The Blue and Gold - Issue 11 - November 2010 by The Blue and Gold

The BLUE AND GOLD Issue 11 • November 2010 • MICA 254/07/2010

Glass ro Cafe om Disco unts!

Travel: From Laos to USA HPAIR 2010 Professor de Meyer Interview

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PLUS: Sports Fiesta, Grad Night, Eve, Vegetarianism, and more!

s h e r f Find out how students’ perspectives change as the years go by!

The BLUE And GOLD A publication of the Singapore Management University Students’ Association

Editor’s note

Communications secretary, smusa

Lee Cher Hern Managing Director ACTING EDITOR-In-CHIEF

Owen Tan Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Aashna Nasta ADVISORS

Michael Ng Ephraim Loy managing EditorS

Shobana Nadaraja Senthil Sukumar marketing director

Deborah Lim SENIOR EditorS

Talisa Kaur Dhaliwal Nadim Ali Kapadia Tobias Yeo Sheena Lee Ankita Prasad Graphic Design & layout

Melvin Tiong Owen Tan

f you picked up our previous issue at our newsstands a month or two ago, you might have been awed by the great photographs of the sports CCAs that we featured. You might also have been impressed by the statistics that we have of BOSS bidding of this semester and the previous years – I was certainly surprised when a professor teaching Introductory Economics contacted me one day to verify my sources, especially since they were not retrieved from the official statistics. In a dramatic turn of events, I provided our methodology to an academic instead of the other way round! We provide you, hopefully, with even more reason to pick up this issue. Apart from a fantastic cover shoot with a talented photographer and models, this issue does not focus on particular CCAs, or even groups of people; this issue is all about you. We attempt to figure out what freshmen like; what second and third year students think about Finishing Touch; what makes seniors have such positive impressions on their first presentation and project; and what Freshmen Bash, unfortunately, has to do with Analytical Skills and Creative Thinking classes. Looking to travel? Our travel section returns with reflections of trips ranging from backpacking (page 38) to Work and Travel (page 39). While restaurants have proven rather elusive at granting us interviews, we decided that circumventing the situation involved a little food subsidy for our reporters – read all about going to Wendy’s, on a budget (page 42). We are also honoured to feature an exclusive interview with our new President of SMU, Professor Arnoud de Meyer. In his article he reveals more about his experience and what he hopes to achieve with SMU. We hope you enjoy this issue. Owen Tan Managing Director The Blue and Gold owen.tan.2008@economics.smu.edu.sg

COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHY

Lee Chei Ren

All rights reserved. No part of this publication should be reproduced without the prior permission of the authors concerned and The Blue and Gold. The Blue and Gold is does not necessarily endorse the opinions put forth by its writers. Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd. The Blue and Gold 81 Victoria Street Singapore 188065 pubcomm@sa.smu.edu.sg smublueandgold@gmail.com

This issue of The Blue and Gold is proudly sponsored by Prudential Singapore.

Inside This Issue

Viewpoint 6 7

The Magic of Laos

Sanva Saephan gives us a perspective of this special part of Indochina.

Face/Off

Should schools have the right to endorse their students for elections? Four students give their views.

Cover Story 8

Still fresh?

We take a look at what SMU students are happy and not-so-happy about.

ws! Campus Ne 20

Sowing the Seeds of Innovation

Aashna Nasta and Emile Law find out more about our new SMU President Arnoud de Meyer.

The Green, not the Library

Claudia Wong reports on the Sports Fiesta.

Welcome, the 11th SMUSA Exco

Graduation Night 2010

30 32

nom

Eve 2010

Lydia Toh reports on a night of appreciating the arts.

A musical and a play

Reflections on the Law Musical and Home, Nearly.

Perspectives 32

HPAIR 2010

Reports from participants and organisers.

Travel 38

For a variety of reasons

From backpacking in India to working in the USA.

Thumb 42 Sup! and. 46

Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, books, movies

Our new recommendations section.

Overheard @ SMU

Excerpts from everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite Facebook page.

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From Our Desk

“THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST BLUE AND GOLD ISSUE EVERRRR RRR...I love the photos and the new layout format! Looks qualifying as a Newsweek! Great job to the team! Its FANTASTIC.” - Lee Jun Kiat (Year 3, Business )

e how you made me “Very well done. I lik . Glassroom ad]. Haha flip to page 31 [The So Singaporean. “ Economics) - Hazel Ang (Year 3, Ed: We’ve got mo re Gl as

TThheeBBLLUUee AANNDD GGOOLLDD

Issue 10 • Sep

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/07/2010

MICA 254 tember 2010 •

Capturing the Spirit of Sport

ion Sports Ed it

PLUS: the World ■ Events Around ■ Bidding Woes and Colours ws: Glassroom rvie ■ Exclusive Inte

From alumni... Congrats on the new Blue and Gold mag! It is AWESOME!!!! - Angela Anthony, former Editor -in-Chief, The Blue and Gold

Spor ts issue

m sroo Glas afe C ts oun Disc ide! s in

AWESOME Blue and Gold iss ue. AWESOME. - Elvin Ong, former regular con tributor, The Blue and Gold

isor Memo fr. Adv Ephraim Loy

many yellow I don’t like too boxes. 10 September 20

An Overheard extra... “You come in as a fresh piece of dough. You get slammed about and stretched to the limit. Finally , when you’re moulded into a fluffy prata you get eaten!” - V Kumar Sharma reflects on school life while eating prata at Jalan Kayu

Write to us and win prizes and vouchers. Send us an email at pubcomm@sa.smu.edu.sg. 4

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Viewpoint

The magic of Laos Sanva Saephan gives us a perspective of this special part of Indochina.

hen I tell people that I am from Laos, they often give me perplexed looks. Some even embarrass themselves by asking “Is Laos in Myanmar?”, “Is Laos part of Cambodia?”, or even “Is Laos a country?” I remember an incident at Changi Airport a few years back; a memory that will not leave my mind for years to come. An Air Asia officer refused to let me check-in, insisting that I needed a visa to visit Thailand. Even after explaining that, under the new ASEAN agreement, Lao passport holders can travel to some ASEAN nations (including Thailand) without a visa, she remained adamant that I needed one. I was furious. To make matters worse, she even asked, “Where is Laos?” I was ready to explode, but I managed to compose myself, and requested to see the manager. The problem was quickly solved, and the officer apologized. I dismissed the matter, but it is a reminder of how little is known about Laos. Laos is a land-locked, independent nation sharing borders with China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Despite recent development, Laos is a laid-back country with a peaceful atmosphere. Many are content with the simple lifestyle that has been passed down from generation to generation. Only after SEA Games 2009, which Laos hosted, did the country gain some international recognition. Even though Laos is still unknown to many of us, the country has many things to offer. Vientiane, the capital of Laos, is an economically emerging town. Yet, many historical monuments built during the French colonization are still well preserved.

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Visitors often spend at least one or two days here before continuing on their journey to Vang Vieng (if they travelling north). Vang Vieng is a five-hour bus ride from Vientiane, a town that visitors must not miss. The scenic beauty of the town has captivated many tourists; a place where you can experience the purity of nature, and let the fresh air will purge the pollution from your lungs. There are also many breathtaking caves to explore, and wherever you go, the mountains greet you smiling. I would say that this town is as impressive as the famous Guilin city in China. To accompany the mountains of Vang Vieng, the Song River is a buzz of activity. Tubing, where you sit on a tyre and let yourself flow with the current, is one relaxing activity that the river provides. The slow flowing river also has turbulent currents at some junctions, and is a wonderful place for kayaking. However, the most popular activity is slinging, where you can jump from a high platform to grip a bar and drop into the river. The night sky of Vang Vieng is filled with stars, and those of my friends who went there for an overseas community service programme (OCSP) are still in awe of this sight. Each night, we would lie down “talk” with the stars, ready to close our eyes and make our wishes on a shooting star. The starry night was a perfect respite after each tiring day, and the sixteen souls in the Wan Mai OCSP team – Amanda, Alfred, Yi Chen, Linh, Vy, Heng Yin, Charmaine, Xue Kun, Jie Han, Derek, Tian Sheng, Swee Leng, Zhen Zhen, Mervyn, Yen Soon, and myself – quickly fell in love with the town.

After our OCSP, the team travelled north to Luang Prabang for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. This small, beautiful town is a UNESCO World Heritage site; French architecture and Buddhist temples dominate the town, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Life here is slow and simple, and taking a stroll through town is enough to experience the loveliness and charm of Lao culture. Wherever you go, Laotians greet you with simple Hellos, but you can sense the liveliness and sincerity. After your walk, shops along the streets offer aromatic Lao coffee and delightful refreshments. At night, the market in Luang Prabang showcases elegant Lao handicraft from a variety of ethnic groups, such as the Hmong and Mienh, ideal gifts for friends and family. Outside Luang Prabang, there are also magnificent waterfalls at Tat Guangxi where you can relax and get in touch with nature. Home stays are another way to learn more about the culture and lifestyle of the people. For art lovers and appreciators of simple lifestyles, Luang Prabang is the perfect place to visit. To the partygoers and sightseers, Vang Vieng is the perfect getaway. Laos also has many other amazing places to offer, such as the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang or the historical sites and majestic waterfalls of Champasak. The best time to visit is from November to February, when the weather is cool and lovely. I hope this article has helped you to learn more about Laos, enough perhaps to make Laos your next holiday destination.

Recently, Oikos, the society representing the School of Economics, was reminded by SMUSA that endorsing one of its students for the SMUSA elections is not allowed. In our new section, we ask the students if schools should have the right to endorse candidates for elections.

Aye

I believe that the email supporting the SMUSA election campaign of Economics student Gary Tan was simply a call from the Oikos family to support one of its flock.

It is beyond my comprehension why SMUSA was so affected by this endorsement. Though I must agree that the email probably boosted the votes for Gary, as some Economics students may have felt inclined to vote in line with the School’s endorsement, thus throwing their collective weight behind Gary. I believe that SMUSA ought not be too put off by this move, as I believe that the Oikos Committee purely wanted to put up a display of support for Gary. They must have had prior knowledge of Gary’s capabilities to serve the student body well, and would not have taken a blind leap of faith in supporting Gary Tan. After all, they are putting the reputation of SOE on the line. Furthermore, we are highly educated students, and our ideals and morals will not be easily swayed by endorsements, even one from a school committee. After all, the SMUSA elections are important, and students will not take voting lightly. If The New York Times can endorse Barack Obama in the US presidential elections, I don’t see why SOE cannot declare its support for Gary Tan. In fact, I think it shows solidarity and unity within the Oikos family. Tan Yi Heng Jason

Aye

However, if schools step into the electoral process by endorsing certain candidates, it would give those candidates an unfair edge. While it could mean extra firepower for someone who is competent, would that be at the expense of another passionate, but not as established, candidate?

SMUSA serves as the voice of SMU’s student population, so why should schools have to remain neutral by not endorsing candidates for elections?

Even though school committees and portfolio holders have greater power and influence compared to the average student, students should still be allowed hear their opinions, and will eventually draw their own conclusions based on whatever is personally important.

Nay

As such, all initiatives should be led by students, and the primary concern should be the quality of candidates and their mandate. In the journey leading up to voting day, candidates have campaigned aggressively – using posters, Facebook pages, bookmarks, and balloons – just to convince voters that they are worthy of the checkbox next to their names.

FACE OFF

It is only natural that each school would seek representation in the SMUSA Exco to voice their opinions and fight for their interests. Successfully elected members rely on the votes of the student population to arrive at their privileged positions, and if schools were to remain neutral by not endorsing candidates, large swathes of support would be missing in the elections. Each school represents a different part of the student body, and thus they should be allowed to endorse the candidate they feel would best represent their interests. It is unfair to prohibit schools from supporting candidates purely due to their relatively greater power of influence. The support from schools represent the collective view of a significant set of students, and should not be ignored.

Jeanie Hue

In SMU, societies and student bodies are entirely student-centered – by the student, for the student. Unlike the political agendas that real world organizations may have, school elections should have only one aim: to search for students who are most passionate in serving the student community.

Whichever school the candidates hail from, we must always remember that we come from one place, one family, one SMU. These students are all striving to serve their fellow students, and thus should at least be accorded the privilege of a level playing field. John Huang

The School of Economics had thrown its weight behind one particular candidate, a decision presumably made by the small student committee heading the school.

Nay

To maintain an even playing field, SMUSA understandably intervened, and reminded the school to remain neutral. For fairness, a body in a position of strength and power should not be using its influence to take sides. Of course, we must assume that the student committee in question is discerning enough to make that judgment.By disallowing bodies in-the-know using their influence to help their constituents make informed choices, many votes will be cast blindly, especially as voters are often apathetic and will not make the effort to determine the capabilities of each candidate themselves. This may eventually lead to a sub-optimal SMUSA board, and in turn, a decrease in student welfare. By extension, only if an informed student body elects student committees will we then be able to count on them making the right choice in endorsing a particular candidate for SMUSA elections. Loh Wei Quan

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Cover Story

l l i t s

h s e r f 8

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In this issue, we take a look at what SMU students are happy and not-so-happy about - and how your perspective of SMU changes as you progress through school life. By Owen Tan With additional reporting by Serene Tay, Stephanie Yow, Shobana Nadaraja, Ankita Prasad, Aashna Nasta, Tobias Yeo, and Senthil Sukumar Photography by Lee Chei Ren Models: Lim Zihui, Tan Siow Yun, Kingley Lim

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Cover Story

Losing its Lustre?

“[School] started out as being really rosy, but now it’s lost a bit of its shine... though I’m not really complaining.” “SMU’s lifestyle is more hectic than other universities; high stress levels and expectations in school.” “The pursuit for grades is becoming more and more intense.”` - Final year SMU students who responded to our survey

10 the blue and gold

Not So Fresh

on’t be mistaken by the title: indeed, there are a lot of great things about school that all of us love. We will go to those later, but rather than going the conventional route of giving you the good news before the bad, we decided to show you the peeves of the SMU student as he progresses through his school life. The myth, of course, is that all SMU students are satisfied, content, enriched with every course that they take; being on the Dean’s List; balancing school life, a part-time job, and a relationship extremely well; loving their project group mates; essentially enjoying every second of their SMU lives. For this issue, we sent out an Internet survey that had over 200 respondents to figure out what exactly peeves the SMU student. We realise, interestingly, that some things consistently appear on the list of poor impressions (we explore a couple of these further in the next few pages). We present to you, from our survey results, The Blue and Gold’s very own “Top of the Bottom” list.

Increasing Seniority

5. First lesson of university 4. Analytical Skills/Creative Thinking (AS/CT) 3. Matriculation 2. Leadership & Team Building (LTB) 1. Freshman Bash

5. LTB  4. AS/CT 3. Internship 2. FTB 1. Freshman Bash

5. Convocation 4. First presentation 3. Matriculation  2. Freshman Bash  1. AS/CT 

5. Vivace  4. Matriculation  3. Overseas community involvement project 2. Freshman Bash 1. AS/CT Arranged in ascending level of negative impression, where 1 = most negative. Events in bold denote new entries compared to previous years.

Did you know?

Most participative:

Seniors

Graduating students seem to be more vocal in class, our survey suggests: 41% of them participate at least two to three times every lesson. the blue and gold

Cover Story

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ave for the pet peeves that all of us have, it seems that there are some things that SMU students of all levels of seniority like. Orientation camps, for instance, seem to be the most memorable among all levels; receiving the acceptance letter after what is arguably the toughest admission process for a university here is ranked top of the fresh list for both second and third-year students. Interestingly, fourth year students have a very different fresh list from the rest. Most of them, having had the opportunity to go overseas, now place that as the most memorable impression; the first projects, presentations and lessons at SMU now seem to be the most positive impressions that they will take away from SMU upon graduation.

1. Orientation camps 2. Acceptance into SMU 3. Vivace 4. First project in SMU 5. Convocation

niorit y Increasing Se

The Fresh List

1. Acceptance into SMU 2. First presentation 3. OCIP 4. Vivace 5. Orientation camps

1. Acceptance into SMU 2. Orientation camps ď&#x192;&#x2021; 3. LTB 4. Vivace 5. Internship

1. Overseas programmes 2. First project in SMU 3. Finishing Touch 4. First lesson in SMU 5. First presentation ď&#x192;&#x2C6;

Arranged in descending level of positive impression, where 1 = most positive. Events in bold denote new entries as compared to previous years.

Did you know?

Most respondents to this survey:

Freshmen

Thinking of sending out a survey for your classmates to complete? Perhaps targeting freshmen would be the best option. Close to 50% of the respondents in the survey were freshmen. the blue and gold 13

Cover Story

Satisfaction! (and who’s getting it)

50.0

We take a look at how happy SMU students are with their school life, and debunk some myths. 37.5

MYTH OR FACT #2: The people who are most dissatisfied with school are typically the senior students.

MYTH OR FACT #1:

Unfortunately, the myth seems to be accurate. 14% of seniors indicate that they are “very dissatisfied” with school. - FACT

The majority of SMU students are dissatisfied with school.

25.0

A contentious point, but it seems that the proportion of dissatisfied students in the survey stands at 21.5%, while satisfied students are at 78.5%. - MYTH

12.5

Very dissatisfied 14

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Dissatisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

MYTH OR FACT #3: Most senior students are not satisfied with school. 59% of fourth-year students are either satisfied or very satisfied (73% if you add in “somewhat satisfied”), which suggests that dissatisfaction with school is greatly exaggerated. - MYTH

Conclusion:

Freshness guaranteed... (for most anyway)

If we are to believe the naysayers, we sincerely believe that the bars would have been much higher on the facing page. What we see from this survey, however, proves them wrong: a majority of students are satisfied with life in SMU, and within this a significant number is more than just “somewhat satisfied”. It seems that we can say that the majority of our student population are, as of this moment, still fresh. The school administration, of course, should still note that there are little warning signs that should be resolved. A significant (14%) proportion of final year students are “very dissatisfied”. As with all surveys, ours has limits: the people who are dissatisfied with school life may be under-represented, since they may not even bother to check their emails. Response rates for the senior students, most of them busy with their final year projects and internships were much lower than for the freshmen. For now, however, it seems that SMU students are mostly satisfied. - Owen Tan

Somewhat satisfied

Satisfied

Very satisfied the blue and gold 15

Cover Story

Most are happy to get in here

What you think!

Here we post some of the comments you made in our survey.

Freshmen

Liked orientation camps because... “Awesome fright night” - Jonathan Lim, Information Systems Liked Vivace because... “of goody bags!” - Rebecca Ling, Accountancy Didn’t like their first lesson because... “I got lost distinguishing between SR, CR and GSR” - Mervyn Lee, Information Systems Didn’t like LTB because... “I know it prepares us for the corporate world and all, but leadership theories are boring” - Daniel Soon, Business It was very interesting to see how foreign students or exchange students participate in class discussions. Most of them were more outspoken than Singaporean students, even those from South East Asian countries. - Anonymous

SMU today is known today by both potential and current students for having the snazziest advertisements for undergraduate admissions

■ Tobias Yeo

MU has just celebrated its 10th Anniversary, by no stretch an achievement in a world of Harvards, Oxfords, Princetons, NUSs, and NTUs. Still, in those 10 years, we have grown from a fringe institution into an extremely popular mainstream one, and each year students face stiff competition for a place here. An acceptance letter has become a mark of achievement, a symbol of pride. SMU’s progress can be easily summed up in the words of Social Science student Lydia Low – “It isn’t NUS.” For many, SMU also represents a university with unconventional admission criteria. Top students sometimes fail to gain admission, while other students, like Daniel Soon from Lee Kong Chian School of Business, are grateful that “SMU recognized me – a talent!” I understand his sentiments deeply; only SMU would allow me, a polytechnic student with an IT diploma, to change tack and pursue a Social Science degree. The transition into University is a significant event. Often, it

16 the blue and gold

is the last barrier between a relatively comfortable school life and the cold, hard reality of the working world. It is that first (curse you, competitive Singapore society) necessary step we must take in climbing the corporate ladder. However, the unique SMU system also creates its own problems. When asked how they are adapting to school, students like Cheryl Loh from the School of Accountancy simply say, “It’s tough.” Fortunately (and encouragingly), many freshman feel they are helped somewhat by their orientation experience. Besides the opportunity to meet new friends, perhaps the most important benefit is the chance to “learn quite a bit from seniors,” in the words of School of Information Systems student Jonathan Lim. In fact, in a survey by The Blue and Gold, orientation camps and acceptance into SMU have been listed by freshman as their 2 best experiences. If anything, freshmen are at least enjoying the experience of starting school.

Sophomores Liked OCIP because... “Made us realise that we should be grateful of what we have now... Probably the greatest experience of my SMU life” - Edwin Eduardo Kalisaran Didn’t like LTB because... “Team mates weren’t very cooperative” - Gary Liang Jun Hao

Juniors

Liked orientation camps because... “Loved it! Pure fun, no consequences!” - Yessita Azeharie, Information Systems Liked Vivace because... “I found my calling in the unlikeliest of CCAs” - anonymous Liked internship because... “It means time away from school” - Kyna Tan Disliked AS/CT because... “CT seemed to have served no purpose in my tertiary education” - Sophia

Seniors Liked going for exchange because... “It was the best semester of my university life!” - Xinyi, Business Liked their first lesson because... “It was interesting because it was my LTB project. Had a great group there.” - Jurena Chan Didn’t like Freshman Bash because... “didn’t do much even though I attended.” - Chen Yongzhe Benjamin

A Toast to Orientation Camps Stephanie Yow gives her take on the orientation camps that freshmen went through.

The Freshman Teambuilding Camp is mandatory - but certainly does not seem mundane - for SMU students

hen I think of camps, I think of flickering, cozy campfires, hot melted marshmallows, and jolly songs being belted out loudly in a night out at the woods. Singapore, however, has no woods whatsoever but only a concrete jungle, so we have to make do with pitched tents at East Coast Park.

with everyone shuffling into the reporting venue with large duffle bags and different coloured shirts according to clan, and guys checking girls out and vice-versa (never underestimate this, for it is an important step in evaluating the future market size of potential boyfriends and girlfriends). There was a certain level of exBut there is noth- “Whatever the approach citement in ing wrong with you might have taken, the air, and East Coast Park. I believe that the main we all had It is near food takeaway for most of us the taste of places selling re- was connecting with new anticipation ally good barbe- individuals, and seeing on our lipscued stingray, our lives intersect on so Who were with public re- many different levels.” going to be strooms located our teamat a stone’s throw away, and we mates? Would the camp be fun, still get mobile phone reception. or a total bore? Would we fit in? We are Singaporeans, after all. We thrive on comfort and conve- The more meek ones naturally nience. We love reclaimed land took a longer time to open up, and imported sand, because it but the more boisterous ones makes our island city so much simply thrust their big smiles bigger and speaks of our govern- in people’s faces and welcomed ment’s ingenuity. new friendships. Whatever the approach you might have takI am a freshman this year, and the en, I believe that the main takefirst step that I ever took towards away for most of us was connectuniversity life was in orienta- ing with new individuals, and tion camps. Do you remember seeing our lives intersect on so your first day? A bleary morning, many different levels. These in-

teractions, on hindsight, gave us friends that would pore over textbooks till midnight with us, laugh, and cry with us. How can we forget the bizarre, crazy games? I remember trudging to the showers at night feeling completely exhausted, with several bruises and cuts on my legs, flour and peanut butter caked on my face, and drenched clothes from water games. I honestly questioned the credibility of the games. Some of them were only present to get freshmen dirty, and had no learning value at all. But as I watched my team mates erupting into peals of laughter, with every one of us sweaty, tired and hugely unglamorous, I knew that we were

having a blast. Now that was what mattered most. So here is a toast to freshmen orientation camps, urban campsites, and ever-lasting friendships. Let us, from freshmen to seniors, not forget the significance of our baby steps towards becoming a bona fide Singapore Management University student- polished, confident, intelligent, and eloquent. If I may put it this way, orientation camps are merely the gateways of warm hospitality to get you settled into university life. The future behind our campus’ tall, automated glass doors is ultimately for you to create.

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Cover Story

The Dark Side

Nostalgia?

AS/CT classes and Freshman Bash end up regularly on the not-so-fresh list. Senthil Sukumar and Aashna Nasta report. ■ AS/CT

S/CT modules were consistently ranked as the ‘Worst 5 First Impressions’ that student have in SMU.

Shobana Nadaraja believes that missing the “good old days” is strong for final year students

inal year students have a much different Fresh List as compared to the rest of the cohorts. For them, the first lesson in SMU, their first project, and first presentation appears to be the most memorable.

This was just the start point of my journey in SMU, an indicator as to what I was to expect in future projects. - Mohan Jeyapalan (pictured), year 4 Does nostalgia come into the picture? Mohan Jeyapalan, an IS student in his graduating year of SMU shares his experiences over his four years in SMU. Mohan feels that the first few milestones in SMU were essential in shaping one to survive the upcoming challenge. “Even though I came from a polytechnic the standards of projects in SMU were just different. It felt more formal. However we grew together as a team. This was just the start point of my journey in SMU, an indicator as to what I was to expect in future projects.” With regards to academics, “with freshmen entering every year, I feel that the current batch

18 the blue and gold

becomes more competitive than the previous one.” He remarks, “as cliché is may seem, GPA is not the only important thing. Instead we should be aware of other non-academic issues; the lack of integration between the foreign students and local students.” He also shared his disappointment of pre-planned class participation among two peers which they executed timely during class. In his emphasis of personal relationships, Mohan believes that “at the end of the day it is the people that I have met in SMU who will leave a life-long impression on me, not very much of the digits (GPA). My group of friends, which we have named as Malay, Indian and Chinese (M.I.C.) has been there beside me through these four years. School would not be as fun without them. I also found the love of my life in SMU.” He concluded with a quote imparted from his favorite professor, Mr Kirpal Singh, “Fight for the things you really want” in which Mohan explains that “fruitful outcomes can only be achieved if you believe in yourself.”

Many students feel that the two modules add little value to their overall curriciculum. CT in particular has a bad reputation for being a waste of time and focusing more on class participation then instilling creativity. This could be a consequence of the module’s central tenet that creativity is relative, and the reason why any and all verbal quips are given merit regardless of whether or not they are constructive contributions. As one student puts it, “CT quickly becomes a battle for class participation, with TAs just ticking names of people who spoke up.” AS is a completely different ball game, and class participation alone does not guarantee a good grade. We all remember redrawing arrows and redefining statements that can be held to be true or false after discussing home■ Freshman Bash

tudents vented that the Freshman Bash organized by Bizcom at Zouk didn’t meet their expectation. It was just another clubbing night for many and found the pageant long and time-consuming. Some also hinted that the selection criteria of the pageant winners could have been more transparent. Even some final year students who expressed their nostalgia about most other school events commented that “The Freshman Bash didn’t leave an impression on me.”

work questions with other students, only to redraw and redefine the exact same questions after even more discussions with more students. Unlike CT, in AS students are given a strict set of clearly-defined rubrics for coursework. But like creativity, at times even logic seems perplexingly subjective. In addition, with its weekly assignments, presentations and exams, the AS module is decidedly more intense, and complaints abound that it takes up too much time and effort for just a half CU. Perhaps the reason why SMU students share a love-hate relationship with AS and CT is because we come from a stringently grade-oriented education system, and the well-roundedness that these modules aim to inculcate in us jars with our academic sensitivities. However, love them or hate them, these two modules are here to stay and leave their impression on successive generations of SMU students. Looking at it from an entirely different perspective, a few students think that it was too expensive and not worth the money; a sophomore was tongue in cheek about it, “There are a lot of needy people out there, who would have done much more with the money!” Being held on a Thursday night was also the concern of some SMU students - Clinston Tan said that he did not attend especially since he had class the next morning. Like a date, both quality and timing are essential in holding a successful event.

Growing in Confidence Most professors think that the difference between freshmen and seniors is the latter’s belief - in themselves ■ Serene Tay

MU inflicts changes on us we may or may not appreciate, but as both facilitators and spectators of this transformational process, our professors are proud champions of this nurturing environment. For the typical year one, the numerous pre- semester camps and orientation sessions do nothing to alleviate the feeling of alienation in his/her new school environment, which admittedly looks nothing like a school. Glass paneled buildings, escalators and seniors brisk walking to their next lecture in full- on business suits can really throw off a freshman on his/her first day from the familiar school environment of painted school blocks, chatty classrooms, candid pranks, scheduled lessons with disciplining teachers and in all a protected environment.

niors’ intellect and abundant experiences. Dr Margaret Chan very aptly names this period a “liminal” period, a period of “betwixt and between”, in which we struggle to make sense of why we subject ourselves to this discomfort and figure out what we hope to gain from being in “A Different U”. In Dr Chan’s words, “within the year, most freshmen get used to this and come to relish their independence.” As long as we fulfill the course requirements for our degrees, we may choose to take whatever else modules we wish. Should we want to go on exchange, business study missions, overseas community projects, conferences, extended internships, SMU grants us leave of absences. Countless case competitions, business quizzes, social enterprise opportunities abound in this institution fully committed to expanding the potential of those who walk through it.

Class participation is fulfilling its core purpose - to nurture more outspoken individuals who challenge what is presented to them. As much as we grapple helplessly in a bid to survive, professors feel this change in environment is not simply desirable, but necessary, with “an exponentially more difficult curriculum at the tertiary level, the teaching style has to take on a more individualized approach.” This is what freshmen struggle with, the sudden burst of independence and clashing timetables with their peers, and being intimidated to no end by the se-

The power distance that existed between students and teachers in secondary schools is completely eliminated in university. We often bump into professors while eating lunch or working out at the gym, and Ms Carla Lim feels this contributes to a closer relationship and facilitates the education process as professors are more in touch with the lives of students. All agree that confidence is the most exponential growth. Ms Rosie Ching feels that “their confidence level grows exponentially with years at SMU, together with more lines and grey hairs.”

“They actually start something concrete like small enterprises instead of merely planning their futures, and are much less afraid and more determined to “get out there”. Still, no less humble, but nicer, grittier and definitely smarter.” Ms Carla Lim adds that a differentiating factor between year ones and beyond is the level of class participation. But of course. Class participation is the ultimate infamous grading requirement, and might have single handedly scared off some potential applicants. Countless debates have arisen on this topic, professors experiment with dogged determination in hopes of discovering the perfect grading system, students furiously research the ongoing debate in real time to spur discussions.. but class participation is no doubt fulfilling it’s core purposeto nurture more outspoken individuals who challenge what is presented to them. And for the level of class participation to be visibly differentiated, it shows that freshmen ultimately do break out of their shell to benefit from the increased confidence and enriched learning process a greater involvement in class participation provides. Ending on a heartwarming note Dr Chan adds, “I have attended the weddings of many of my former students, and it always moves me to see them so poised and assured. I look forward to being an ‘SMU grandmother’.” Despite all the freedom SMU students receive, we exist with the assurance that we have dedicated professors behind us, supporting our development and ready to offer advice.

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President De Meyer:

Sowing the Seeds of Innovation With SMU continuing to strive for success, Professor Arnoud de Meyer’s appointment as the fifth President of SMU has sparked curiosity and enthusiasm amongst all. Emile Law and Aashna Nasta share with you his opinion of SMU and how he plans to navigate its path further.

canning the array of books neatly arranged on the shelves in the office of SMU’s newly elected President’s office, one can definitely presume that President de Meyer is a keen academician. Well, we weren’t too far off the mark, but much more lay beneath that bookish façade. Just 15 days into his official days of work in SMU, our president shared with us ideas and foresight that surpasses the compass of knowledge that can be found in literature. A self professed ‘Academic Entrepreneur’, his words resonate with wisdom amassed from his decades of experience in the academic arena. Previously the Director of Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, and with 23 years of experience in INSEAD under his belt as well, he unfolds SMU’s next chapter of change to come.

ON WHY HE CHOSE SMU: Having been in Singapore from 1998 to 2003 for work, our President’s familiarity with the local surroundings was certainly among the motivating factors. He knew that Singapore will be a place where he could live in, and that was something he regarded to be important to someone from overseas. But beyond that, it was the nature of the wide opportunities of this unique position that drew him to here to SMU, “I will learn about Law, Economics, Social Sciences and Information System- I have a very broad portfolio of topics, which I thought was very interesting”.

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SMU’s STRENGTHS: “The People. When I came here, everyone was so enthusiastic.” Which encompasses the staff, students and faculty; and he attributes this to the culture of caring in SMU. Students in SMU make an effort to improve the university and that, he says, is “very difficult to grasp, to maintain, and even to say what drives it” President De Meyer definitely loves it, as he finds the enthusiasm spilling over to him as well.

The iPhone is not just an iPhone. It is everything that comes with it - The culture, the brand, the service, and the people who care to make the applications.”

BRINGING SMU TO THE WORLD ARENA

A TYPICAL DAY OF WORK?

“I don’t have a typical day. All my days are different! Every day is exciting, everyday is a huge discovery for me” However, he cites his responsibility over SMU’s financial equilibrium, its quality of teaching and research, as well as its image and brand. “The Responsibility starts with me.” He likens his role to that of a CEO and points out the importance of him work ing with his team of people who help drive SMU. He also stresses the need for him to provide SMU with a clear strategy and vision that is “dynamic and lives”. “You have to give people a view of where they will go in this university” Well notwithstanding, the role of being a spokesperson for the organization, in this case SMU.

“You have to give people a view of where they will go in this university”

“Any good university that wants to survive in the long term has to have good research.”

THE CHALLENGES: “SMU has been doing so well … the challenge is, ‘Where do we go from here?’ ”. Moving forward, he identifies SMU’s challenges manifest in three aspects: The growth of graduate programmes, building the SMU brand internationally, as well as research. As he says, “Any good university that wants to survive in the long term has to have good research.” Yes, he says, those are the main challenges. But underlying all that, we will still need “to protect what we have” to make SMU a more robust place in the future.

“In the short run, we can be very good at explaining to the people what we have achieved, which will enhance our brand.” But he elaborates, the short term publicity “can only go so far to the point where we have to deliver results and the delivery will need to come out of research.” Again, our President espouses the need to create research that “has an impact on organizations, and makes a difference in the lives of people [&] improves the quality of teaching” With SMU’s young faculty, the President says, “Given the right environment and incentives, they [the faculty] will produce great ideas” He explains that thus far, ideas have largely migrated to Asia from countries like Europe. “I think we are at the ‘tipping point’, we are well positioned to take advantage of it” Hence, in the long term, SMU’s success will certainly come from its research. “Oh, and when I think of it, your [students’] successes as well.” He adds.

KEEPING ABREAST OF COMPETITION With regard to how other institutions are following SMU’s unique pedagogy, President de Meyer states that, “It’s great that others copy us”. It shows that we definitely have something worth emulating. However, our President believes that “it is not that simple to copy us. It’s easy to say, we have lecture theatres that look similar, but it’s going to be very difficult to copy the culture of the place. I’m rather optimistic that they won’t catch up too quickly. But they will.” And that is where President de Meyer reiterates the importance of for SMU “To continue to invest in innovation in the way we teach, the way we educate” SMU needs to keep on improving. He draws analogy to Apple “It’s like Apple with its iPhones, so easy to copy.” “But it’s not the product of the iPod or the iPhone. It is everything that comes with it- The culture, the brand, the service, and the people who care to make applications that come with it. And Apple is constantly innovating!” With SMU continuing to strive for success, Professor Arnoud de Meyer’s appointment as the fifth President of SMU certainly will be the herald for many changes to come. Congratulations President Arnoud de Meyer! We certainly look forward to your leadership in days to come!

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Sports Fiesta 2010

The Green, not the Library

Claudia Wong throws light upon the sixth Sports Fiesta kicked off to a fanfare on the third Friday of the new school semester.

eld at Singapore Management University’s Campus Green, this year’s carnival-themed event had 240 participants take part in three competitive sports- Soccer, Dodgeball and Captain’s Ball. Fringe games such as Face Soccer, Goggle Ball, The Balls ‘R’ on the floor and Sledge Mania also attracted curious onlookers to have a go at the innovative versions of their sport. Liu Xinghui, a third year School of Information Systems (SIS) student, who headed this year’s organizing committee, sees Sports Fiesta as an event to engage and interest students in playing sports to escape the mundane routine of studying. Said Liu: “The aim of Sports Fiesta is to promote student life. The sports at Sports Fiesta are relatively easy to play, so everyone can enjoy them. One difference this year was that fringe games were organized by our own stu-

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dents for the very first time. We typically get external vendors, but this time round we let our own sportsmen run the games, to promote their sport.” “We’ve noticed an increasing number of students who coop themselves up in the library to study all the time and we wanted to provide an avenue in which they can lead a more active lifestyle by playing sports.” Chrystal De Anda, a 19-year-old exchange student from Mexico, not only scored a hat-trick but also the winning goal for Team Kofi Annan in the third place play-off. She has been playing soccer since she was four but this was her first playing at a soccer tournament in a futsal-like pitch. De Anda formed a team with other exchange students from Denmark and Spain, who were visibly a head taller than their Singaporean opponents, Team Ramesh. In a high-scoring game,

both teams were tied 7-7 before De Anda netted the winner with a few minutes remaining on the clock. In the soccer finals, Team Underdogs, whom seemed to be the favourites even before the start of the competition, beat Team Patrick Star 6-4 to be crowned champions. Chang Guo Guang, a first-year business student at his first Sports Fiesta, scored countless goals for his side but lauded his team for their effort. He said, “I credit the win today to my team, both the guys and the girls. We came here just to have fun and I’m proud of my team’s achievement.” Chang, who plays as a winger for SMU’s soccer team and also for Gombak United, has just joined the SMU team but has found his place among the sporting community. “I feel that the SMU sporting body is a very tight knit one. Sportsmen and sportswom-

en alike commit a lot to their CCA and it is this strong bond that make the team.” The 7 Dwarves ironically fielded a team of towering giants to beat Team Floorball 19-10 in the most popular sport, Captain’s ball, in which a record of 24 teams took part in. Elsewhere in Dodgeball, Team Douchebag edged out Team Banah Randoas in a narrow 2-1 victory. Even as Sports Fiesta ended on a high note for the winning teams, for the SMU sportsmen and women, they will return to their training routine to prepare for the upcoming SUniG (Singapore University Games). This tertiary level competition pitches the four universities against each other in 16 sports, such as soccer, tennis, aquathlon, basketball and handball.

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Prudential-SMU

Business Case Competition 2010

Standing out from the crowd The Prudential-SMU Business Case Competition 2010 is the first international business case competition to be held by Singapore Management University (SMU), and organized by Cognitare -- the SMU business case club Prudential Singapore has made the competition possible through a generous sponsorship. This is part of Prudential’s strong ongoing relationship with Singapore Management University. Prudential seeks to support a world-class business case competition for undergraduates from around the world. A business case competition is about using a case study of a real world business problems, to help a team of students to focus on finding answers to the problems. This is a gruelling but enriching experience under intense time pressure for all participants,.

The objective of a business case competition is to champion the drive for innovative solutions to strategic and managerial challenges faced by global business leaders, encourage the establishment of global networks through cross-cultural exchange, and facilitate the sharing of ideas and experiences among participants and faculty members.

One objective of the compeitition is to champion the drive for innovative solutions to the strategic and managerial dilemmas faced by

A diverse mix of top-ranked local and international business schools have been invited to participate. Each team consists of four undergraduate students, hand-picked to represent each university’s elite.

global business leaders.

Said Mr Philip Seah, CEO of Prudential Assurance Company Singapore: “This competition will provide you a platform with which to sync your academic and career goals by gaining an awareness of real-life critical issues faced by global business leaders, and applying your academic knowledge to craft innovative solutions for these issues. You will be able to exchange ideas and experiences with fellow participants and faculty members, thus establishing cross-cultural global ties.

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“Additionally, through networking with Prudential Singapore staff, you will be able to gain first-hand knowledge about the financial services industry and the general economic climate of Singapore.”

This year’s teams come all the way from HEC Montreal (Canada) to the University of Auckland (New Zealand). Other participating universities include Concordia University, Chulalongkorn University, Nanyang Technological University, Queen’s University, Rikkyo University, the University of Florida, Singapore Institute of Management, and Singapore Management University - the host of the competition. Each team will have 24 hours to complete their analysis and present their recommendations to the judges in the form of a a presentation and 2-page executive summary.

Singapore Management University

A diverse mix of top-ranked local and international business schools have been invited to participate. Each team consists of four undergraduate students, hand-picked to

represent each university’s elite.

During this period, students are required to work on their own. Any communication or interaction with advisors, faculty members or external parties is strictly not allowed. Before the competition begins, participants will be taken on a tour of the Prudential office at Scotts Road, with presentations by Prudential’s management team, followed by a networking session. A short tour of SMU will help international participants understand SMU’s campus life as well, thus giving participants an overview of a real business context and a snapshot of academic life in Singapore. The competition will be held the following day. Participants are expected to complete and present their findings within the stipulated 24-hour deadline.

Prudential Tower

Happenings

Case competitions are about more than just cracking a case - it’s also about establishing new friendships. A special dinner at Wave House Sentosa for all participants will be organised for participants to let their hair down and experience Singapore.

SMU Cognitare

Cognitare strives to spread the business case culture within SMU as well as earn international recognition for the university through competing in international business case competitions. It hopes that through this process, it can offer a challenging and rewarding learning experience for all its members. Cognitare also engages in consulting and case writing efforts together with some of the leading industry partners in Singapore. Prudential Singapore is one of the top life insurance companies in Singapore and is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK-based Prudential plc. As one of the market leaders in investment-linked plans, Prudential Singapore has over S$7.7 billion funds managed under PruLink funds as at 30 June 2010. With the dedicated team of approximately 3,500 financial consultants and over 600 employees, Prudential Singapore has been serving the needs of more than 600,000 policyholders with over 1.3 million policies for almost 80 years in Singapore.

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Welcome, 11th SMUSA Exco Daniel Minardi What’s your motivation for joining?

This is a question that I have heard so many times for the last few weeks. My answer is always the same: it’s PASSION. The passion to contribute back to SMU and being actively involve in the betterment of student life.

The major challenges?

The election and campaigning period. I am not the type of person who like to see my face all over the school. It was really tough but the journey definitely paid off.

Things you intend to solve?

The quality of study place in SMU. SMU students need more space to study.

Gary Tan I want to thank every one of you out there who has voted for me. Without which, I will never be able to pen down these thoughts in a position of a SMUSA Exco. My motivation from running for SMUSA comes from my desire to serve the student population, and to me SMUSA is the most direct avenue for me to realise this passion. The road to entering SMUSA exco was not a smooth-sailing one. I have to constantly convince, not only my friends, but people whom I have met throughout my campaigning process. You might have remembered seeing me pitching in your classes, or giving out bookmarks/balloons as part of my publicity campaign. One of my greatest challenges is, therefore, stepping out of my comfort zone to approach people and convince them of why they should vote for me. Realising the importance of maintaining a healthy studiesstudent life balance, I want to spread this belief and promote active participation in school activities; be it in Waikiki or Adrace or even in the recently concluded SMU Challenge! Once again, thanks everyone!

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Bryan Lim

Amanda Chua

What’s your motivation for joining?

Running for elections was an opportunity I couldn’t resist in the end. Of course, the decision wasn’t just about me diving into an open window. I definitely made the decision with full confidence in my leadership abilities and experience as well. I thus thought it’d be a great waste to not at least put myself up for the student population’s consideration.

The major challenges?

I realized that I needed a concrete and somewhat improvisational action plan to succeed. It’s a long competitive journey where you have to always on the ball – ready to unleash the next trick up your sleeve. The elections voyage - along with its associated stress and uncertainty – only truly ended when the results finally came out; it was undoubtedly a challenge managing the campaign on top of my academic work.

Things you intend to solve?

The validation of students for entry into the gym via ezlink cards, however, would be a realistic and feasible change. Matriculation cards should no doubt be the primary means of validation.

All along, I have the passion to improve student life and to do my part as a member of the school community. My experiences in the Meridian Junior College 5th Students' Council have been really meaningful and memorable.

The major challenges?

Promoting myself to the school and to be confident enough to campaign for what I believe in in front of the lecture halls and classrooms. With the strong support and encouragements from friends however, I managed to overcome that and campaign confidently. I would like to take this chance to thank school mates who believe in me and voted for me and friends who are always there for me, especially mention ZiRui , Rena (campaign manager), Quek, Yikee, Wenqi and Vic.

Things you intend to solve?

The first thing I would like to improve is the students' dialogue session. A more effective student dialogue can help in planning of student policies.

We interview the newly elected student representatives to find out their motivations and their future plans.

Ryan Tan

Zizie Zuzante

Jazmine Oh

Majella Tay

What’s your motivation for joining?

I felt that whatever I could do in school would be of minimal significance, until I became part of the Freshmen Teambuilding Camp (FTB) 2010: it dawned on me that I could do the same for the rest of the students of SMU as long as I wanted to.

The major challenges?

Upon hearing of my decision to join the SMUSA Exco, my friend advised against it, saying it is ‘too time demanding’ and that ‘it would adversely affect your GPA’. In response to that, I would explain to my friends that I would be willing to do it regardless of the strain that would be put on me.

Things you intend to solve?

I would look into streamlining some of the events which are not as well received by the students as well as pushing of new events that students would like to see and be a part of. At the same time, I would like to build a stronger SMU identity, for students and alumni alike.

I did not have any fancy reason to justify my motivation. I simply wanted to serve the school. I wanted to take an active role in helping to create the SMU experience.

The major challenges?

I believe I was my only obstacle. I wasn’t exceptionally active in school life during my first year and chose to concentrate on my studies instead alongside my CCA and CIP commitments. Of course, time was another challenge as it was a month-long rally and there was a lot that needed to be done.

Things you intend to solve?

I want to improve the students’ perception that the Exco does not make enough effort to hear the student population and also motivate them to take a more active role in shaping their own SMU experiences. I’ve already got a couple of ideas to build upon the current initiatives that have already been put in place by the current and previous committees and can’t wait to pitch them to my fellow friends!

To serve and contribute to the school that has made me who I am today. Apart from academic pursuit, I believe having a funfilled life in SMU is very important. Ambitiously, I aspire to make SMU a home that students love to stay and return!

The major challenges?

The greatest challenge I faced during the election process is to put myself upfront for judgment and surviving the culture shock. All my life, I have never put up so many pictures of myself around places I go every day! Nonetheless I am thankful for those who stood by me, in particular my pillars of strength Mr Lee Jun Kiat and Mr Avnish Ashvin Desai.

Things you intend to solve?

One of the first few things I intend to work on epitomizes the opening up more interesting possibilities for students to market their events and raise awareness of ongoing activities. I envision that these avenues could provide opportunities for organizers to reach out to SMU on a more personal basis instead of relying on emails. Watch out for our upcoming plans!

During summer, I attended four runs of FTB and FIDES camp as a facilitator, and was also part of the Bondue camp. Apart from meeting many new friends, I felt that I wanted to be more involved in school. I wanted to create and be part of this vibrant school life that we often speak of. For me, the most obvious way to do it was via the SMUSA Exco and being part of the SAC.

The major challenges?

In year one, I hardly made any friends at all so I was afraid that I would not be able to rally enough support as compared to my other peers running. I had to work really hard on getting votes from people who did not know me prior to the elections.

Things you intend to solve?

Two things I really want to improve is toilet paper in every toilet cubicle at all times and to integrate international/exchange students more.I would also like to create an event that involves the whole of SMU, an event that students want to go for. I would really love to regain our student discount at Ice Cold Beer. This may prove to be the most difficult one but I’m willing to try.

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Graduation Night 2010

hemed “Friends”, SMU Graduates’ Night 2010 was held on the 17 July at Island Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel. The tagline ‘Life wouldn’t be fun without friends’ is definitely befitting for this special occasion. It captures the essence of supportive friends who have been through the craziest moments together and made our mundane school life much more enjoyable. As the Class of 2010 embarks on a new journey, this is the evening for them to celebrate this

transition with, of course, their friends! The dress code was “A Touch of Gold”. Why gold? Well, simply because the Organizing Committee couldn’t resist the temptation of gold! We wanted something effortless to dress to the occasion! With the metallic color, anyone can effortlessly shimmer and shine for the evening! Besides, Gold represents one of SMU’s school colors. The Class of 2010 were definitely high on school spirit as they decked themselves with the color of Gold!

“I’ll describe this as my ‘three-inone’ evening: Meet-up, celebrate and party with my friends!” – Vincent Bei, School of Business

“It was definitely exciting to catch up with my friends I’ve made throughout my years at SMU. I had enjoyed taking pictures with them interesting backdrops at the event!” – Elvin Ong, School of Social Sciences, Class of 2010

“I like dressing up to theme! The question I asked all evening was ‘Where’s the gold?!’” – Sentill Ananthan, School of Business

“We had a great time and wish all of you the very best. – Professor Howard Hunter, 3rd President of SMU

“I’m sure it was a memorable time for all the graduands, one which they will remember and tell their kids about :) I myself had a smashing time! Thank you!” – Professor Low Aik Meng, Dean of Students

“It was a memorable evening and I wish all of you every success in the next stage of your life journey.”

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– Professor Phang Sock Yong, Interim Dean of School of Economics

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Eve 2010

A night of appreciating the Arts!

By Lydia Toh

ing to keep it short and sweet, he addressed and greeted the different groups of friends from the ACF clubs, exchange students, alumni and members of the Office of Student Life (OSL), wishing them an enjoyable evening ahead.

ppreciating the Arts! To sum it up, that’s what ‘Eve’ is all about. Inaugurated in 2009, ‘Eve’ was conceived with the intent of giving the CCAs under the Art & Cultural Fraternity (ACF) a chance to kick-back, relax and mingle, apart from their usual hectic schedule of events, workshops and performances. The very first ‘Eve’ last year was a cozy affair held at 7ateNine restaurant, at the Esplanade Mall. This year’s ‘Eve’ organizing committee decided to up the ante and make the event a bigger, glitzier affair. A cocktail event, Eve 2010 was held at Klapsons, a posh boutique hotel located at Tanjong Pagar, just a stone’s throwaway from the Central Business District. Entering the main lobby, guests were greeted by a futuristic silver globe of a front desk reception, magically suspended above a shallow pool. This set the scene for an impressive event venue on the 28th and 29th floors, with an expansive balcony wrapped around the building, boasting a panoramic night view of the surroundings. Guests got the chance throughout the night to go out for a breath of fresh air, and take in the skyline. Admittedly, one side of the building faced a very industrial view of a containerfilled PSA shipyard, while the other was unfortunately blocked by the gargantuan K-REIT Asia building. Nevertheless, the thrill of being 29 floors up dressed to the nines with groups of friends made it memorable. But back to the highlights of the evening – As the doors opened at 730pm, food and wine were promptly served by waiters carrying platters of hor’dourves between guests clustered around the cocktail tables. On the menu for the night were mini potato croquets, fried fritters stuffed with cheese, mini sandwiches, delicate squares of tiramisu and marinated chicken sticks. Our guests particularly enjoyed the generous free flow of liquors – Bacardi as well as Red and White wine! For added entertainment, a roaming magician enthralled guests with his deck of cards and sleeve full of tricks. Our friendly hosts, Felicia and Kevin of SMUBE kicked off the night by inviting ACF President, Ken Chang, to say a few words. Promis-

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This year, to honor individuals who had contributed substantially to SMU’s Arts scene, four Eve ambassadors were nominated to be the ‘faces’ of the event. These were students and alumni, who not only excelled in their respective artistic fields, but also represented their club in leadership roles. The Eve ambassadors - Amanda Voon (president of SMUBE 2009, member of SMU Chamber choir), Goh Xin Ying (president of Indancity 2009, member of Ardiente Latin ballroom performance team), Melvin Tiong (Music Director of Samba Masala 2009, member of Eurhythmix and Artdicted) and alumnus Joshua Jonathan Lim, Vice president of Symphonia 2008, involved in Arts Festival from 2008-10, a member of Stageit during his time and still actively involved in the local musical theatre scene. The evening continued with performances by ‘Sharp-dressed Men’ a group of four Blues enthusiast from Crossroads, the new Blues subclub under SoundFoundry. The four-man band consisted of Sid Singh and Saurav Ray vocals and the guitar, backed up by lead guitarist Naren Gunawardene and Sahj Chawla as the rhythm guitar. They serenaded the crowd for a good, enjoyable half hour as guests continued mingling. This was followed by a dance performance by Nach Le, the Bollywood sub-club under Indian Cultural Society. Guests were treated to the debut of Nach Le’s first self-choreographed dance, as they shimmied energetically to a musical line-up of popular Bollywood songs: Khwaab Dekhe, Mind Blowing Mahiya and Move Your Body! Next up were the stage games. Sporting guests participated in various rounds of trivia and walked away with exciting prizes! Some were even game enough to stick their hands into a slushy tank of the unknown to retrieve items as specified by the hosts. This was followed up by a ‘Best dressed’ segment as contestants gamely struted their stuff in pairs, thrilling the crowd with their poses and charming antics. Finally, what would appreciation be without some form of acknowledgement and recognition! Outstanding CCAs for the past year were presented with ACF awards. These were Most popular Arts Camp workshop (Samba Masala), Best new initiative (Ballare – g’lamour), Most no. of workshops held (Japanese Cultural Club) and the Special Service Award (SMU Broadcast Entertainment). OSL Associate Director, Jimmy Ye, was invited onstage to present the awards to representatives of the various winning clubs. The night eventually closed with the much anticipated lucky draw segment. Guests were delighted by the many prizes up for grabs – among them, Ben & Jerry’s vouchers, Sony earphones/headphones and Doc Marten’s. These, however, were dwarfed by the grand prize of a Sony digital camera which one lucky guest walked away with!

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The Little Mermaid: SMU’s Law Musical ■ Lydia Toh

his year marked SMU School of Law’s first attempt at staging their first full-fledged musical. Helmed by powerful female lead vocalists, Zara Fung (Marina, aka the little mermaid) and Genevieve Wong (Lady Lucida), audiences were treated to an evening of pure entertainment in true Singaporean fashion. Throughout this modern adaption of the “The Little Mermaid”, cleverly woven into its musical lyrics and script were references to judicial terms, life’s little quirks and stereotypes (such as Chinese eating everything!) and of course a favorite topic amongst local playwrights – a host of none-too-subtle jibes about our Singaporean system of rule. This was evidently portrayed in one of the opening songs “Third World to First” which drew much giggles of amusement from the audience. We managed to catch Samuel Ng, Assistant Director (one of amongst many other roles for this musical), for an exclusive

interview about “The Little Mermaid: A Law School Musical”. Samuel was instrumental to this musical in his various roles as co-scriptwriter, composer, lyricist, music arranger and overall music director, as well as, a member of the cast in this production. He is also no pushover at grades: he was Top First Year Law Student, amongst a host of other academic awards.

Biggest regret for the play?

I don’t think I could say it any better than Sinatra when he sang, “Regrets –I’ve had a few. But then again, too few to mention.” In fact, the song sums up quite aptly how the entire production team feels about the whole experience. The path leading to the actual performances was long and tumultuous, fraught with internal disagreements (sometimes due to our personal anxieties, insecurities and petty ego issues) and doubts constantly thrown at us by naysayers, which rocked our confidence every now and then. I guess the team feels very proud to be able to say at the end of the day that “[we] did it [our] way”, and I’m honoured to have had

“Home, Nearly”: A play

watch the production the SMU Arts and Cultural Centre, but the small room and did nothing to dampen the response to an amazing evening.

■ Tobias Yeo

An inspired script, a passionate cast, and thought-provoking media fused to form a truly magical production. There were both laughs and tears as we followed the adventures of Desmond and Janet from Singapore, Robert from India, and Alisa from Cambodia as they learned to appreciate each other over the course of a group project in SMU. The final scene, where the cast held hands and sang a version Home, was particularly touching. Scriptwriter Jonathan Lim has a lot of talent, a fact clearly on show in this production.

“We are Singaporeans.” – Singapore Students “And we are how you got here in the first place.” – International Students

n the evening of 21 September, in celebration of SMU 10th Anniversary and International Day of Peace, this year’s Peace Day Organizing Committee presented their inaugural production – Home, Nearly. About 100 people gathered to

32 the blue and gold

the opportunity to be part of it.

Proudest moments

I really appreciated my musical compositions and arrangements being transformed into reality on stage and sung with much fervour. For someone with hardly any formal musical training, every act of encouragement or affirmation means a lot of to me.

Funniest moment / Most embarrassing thing that happened

I do not think I am at liberty to disclose the most embarrassing thing that happened (it concerns someone else’s wardrobe mishap during final warm-ups)! But the next most embarrassing thing on the list must be the little-known fact that one of our cast members split his pants on stage very badly during the first show as a result of his very enthusiastic dancing!

Most memorable moments

When I saw members of the ensemble slowly gathering to sing–with the help of the lyrics booklet–a song they did not get to perform on stage (it was only sung by the two leads). It conConsidering the objective, it was ironic that much of the humour was based on “arcane local knowledge”, as said in a line from the play. Still, the message was clear, and if just one student learned that valuable lesson of

vinced me that my music and lyrics would live on in the hearts of my friends for a long time. I dropped a tear –so did another, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Thank yous

I would like to use this opportunity to thank each and every one who took part or watched our labour of love. And to the production team and cast/ensemble: I love you.

peace and inclusion, I say, Bravo. Home, Nearly has earned my admiration, and the only shame here is that more people didn’t get the privilege to see this production and smile like I did.

Unique New Balance collection launched

n previous years, New Balance’s annual APAC (Asia-Pacific) project has been grounded in Asian culture.However this year, the project takes a break from the artist/store collaborations and goes back to the company’s sports heritage of classic running footwear designs with the Tricolor collection. New Balance took inspiration from their past, applying three of their heritage footwear colors - burgundy red, navy blue and classic gray - onto a pack of limited edition running shoes. The highlight of the TriColor collection will be the CM1500SB, which is inspired by the recent re-released of the original M1300JP cult favorite that is highly revered by New Balance fans and collectors worldwide. The CM1500SB is individually numbered and limited to 600 pairs worldwide and is a showcase of New Balance’s heritage and history. It is made from premium nubuck and mesh, and will only be available at select top-tier New Balance accounts. The CM1500SB comes with heritage print inserts, shoe bag and

in a special drawer box. On a wider scale, the hybrid M150 model - a modern interpretation of the 1500 classic design - has been made over in burgundy red, navy blue and classic gray colorways. The uppers of the three shoes are made up of a mixture of suede, leather, nylon mesh and synthetic materials, and will be available at key New Balance stockists worldwide. The launch of the collection will be supported by an exhibition of photos based on the TriColor theme titled ‘Your Balance. Your Color’. The photo exhibition is the finale of “Balance is Everywhere” campaign in 2010. Now for the first time, New Balance brings together 3 renowned photographic artists in Asia – Mr. Kim Hyeon Seong (Editorin-chief of OhBoy! magazine) from Korea, admired for his fashionable and unique everyday visuals,Mr. Masatoshi Nagase (award winning actor) from Japan for his storytelling images and Mr. Quo Ying Sheng (Art Director and artist) from Taiwan for his contemporary and artistic crossovers.

The photographic works of the artists will also be compiled into an album that will be sold at New Balance stores, with proceeds from the sales going towards the visually impaired communities within the respective city. The ‘Your Balance. Your color’ photo exhibition will run from: Sept 27 - Oct 3, 2010, at the Omotesando Stadium, Tokyo. “The ‘Your Balance. Your Color’ photo exhibition will kick-off at the Omotesando Stadium, Tokyo, from Sept 27 – Oct 3, 2010. The New Balance Tricolor collection and charity photo album will be hitting stores on 10/10/10. The CM1500SB will be available at LeftFoot and Limited Edt Vault while the M150 will be available at Leftfoot, Limited Edt stores and New Balance Concept Stores.

About New Balance Lifestyle New Balance, based in Boston, MA, continues its tradition of premium footwear. Designed for both men and women, New Balance footwear features the finest construction and quality. Ranging from all-time classic favorites to reinvented modern silhouettes, each Lifestyle shoe features innovative materials and technologies that keep the New Balance brand as relevant and sought after today as it was 100 years ago. Celebrating heritage, craftsmanship, innovation and imagination, New Balance Lifestyle fuses classic designs from the past with bold ideas from the future. For more information please visit

www.newbalance.com.sg/lifestyle

the blue and gold 33

Perspectives

HPAIR 2010: A Review ■ Wang Sha & Hu Nian Bo

PAIR 2010 holds a diverse group of distinguished speakers from both academic business worlds. What attracted them to HPAIR? Speaker Prof. Gopinathan from National Institute of Education of Nanyang Technological University shared his answer. As a Singaporean and expert in teaching, he is eager to share with young people how Singapore was transformed into a developed country within a few decades by some wise decisions in the field of education. On the other hand, he came to HPAIR to appreciate what young people are doing for themselves. Speaker Mr. Richard Pond from Cadbury, world’s biggest confectionery company, offered a different answer. He came to “learn from and share with young people”. Indeed, he very impressed by the quality of the penetrating questions raised by the delegates. Mr. Pond also commended the design and organization of the conference, especially in the sense that the speakers are well complementary to each other, as they lifted up different customer challenges in various industries. Sungwon Han, a delegate from Sungkyunkwan University of South Korea, who was also the President of last year’s HPAIR Committee, said this year’s conference is very well organized and that he was moved by the thoughtful preparation. Commenting on the difference between HPAIR 2010 and 2009, he said while last year delegated had the opportunities to appre-

34 the blue and gold

ciate Korean culture through different events during the conference, the choice of location this year, which is Singapore, provides delegates a platform to learn about multilateral Asian cultures. Sungwon believed that the theme of this year, “Sustaining Momentum: 10 Years into Asian Century”, plus Singapore, 2010, conveys a meaningful message to all participants. Despite of its high participation expense and strict selection criteria, HPAIR is viewed as a notto-be-missed opportunity by students representing 150 universities. The seminar sessions and panel sessions covered a variety of topics relevant to business, economics, education, entrepreneurship, politics, science and technology, etc, not to mention this year HPAIR first merged the traditional HPAIR Business and Academic conference. With so many denoted speakers from different industries sharing their opinions, students are able to get more insight into a field they were not familiar with. You can be amazed by how much you can gain from a single seminar. A final year student from Hong Kong University was enlightened by Prof John Khong, who have successfully started several businesses, during his seminar on biotechnology. She was even considering changing her major to biotechnology. Another irresistible benefit of HPAIR is its role as a platform for friends making. Since students have all gone through the strict selection process—part of it is to submit 2 essays ---they

are “screened” to some extent. Thus HPAIR is able to bring together lots of passionate young students with brilliant ideas, or valuable questions, on the world development in the new Asia century. Apparently, It is easier for them o find their comrades here. Leisure time after intensive seminars and discussions was also an important part of the delegates’ HPAIR journey. Even before the first day’s tour ended, Li Yijing, a year 3 student from Renming University of China, invited her newly made international friends to her birthday party, which happened to be on the second day of the conference. She was surprised by how they reacted, “I didn’t expect them to be so enthusiastic about my birthday party. “ The only drawback of this is that the attendance turned out to be low as the end drew near , when young participants took off their suits to network and have fun. Some delegates showcased different cultures through performances on International night ,and all delegates enjoyed a club carnival at the Butter Factory. Who said making a bunch of new friends is less important Behind the splendid stage is a team of committed students from SMU and Harvard University. Benjamin Chong (Yr 3, School of Business), Director the Organizing Committee, noted that the Committee has been preparing for HPAIR since September last year. All Committee members worked extraordinarily hard to put together ideas and

resources. The two teams from SMU and Harvard worked closely with each other to materialize HPAIR 2010. Nevertheless, as no success should be taken for granted, the organizing process of HPAIR has presented many challenges to both SMU and Harvard. Ms Lucy Zhang (Yr Harvard), Executive Director of HPAIR 2010, said one of the biggest challenges during the organizing process is the differences between Singaporean culture and the American culture. For instance, she said, in US if students want to contact a speaker, they usually call or email the speaker directly; while in Singapore, the Committee had to go through many levels. Furthermore, the distance between the two teams added to the difficulty of communication. Conflicts occur even during the conference. It is understandable that student leaders and associates from Harvard came all the way to Singapore not to merely take care of the logistics when so many influential speakers are around , but SMU organizing committee found them sometimes too aggressive in networking with the speakers. The two Organizing committees negotiated and managed to achieve agreements on liaisons and operations, and this is critical to the success of this year’s jointly organized HPAIR. Ms Zhang stressed that she found worthy of the interaction and the friendship between her and her SMU peers.

Perspectives

Conversations with CEOs

HPAIR 2010’s Business Strategy in Asia Panel ■ Ian Lim

had the privilege of attending HPAIR 2010’s panel on Business Strategy and Management: Winning in Asia and Beyond from August 20-24, 2010. As a business student, I have always been curious about what kept CEOs awake at night, and what better way to do so than to hear from the men (and women) themselves! Together with 70 other delegates from the AsiaPacific and Europe, I participated in four days of discussion with eleven of the head honchos themselves. They hailed from diverse backgrounds and industries - ranging from Garuda Indonesia, McDonald’s Japan to UBS Singapore. As your correspondent, I would like to share the highlights of some of the most pertinent themes discussed in the panel – leadership, global strategy and creative capitalism. In the first conference, the corporate leaders shared with us lessons on leading global organizations. Contrary to popular belief, the hardest decisions made by CEOs were not business decisions (because that could be done through a well thought-through framework), but people decisions – who to hire (and fire), how to increase performance, and how to motivate team members. However, employees can be leaders too, according to Mr Gerald Chan, CEO UBS Singapore. He is often on the lookout for “serial entrepre-

neurs” – people who constantly strive to improve the organization and identify market opportunities, regardless of rank – and will groom them to become top potentials in his organization. However, they also stressed that self management is also equally important for the successful 21st century corporate leader. Eikoh Harada, CEO McDonald’s Japan (a man who possesses a wise, zen-like demeanor), ends meetings every day by 6pm, and gets most of his ideas walking in the park (not cooped up in the office. Mr Hsieh Tsun-Yan, formerly from McKinsey’s Global Leadership Institute, said that the best consultants were often the ones who were not always “busy, busy, busy” but those who were able to live in varying times – fast-paced in tight deadlines, and to slow substantially down to reflect on their actions (much more so than the average person). The CEOs also explained their companies’ global strategies to the delegates in the next engaging discussion. Sunny Verghese, CEO of Olam International, related that since commodities were a cost competitive business, the company’s strategy was to identify geographical regions where it was cheaper to grow a particular commodity, invest in them, and work extensively to also bypass the various middlemen to reach his customer directly. Pra-

da’s Regional Retail Director, Ms. Cristina Ventura-Steinmann, stressed the importance of technological innovation, even in a seemingly “low-tech” luxury goods business! For example, her company’s latest focus was in employing information technology to allow women to see, virtually, how they would look in different outfit/handbag combinations online, to reduce the hassle of trying on clothes. Lastly, the captains of industry also shared their experiences in creative capitalism, a.k.a. doing business in emerging markets. In a world of 6.7 billion people, often only 2 billion people in the developed markets are served by most companies. The remaining two-thirds of the global population need to be served as well, but they do not even have basic necessities like clean water, food, and sanitation. Apart from the usual, token corporate social responsibility initiatives, companies who are able to rethink their business models and leverage on these untapped markets may reap tremendous economic benefits as well! For instance, Nokia (which has been losing market share to Apple and other brands in developed markets) still enjoys a leading market position in emerging markets like India and Indonesia. Nokia provides simple applications on its handsets for villagers who need to check prices of commodities on their mobile phone, through

Ovi Life Tools. Closer to home, Singapore’s Jack Sim, CEO of the World Toilet Organization, has a business idea to provide sanitation in the developing world by selling USD 30 latrines to families, and making them “salesmen” for his products by providing them with a one dollar commission for the next latrine they sell to the next family. One day, he hopes to franchise this business model to emerging markets all around the globe. These were only some of the many innovative business ideas and innovations shared that truly opened our minds. Overall, the Strategy Panel was a great panel to be involved in, especially for business students who want to complement their existing classroom knowledge with real-world experience from people at the top of their field. For those interested to develop their understanding of business in Asia further, I would encourage you to check out hpair.org for details of next year’s conference, and sign up (early!) for this panel!

Ian Lim is a Year Three double-degree student at the School of Accountancy and the Lee Kong Chian School of Business), and is currently on exchange at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. All errors and/or omissions are entirely his own. Please contact him at ziyang.lim.2008@smu.edu.sg if you have any questions or comments!

The Strategy Panel was a great panel to be involved in, especially for business students who want to complement their existing classroom knowledge with real-world experience from people at the top of their field. the blue and gold 35

HPAIR

Perspectives

n SMU, student-led events are a dime a dozen. Look around you, and I am sure any student singled out would have been involved in some planning in one way or another. Involvement in such activities is insidiously becoming an integral part of the SMU student life; an emblem, an unspoken must-have before SMU students graduate. Yet, amidst being caught up in this hectic, whirlwind swept lifestyle of 4 years, have we paused for a moment to ponder upon these past experiences and glean the essential life lessons taught to us via such unassuming avenues? As Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of Host Country Organizing Committee at the recently concluded HPAIR 2010 Asia Conference, the closing of that significant page in our lives definitely left us much to relish, savour and think about. Terming the end of the conference as a significant milestone in our lives might seem nothing less than an augmented, exaggeration, yet that was what it truly meant to us and the rest of the committee who toiled tirelessly for it for a year.

From the Organisers

â&#x2013; Stephanie Liow & Steffi Tedjo

A conference aimed at bringing together like-minded undergraduates across the globe to discuss various issues pertinent to society today, the HPAIR 2010 Asia Conference was held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 20 August to 24 August 2010. It was an event jointly organized by two different student groups from two different universities i.e. the students from the Singapore Management

University that was led by the SMU Ambassadorial Corps and students from the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) organisation of Harvard University. It was an event bringing together groups belonging to two different countries, cultures and living in two directly opposite time zones. It would be an understatement to say that that working together was no mean feat; to refute claims that we never felt like giving up would also be a sheer lie. Nonetheless, as with all events, the end will and did come about eventually. At the final moment, just as delegates streamed out of the ballroom and gala dinner came to a close, reality suddenly hit us: no more 1am late night calls followed by urgent 8am meetings to deal with the latest emergency, no more coming back on Sundays just to test out the feasibility of systems and programs put in place and no more seeing each other 5 out of the 7 days. It also spelt no more trials thrown at you to test oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maturity and train one to behave in a calm-headed manner, no more instances for one to practice removing emotions from the equation before reacting and most importantly, no more time to be shared with the team who fought together for one vision: to make the conference a success. As much as the organizing of this event has given us much wrinkles, grey hair and hair loss, until then it was when we fully appreciated that this experience has also give us so much in terms of character building, perspective moulding and learning

so much more about yourself. Not only did it teach us how to appreciate the positivity of the situation amidst the negativity, a lesson so very important because no event-planning would ever go smoothly, but time and time again, we were also taught how to draw our strength to trudge that next step from the team; the awesome team who fought with us right from start to the end regardless of the obstacles thrown in their way. We have also been humbled by the dedication of the volunteers who had joined us at a later stage but were equally dedicated to making the conference a success. Last but not least, amidst remaining task-oriented all the way, this experience was also a wonderful opportunity for us to discover more about ourselves: how Steffi becomes a laughing maniac at 3am in the morning while doing work to how Stephanie really likes her items organized if not she will get cranky. Learn more about your strengths and weaknesses to your quirky tendencies, likes and dislikes, because only when you understand yourself well, then you can enhance the working relationship with your team. Thank you HPAIR, for all the awesome memories you have given us with our team, for letting us see ever so clearly who are our true comrades in times of difficulty, and most importantly, helping us to grow so much in times of adversity that we can quite confidently say that we are no more the little girls of yesterday.

As much as the organizing of this event has given us much wrinkles, grey hair and hair loss, until then it was when we fully appreciated that this experience has also give us so much in terms of character building, perspective moulding and learning so much more about yourself. 36 the blue and gold

7 Reasons to Go More Vegetarian ■ Luo Mingxuan & Lau Wen Jin

Meat contributes to global warming Livestock production is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases. It accounts for 37% of methane and 65% of nitrous oxide emissions released into our atmosphere. In all, it contributes to more than 50% of our annual greenhouse gas emissions!

Meat is an inefficient source of energy

More than 10kg of grain is fed to a cow to produce only 1kg of beef. Food is also converted to hair, bone and waste products, all of which are inedible. This means that while we are eating meat, we are, at the same time, throwing away huge amounts of food at the same time.

Meat destroys forests

70% of Earth’s agricultural land is used as pasture or to grow food for livestock. In Latin America, there is rapid expansion of pastures into some of the most vulnerable and valuable ecosystems. Brazil is one of the major suppliers of beef to Singapore, yet cattle ranching is the primary reason for deforestation in the Amazon.

Meat wastes huge amounts of water

It takes more than 25,000 litres of water to produce 1kg of beef and 200 times more water to produce 1kg of beef than 1kg of potatoes. While many in the world face the danger of water scarcity, over 8% of global human water use is expended on animals.

Meat pollutes our water

The meat industry is the single greatest polluter of our waters. In the US, animal livestock produces many times more excrement than the entire human population. The US is a major exporter of meat to Singapore.

Meat destroys biodiversity

Livestock production is the key factor in the loss of plant and animal species, as it destroys vast areas that were once habitat for wildlife. Livestock waste produces 68% of the total ammonia emitted. This contributes to acid rain, which harms biodiversity, especially aquatic life.

Meat contributes to world hunger

More than 80% of corn and 95% of oats grown in the US are fed to livestock, not to hungry people. In poorer countries, food is grown not to feed the poor but to produce meat exported to wealthy countries. This competition for food and agricultural land is one reason why an estimated 800 million people do not have enough to eat.

Interview With A Vegetarian THE BLUE AND GOLD interviews SMU vegetarian activist Lau Wen Jin to find out about the life of a vegetarian.

Q: Can you tell us what you do as a vegetarian activist? I am an advocate on the need to eat less meat to reduce Global Warming and reduce the unnecessary suffering billions of farmed animals go through every year. I volunteer in green and animal-rights events, and give talks in schools to spread the green message. I say “less meat” instead of “no meat” because even a small step in reducing meat intake is a step in the right direction. Q: How did you become a vegetarian? When I was 13, I chanced upon a book on how eating meat can be cruel to animals, harmful for human health and not environmentally sustainable in a really alarming way. There was of course the usual denial. But after a few days, I decided that I wanted to be a more responsible member of this planet, and didn’t want to play a part in killing animals to satisfy my taste buds. Q: Are there times you are tempted to eat meat? Definitely! Funnily enough, everyone has temptations, but it is a matter of choice whether we act upon them or not. When I remind myself of the reasons why I decide to adopt this diet which is kinder to the planet and to the animals, the temptation subsides. Q: What are your thoughts on the green movement in Singapore? The link between Global Warming and meat consumption isn’t as well-known as it ought to be. Even when people have heard about it, they don’t understand enough to share the urgency in the issue. But things are changing slowly. More and more, we see people realise that it is really an issue of personal responsibility: If we do nothing about Global Warming now, our children will suffer the consequences of our inaction. Q: Are there any quotes which have inspired you to move in your advocacy activities? “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

the blue and gold 37

Travel

India B

ackpacking to India is not for the faint of heart. If you are an intrepid adventurer for whom variety is the spice of life, India is the place to be. With its history as old as the tomb of Tutankhamen, terrain as variegated as the stalls of the road-side foodcourt, people as diverse as a compendium of corals in the great reef, weather as erratic as a hungry tigress, India will be an experience that will make you fall in love with the taunting rhetoric, dirty tricks, colorfulness and rowdiness that it has to offer. Step out of the airplane and you can smell India! Coming from a nation that’s known to be organized, you’d be surprised at how thorny it can be to just pass through the mundane immigration and baggage pick-up to the exit. Here too, expect to be greeted by felicitous yet belligerent taxi drivers who will be probably haggling amongst themselves to decide who gets to rip you off. Getting daunted is it? As I said, India is not for the vulnerable. Everywhere you go, you’ll be greeted by people with a beaming smile on their faces and an unscrupulous scheme to swindle you off your money playing at the back of their minds. And you thought backpacking was about pinching pennies! Granted that you will find everything much cheaper than home like a night at a hostel for a few

dollars and roadside vendors selling scrumptious food for something even less than a dollar. Travelling in trains and busses was never cheaper (crammed as they may be!) Let me warn you though, despite the experience being novel and stimulating, you risk being robbed or getting sick from the food and untreated water. As for the lodges, you’ll get what you paid for! Did I tell you about the homosexuals and prostitutes who’d probably try and be overly friendly to get their share of the stronger currency? In spite of all this, India is a relatively safe country. A word from the wise, “travelers should never let their guard down.” Even with all its blatant flaws (you’ll get to see them for yourself once you’re here!), India has a lot to offer that can be both visually appealing and aesthetically pleasing. I won’t waste words describing those and also saving you the trouble of looking it up yourselves. As a matter of fact, there’s so much to see and do that the list is quite endless. Kudos if you are already getting set to pack your bags and plan your travel. Trust me, India will surprise you in ways more than one. Once there, you’ll realize that it’s much more than just the land of snake-charmers, eccentric languages and spicy food. Rishit Kataruka

“India will be an experience that will make you fall in love with the taunting rhetoric, dirty tricks, colorfulness and rowdiness that it has to offer.” 38 the blue and gold

■ Tobias Yeo

ew Zealand is no stranger to tourism. Almost 10% of the island nation’s GDP and jobs are in the tourism sector. The island-nation has been called the adventure capital of the world, and is the birthplace of bungee jumping. People from all around the world also flock to see the dramatic and varied landscapes – and for good reason; these landscapes have appeared in movies and productions like Lord of the Rings and The Last Samurai.

Some tips to remember when visiting New Zealand: -Be prepared to cook – When a plate of fried rice costs $10, eating out regularly becomes very expensive. -If you intend to work in the cities, apply at least 3 weeks in advance; it usually takes that long just to process an application. I highly recommend working outdoors instead. - Bring a friend, especially if you intend to hike. I went alone, but there were several hairy moments that had me cursing my stupidity. - Slumming it out in backpacker hostels is the best way to meet fellow travelers. There are many amazing stories to hear. - Finally, and most importantly, visit every bakery you see =D

The government has pursued aggressive conservation measures to preserve the natural beauty of its environment and a unique ecosystem. New Zealanders, or Kiwis, are mostly descendants of European settlers, but they also treasure the culture of the indigenous Maori, and you’ll have many opportunities to experience the communal Maori lifestyle. Travelling to New Zealand is easy, with several flights flying to either Auckland or Christchurch each day. The flight to Auckland was breathtaking. I had never seen such wide expanses of green rolling hills, and the sight had me stuck to the window during our descent. Auckland, the city of sails, is New Zealand’s largest city, and 70% of the country calls it home, along with almost as many boats. We had a budget in mind, so we booked into BASE Backpackers, a hostel well located on Queen Street. Our roommate was a gregarious Swiss engineer who was going home after cycling around the country for 2 months. We spent the night listening to stories of all the places he’s visited, and even one of almost getting run over on his bike. He left us with only one piece of advice: “Don’t cycle.” On to plan B. While you’re in Auckland, take advantage of the free city tours offered by the two main tour companies: Kiwi Experience and Stray NZ. For $100 more, you also get to do your first bun-

gee off Auckland’s Harbour Bay Bridge, which is exactly what we did. Please do it too. If you’re here on a Work and Travel visa, Auckland is also the best time to open a bank account and get an IRD number for tax purposes. You’ll need these to work here. It was a Work and Travel trip, so it was time for some work to be done! We moved along the coast to Te Puke, Kiwifruit capital of the world. The once in a lifetime chance to pick and pack New Zealand’s iconic fruit is hard work, but it doesn’t really seem that way, especially when surrounded by so much beauty (and sheep). It’s also a great way to meet travelers from all over the world. In one short month, we worked with Germans, French, British, Malaysians, Koreans, Chileans, Americans, Israelis, and so many more. After Te Puke, start the journey south with Rotorua, a geothermal region with steam vents dotting the entire region. It’s a sigh to behold, and there are even public thermal footbaths in the park to ease your feet after a long walk. Don’t forget to try out Zorbing; Ever dream of climbing into a giant plastic ball and rolling violently down a hill? Check. After Rotorua, travel down to the bottom tip of the north island, where you find Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city. Wellington is also known as the city of wind, and it’s not a name lightly given. Strong winds regularly blow through the streets, and the region is beautifully dotted with windmills. Two attractions are must-sees. First, the Wellington Zoo; regular visitors to the Singapore zoo may not find this zoo impressive, but here you can meet some of New Zealand’s endangered wildlife, including an extremely adorable one-legged Brown Kiwi bird. Second, the Te Papa museum; New Zealand’s most popular museum is a joy to visit, con-

taining not only comprehensive exhibits on natural history, but also great exhibits on Maori culture and art. After Wellington, it’s only a short ferry to South Island, where you can work in the vineyards of Blenheim. Spend some time pruning grapevines and learning about New Zealand’s award-winning wineries before heading further south to Christchurch. Christchurch is a beautiful city, many buildings preserved with their colonial architecture intact. Go for a peaceful walk with the ducks along the river, or join in the festivities of one the many carnivals. The next stop is the famous Queenstown. If New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world, then Queenstown is where it all began. During the winter season, the population of this small town quadruples, and in fact I could barely get accommodation there. Besides the skiing and bungees, there is the Milford Sound. It has been described as the eighth wonder of the world, and is New Zealand’s number one attraction. This untouched fjord is a sight to behold, and any trip would be incomplete without visiting and taking a billion photos. My trip is coming to a close, but it would be incomplete without at least one hiking trip. I decided on the Travers-Sabine in Nelson Lakes. Although it’s inconvenient (the only town within 4 hours has a population of 50), I prefer the isolation on my treks, and generally avoid crowded areas. Indeed, when I registered my intent to go, I was the only one on the mountain, and at the peak, the sense of isolation knowing that I was 3 days from the closest person is a rare experience I doubt I will have another chance to feel. Some trips you don’t forget.

the blue and gold 39

Travel

Work & Travel USA By Fu Yingliang

Pictured: Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio. Source: Localattractions.com

hinking about how to spend your summer term break this year? Work and Travel USA is an option. Travelling is enjoyable for most. But one has to worry about large expenses incurred when travelling for long periods. YMCA Work and Travel allows participants to spend three months in US. In the first two months, participants will work to earn their keep and the last month is used for travelling. The trip can be extended if you can’t get enough of it. Working, together with travelling appears daunting. However, for second-year business student, Serene Tay, who went on the trip last summer, the experience was truly unforgettable. “This is a chance to make new friends and learn to be independent. It’s easy to socialize as people are friendly and easy-going,” said Serene.

40 the blue and gold

Serene was tasked to work as a sweeper at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. Responsibilities involve sweeping the park according to an assigned roaster, disinfecting payphones and also “skimming the lagoon”, which requires her remove algae and plants using a net. As one can infer from its title, this job may not sound glamorous but it is the “most fun” for Serene. “I get a lot of freedom from being able to work around different areas of the park compared to being stationed at one place. There is also interaction involved when you talk to the guests.” Besides being a sweeper, there are also other jobs available at Cedar Point. This includes working in the toll booth and also helping to manage the crowd, a job under “crowd control”. Participants get to choose their preferred job from a list of em-

ployers partnered with the organizer before going through an interview with the employer’s human resource manager. This helps to facilitate the matching process and ensure proficiency in English to allow participants to faster adapt to life in US. “Many people go to improve their English,” adds Serene. For those thinking of a cheap travel experience, jobs mostly pay the minimum wage of around US$7.30 per hour. “This may not be enough to cover your travel expenses,” said Serene. Before reaching US, she spent around S$4000 on air tickets and other expenses which include travel insurance and visas. When asked on how to reduce expenses, Serene, advices for thorough research on the cities that you plan to visit, the public transport options and also on the location of supermarkets. Often, a home cooked meal of “pasta with beef or chicken” can

save a lot as there maybe “little option for cheap food” in places like New York. Besides cooking, one also has to handle laundry and this can be easily settled with a US$2 wash and dry in the dormitory. Independence is emphasized again as Serene, mentions the need to “plan your own schedule and take care for your personal needs”. Travelling can not only allow you to broaden your perspectives but also makes you thankful for the things taken for granted at home. “I really appreciate the secure environment in Singapore and the convenience of public transport,” commented Serene, “Not forgetting the food too!” she adds. If you are in for an exciting new experience this summer, Work and Travel may be a good idea.

ask the financial experts A special feature brought to you by Prudential Tricia Tan has been in the financial services industry for the past 20 years. She is a strong advocate in Financial Planning and has helped many of her clients in wealth protection and accumulation.

This issue, we ask Ms Tricia Tan, Financial Services Director for Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd, on her advice for the following questions. Â

1) Why do we even need insurance at our age? Medical coverage for hospitalisation and surgery is important for everyone, regardless of age. With rising health and medical costs, it is crucial for one to have comprehensive medical coverage, in the event that something unforeseen happens and one needs to be hospitalised. Another purpose of insurance even for those who have only recently started working or about to start working, is to insure your future income. The proceeds of a life insurance policy is a gift of love for parents and loved ones should death occur prematurely. When insurance is purchased at a younger age, premiums are lower and chances are standard rates apply. This is especially so if one is healthy, and young people tend to be more healthy. Paying premiums regularly is a form of disciplined savings. This helps in learning and practicing money management at an early age

Her passion to reach out to more people and make a difference in their lives led her to build an agency early in her career. In the last 18 years, she has recruited and trained many professional and competent Agency Managers and Financial Consultants to assist people in planning their finances. Her commitment to coaching people to achieve peak performance has made her one of the most successful leaders in the financial services industry. She has won many of the prestigious awards in the company and industry, and is one of the top agency leaders in Prudential Assurance Singapore. Tricia has been highly sought after by professionals in the industry--locally and overseas--to share her expertise in financial planning and agency building.

Young people also buy participating insurance policies for insurance protection and wealth accumulation. The cash value in such policies could be substantial due to the effect of compounding . Whole life investment-linked insurance policies often offer high coverage, and also allow policyholders to invest regularly with small cash outlays. The projected return on investments can be fairly attractive in the long term. It is best to consult a financial consultant to seek advice on the type of insurance that best suits your needs. 2) What plan would Prudential advise us to have? There is a great variety of policies depending on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs and wants at different life stages. The recommendation depends on the following factors:1)

Financial goals and objectives;

Time horizon for savings and investments;

Risk Profile of the individual

Current financial net-worth and cash flow

Budget set aside for meeting goals and objectives.

Have a question for Prudential? Send it to us at pubcomm@sa.smu.edu.sg.

The information, opinions and statements regarding index funds above are expressly those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of Prudential Assurance Singapore (Pte) Limited.

Thumb Sup! Wendy's, the fast food chain that hails from none other than the Motherland of junk food -- the USA, recently blessed Bras Basah road with its cheery new outlet, recognizing the fact that no respectable university campus should be without a junk food chain within comfortable reach. By Serene Tay & Deborah Lim As we digest the blindingly bright menu while waiting in line, we decide on a 1/2 lb Double with Cheese combo with the drink upsized to a Strawberry Frosty Shake, along with sides of All Beef Chilli and a Broccoli Cheese Baked Potato, in order to deliver a satisfactory all- rounded review. Wendy's signature Old Fashioned Hamburgers come in three sizes- 1/4 lb. Single, 1/2 lb. Double with Cheese, and the 3/4 lb. Triple with Cheese. Wendy's prides itself on its trademark square patties, which are cute but are not immediately apparent due to the haphazard burger construction. Indeed, the unassuming burger did not look very appetizing at all. The patty looked dry, the lettuce pale and the top bun slightly squashed. However, one bite and both of us agreed the patty was all real ground beef and with no filler. Slightly dry and chewy at the corners, the patties were juicier toward the middle and with the support of melted American cheese, onions, tomatoes, pickles and a dash of mayonnaise, made a pretty decent burger overall. Along with the combo came the fries and the Frosty. The fries were your average fast food fare, a mandatory mix of crispy and soggy with a hint of salt. They were slightly thicker than those of McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, but no tastier. Dunking them in the All Beef Chilli might just be the answer to finishing the serving. Not that we advocate empty calories, but 42 the blue and gold

that the All Beef Chilli was a very impressive accompaniment. Packed with a wholesome mix of slow-cooked kidney beans, diced celery, onions, tomatoes and ground beef, the generous serving was touted to be “low in fat and high in fiber”. The array of ingredients lent themselves to make up a very flavorful chilli without the excessive use of salt. Some of us might be glad to know that it was not the least bit spicy. Served piping hot, it makes great comfort food on a rainy day, we both thought. It just needed something to go with, perhaps nachos or something of the like. Wendy’s attempts to balance the caloric intensity of its burgers and Frostys by offering baked potatoes and salads. We decided to try their Hot Stuffed Baked Potatoes, which come with four choices of toppings Sour Cream and Chives, Broccoli and Cheese, Bacon and Cheese, and Butter. We settled for the apparent healthiest- Broccoli and Cheese. A russet potato baked to perfection, it was served steaming hot and largely unadulterated. The natural rustic flavour of the potato was well accompanied by thick melted cheddar cheese and steamed broccoli. Alongside the traditional soda fountain, Wendy's has made a name for its famous Frostys- milkshakes made from "fresh grade A milk and rich cream". When it first arrived, the Strawberry Frosty Shake looked very artificial, with bright red strawberry syrup lining the white soft serve, topped with tons of whipped cream and an artificial cherry. However, one sip blew us out of the water. Fresh from the counter, the Frosty is thick but extremely creamy, and sweet enough to end the meal as a quick dessert. Unlike some milkshakes, the Frosty contained no trace of iciness. Despite it’s seeming unpopularity (a quick glance around the restaurant found many soda cups but no fellow Frosty fans), the Frosty Shake is definitely one of the better milkshakes we have tasted, and is a steal at just $2.60. This is the item we foresee ourselves being bent on grabbing despite being late for class, over and over again. the blue and gold 43

Thumb Sup!

Literati recommends...

Here are some books that you might want to consider for holiday reading.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Translated from Czech, “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” is an easy to read yet deeply philosophical novel. It revolves around the lives of two men and two women in Prague Spring during the Communist period in Czechoslovakia in 1968. Tomas, a surgeon; his wife Tereza, a photographer hurt by her husband’s adultery; Tomas’s lover Sabina, a free-spirited and proud artist; Sabina’s lover, Franz - a Swiss university professor; and Simon, Tomas’s estranged son from an earlier marriage – these diverse characters come together and move apart in a smooth yet hotand-cold manner that go straight to the heart of the reader. This is a story of “irreconcilable love and infidelities” in which Milan Kundera addresses himself to the nature of 20th century “being”, offering a range of brilliant and amusing philosophical speculations. Complete with comedy, tragedy, and deemed a contemporary classic, it is a must read for lovers of literature.

44 the blue and gold

Roots

by Alex Haley This is the incredible story of an African-American man who traces his family roots back 7 generations. Romantic notions of the history of AfricanAmericans aside, Haley has researched African village customs with the help of an oral historian in his home village, and the history of slave trade, to stitch together this story. It is a marvelous rendition of his family life from the 1700s to the mid-1900s. Haley used the stories told to him by his grandmother, whose father was emancipated from slavery in 1865. He has traced his family back to Kunta Kinte, who was captured by slave traders in 1767. For generations, Kunta Kinte’s descendants passed down an oral history of Kunta’s experiences before and after he was enslaved. Although this book has been blamed for plagiarism and critiqued negatively by some experts, it remains a fascinating work of part-reality, part-fiction, that evokes laughter and tears and a gut-wrenching sense of what reality once meant to Africans.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

If you are a thriller fanatic, this one is definitely for you. It’s probably one of most well-written thrillers; I can say this because I bought this book 8 years ago and although it’s tattered and almost into bits from the multiple reads, I still have it in my bed drawer of favorite books. First, there were ten--a curious assortment of strangers summoned as weekend guests to a private island off the coast of Devon. Their host, an eccentric millionaire unknown to all of them, is nowhere to be found. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they’re unwilling to reveal -and a secret that will seal their fate. For each has been marked for murder. One by one they fall prey. Before the weekend is out, there will be none. And only the dead are above suspicion.

The Diagnosis

by Alan Lightman Imagine you’re Bill Chalmers. An ordinary man who has everything in life. A successful job, a warm home and a loving family. Life for him was simple, complete and routine. As Bill shuttles to work one summer morning, something unusual happens. Suddenly, he could not remember which stop is his, where he works, or even who he is. Shortly after Bill’s memory returns, he begins to feel strange numbness in his body. As Bill attempts to find a diagnosis for the unknown illness, he falls deeper into a nightmare of uncertainties – the pressures at work and home.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Cry, the Beloved Country is a gripping sociopolitical commentary about a country that seldom crosses our mind – South Africa. The novel tracks the journey of a native pastor Kumalo, who is searching for his son Absalom, and his sister Gertrude, who both travelled to the city of Johannesburg, but have not returned since. Through the eyes of the gentle Kumalo, we learn of a South Africa torn asunder by colonialists and local politicians alike and of a society paralyzed by fear. With its evocative style and effortless lyricism, this novel shines because of its conviction and courage in speaking out against the system that would eventually give rise to an apartheid regime.

Horror Through the Ages

For the sake of Halloween, SMU Film Society walks us through the spine-chillers.

he horror genre has continued to enthrall audiences with its play on psychology and the fear of the unknown practically since the beginning of cinema. Although horror films are often derided for their lack of rational cohesion, the subliminal themes of many horror films, ranging from the mid-20th century fear of the nuclear age and social alienation (The Incredible Shrinking Man, ’57) to the nexus between racism and the creation of urban legends (Candyman, ’92) has attracted a number of celebrated directors including Stanley Kubrick (The Shining, ‘80) and Francis Ford Coppola (Dracula, ’92) to the genre. Whatever your reason for watching horror, SMU Film Society presents a list of recommendations of horror films through the decades that will ensure you stay up at night. Just don’t say you weren’t warned.

2000s:

Let the Right One In (Låt den rätte komma in)

Recommended viewing for all who feel that Edward Cullen has defamed the vampire genre. Highly original and moving at the same time, the bleak imagery will linger in your mind long after the end credits roll.

1990s:

The Ring

The original Japanese film that spawned the later Hollywood remakes, Ring combines creepy atmosphere and a taut script to elevate an ordinary chain letter premise to the hall of fame of all-time horror masterpieces.

1980s:

The Evil Dead

A classic of the horrorcomedy/zombie subgenre, and an early indication of Sam Raimi’s genius, the Evil Dead effectively injects gore with ample amounts of hilarity, revelling in its own sense of zombie madness.

1960s:

Repulsion

Who said you need ghosts to make a truly chilling film? Roman Polanski’s exploration of a woman’s descent into madness and hatred for all things male remains a poignant psychological horror milestone.

1970s:

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

This remake of the 1950s classic of the same name is an interestingly intelligent take on a disorienting, aliens-are-takingover theme. Lauded by critics as one of the best horror remakes, and a seminal example of 70s cinema.

the blue and gold 45

Source: Overheard at SMU page on Facebook

Overheard @ SMU

Because SMU life wouldn’t be the same without the daily escapades of Prof, Student, Class and Posh Girl.

Yes! That’s called being gay!

Prof

I wish to divorce AFA on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. student

Do you realize that most of the people who are creative have a feminine side and a masculine side to them?

student

So for ocip, you will take jetstar and live in a barracks, bla bla...

AFA

Can I book my own flight and my own hotel instead?

Sorry Prof, the traffic ah, phew! Very heavy! Etc. etc.

Late in Week 1... student

Late in Week 7 (consecutively......)

Posh Girl

Sorry Prof, I... dropped my drink!

Prof, can I write the answers in pencil? Sure... I’ll just rub the answers off and change them later.

student

Ethics class... Are you guys with me? Obviously not... Well the least you guys could do is pretend…

Prof

Prof Can you send me the testimonials?

student

8.30AM Academic writing class... I like to write a lot, but I don’t write in red or else your paper will be like, bleeding.

Prof

student

at income tax class... Donations to PAP is not deductible. PAP is a political party, it’s not the government.

An economist is like a man who knows all the positions of the Kama Sutra but doesn’t know any women.

Prof

46 the blue and gold

LOL!

What??

IPE Class...

Prof

Sure. Here you go. The file’s called testis.

LOL! Class

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Have you been wondering how to fulfill your potential? How about putting the things you’re supposed to be good at into practice? Unlike conventional wisdom, a magazine isn’t just about writing, or journalism, for that matter. We look for people with different skill sets that can put together SMU’s premier student publication. If you think you have the talent and the passion to contribute to the school magazine, drop us an email at pubcomm@sa.smu.edu.sg.

THE BLUE AND GOLD

■ Writers (opinion articles) ■ Journalists/Contributors (reports/articles) ■ Designers (InDesign/Photoshop) ■ Illustrators (Comics/Artwork) ■ Photographers (Cover and articles)

the blue and gold 47

Our people make us who we are.

Smith Foo

Terry Tan

Senior Financial Services Manager

Associate Manager

Tan Shao Pin

Premier Financial Consultant

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for passionate, motivated individuals who seek fulfilling entrepreneurial careers. Prudential Singapore is one of the top life insurance companies in Singapore and is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK-based Prudential plc. As one of the market leaders in investment-linked plans, Prudential Singapore has over S$7.7 billion funds managed under PruLink funds as at 30 June 2010. With a dedicated team of approximately 3,500 financial consultants and over 600 employees, Prudential Singapore has been serving the needs of more than 600,000 policyholders with over 1.3 million policies for almost 80 years in Singapore. Please email or send your resume with full particulars to: Ref: SMU Blue & Gold Recruitment Centre, Agency Distribution Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Limited 51 Scotts Road #01-01 Prudential@Scotts, Singapore 228241 Email: AD.Recruitment@prudential.com.sg