VOL. 5, ISSUE 9 NEWS Female Empowerment in SG Student Government Report Demystifying Leave of Absence
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016 FEATURES Couch Theater SG Month Only the Fittest Survive
YALE-NUS, SINGAPORE
OPINION Literature and Science Go Hand in Hand
LITERATURE Watermelon
BRINGING BACK IDEAS FOR
FEMALE EMPOWERMENT IN SG story | Wen Kin Lim, Contributing Reporter photo | Chandler Beyer
O
n Friday, October 14th, four female students traveled to the United States to attend the Intercollegiate Business Convention (IBC), hosted by Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business. The IBC included workshops, an innovation competition at the Harvard Innovation Lab and keynote speakers including Marne Levine, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Instagram. The event aimed to build a global support network and community of empowerment for collegiate women, by bringing together young women from across the world who share a passion for business. This is the first time Yale-NUS College has been represented at the Convention. Betty Pu ’20 led the delegation, which consisted of Sonal Kumar ’20, Chandler Beyer ’20 and Minsoo Bae ’20. The trip was organized by the four students, who sourced the opportunity themselves and established contact with the Harvard student organization. Pu hopes to start a Women in Business chapter, a group dedicated to encouraging female representation in the corporate world, in Singapore. Follow Betty and Chandler on their experiences in Boston, USA below:
Every minute [we spent] adjusting to the time zone, attempting to finish our readings, and prepping for the IBC was more than worth it. Our first day of the three day (sic) was on Friday, October 14th, where Betty and I attended the International Women in Business meeting held at Adams House on the Harvard campus. As attendees, we met with female business professionals as they provided us with insights, advice, and words of encouragement. We were given the opportunity to network with the other attendees from some of the top universities in the world, coming from countries as Chandler Beyer far as Colombia and Australia. These “Betty, Sonal, Minsoo, and I embarked attendees helped provide us insight on a 30-hour journey to attend the into how they run their Women In Intercollegiate Business Convention Business (WIB) organization at their hosted by Harvard Undergraduate university. Shortly after the farewell Women in Business. remarks, Betty and I (thanks to my
Betty Pu, Chandler Beyer & Minsoo Bae at the IBC hosted by Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business
friend Will at Harvard!) attended an interview of CNN president Jeff Zucker hosted by Harvard's John F. Kennedy Jr. forum. After his interview, Betty and I had the privilege of meeting Zucker, and after introducing ourselves as students from Yale-NUS College, we were greeted with a smile and affirmation that he knew our great university in Singapore. The second day of the convention was filled with Speaker Series, panels, and, of course, more networking! Marne Levine, the COO of Instagram, gave an inspirational talk about her experience as a women in business. Her empowering speech 1
NEWS/FEATURES
was a great start to the day! After hours of note-taking, networking, and even being recruited for a job, we left the convention feeling more inspired than ever. With all we have learned, we all hope to create and start our own WIB organization at Yale-NUS. We recognize the need for this organization, as its mission is aimed at empowering young women with the hope of creating a diverse industry.”
SG MONTH: EMBRACING
FEMALE SEXUALITY
The students with Marne Levine, Chief Operating Officer of Instagram
Betty Pu “At the International Women in Business meeting held at Adams House at Harvard College, I was amazed to hear presentations from Harvard and Stanford University students about how their committees were organized, the initiatives they had started in their local communities, and how high-achieving these female leaders were in business outside of college. I hope that with this experience we can build a robust Women in Business chapter in Singapore (that is inclusive of other universities as well as other genders), to raise awareness of gender diversity across industries in Singapore, and hopefully in the greater Southeast Asia region. This movement is powerful in the U.S., and we're optimistic that we can bring back new ideas from our Western peers on how we can elicit change, starting here on the Yale-NUS campus.”
This is the first time that Yale-NUS College has been represented at the Intercollegiate Business Convention in Boston
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story | Pertina Seah, Contributing Reporter photo | The G Spot
With the Queer Open Mic on Oct. 21, Sexuality and Gender (SG) Month has officially come to an end. The month has been filled with a myriad of different events, talks, and dialogs pertaining to gender and sexuality—a topic still considered a taboo subject in Singapore. SG Month has pushed boundaries by raising awareness about sexual and gender diversity and, most novel of all, generating discourse regarding female sexuality and issues.
This has led to a culture of young adults who are sex negative, resulting in a society that is unaccepting towards not just female sexuality, but sexuality in general. “An acquaintance of mine judged me when I told her I was going for the HIV testing. She then expressed her disgust with the fact that I have had sex before” said Pearly Seah, a third-year student in National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
In a conservative society like Singapore’s, sexuality is a topic that is often avoided and there is thus little to no discourse on female sexuality. Many of the values that Singaporeans grew up with are traditional Asian values that emphasize the need for females to act in a modest and respectful manner. Since these notions of femininity have been entrenched in the previous and current generation, speaking up about female sexuality has become frowned upon. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education’s Sexuality Education tends to instill in students a sense of fear towards sex. Sexuality Education classes usually involve a teacher going through the symptoms and problems of various Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), before handing out a booklet that is filled with grotesque photographs of genitals affected by STIs.
This culture of sex negativity can result in detrimental effects like the stigmatization of female sexuality. Consequently, discourse on female sexuality is limited because admitting to an active sexual lifestyle tends to result in shame and judgment. It is thus commendable that SG Month has decided to include events aimed at discussing female sexuality and issues faced by women today. These events mark the first step in pushing boundaries to achieve a more sex positive culture where female sexuality can be embraced without being devalued. Two such events include Feeling Myself: Closed-Door Dialogue on Women’s Sexuality and The Hidden Cut: Dialogue on Female Genital Circumcision.
FEATURES/NEWS
Feeling Myself, a closed-door dialogue open to anyone identifying as a woman, marks an important first step in challenging the stigma of female sexuality by providing a safe space for women to openly discuss their experience with sex and masturbation. One of the organizers of the dialogue, Lishani Ramanayake ’18, said: “I thought that the conversation went really well. Women could come together to talk about everything related to sexuality, from masturbation to watching porn to the way religion and culture intersect with how we perceive sexuality.”
that we can reach out to as wide and diverse an audience as possible”. SG Month has been an important month of embracing diversity in sexuality and generating discourse about taboo topics like female sexuality and genital circumcision. There is always more that can be done to push the boundaries on the sexuality and gender discourse not just within NUS, but throughout Singapore as well.
SG Month also saw a similar event aimed at raising awareness about the often-unheard practice of female genital circumcision in Singapore. The Hidden Cut was a focus group discussion about the common but rather invisible practice of female circumcision in the Malay community.
MANY STUDENTS
Saza Faradilla ’18, the organizer of the dialog, said it was a “starting platform that would hopefully branch off to more discussions about [female genital circumcision].”
story | Xinyu Luo, Neo Huiyuan, Dave Chappell photo | Dave Chappell, Editor-in-Chief
The views expressed here are the author’s own. The Octant welcomes all voices in the community. Email submissions to: yncoctant@gmail.com
N O T S EEK I NG WELLNESS SUPPORT,
REPORT REVEALS
“I think that this issue is important as it is quite a common practice in the Malay community yet it is not talked about at all,” she added. One of the attendees, Muhammad Farhansyah, a first year student from NUS FASS, described his experience. “Coming from a Malay-Muslim community, I was aware of the practice but was never certain of the reasons In the survey, only 23.86% of the 69 respondents diagnosed with a why it is carried out. Through the dialog, I mental health condition are currently seeking support. was able to hear Muslim women share their thoughts and opinions on the practice and Only a quarter of the students diagnosed how it affected them,” he said. with mental health conditions are seeking However, while SG Month has helped to support from the Yale-NUS College wellness destigmatize sexual diversity and raise aware- department, suggests a report by the Yaleness about female sexuality and issues, there NUS Student Government. are concerns that the events seem to be limited in their outreach. Generally speaking, SG Month events would most likely appeal The report was written using the results of the to those within the LGBTQ+ community or Student Life survey, a questionnaire distribthose who are interested in knowing more uted to all Yale-NUS students via Facebook about these issues. Hence, it seems likely that the events served to reinforce knowledge that and email on Oct. 14. Of the 396 respondents, participants already have and open up discus- 69 students indicated they have been diagsions that they have already been engaged in nosed with a mental health condition by a previously. professional but of that number, less than a In terms of reaching out to the wider commu- quarter said they sought assistance from the nity of students who may not be as interest- Wellness Centre. Despite efforts by the aded, the events seem to have been unsuccessful. ministration, respondents said that students Paul Jerusalem ’19, one of the organizer of SG were discouraged from seeking help due to Month, said that SG Month events could be “akin to speaking into an echo chamber,” since stigma surrounding mental health. events regarding specific issues would “likely be attended by people who are interested in According to the report, a majority of respondiscussing these issues in the first place.” dents to the community section of the survey Still, Jerusalem added that “speaking into an said that they did not feel able to speak up echo chamber is better than not speaking at about the mental health issues that they faced. all, and we are definitely looking into ways These respondents said there is still a stigma
attached to mental health and that highstress levels had been normalized in YaleNUS. While they said that awareness of mental health had improved, respondents said that it could still be more proactive. The administration, however, has already made efforts to destigmatize mental health. Destigmatization was one of the core vision of the Wellness team under former Wellness Coordinator Shaen Yeo, former Dean’s Fellow Caroline Manela noted. Ms. Manela said that Wellness Centre had tried to “lower [the] barrier of entry and help students see over that stigma attached to [approaching a counselor].” Similarly, Sara Amjad, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion said that the college attempted to destigmatize mental health from orientation onwards. During orientation, first-year students attend a mental health and wellness talk and participate in activities on active listening and sexual consent. In addition to the initiatives, every firstyear student is required to visit the Wellness Center and meet with a psychologist. According to Michelle Sotto, a Dean’s Fellow, this visit “serves to destigmatize mental health care [and] get people acquainted and comfortable with the Wellness Center.” Still, respondents highlighted a number of ways to change campus culture surrounding mental health. According to the report, the most common suggestion was to have more talks and information sessions on mental health and wellness. The student government also recommended including faculty and staff in these talks and educating students in ways to support others. According to Student Life Director Sara Rotenberg ’19, the report was distributed to relevant members of the college administration. The report was then be discussed by the college on Thursday at 6:30pm in the Tan Chin Tuan Lecture Theater. 3
NEWS
DEMY STIFYING LEAVE OF ABSENCE story | Regina Marie Lee, Staff Reporter photo | Yang Xuerui
Taking Care of Ourselves: Tomorrow marks the end of P.S. We Care’s Wellness Week events. They ‘tackled stress’, practiced being ‘alone together’, and will screen 21 Jump Street tomorrow in the Quiet Room at 8 pm.
Taiwan Trip: Nearly 100 of our athletes returned to campus late Sunday night (or was it early Monday morning?) from their Halloween weekend in Taiwan hosted by Taiwan Medical University. We heard the rugby team did especially well, as well as the badminton teams. Those who have gone on leave say it was a good experience, but some face problems getting reinstated.
Recent events have fixed the spotlight on wellness at Yale-NUS College. Students have raised concerns about wellness support offered by the Dean of Students (DOS) Office, as well as a school culture that prizes busyness. For those who struggle, taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) from school is an option that is often hidden from the public eye, since those who take it necessarily go away. Those who have gone on leave say it was a good experience, although some have faced problems getting reinstated. LOA procedures were updated in the 2016 Undergraduate Regulations, and the policy is currently being reviewed according to Dean of Students Christopher Bridges. WHY STUDENTS GO ON LOA Students can be required by the DOS to take a Leave of Absence for well-being and academic reasons. They will then have to meet certain conditions to be reinstated as students. Others can apply voluntarily for up to two semesters of leave, often to take up unique professional opportunities, for a break to prevent burnout, or due to other extenuating circumstances. Those who go on LOA often rest, work or take classes elsewhere. While on a one-year LOA from school, Liam Holmes ’19 worked as a night radio DJ back home in Adelaide, and studied at the University of Adelaide. “My LOA experience was good, and much needed rest,” said Holmes, who was asked to go on LOA for medical reasons at the end of his first year, in 2015. Timothy Lim ’18 interned at a luxury lifestyle magazine for five months and took Spanish classes at a community college in Hong Kong. He had been asked to go on LOA for academic reasons in 2015. 4
CHANGE IN POLICY Both Lim and Holmes went on what were “Required LOAs” according to the 2015 Undergraduate Regulations. Under that policy, LOAs were classified as “Voluntary” or “Required”, where those on Voluntary LOAs would automatically return without needing to apply for reinstatement. After a 2016 update, LOAs are now classified as LOA with conditions to meet for reinstatement, and LOA without conditions. Thus, whether a student on leave needs to go through reinstatement depends not on whether he or she initiated the LOA, but on the decision of the administration. REINSTATEMENT To be reinstated, Holmes had to show he was ready to return to school and had been engaged in a productive activity while away. He submitted letters from his psychologist, work and school to the reinstatement committee. This committee is chaired by the DOS, and includes the student’s Vice Rector (VR), faculty member, and a health or wellness professional. After the interview, the committee decides if a student can return. Holmes’ first application for reinstatement to return after one semester was unsuccessful. “I was pretty disappointed, but in the long run I felt it was necessary. I would have struggled if I came back after six months,” he said. Both Holmes and Lim said they had a generally good experience with LOA and reinstatement. Holmes said the decision to deny him reinstatement was explained to him in person, as he returned to Singapore for the interview. Lim said it was a “fair process”. “They made me feel like they wanted me back,” he said.
End of Semester Awakening: As the end of the semester nears, it’s time for Yale-NUS College’s various performing arts societies to put on their end of year shows. This semester expects a musical performance by (aside) called Spring Awakening, two original plays from Green Room Theater called Mirage, and the Improv Grad Show, among others.
In the Works: This ‘showcase of musical numbers’ is held in the Elm Common Lounge tomorrow, Nov. 5 at 8:30pm and 10pm. Watch your classmates perform songs from some of the most iconic musicals!
Academic Journal: The Yale-NUS Academic Journal is a collection of Academic articles compiled by students of the college in consultation with the college faculty. It will be launched on Nov. 18.
More Food on Campus: As of Oct. 31, your meal taps are good for a quick meal from Cafe Agora. This initiative was started after receiving feedback through the Student Life Survey.
FEATURES
PROBLEMS WITH REINSTATEMENT Still, slip-ups in the process can cause considerable stress for students, who struggle with uncertainty about their return to Yale-NUS. Lora ’17, who declined to be fully named, took an LOA voluntarily for last semester (AY2015/6 spring semester), but was mistakenly asked to go through the reinstatement process to return. Under LOA regulations in 2015, those on voluntary LOAs could automatically return. She was denied reinstatement in late May, 2016, after submitting letters and doing a video call with the reinstatement committee. They felt there was “little improvement” in her mental and emotional health, an assessment Lora contests. “I had taken the LOA because I felt I wasn’t in a good place and making the most out of my studies, but I wasn’t at risk or having suicidal thoughts,” she said. Lora said there was “insufficient explanation and a lot of waiting” as she made two unsuccessful appeals. This occurred during the summer, when she was completing an internship, going to summer school, and intent on returning. In the middle of July, Dean Bridges apologized via email for the mistake in having her do the reinstatement process, and said she could return. “[The mistake] caused me a lot of distress through my summer,” said Lora. Her experience during reinstatement meant she has trouble trusting the DOS Office now, said Lora, adding that it is important that returning students trust the DOS enough to get the support they need acclimatizing back to Yale-NUS. Students who fail to get reinstated should have a separate body to appeal to in case of mistakes during the process, she added. Dean Bridges avoided answering specific questions from The Octant about problems students have with the LOA process, such as previous mistakes and how the administration could better support students in the process. In an email reply, he said the LOA policy and process is being reviewed, but did not respond to a request for further information by press time. He said, “The best place to find information on the policy is within the Undergraduate Regulations. I encourage students who have questions about the Leave of Absence process to speak directly with their VRs, who can help students understand the written policy if they have any questions, and can best advise students based on their own personal needs.” AWARENESS Holmes said greater awareness of how to apply for an LOA and its procedures is needed. ”It’s something that a lot of people have asked me about— they feel overwhelmed and want to take a semester off—but are not sure how to go about it,” he said. The current policy encourages students to approach their VRs to discuss LOA. According to estimates by The Octant, at least fourteen students have gone on a LOA, and five of them are currently on leave. Despite the problems with her reinstatement, Lora said she was ultimately grateful for the chance to take the semester off. “I took care of my mental health and I feel like that allowed me to be happier and have a fuller experience here,” she said.
COUCH THEATER story | Lian Szu-Jin photo | Couch Theatre
Here at Yale-NUS College, many students do more than just college. From starting their own social work organizations, to being national sports players, or having beautiful pieces of artwork secretly filed away in their rooms, many students here have a talent or passion to share. Armed with a can-do spirit that never seems to fizzle out despite academic pressure, these students paint a picture of an awe-inspiring student body. To inspire you this week, The Octant interviews Yee Jia Rong ’18—a Law major with a minor in Global Affairs, also a touch rugby player, badminton player, RC^3 enthusiast and the managing director/one of the founders of Couch Theatre. Couch Theatre is a fouryear-old start-up theatre group that has been touted as “impressive” by Popspoken.com and featured twice on The Business Times. We find out more about the formation of Couch Theatre and how Jia Rong juggles being a spectacular university student with running the company. Couch Theatre was officially founded by Jia Rong, Ziyad Bin Ahmad Bagharib ’18 (who has recently left the company) and four of their Raffles Institution (RI) friends in March 2013, just two years after graduating from RI in 2011. “I was the odd one out,” Jia Rong laughs, commenting on how he was the only non-theater kid in the group. His story began with a simple joke he played on one of the club members. “The production needed a cellist and my friend asked if I could play the cello so I fooled around with him and said that I could. They had no idea. And then I disappeared for a while because I had to go for [a] National Service training exercise,” he said. When he returned, he found his inbox flooded with emails from the production team, all set on him playing the cello. Amused and slightly guilty, Jia Rong offered to find a real cellist for the production, and took up the role of directing the music, thus becoming part of Couch’s first unofficial production. The group then got serious and staged their first, yet sold-out production, Melancholy Play by Sarah Ruhl, announcing their arrival onto the Singapore theatre scene in 2013. Since then, Couch Theatre has put up a play every year without fail: The Pillowman, The Effect and most recently, Eurydice. Jia Rong with some of his team members and The Pillowman cast, 2014. “The Pillowman is my favorite,” said Jia Rong, “[it had] a very powerful script and an enjoyable bunch of actors. Everything just came together so nicely.” He added that the Singapore Repertory Theatre also put together renowned local talents like Tracie Pang and Adrian Pang to do the same play in 2007. “Of course we cannot be compared to them but this goes to show that
you don’t have to be a very established company with years of experience to do a decent enough job!” said Jia Rong. The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh is a dark, twisted play of childhood trauma and political tyranny, where a writer’s gruesome child murder stories mysteriously come to life. It poses questions about censorship, the responsibility of the artist, and the power of art. Couch Theater's staging of The Pillowman coincided nicely with the controversial news over the National Library Board’s (NLB) initial decision to pulp three titles in July 2014 that promoted same-sex parentage: And Tango Makes Three, The White Swan as well as Who’s In My Family?. After fierce debate, NLB decided to keep the titles but reallocate them from the children’s section to the adults’ section instead. “Our production was a creative twist to daily affairs,” said Jia Rong. He explained that the main aim of Couch Theatre is to speak to the Singaporean consciousness. The company chooses plays that strike a chord within their core team of people, and have the flexibility for artistic input. Staying away from cliché and commonly rehashed themes, the company often finds itself producing absurdist works that have fewer stage directions and a more offbeat tone, which allows for greater creative improvisation. Jia Rong ’18 posing with his favorite production thus far- The Pillowman. When asked about how he juggles being a university student with being the managing director of Couch Theatre , Jia Rong admits that he has had to make certain sacrifices. He has not gone for any summer abroad or semester abroad programs due to his commitment to Couch. The production thought process begins as early as February, with half his summer taken up by rehearsals and the first half of every semester spent on preparing for their annual play in September. However, he has few reservations about his choices. “It is very fulfilling and I do not regret these sacrifices. If I can achieve the same effect [as summer programs] here, back at home with my group without having to pay so much, why not? We have all committed to it [Couch Theatre].” Whether or not Jia Rong continues to pursue theater would depend very much on what happens after he (“hopefully”, he jokes) becomes a lawyer in the future. “There will always be that dilemma of whether to sacrifice [his law] career to pursue an artistic path. That’s the sad reality of pursuing creative jobs in Singapore,” Jia Rong admits. “But it really heartens me to know that a lot of employed lawyers out there still find time for their artistic endeavors out of their job.” Jia Rong hopes to find sufficient time out of the office in the future for Couch, or even to commit to Couch full-time if it manages to make enough headway to become a successful full-time profession. Thankfully, Jia Rong’s family has always supported his passion for theater and would not mind him giving up law for theater if he chooses to do so. “I am very grateful. They’re not the typical Asian family who wants their kids to either be doctors or a lawyers.” Lastly, Jia Rong expresses concern over how there is “only so much room in the artistic consciousness of Singapore”, and there might not be enough demand for new theater companies like Couch Theatre. However, he remains optimistic. “The art scene is, however, picking up, so maybe things will change in the years to come.” 5
OPINION
LITERATURE AND SCIENCE
GO HAND IN HAND
story | Justin Ong photo | Justin Ong
Back when I was in Junior College, I was the only student who did both H2 Physics and Literature for my A-Levels. I did well for both subjects in Secondary School so I naturally applied for them in JC. As you can already tell, it was not a popular subject combination. People had a lot to say about it, that physics and literature were both polar opposites; that physics tried to define the world in solid objects and phenomena whilst literature did so through human emotions. There was nothing similar, nothing complementary about them. It was ludicrous to study them with the same pen because when I went to university I’d have to give up on one of these inclinations anyway. But university came around and I spent the start of my second year doing a short course on black holes. Subsequently, I did a module on the life and works of Virginia Woolf, an esteemed English writer who seemed to have nothing to do with physics. Her hard-hitting works circumvented plot and rationality and delved straight into the core of human emotion. I was enthralled. You know a book is good when your heart beats faster as you turn the pages. I’ve had the privilege of feeling the connection to words written almost a hundred years ago, reaching out from the depths to touch a 21st century me. Never once did I feel violated. But all that is not the point of my writing this. The feelings of intense emotions and comfort aren’t something unheard of when one deals with literature. It’s a big part of why I choose to do what I do; if not to analyze text then to come up with some of my own. It makes the world a better place, so why not? What I want to draw your attention to is the possibility that literature and physics need not be dichotomous. In other words, they share something essential in common. First off, the language of science did in fact influence much of Woolf’s work. A lot of what she wanted to tell her readers was already being suggested in the scientific work of her time. According to Gillian Beer, author of Physics, Sound and Substance: Later Woolf, the 1920s-30s was the time of fascinating scientific discoveries in physics, with the wave-particle theory capturing the imagination of the masses. These novel theories
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did not escape Woolf, who herself was well read in these matters. Her works soon became heavily influenced by the progress of physics, her fascination with the dual nature of things only strengthened by the theories of science. In her novel The Waves, the dual nature of objects (and in turn, reality) is readily brought up in her obsession with the “fixity of tables”, how she asks them, “Are you hard?” The preoccupation with “apparently solid objects” melds with other ideas such as androgyny, roles in society, and the overarching idea that no thing is ever one thing. I will touch on these later. But what is being said is simple: that science and literature can progress hand in hand. This was something that I was never made aware of in my years of education. How this manifests may very well be that science and literature share a similar process. They both aim to discover the true nature of things, to give complexities a place in this world. In the same way Woolf urges readers to see beyond the illusion of dressing up, a scientific journal proposes a novel idea that was once not known to humanity. What we choose to do with this information is still up to us. Writers build on each other’s ideas the same way scientists draw on old discoveries to make new ones. Ultimately the process of discovery is simple: we have to advance our humanity by facing up to all kinds of truth. A table is not necessary solid as we understand it; our clothes aren’t necessarily solely for warmth. Literature and science go hand in hand in both establishing these truths and breaking illusions that we otherwise would have been incognizant of. Literature may after all be the great metaphor for science. As 20th century physicist Arthur Eddington asserts, “reality is a child which cannot survive without its nurse illusion.” The way science constructs reality is through assertions, all of which have the potential to be falsified and disproved. Within this framework we function and construct a tenable reality. However, new theories continue to pop up: chaos theory erupts in our time; string theory threatens equally to challenge the perceived order. The potential for what we perceive to be rendered implausible or incomplete is always around the corner. Beer argues that poetry and literature aim to do the same: by giving readers the surface story; one that is seemingly simple. But through devices such as “assonance, overlap between words, iteration and internal rhyme,” we are privy to what the work really wants to say. The work, like any solid object, has two possible renderings, if not more. It can be a solid object made of particles, or a constantly vibrating entity comprising of waves. Do we choose to perceive the surface meaning as the truth by virtue of its functionality? A table functions as a solid, a group of friends around a dinner table is simply a social gathering, nothing more, nothing less. Or do
we perceive matters the other way, to take their underlying meanings as truth? Suddenly, a table is a vibrating entity. The group of friends suddenly have deep dark secrets that they continue to harbor with only their superficial thoughts being echoed across. What do we want to see as reality? And does it matter? Both science and literature pose these questions, and each is the metaphor for the other in this quest. Last and most important, is the moralistic aspect that literature brings to the table. Often we see literature as a didactic tool, a means to derive lessons in life through various case studies of human behavior. Though fictional, we see fragments of ourselves in fiction and we are instantly reflective of our own actions. On the other hand, we see science as the cold, heartless pursuit of knowledge, or as Beer puts it, “autonomous, separate from culture, untouched by it”. Is there no way to reconcile these two agendas? Beer argues that “the scientist must see nature not as ‘entirely distinct from himself”, but as something he can “create”, “select” and “destroy”. In other words: in discovery comes responsibility. Literature continues to pose questions over the validity of scientific pursuit, especially if it comes at great costs. The vast literature on the horrors of war is a grand example of the perils of scientific advancement. Should scientific discoveries such as dynamite, toxic gases or nuclear energy be freely harnessed without any moralistic implications? We see in Woolf’s work that science keeps literature preoccupied with the modern conversation, but literature, on the other hand, keeps science grounded in the long-standing notions of what it means to be a good person, to heal rather than hurt. Science and literature may be different in their purpose, but by no means is this irreconcilable. Rather, it is a matter of one complementing the other. Through all my years of education, a broad understanding of both literature and the sciences was then necessary, and even productive. From how I see things, choosing one did not mean letting go of the other, because doing that would be decapitating to our world-views. In fact it meant an even tighter embrace, where the recognition that one affects the other is crucial. This is what my time in university has taught me, that instead of eager specialization one should take a step back and see the complementary forces that shape this world. And I see it now for what it is: science gives literature form, whilst literature gives science meaning.
The views expressed here are the author’s own. The Octant welcomes all voices in the community. Email submissions to: yncoctant@gmail.com
References: Beer, Gillian. Virginia Woolf: The Common Ground: Essays by Gillian Beer. Ann Arbor: U of Michigan, 1996. Print.
ONLY THE FITTEST SURVIVE story | Justin Ong photo | Justin Ong, Manas Punhani
Manas Punhani ’17, Bryant Chan ’17, Sean Saito ’17, Timothy Chua ’17, Herbin Koh '17, and Benjamin Leong ’17
FEATURES guys. Manas: Two philosophers. They were also called pangseh (cop-out) kings ‘cos they left us. Sean: They left and went to universities in the UK. Which is kind of the reason on the exterior, the public reason. But actually what we had to do was we had to kick them out (laughs). So that six people can fit. That’s the real reason why they left. It was a necessary sacrifice but… Manas: Darwinian theory, right? Only the fittest survive. Bryant: Survival of the fittest, you know? Sean: Philosophers are no longer needed in this society. Bryant: Who needs Oxford anyway right? Geez.
Were there any difficulties that you guys helped each other overcome?
So how did all of you first meet? Sean: I did not sign up for this. Benjamin (Benji): It was just random allocation. Timothy (Tim): We were all along the same corridor [back in RC4]. Manas: But we really got along because there was this air of niceness […]. We had a common lounge, the Common Lounge was beautiful. Sean: Everyone hung out at the Common Lounge except for Tim. Tim: I hang out also man… Benji: But on the rare occasions he did come in, was a cause of great celebration. Manas: We would get all our mattresses down, and slept in the common lounge. Sean: We had sleepovers in the Common Lounge. Tim: Huh? Really… Manas: See, Tim wasn’t part of that. Tim: See, that’s a mega bojio (lack of invitation). From then to now, what were defining moments in your friendships? Sean: I think what’s defining is that nothing has really changed. Bryant: Actually, yeah. Sean: Along the corridor [at RC4] we had a lot more people actually, it was not just the six of us but we also had these two
guys. Manas: Two philosophers. They were also called pangseh (cop-out) kings ‘cos they left us. Sean: They left and went to universities in the UK. Which is kind of the reason on the exterior, the public reason. But actually what we had to do was we had to kick them out (laughs). So that six people can fit. That’s the real reason why they left. It was a necessary sacrifice but… Manas: Darwinian theory, right? Only the fittest survive. Bryant: Survival of the fittest, you know? Sean: Philosophers are no longer needed in this society. Bryant: Who needs Oxford anyway right? Geez. Were there any difficulties that you guys helped each other overcome? Sean: There was one semester where we all took the same course, which was Intermediate Microeconomics. All: Oh! Oh my gosh. Sean: We were like yeah, Econs, we all did it in JC (Junior College) or high school, it shouldn’t be too bad. Bryant: It was very bad (laughs). Manas: But it brought us closer. Tim: It was like army. Bryant: Like BMT (Basic Military Training). Manas: There was a time when Benji got
Sean: There was one semester where we all took the same course, which was Intermediate Microeconomics. All: Oh! Oh my gosh. Sean: We were like yeah, Econs, we all did it in JC (Junior College) or high school, it shouldn’t be too bad. Bryant: It was very bad (laughs). Manas: But it brought us closer. Tim: It was like army. Bryant: Like BMT (Basic Military Training). Manas: There was a time when Benji got drunk and he cleaned my room with a tissue paper. Benji: There was a time when Manas got drunk and didn’t show up for a debate competition that he was supposed to go with me. Manas: I agree. But despite those hiccups we are still friends today. Bryant: Yeah, that’s amazing. Any advice for how to maintain good suite dynamics? Manas: With a good leader, anything is possible! (Points at poster on the front door) Sean: So every Tuesday we try to run. Bryant: Emphasis on the try. Tim: This has only happened two or three times. Bryant: By we, we mean only four of us (Bryant, Sean, Tim and Benji). Manas: I’m dead in spirit. Because whenever they go to McDonald’s, I say I would like to buy McDonald’s as well but they’ve never offered. Benji: So we run to Buona Vista McDonald’s and back. Wait, you run to McDonalds to buy food? Sean: So we run to McDonald’s. By then we’re hungry right? We buy McDonald’s. Manas: They take the bus back! Sean: So the thing is you have a double increase in utility if you have a utility function. You have the pleasure of running and you feel good about yourself after exercising and you eat junk food and feel good about yourself. 7
LITERATURE
Bryant: And you have the company of your friends and you get the knowledge that Manas isn’t there (laughs). The Satisfaction of Manas not being there. Sean: These are things that we learn in Microecons (laughs). Benji: So Prof Saran, if you’re there, I hope you’re listening to this.
What are some things you guys can’t stand about each other? Benji: It’s mostly Manas, really. Manas: What mostly Manas? Only you can’t stand me! We can’t stand Tim’s Chinese Opera Singing. Tim: Oh man, I don’t man. Manas: we can’t stand how good Sean is at Fifa. Sean: I can’t stand it either. Manas: We can’t stand how handsome Bryant is. Bryant: What can I say man. Benji: We get too many visitors in our suite. Manas: Oh! Benji has this crazy nice habit of sleeping not in his bedroom. Anywhere but his bedroom. So sofa, floor, table, everything is game except for his own bed. Benji: I’ve been sleeping more on my bed this semester. Bryant: You know one time Mel, Ami, Kevin and I were drinking at Casa Clementi and the cops came and then they thought Benji passed out ‘cos he slept on the floor. He was just asleep on the floor. Benji: They were drinking, I wasn’t. But I passed out first.
From what I’m gathering, you guys seem really cool with each other. Benji: We’re just very chill. Manas: I mean we are missing one person. We don’t know who this Herbin guy is. Tim: Who is Herbin? Sean: 1800-who-is-Herbin. Bryant: If you see this man… Benji: But seriously though, I think it’s very hard to get all of us in the suite at the same time. Bryant: But when it does happen it is special. Manas: We have a dance as well. Benji: So we have a dance when the five of us are together, and we plan to do it with Herbin. And we waited three weeks for that opportunity when all six of us were in the suite. Tim: Collective effervescence, right? Benji: It took us three weeks to get all six of us in the suite at the same time. Tim: But it was beautiful. Manas: The great thing is, if you look at other suites there’s something common amongst them. But there’s no any one activity that really ties us together. Benji: Except lounging around. Manas: And leeching on free aircon. Apart from that there’s no other quality. I think as people… we’re just nice people lah.
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WATERMELON poem | See Wern Hao, Guest Contributor Loneliness is to give the body to the self who will not keep it. * Ahgong is an atheist. Watermelons cut, cubed. The closest thing to supper he could afford. For a dollar fifty cents, such a big bowl. Cheap faith, the little bit saved, my face resting on the rind, scraping. A half-circle, teeth sunk into a smile. Outside where got? Church was Teck Ghee food centre every Sunday. Fish splashed, slippers dragging across floor, parting of a sea of singlets, salt-caked is love, quiet chopping board, knife. Today I buy the watermelon sweet and juicy or not? Is it fresh? Flesh of the land, sweat of the farmer. Soil and skin I do not know. Here is delivery, not deliverance. When I brought him to college, vigil lights strung around the dining hall. Offerings spread in trays, slick steel. So much can finish meh? Ahgong put down his fork. I took a plate of watermelons for ahgong, ahma, myself. Yeah of course can. At home you also give one big bowl that’s how I learn to eat. The caterers clasp their hands. Do you want more? No need, enough already. At home not so much, cannot compare. See Wern Hao is a freshman from Saga College. His works have been featured in QLRS, Toasted Cheese Literary Journal and We Are A Website. Last seen holed up in a poorly ventilated classroom hiding from deadlines and life. If found, kindly return to bed with copious amounts of cheesecake or ice-cream. EDITORIAL TEAM Editor-in-chief Dave Chappell Managing Editor Justin Ong Managing Editor Zula Badral Co-News Editor Pham Le Vi Co-News Editor Elaine Li Co-Opinion Editor Aditya Karkera Co-Opinion Editor Yip Jia Qi Co-Features Editor Yip Jie Ying Co-Features Editor Nicholas Lua Co-Arts Editor Neo Huiyuan Co-Arts Editor Terence Anthony Wang Co-Visuals Editor Angad Srivastava Co-Visuals Editor Lucy Kuo DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of The Octant. Questions can be directed to yncoctant@gmail.com
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