enough to cover monthly expenses.

“It is hard and tiring on weekdays because many students will walk by (the hallway) and use the toilet.

I have to make sure they (hallway and toilet) are always clean so that nobody will complain,” Tamil said.

Age being a factor, Tamil also said she suffers pain on her arms when working, but she has to endure the pain as she knows it is her job to ensure the cleanliness of the toilet.

When asked about the challenges she faced, Tamil said students nowadays are irresponsible. This is due to their mindset of thinking that this is what janitors are paid to do, which is to help them clean the mess they have made.

She added that a lot of female students did not properly dispose their used sanitary pads and tissue papers into the dustbin.

“They need to know that it is their responsibility to throw them (used sanitary pads) nicely into the dustbin,” Tamil said.

Tamil said because of these irresponsible students, sometimes she felt taken for granted as a janitor.

There were also a few encouraging moments for Tamil when some students actually greeted and

thanked her after using the toilet.

She also shared a specific moment that made her feel appreciated.

“Just a month ago, a Malay girl by the name of Farah bought me a

Subway sandwich in the morning and thanked me personally for what I am doing,” she said.

A janitor is an occupation that is not highly acknowledged by students. Some of us might also associate janitors with the words ‘dirty’ and ‘low class’. We tend to be too ignorant, until the point we become inconsiderate towards them.

But, one thing we should all remember is that they are humans too, and they are to be treated with respect regardless of their job.

Think of it this way, we will not be enjoying our facilities in campus if not because of them.

A janitor like Tamil has taught me that sometimes it is alright to ‘serve’ and not ‘deserve’. The moment we stop thinking about what we deserve, and start thinking about how to serve and help others, this is actually the start of humility and the end of ego and pride.

Amazing how one can learn life lessons from a janitor, right?

Do stop and thank the janitors if you happen to pass by them. A word of thanks and encouragement will definitely make their day better.

After all, it does not cost a single penny to say a word of thanks.

other religions and beliefs, he thinks that the headscarf does alter his perception towards these women.

Man added, “Before I get to know girls with Hijabs better, I would assume that they are closedminded. If I had the choice, I would avoid getting to know them even though I do know a few ‘Hijabis’ who are cool.”

Contrary to this, there are people out there who take the Hijab as merely another piece of clothing item. Some also believe that women in Hijab are just like any other ordinary human.

Undeniably, women in Hijab carry a form of responsibility in which they need to guard themselves and being more reserved at certain things.

School of Computing and IT student Ahmad Shahid Nassir Rogers, 21, said, “It might indicate that the person could be more reserved at certain things – respectfully and understandably, but it’s the same case with people

who wear religious clothing. It’s nothing out of the norm.”

Even when there are pools of thoughts out there who do not wish to befriend Muslim women with Hijab, there are some who are not affected by it.

Ahmad Shahid added, “I would totally befriend a girl wearing the Hijab.”

School of Communication student Aisyah Mustapha Kamil, 21, said, “Most people respected my decision and some people say I looked better without it.”

Aisyah Mustapha also mentioned about how her life has changed after she started covering up. She inspired many girls on social media which made her realise that she made the right choice.

The Hijab is merely another piece of clothing on a woman’s body – it does not signify who and how she is as a person. We should never forget that a ‘Hijabi’ is still a person, like everyone else.

Tamil cleaning the hallway.

Fitting in: Life with a Hijab

By FARAH NADHIRAH MUHAMMAD KHAIRUN To most people, the Hijab is synonymous to Muslim women.

To Muslims however, the Hijab is a symbol of her faith.

Wearing the Hijab is not as simple as covering your head with a piece of cloth indefinitely, it is more than that. Though compulsory as stated in the Quran, with the modernisation of the world – making that choice of covering up is no longer an easy one.

As forward thinking as the world gets, the mindset people have of women in Hijab, at times still remain negative. The Hijab is not something that is accepted in today’s culture.

Living in a diversified culture does not always mean that we accept each cultural norm there is out there.

In certain cases, there are people who have shallow perceptions towards women in Hijab. Some of these shallow viewpoints would be that girls in Hijab are not smart, introverted, not outgoing, poor and even bald. Fitting in becomes harder,

especially for Muslim girls who wear the Hijab.

School of Architecture, Building and Design (SABD) student Anis Nabila Amir Hamzah, 21, said, “After a few days in college, I started to realise that certain people have a stigma that we are nowhere close to being smart.”

No woman should be defined through her appearance – Muslim women included. A Muslim woman’s personality, behaviour and attitude does not depend on the scarf that covers her head.

Due to this stigma of donning a Hijab, a lot of Muslim women find it difficult to ever be ready to cover up.

Anis Nabila added, “There were new friends I made in college who treated me differently. Different in the way that they made judgements solely on my physical appearance which did not signify who I was.”

SABD student Benjamin Man, 22, said even though he respects Muslim women just as he respects women of

8

FE ATUR ES

October 2015

Time to Move Out, Racial Renting!

By LEE TING At some point in life, we need to leave the safety of our home to be independent.

As if searching for an accommodation that suited all your criteria was not hard enough, you sometimes find yourself turned away at the door just because of your skin colour.

Yes, racial discriminating renting exists and the first to be affected are international students.

“A lot of places put up advertisements that read ‘Chinese only’ which I think is unfair,” said School of Communication (SOC) student Luqman Hamsa Abdullah, 28, who is of African American descent.

Luqman said it was not hard for him and his wife to find a place, but getting the owner and agent to trust them was.

“Finding a place to stay was fairly easy for my wife and I. However, the agent would constantly stop by the house to look for damages,” Luqman said.

Former School of Engineering student Khayat Taylor, 26, from Arab, found out that some landlords charge unfair rental fees to foreign tenants.

“A lady I called offered to let me rent her place. But because she sounded sketchy, I asked a Chinese friend of mine to call as well. When

he did, he was offered half the price of rent she offered me,” Khayat said.

Racial discrimination happens not only to international students but locals as well.

Coming from Penang, SOC student Joshua Michael Joseph, 22, said he faced racial discrimination too.

“When I first contacted the agents to look at the place, all will be fine because I spoke fluent English.

But when I show up, the agent and owner actually went, ‘Oh, you are Indian?’” Joshua said.

Property agent Gigi Wong Zi Wei, said landlords’ choices are usually made based on past experiences with tenants of different races.

“Most start out with no preferences but because they have had bad experiences with particular race groups, they decided to cut their losses and rent to those they want,” Wong said.

Wong added that landlords also believe it is easier to communicate with those of the same race as themselves.

Former American Degree Programme student Natasha Lee Mei Ann, 21, actually found a house that fit her budget and criteria, but it turns out that the landlord does not want to rent to non-Muslims.

“Because the landlord was a devoted Muslim, he preferred to

rent to Muslims only as he wanted to keep the house halal. I told him that I am not much of a drinker and I do not eat pork but he still would not budge,” Lee said.

Though it is hard to believe, people of different race and religion can actually stay together.

“I live with an Indian and a Muslim (now),” Lee said. “One does not eat beef and one can only eat halal. It is not hard; we just have a set of dinnerware and cooking utilities that are designated for ourselves.”

For landlord Norman Hadi Marjuki, he does not believe in racial discrimination.

“Actually, I do not mind renting to any race and gender as long as they are responsible,” Norman Hadi said.

However, Norman Hadi said he understands that the landlords, especially those renting by rooms, would set such preferences because they are thinking of the comfort of all their tenants. Making them all from the same race and gender allows the tenants to feel safer and get along easier.

Perhaps nothing much can be done by us students now, but the experiences may be a blessing in disguise. To know that racial discriminating renting exists, it will allow us to think twice about doing the same in the future when we become landlords ourselves.

You can always see them burying their heads in books or laptops, studying for their exams or finishing up a mountain of assignments.

Roommates as such take ‘silence is golden’ to an entirely different level.

You would not want to interfere them or else you might have to face some annoyed faces.

If you want to have a conversation with them, the best topic would be about studies – their favourite!

The Superstar The Superstar roommates live by the motto ‘No Music No Life’ and they think they are the next winner of The Voice.

You might encounter roommates who love singing non-stop, but with an out-of-tune voice, causing others sleepless nights.

When they are in a bad mood, have bad grades or just had a breakup, they would express their emotions and feelings through their singing.

However, if you are lucky enough to find a Superstar roommate who actually sings well, you will be able to listen to a free concert then!

The Ghost You might see them the first time when they move in, but you would not see them much after that.

Sometimes, you might even wonder if they are still alive, or maybe you should make a missing person report to the police.

People in this category are always out of the house. They are either too outgoing or too busy. When you finally get to see them, it will never be more than a few minutes.

Otherwise, it will be during the wee hours of the morning when they return to the dorm.

The LOL You might also encounter roommates who have the loudest, funniest and most unique laughter in the world. They are the ones who

would bring laughter and make up your day!

Roommates as such love to laugh out loud especially when watching TV shows or series. You might get a shock due to their sudden laughter or end up laughing together with them.

It is even funnier when they have a combination of a funny laughter and a unique gesture. Some of them would clap their hands loudly, or randomly hit everything around them.

There are many other types of roommates besides the ones mentioned.

If you are lucky enough, you might meet someone who could end up being your perfect match and you get along magnificiently.

If you meet the perfect roommate, stick with them as long as you can as it will truly be a match made in roommate heaven.

Joshua looking for rooms to rent only to find there are racial preferences.

Types of Roommates You Might Encounter

By LAW CHENG JING In your campus life, staying with different people under one roof would probably be a wonderful experience, or a bad one.

The thought of staying with new individuals and having to get used to their habits can be challenging and dreadful. It is sometimes inevitable that conflict might arise between roommates due to differences in personalities.

If you have gone through this, you would realise that you are able to meet various types of people, some who might end up being your best friend, or some you might not feel comfortable staying with.

Here are a few types of roommates you might come across: The Scholar For this type of roommates, the library is their second home. They think that the most important thing in their life is their studies and nothing else matters more.

October 2015

FE AT U R E S

9

Students Work on Improving Lives through Technology

By YEONG XIU HUI In the opening speech at ImagineHack, Taylor’s University (TU) Agents of Tech (AOT) president Janice Chau Sian Lu said, “Technology is the closest thing we have to a superpower.”

ImagineHack, an event organised

by AOT, was held from 27 to 28 September at Lakeside Campus.

In line with ImagineHack’s theme of ‘Smart City’, participants armed with technological knowledge and app development skills put their “superpowers” to good use as they committed to a 24-hour nonstop hackathon.

It is inevitable that society has become increasingly dependent on technological advances and digital devices.

Head of Cloud Ecosystem Development at IBM, one of the main sponsors of the event, Vincent Ler said in his speech that the current smartphone is more powerful than the computers used to send astronauts to the moon in 1969.

Aspiring ideators, designers and developers pooled their ingenuity to make full use of the digital technology within their grasps, in the form of smartphone applications.

Tunku Abdul Rahman University student Ang Wa Shen, 22, shared about the idea and application his team worked on throughout the 24 hour period.

“It is a social community app basically, for people to post their enquiries and seek community help,” said Ang, adding that its design is similar to a digital notice board which allows people to post “sticky notes” if they needed help.

Ang (second from right) and his teammates show the prototype of their mobile application to the panel of judges (seated) at ImagineHack.

Ideas that were presented ranged from more personal use based, such as the one Ang and his team proposed, to applications that could be implemented on a national scale.

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) student Kelvin Loo Kie Feng, 22, teamed up with two fellow UTeM students to design a carpooling application that included a reward and redemption system for users who frequently offer carpooling to others.

Pitched ideas ranged from life diaries and health monitoring applications to various transportrelated applications, such as one which digitalised the current public parking system into a paperless version, providing convenience and ease of use.

Amongst some of the more intriguing ideas was an alarm clock

application, specifically to be used in transite, or when travelling with public transport, to make sure you did not miss your stop.

Yet another application was proposed to facilitate the search for parking spots in such a way where users that needed a parking spot is paired with users that were leaving a parking spot.

While some participants came fully prepared and teamed up with ideas to work on, others chose to attend the event alone.

School of Computing and IT student Lakshana Bunghoo, 19, attended the event not only out of curiosity to tap into the minds of her peers, but also because she believed in the necessity of further improvements to current systems.

“According to FBI data, 70% of youths know how to do some form of

hacking. This shows how important safety is as a priority when it comes to technology. Networks can be good and bad,” she said.

She elaborated that while technology is beneficial, ample caution must be taken when planning and executing technologyrelated concepts. Undoubtedly, such advancement has its risks.

The event witnessed university students embracing technological advancements and putting great thought into how to build a better community through the use of technology.

It remains to be seen just how far technology as humanity’s collective superpower can be utilised.

However, those who dream of saving the world could fulfill their dreams to some extent by using technology to improve our lives.

not authorise the bus service for this purpose.

“Boycott Taylor! No excuse! Take our money then spit at our face!” said Ong Phaik Kim, a Facebook user.

“Stop your children from going to this racist Taylor’s University. Teach them a lesson and make them pay for their so-called mistake,” said Aubrey Tan, a Facebook user.

These are just a few of the long list of comments that affected TU’s reputation tremendously.

Of course, TU was not completely without blame. They could have done better in terms of communicating with the bus operator to prevent this from happening. However, the

fact that Facebook users ignored the official statement and continued to criticise TU was unfair to the management.

This is just an example as to how keyboard warriors could spread hatred and damage an organisation’s reputation.

They tend to voice out their opinions based on emotions, which normally only spark more hate within the community. They often overlook the fact that words hurt even though they are not spoken but typed.

Besides, most of them do not bother doing a simple fact-check before sharing information, which

often results in sharing rumours or half-truths.

None of these actions bring any good to the community. Instead, we should strive to do the opposite.

As they say, “make love, not war”.

Do or say things that actually lift people up, and not bring them down.

Let us be generous of our affirmations instead of criticisms and be respectful when conversing with another person, be it in virtual or real life.

The next time you want to speak or comment, think about the truth.

If none of them are present, then perhaps it is not necessary to be said or in this case, typed.

Behold, The Ever-So-Brave Keyboard Warriors

By OW JI JING Have you seen people who are extremely outspoken on a cause on the Internet, but do not do a thing about it in real life?

These people are called keyboard warriors. They voice out their opinions boldly only when they are comfortably hiding behind their computers and mobile devices.

On 16 September, MalaysiaKini posted a picture of a Taylor’s University (TU) bus transporting participants of the Red Shirt rally. It caused an outrage from the public towards TU management.

Keyboard warriors criticised the TU management despite the fact that TU has clarified that they did

10

FE ATUR ES

October 2015

Hello, My Photo-Filtered Self!

By DARIUS SHU CHEN KEONG Have you ever had a moment where you are totally in awe of the gorgeous photos as you scroll down your Instagram feed?

Back in those pre-Instagram days, all of us used to post photos with random poses without the need of any filters.

Well I hate to burst the bubble, but those photos actually depict reality because we did not care so much about how perfect or beautiful they were, we just post them.

Then came filters that took the world by storm and instant photo editing apps which changed the way we look at photography.

Now it is nearly impossible for us to post photos online without even a slight touch of editing. The number of edited photos are more than expected, and the hashtag #NoFilter for raw, unedited photos are few and far between.

We spend so much time crafting and beautifying our photos to

School of Communication student Liew Zu Xing, 21, editing her photos before posting up on Instagram.

perfection, trying to please others, to compete or to stand out. Are we trying to showcase our ideal selves in order to boost our confidence?

“It is an undeniable fact that majority of social media users prefer posting the perfect versions of themselves as such photos somehow gives them satisfaction when they receive compliments,” said School of Biosciences student Lalitha Ambighai, 22.

Lalitha pointed out she was not affected by any of these perfect photos as it would only make her judgemental and insecure.

“If you’re confident with your authentic image, photo enhancement of any kind would not be necessary,” Lalitha said.

However, Taylor’s Business School student Stanley Chin Jun Seng, 20, said, “I somehow prefer to see more edited photos on my social media because they look more interesting.”

Chin also added his thoughts about people posting these perfect selfies as a way to enhance their self-confidence through the number of likes on social media.

School of Biosciences student Thara Kalila Mohd Firdaus, 21, said, “I do not mind seeing both filtered and unfiltered photos on my social media as it adds variety and showcase creativity, but it is up to the user’s personal preference.”

Thara Kalila also expressed how posting a good photo of yourself can somewhat be positive.

“Some people argue that posting edited photos may contribute to narcissism and being vain but youth nowadays have so much more to handle in their lives so I believe being proud of yourself for a photo is much better than hating yourself,” Thara Kalila said.

Technology has changed our lives in a holistic manner, but maybe it is time to reflect upon ourselves that once in a while, there is simply nothing wrong in posting a #NoFilter photo, even if it has a little imperfection to it.

We need to know that we do not always have to post edited photos because our generation should learn to express the reality. After all, we are only human.

Most importantly, be kind even when it feels hardest to be, because that is when it matters most.

19 November: ‘Have a Bad Day’ No one likes having a bad day but they happen anyway. It can get a little annoying to be constantly told to have a nice day while in the middle of a bad one.

This day was started to encourage service staff to greet their customers with “have a bad day” rather than “have a nice day”, but it can also serve as a reminder to people that it is okay to have bad days.

Mark this day with a little forgiveness for yourself and others it is alright to have bad days.

Appreciate the bad days for what they are worth; without them, how would we know that the good days were good?

21 November: World Hello Day We are often told that the digital generation with our eyes glued to our smart devices has lost touch with talking to people in person.

Time to practise, then!

World Hello Day began when two university students in 1973

decided that world conflicts were better handled if people could just communicate properly, so they encouraged making an effort to greet people daily.

Take this a step further and use this opportunity to reconnect with those you have had misunderstandings with, perhaps with a heartfelt letter.

We forget the power of a genuine smile and a warm greeting as a way to melt even the coldest of forgotten friendships. Use this day to make amends.

Days to Celebrate this November

By YEONG XIU HUI Whoever said November was boring forgot about these holidays.

While October and December might get the hype of Halloween and Christmas, there is plenty to celebrate in November (apart from Diwali this year).

3 November: Sandwich Day It is easy to prepare, convenient to carry and quick to consume.

Sandwiches are a beloved go-to food for students. Sandwich Day also honours John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich who was credited to having created the concept.

If you want to shake things up, celebrate this day by making a sandwich you have never tried before or come up with your own unique concoction! Anyone up for French toast slices stuffed with baked beans, bacon and eggs?

7 November: Book Lovers Day If you needed an excuse to indulge in a good book, this is it.

Book Lovers Day falls on the first Saturday of November, so tell yourself that it is time you rewarded yourself with pages from your favourite tales.

From well-worn pages of an old favourite to the pristine, untouched ones of a newly anticipated book, there is enjoyment to be found in spending time with your imagination.

Or use this day to clean out your shelves and donate some books to the nearest orphanage, children’s home or charity centre. A person who appreciates the joy of reading should share that with others.

13 November: Kindness Day A little kindness goes a long way in making the world a brighter place.

Started in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, this day encourages good deeds without any form of prejudice.

Make it a habit to spread some kindness, even on campus.

Leave some change in the vending machine for the next person. Help lecturers with their bags. Offer the security guards, janitorial and maintenance staff a drink or a snack. Leave classrooms clean and organised for the next class. There are just so much that you could actually do.

Handwritten letters could turn enemies into friends. Photo Credit: Darius Shu Chen Keong

FE AT U R E S

October 2015

Living in Fear: Phobias

11

By NADYA SULAIMAN

When you hear the word ‘phobia’, what do you think? Fear, terror or distress? Ridiculous, irrational or silly? Living with several phobias is not easy.

Phobias may seem outrageous to you, but it feels a lot more real and terrifying to those living with a phobia. It is more than just simple fear but classified as a common anxiety disorder that plagues just about anyone.

Fear escalates to a whole new level. You cannot bear to think about it, much less to even talk about it.

Sooner or later, you come to think about how you would become a burden to everyone around you. Maybe even face ridicule for something you have almost no control over. And that is part and parcel to what simple phobia can do.

According to the American Psychological Association, phobias are usually derived from negative life experiences. Usually developed in childhood, it is difficult to pinpoint when a phobia began.

What defines the difference between phobia and simple fear is that a person with a phobia, when confronted with it, will cease to function normally and fall into total panic.

You may think I am exaggerating, but I have both Trypophobia and Bdellophobia, the fear of holes and leeches. How could we avoid looking at something as common as holes?

From patterns on a blouse to just empty lotus pods, I grow more terrified with every sight.

Trypophobia was theorised to have been derived from the natural reaction where the brain associates holes with diseases or danger such as holes made by insects and diseased wounds.

Retail Executive, Chin Yuen Yue, 19, faces the same fear. “My skin crawls, I feel nauseated, it feels disgusting and I would do almost anything to avoid looking at clusters of holes. To me, it feels like there’s something living inside them,” she described.

Fear consumes the mind. Photo Credit: michelemmartin.com

Trekking through a damp jungle, the one thing that actually frightens me half to death is a leech and I can seriously say, I would cut off my limb if one so much as touches me.

At first, people laugh, but eventually the fear persists and they start looking at you with

concern. Humans are naturally afraid of the unknown or things they do not understand. Naturally, you find yourself segregated from society and so you hide your fears in false bravado.

Here is the icing on the cake: There had been actual cases of people dying in fear.

In 2010, Danielle Goldberg, 26, who had claustrophobia, was trapped in an elevator during a twohour blackout. Giving in to her fears, she suffered a heart attack and died shortly after being rescued.

Being in fear for a prolonged amount of time could trigger panic attacks that push the sympathetic nervous system into full overdrive with the heart beating so wildly that it cannot handle the exertion and eventually leading to immediate cardiac arrest.

So when you see someone terrified of flowers, butterflies or rainbows, remember that they are in terror. There is a legitimate reason for their ‘silliness’.

How My Bullies Helped Me

By FARAH NADHIRAH MUHAMMAD KHAIRUN Ever since I was a child, my mom taught me that no matter who you are and what you do, forgiveness goes a long way. I grew up holding onto that belief.

When I was 13, I went to a high school where I knew nobody and nobody knew me. I was just an ordinary girl who had a tough time fitting in. That was until the day I met this group of girls I called “friends”.

At first, everything was fine. No one dared to say a word because everyone fit somewhere in the circle so it was harder for me because I was the newbie while these girls had been friends for years.

It was not easy to please them but that did not stop me from trying.

As time went by, nothing I did was ever enough for them. Everything was criticised. The more I spoke, the more I got shushed. The choices I made were never right in their eyes.

There was a time when they would gather in a circle around me listing down all my faults and flaws. When teachers adored me, I was mocked for trying too hard. Even having boys admiring me was a huge deal when we clearly know that those choices were not mine to begin with.

Blocking out the voices. Photo Credit: socialjusticesolutions.org

Time passed and I was already in my third year of high school.

Ironically, nothing changed. I was still the outcast even though I was accepted. That was when I began to accept the fact that I was never enough for these people. I told no one about it because no one would listen.

One day, I woke up thinking to myself – when will I ever stop letting these girls step all over me and how long do I plan on wasting my life away for people who do not even care about me?

That was when I decided to make some changes in my life. I went

online and all I got was “just ignore them, they are not worth it”. I got an answer to my question but somehow it was not what I was looking for.

When people say that mothers know best, they are not joking. I opened up to my mom and she said two words that would haunt me for the rest of my life – forgive them.

I thought hard about forgiving and finally saw the truth behind it. If I retaliated and treated them the way they treated me, it would mean that I was no different than my bullies. However, if I forgave them I would be doing them and myself a favour.

Forgiving them meant that I forgave them for tormenting me during my high school years and I released myself from the shackles of hurt their words were causing me. It was not an easy road to walk through but I was certain that it was the right one.

After that, anything they said did not hurt as much anymore. I never fought back, instead I just smiled and walked away every time they tried to attack me. I became someone with confidence. Walking and eating alone was not an issue for me anymore. I was content with who I was and where I was heading.

My friends saw the changes in me and maybe they realised that I was no longer a target. The bullying still went on, occasionally. It just had no effect on me anymore.

We are still friends, five years down the road and the bullying obviously stopped since everyone grew up and headed in different directions.

At the end of the day, forgiveness does go a long way. Had it not been for my bullies, I would not be who I am today. So now, I can tell everyone that my bullies actually helped me.

12

FE ATUR ES

October 2015

In the Mind of Hannibal Lecter

By NADYA SULAIMAN Watch in horrified fascination as human meat is cleaved gracefully from the bone in cannibalistic delight to make the most appetizinglooking meals that leave audiences feeling conflicted.

In soft dulcet tones, Hannibal Lecter states matter-of-factly, “I must confess to you, I’m giving serious thought...to eating your wife.”

Peculiar culinary tastes aside, he has charmed his way into the hearts and minds of fans throughout the world. Sophisticated, intelligent and cultured, he is a character that the audience have always found engaging.

But what makes this twisted character so appealing?

University student Mabel Huang Xin Lei, 23, an avid fan, said, “He is more than just a murderer, he nurtures relationships with the people around him. We can’t help but wonder at his amazing abilities and his knack at manipulating people into believing his stories. He’s not mindless, he always has something planned and we can’t help but be curious about what he’ll do.”

Besides questionable morals that shake the foundations of the human

fictional world,” Gullhaugen said.

“His character in the books and movies is an excellent illustration of the cold mask some have thought that psychopaths have. Because it is a mask. Inside the head of the cannibal and serial killer were tenderness and pain, deep emotions and empathy.”

“I must confess to you, I’m giving very serious thought...to eating your wife.”

Deceptively charming Hannibal Lecter from the TV series, Hannibal.

Photo Credit: Sky.com

psyche, he is undoubtedly a present day enigma.

Psychopaths were once viewed as emotionless and icy cold. However, psychologists have discovered that there is more to it than meets the eye. Lecter has shattered preconceptions to what makes a person the way they are.

“It’s not just about being a murderer. He’s also being human in a twisted sense. He has his

little moments and needs to be a complete perfectionist in everything he does,” Huang said. “You never know what he will do next. He is just so unpredictable.”

A researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Aina Gullhaugen believes that Lecter was portrayed accurately in the franchise.

“Hannibal Lecter is perhaps the most famous psychopath from the

There were times when I would spend an hour a day just going through the interactive experience of the books. These walkthroughs let us search for items from important scenes in the Potter books. At the same time, it would unlock stories of so many characters, stuff that we did not think anyone would have the time to think of even writing it.

What about those exclusive little snippets that were personally prepared by JK Rowling? Nobody

can forget the time she gave us an insight on the current state of our favourite character’s lives through Daily Prophet reporter, Rita Skeeter.

Those were the best things that Pottermore had to offer. Now, the interaction is gone.

I am an avid reader and I am not complaining that some of the new articles posted in the New Pottermore were enlightening.

There are even more stories of our favourite characters such as

Perhaps Lecter’s lasting impression was due to his creator, Thomas Harris’ efforts of imitating real-life serial killers in every detail of Lecter’s character.

With a tragic childhood sparking his frenzy of insanity, Lecter’s history of being forced fed his own little sister at a tender age shows how moral degradation captures audiences’ interest in a way normal horror flicks do not.

Jump scares and random bursts of ghosts cannot compare to the cold indifference to the sanctity of human life.

Lecter continues to baffle people with the mystery of psychopathy.

New Pottermore is a Potterbore!

By LEE TING It is undeniable that the Harry Potter fandom is a huge, unbreakable force. So much so that JK Rowling decided to give Potterheads the chance to be part of the magical world through Pottermore in 2012.

So when news came that Pottermore was being reborn, many Potterheads, myself included, were psyched. Not just the fact that they were giving us a certificate to prove we were part of the old Pottermore, I could not help thinking, ‘how would a perfect website be made even better’?

Come 22 September, Pottermore was refreshed and it was definitely not how I pictured it.

Gone were all the interactive aspects of Pottermore.

I remembered the excitement of visiting Diagon Alley to buy ingredients for my potions and then going back to the Common Room to meet my fellow Housemates (go Slytherin!), all while enjoying the novelty of collecting house points for the coveted House Cup.

The new Pottermore lacks the interactivity the old one had such as brewing your own potions for House Points. Photo Credit: Alix West

the Potter family and JK Rowling originals. But there lies the problem.

That was all there is.

It has simply turned into a Buzzfeed kind of website where there are articles after articles and lists such as ‘Seven times the Invisibility Cloak came in handy’.

Simply put, Pottermore is no longer magical anymore.

Well, let us give Pottermore the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it is still too new. They did promise us a chance to be sorted into the Houses once again and to find out what our Patronus will be – something that I am definitely looking forward to.

So far, those are the only promises of interaction with no definite release date.

I guess my expectations were set too high, especially since it was supposed to be a revamp of a great community website. I am disappointed in the upgrades, but I will still keep my hopes up for the good part of the old Pottermore to make its reappearance.