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THE
TWINS
ISSUE!
I OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010 I
issue 6
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FIRST WORDS CHATTER
2
hello
Dear Students,
What a fabulous start to the new Academic Year it was!
Let’s look back… Freshmen Registration (Matriculation Fair)
went off smoothly. Freshmen Inauguration Ceremony
was cool and sleek. The spontaneous high spirit of our
freshmen was heart warming, as was the rousing reception
they gave to the colourful procession of our NUS staff in
their university robes. NUSSU Flag Day broke all records
with $510,000 collected for charity. Indeed a great way
to start at the university by doing something for the less
fortunate in our society! Just to draw a parallel, freshmen
during Orientation at Thammasat University in Thailand
spent a day planting rice in the rural paddy field. This is
their way to foster that connection with society and a
greater appreciation of the labour behind the polished
grains of rice served on the dining table!
NUSSU Rag which traditionally brings the orientation
period to a close was a spectacular feat. Held in conjunction
with the YOG Flame Arrival Celebrations, our students’
performances throughout the day and evening segments
surpassed imagination. What clearly came through amidst
the colours, sounds, movements and excitement was
our students’ passion, grit and indomitable spirit!
It was simply awesome!
All these are just a glimpse of the student vibrancy at NUS.
A big thank you to all students who have made this possible.
There is more to come in the year ahead… plug in and be
part of the NUS spirit!
ASSOC PROF TAN TECK KOON
Dean of Students
Office of Student Affairs
WHAT’S
Office of Student Affairs
MISSION
To provide, in partnership with our students,
a total University experience that builds a strong NUS spirit.
CORE VALUES
OPPORTUNITIES We seek and create opportunities to enhance
student services and student life & development. This is achieved through
teamwork, the ‘can-do’ spirit and win-win partnerships with our stakeholders.
STUDENT CENTRICITY We consider students’ perspectives and needs
and we provide support, motivation and recognition to our students.
ACCOUNTABILITY We exercise accountability to our stakeholders,
uphold our integrity and endorse fair practices.
OSAY! is a quarterly newsletter brought
to you by the Office of Student Affairs.
OSAY! originated from the idea
“OSA Says”, OSAY! directs the limelight
at our students’ achievements in not
just their academic pursuits but also
their passion in the various co-curricular
activities. It is our way of appreciating
and thanking our students for their
contribution to campus vibrancy.
OSAY! is your gateway to the
Office of Student Affairs and the
NUS community. With every issue, we
strive to be fun, eclectic, and current.
Have your say and share with us here
at OSAY!
follow us on twitter
www.twitter.com/nusosa
INSIDE
TALK OF THE TOWN
page 4 • 1 PLUS 1 = Winning Formula
OFFICE CHAT
6 • Maximising your Winter Break
7 • Friends Away From Home
HOLLER
8 • The Pros and Cons of Being Us
OFFICE CHAT
10 • NUS Sports Awards & Grants 2010
11 • Fulfilling my Academic Dreams
through Volleyball
12 • Looking Back at Its Splendour
12 FAQs
HOT TOPIC
13 Test these Rituals for your Next Exam?
14 LET’S TALK + MY SAY
8 • The Pros and Cons of Being Us
Is being a pair of twins all well and good or
are there drawbacks that we may not be aware of?
THE
TEAM
Advisors
A/P Tan Teck Koon, A/P Tan Ern Ser
Editorial Team
Corrine Ong, Hong Si Min, Sean Tan,
Tan Soo Huay, Joel Tan, Melvin Tai,
Yuen Hui Tian
Design and Layout
Caffeine Creative
www.caffeine.com.sg
Drop us a mail?
osay@nus.edu.sg
Office of Student Affairs
Yusof Ishak House, Level 3,
31 Lower Kent Ridge Road,
National University of Singapore,
Singapore 119078
Tel: 65162370 Fax: 67785902
Website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa
© 2010 Office of Student Affairs. No part of
this publication may be reproduced in any form
without prior permission from Office of Student
Affairs. Disclaimer: The Editorial Team of OSAY!
reserve the right to edit and/or alter any articles
submitted for publication. The opinions, beliefs and
viewpoints expressed by the various authors may
not reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of
the Office of Student Affairs either as a whole,
or as individuals.
“Writing is the only
profession where no one
considers you ridiculous if
you earn no money.”
JULES RENARD
French author
Where art thou? Freelance
Writers, Photographers,
Illustrators. You are as creative as
us. Your personallity, finesse and
style exudes in what you do. Your
fresh ideas flow to the columns.
You take directions well and meet
tight deadlines. You want to have
a chance to have your works
published to connect with readers.
You know it... you want to be part
of OSAY!
We are on a hunt for fresh
freelance talent. If you have a
flair for writing, photography or
illustration skills and are eager to
be part of OSAY!’s subsequent
issues, come SAY it to us!
Submit, if any, samples of your work
to the OSAY! Editorial Team at
osay@nus.edu.sg

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
What’s happening between October and December 2010?
2 Oct • SINGAPORE UNIVERSITY GAMES - SWIMMING @ NUS Pool OSAY!’s Pick
This is the 2nd year that SUniG swimming will be held in NUS.
The event will feature all 4 universities fighting for the gold medal honour.
9 Oct • SINGAPORE UNIVERSITY GAMES - CROSS-COUNTRY @ Bedok Reservoir
A change of competition venue will see our crossers running on gravel instead of the usual
tarmac route in this year’s SUniG Cross-Country. Will teamNUS emerge champion again?
20 Oct • teamNUS NITE 2010 @ UCC Hall OSAY!’s Pick
During this teamNUS Sports Awards Ceremony, NUS presents awards to deserving sports teams
and athletes to acknowledge their outstanding performance and achievements in sports, as well
as to recognise the contributions of various stakeholders in the promotion of NUS sports.
22 & 23 Oct, 7:30pm • RAFFLES HALL PRODUCTION 2010 - ALL IN THE TIMING BY DAVID IVES
@ Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Mrs Lee Choon Guan Theatre OSAY!’s Pick
Come and enjoy six comedic stories in one night of unforgettable laughter! Three monkeys
trying to write Hamlet, two men caught in an alternate reality, a restaurant with seven menus,
and many more! Tickets at only $15. Contact our ticketing counter at 9298 8777 to buy your
tickets now!
23 Oct & 30 Oct • INSTITUTE-VARSITY-POLYTECHNIC GAMES - TRACK & FIELD @ Gombak Stadium
Overall champion for the past 6 years, the NUS Track and Field team will once again go faster,
higher and stronger in its quest for glory. OSAY!’s Pick
30 & 31 Oct • INSTITUTE-VARSITY-POLYTECHNIC GAMES - SWIMMING @ Singapore Sports School
Come cheer on teamNUS as our swimmers battle it out with 9 other tertiary institutions to
defend their title of Overall Champion.
8 to 30 Dec • PROJECT HAK(LOVE): COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LAOS @ Laos OSAY!’s Pick
Want to help others less fortunate than you? Join NUS Rotaract in Pong Song Village, Laos, where
they will assist in the construction of a primary school. Fun activities include cultural exchange of
songs, dances, customs and food. For more information, visit http://hak10.wordpress.com/
18 to 31 Dec • PROJECT i-INDIA @ India OSAY!’s Pick
Join the NUS Hindu Society’s cause in India where they will assist in the rebuilding
process of the SECMOL campus which was affected by the recent flooding in Ladakh.
To find out more, email rajiv@nus.edu.sg
5 Dec to 6 Jan • NUS VACATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME @ Various organizations
Want to gain meaningful work experience during your December vacation? Want to test
drive the industry or company that you aspire to join? Check out the internship opportunities
available at the NUS eJob Centre managed by the NUS Career Centre and apply now.
Throughout the semester • MENSA ADMISSION TEST (MSAT) @ NUS
Do you know how high your IQ is? Take part in the Mensa Singapore Admissions Test (MSAT)
to find out! MSAT is an interesting and challenging test that uses only symbols and pictorial
representations. Test procedures and results will be private and confidential. If you pass the
MSAT or have a qualifying test score, we welcome you to our Mensa family. To find out more,
visit http://nus.mensa.org.sg/
Throughout the semester • CAREER RECRUITMENT TALKS @ Various organizations
Recruitment Talks are a great way for you to meet company representatives to gain first hand
knowledge about the organisations and their cultures, their job openings and their hiring criteria.
Such information can help immensely in your job search and application process. For details
about which organisations are holding their talks, check out the NUS Career Centre website at
http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/career/student/index.html
Throughout the semester • CAREER & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
@ Various organizations OSAY!’s Pick
How to write a good résumé? How to ace an interview? How to network effectively? How to
search for jobs? The NUS Career Centre has organized a series of workshops to equip you with
the global and career competencies for the working world! Check out http://www.nus.edu.sg/osa/
career/student/index.html for the latest schedule and synopsis of the workshops.
fancy seeing your advertisement here
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FOR DETAILS ON
ADVERTISING IN OSAY!
PLEASE EMAIL TO
osay@nus.edu.sg
Did you know?
There is a total of 81 food outlets in NUS.
That’s a lot of choices for students!
Subway’s and McDonald’s campus outlets stay open
for 24 hours during the exam period to feed hungry
students who pull all-nighters on campus.
FUN FACTS
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
Engineering’s Techno Edge, with 14 food stalls, is the
canteen with the most number of stalls. The Deck at
the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and Frontier at
the Faculty of Science come in a close second with
13 stalls each.
There is a roster that determines which canteen stalls
stay open on alternate Saturdays and in the evenings,
and this can be found online at http://www.nus.edu.sg/
oed/index.htm. The roster ensures that students
will always be able to find food on campus!
There are over 100 vending machines conveniently located in
various parts of the campus to serve the campus community.
These vending machines dispense drinks, food and snacks 24
hours a day, and are a good complement to the campus food
outlets which are only open during specific hours of the day.
Ninety four NUS staff put in a total of 2,068 hours
to perfect the dance steps for the NUS staff
float. The performance was showcased at
the University’s National Day Observance
Ceremony and the NUSSU Rag Day.
3

TALK OF THE TOWN
4
1 PLUS 1 =
Winning Formula
Be the supporter behind our athletes!
As a student athlete, I cannot help but wonder about
the teamNUS spirit within the school community.
The NUS Men’s softball team recently participated in the
Singapore Baseball & Softball Association’s Fast Pitch League
2010. Up against the best clubs in Singapore, our boys
devoted their weekends to the games for the entire four
months. We clinched the League title, beating the perennial
champion – Singapore Recreational Club’s Hunters along the
way with a close score of 2-1. However, there was a stark lack
of supporters for the NUS team at the field.
When John Isner emerged victorious over Nicholas Mahut
in the longest-ever Wimbledon match, he exclaimed that
“in an atmosphere like this you don’t feel tired…this crowd
was fantastic.”
The difference in ability between athletes is often very small,
especially at higher levels of competition. The margins are
so fine that what makes one athlete victorious over the
other may boil down to just one thing: his or her supporters.
A simple call, a cheer or a banner from a group of supporters
can make all the difference to an athlete fighting his or
her battles.
At the recent NUS President’s Appreciation Dinner for
teamNUS leaders, Vice Provost Professor Tan Tai Yong
lamented the lack of support from students for teamNUS
sports, and expressed his hopes to see more students rally
Writer YUEN HUI TIAN, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
Photographer SEAN TAN, OSA
NUS has a tradition of excellence in sports. How are we doing our part
to support our friends who play for Institute-Varsity and Polytechnic games?
This article calls out to students to wear their orange proud and cheer for
our athletes who fight for our glory. YOU can do your part for NUS!
up for sports events. He recalled the Malaysia Cup days when
Singaporeans would queue outside the stadium even before
the sale of tickets commenced.
While we may not have an event like the Malaysian Cup in
NUS to capture the student population, we do have a strong
tradition of excellence in sports. The track and field teams for
both men and women have dominated the Institute-Varsity-
Polytechnic Games (IVP) for the last three seasons, while
the volleyball team has clinched the gold medal at the
IVP games numerous times. The Volleyball Team is also
the pre-season favourite to win the SUniG this year.
The hype and mass turnout for Rag Day, Inter Faculty Games
(IFG) and Inter Hall Games (IHG) is proof that we can, as a
university, gather for events to support our friends. As the
semester enters its most hectic period with assignments
piling up and supporters thinning out at sports events, the
ardent passion and excitement we witnessed at Rag Day
and IFG look set to disappear into the pages of our textbooks.
Perhaps the lack of a particularly strong niche sport in NUS
is the reason for this constant lack of supporters. We simply
have too many choices. What I suggest is that we start small.
Start by watching your friends play for the IVP games and
maybe we can go regularly to support our teams at their
playoffs. Let‘s try to bring the NUS spirit and enthusiasm
back to the IVP games.

••••••••••••••2••••••••••••••
Cheer and Parade
Your Pride
Show everyone what a great fan
you are by cheering enthusiastically.
Even better, bring along a large
banner to show your support for the
team! Creating a banner using paper
and markers is cheap, easy and fun.
••••••••••••••4••••••••••••••
Fund the Fund
Participate in fundraising events to
help raise money for school teams’
travel or new equipment costs.
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
How to be an
AWESOME SUPPORTER?
••••••••••••••1••••••••••••••
Get the Gear
Identify yourself as a fan by
wearing an orange shirt or one that
has an NUS logo. The SRC Office
also gives out the official teamNUS
supporters’ shirt.
••••••••••••••3••••••••••••••
Stick with
Your Team
Defend NUS in discussions with
other sports enthusiasts on
message boards and in person.
Stay loyal to teamNUS even
when we are having a
losing season.
••••••••••••••5••••••••••••••
Be there for games
off campus
Attend games that are off campus
as much as possible. Our friends
will need all the fans they can get
when playing at another school or
stadium. Sit in the section closest to
our team’s cheerleaders to make our
presence even more visible.
5

OFFICE CHAT
6
A time to reflect and work on your career goals.
Writer VENETIA NG, OSA
Photographer JASMINE HOW, ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
Yay! In just a matter of weeks, you will be done with your first semester of this
academic year. So, what plans do you have for the upcoming December break? Now,
I know many of you can’t wait to just kick up your feet and relax. It is certainly a good
time to catch up with family and friends and do some of the fun things that you have
been missing out on over the course of the last several months of mugging. Here are
some other activities I think are excellent ways for you to maximize your winter break!
research and prepare
You can take advantage of this time to contemplate and
prepare for your future. Make use of this break to research
on careers and industries which may be of interest to you.
Utilise resources available through the NUS Career Centre
to find out more about career options, companies and
what recruiters look for when hiring NUS graduates to join
their company. Enroll in Career Development workshops to
better prepare and equip yourself. Take this time to establish
connections with friends, family, seniors, professors and
professionals in your desired field. Networking is a useful
technique to gather information which may not be readily
available on the internet.
search and apply for
internships or jobs
It is important to allow enough time to search and apply for
rewarding internships or jobs. Once you have taken time to
identify your interests in a field or career-track, you should
focus on what you want to do the following semester and
summer vacation. Take note of the application time frames
for internships and jobs which appeal to you and keep track
of them. Graduating students should take this time to start
sending out applications for jobs. If not, you should start
preparing and research on upcoming career events which
you can attend to interact with employers. Once classes
resume in the second semester, time will quickly fly by and
before you know it, summer would have arrived.
take stock of your portfolio
and update your résumé
Whether you are graduating or not, this is a good time
for you to take stock of your portfolio. Review your
achievements and experiences for the past months and
begin writing or updating your résumé. You will realize that if
you do this regularly, résumé writing will not be as daunting
as it seems. Working on your résumé during the December
break also means you will be ready for all recruitment
activities in the second semester such as the NUS Career Fair,
Industry Networking Events, Campus Presentations, Vacation
Internships and many more.
Also, take time to identify some of the additional experiences
and accomplishments you would like to add into your
portfolio. Come up with a strategy for how you can acquire
such experiences and start planning! This could involve
taking on additional internships to acquire more real work
experience, spearheading a volunteer project to develop
your leadership potential or applying for a student exchange
programme to acquire overseas exposure.
research on scholarships
You can use the time away from school to research and
apply for scholarships which you may be eligible to receive.
Some organizations and corporations offer mid-term
scholarships to current undergraduates. If you missed the
boat when you were enrolling into the University, this is
another chance to win yourself a scholarship.
Time spent during the December break thinking
and preparing for your career will be time well spent.
So, don’t let these few weeks pass you by!
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The December 2010 Vacation Internship Program
by the NUS Career Centre is now open for application.
Log in to NUS ejob centre today to see the list of
opportunities available.

Friends
Away From
Home
Welcoming events which brought our
international students together.
Writer DEBORAH DIEU, OSA
Photos courtesy of INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SECTION
Will I make new friends?
What can I experience and do in NUS and Singapore?
These are definitely questions that all new international
students will think about as they embark on their exciting
adventures to NUS and to Singapore. To help them with
their adjustments, the International Students Section (ISS)
under the Office of Student Affairs, along with helpful
i.CARE student volunteers, launched the event - a series
of welcoming activities to help new students with their
initial adjustment, settling down and, of course,
in making friends.
Welcoming events included Creating Connections and the
Celebrate Together 2010 Workshop, where new students
got involved in team building and bonding activities. What
better way to make new friends and have some fun than
facing game challenges together?
Other events included Kopi-Time with OSA, where new
students had their initial concerns addressed by friendly NUS
senior students and ISS staff. Even for those who came alone,
they definitely left happy having made new friends along
the way at the session.
To answer the question “what can I experience and do in
Singapore?”, we organised various Singapore Heartbeat
sessions. This event included talks on Singapore culture, a
fun hands-on ‘ondeh ondeh (Malay dessert)-making’ session
and a trip to a Sikh temple. Students also got to learn Bangra
dance and had a chance to try on the traditional Sikh turban.
What better way to immerse yourself in the many cultures
of Singapore?
The event culminated with Bits & Bites Night. Attended
by over 1,000 students, the event showcased some of the
cultures one can experience in NUS. The night included
games, food tasting and booths with information about
different countries. The king of fruits, durian, made an
appearance, and after being sampled by many participants,
many felt it to be an acquired taste!
To all who were involved in the events, either as organisers
or participants, there was definitely something to be shared
and learnt. The photos and quotes say it all!
These welcoming events would not have been possible
without the contributions of the group of i.CARE student
volunteers and student groups. ISS would like to thank
Royston Lin, Koh Wan Ling, Ng Joo San, Lim Shun Fa
and Wee Chong Hwee for their creative ideas and for
co-organising Bits & Bite Night.
I’m sure the dinner was
memorable for them too.
How often does one eat
local food like satay at
Lau Pa Sat with friends
from all over the world?
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
The hands-on activity,
‘Ondeh Ondeh Making’,
topped it all!!
It is fun to see how
students of different
nationalities come together
and work as a team to
solve a problem
7

Tan Kee Meng
POLITICAL SCIENCE, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
LOVE IT >>> The gateway to spending less
time studying is to have a twin. Kee Liang and
I often split our reading materials and write
summaries so that we save time on reading.
Less work but same content. Excellent!
GET THAT A LOT >>> I find it bothersome when
I have to attend to repeated questions on
which one of us is older or younger. They also
like to ask for our differences.
FREAK OUT FACTOR >>> It was kind of freaky
when we once woke up from the same dream
on the same night.
We dreamt that we
opened a door that
led to the universe
and a galaxy
of planets!
Jeanaline Fan
CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE, YR 3
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
LOVE IT >>> Being twins is awesome because
you always have someone around for you.
DISLIKE IT >>> Having a twin means that there
is always someone there whom you cannot
shake off, and as a result, you have less privacy.
Toh Shi Wei
CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE, YR 4
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
GET THAT A LOT >>> We are often perceived
as one rather than as two individuals. There is
also a tendency for people to compare us a lot
in areas like studies. Thankfully, our parents are
very tactful when it comes to this and avoid
making comparisons between us!
FREAK OUT FACTOR >>> We have our unique
way of communicating, we only need to look
at each other or raise an eyebrow to get
our message across.
JUST TO CLARIFY THIS... >>> We have not done
any thing illegal with this special identity. The
only time when I ‘escaped’ punishment was when
I broke something as a child and exchanged
shirts with my sister. Worse thing was my
mother didn’t realise it!
Is being a pair of twins all well and good or are there drawbacks that we may
not be aware of? OSAY! delves deeper to find out the nature of the relationship
between twins, uncovering key areas such as their rivalry, impactful twin
memories and famed telepathic powers. This exclusive story will
provide our readers with some insights on life as a twin!
Writers MELVIN TAI & YUEN HUI TIAN, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
Toh Shi Hui
CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE, YR 4
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
LOVE IT >>> It’s great to have someone there
who gives such unconditional love! My sister is
like a friend and we’re very close. We have our
own secret language where sometimes, we just
break into giggles and others have no clue why!
DISLIKE IT >>> I feel that we may be overreliant
on each other as we have been
so close since young.
Photographer SEAN TAN, OSA
Jennyline Fan
CHEMISTRY, SCIENCE, YR 3
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
GET THAT A LOT >>> We get asked many
annoying questions repeatedly; like
whether or not we have telepathy,
and if it is fun to be twins.
FREAK OUT FACTOR >>> We lip-read
really well and use it often to
communicate with each other.
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
Tan Kee Liang
SOCIOLOGY, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, YEAR 3
///////////////////////////////////
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
DISLIKE IT >>> There’s a lot of competition
over academic achievements, and even when
we were in Officer Cadet School! Kee Meng
was often known only as ‘Kee Liang’s brother’.
It was horrible. I’m really glad that we’ve
found our own strengths to work on
and no longer have any clashes.
JUST TO CLARIFY THIS... >>> Kee Meng is
not attracted to my girlfriend whereas
I love her a lot. She’s the queen of my heart.
8 9
born
1min
apart
born
4min
apart
born
8min
apart

OFFICE CHAT
10
MOK YING REN
NUS President Sports
Award 2010
teamNUS Aquathlon /
Cross-Country /
Track & Field
YONG LOO LIN
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
KENT RIDGE HALL RESIDENT
BRYON TEO, teamNUS
Water Polo
NUS Sports Team
of the Year (Men)
Captain, teamNUS Water
Polo (Men) AY09/10
YONG LOO LIN SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE
ZHANG JIN
NUS Sportsman
of the Year
Athlete, teamNUS Shooting
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
- ZHANG JIN
Put time and effort into your endeavours.
Never give up when the going gets tough. Have
passion in what you do and enjoy the moment.
CHRISTIE HAN, teamNUS
Dragon Boat (Women)
Tertiary Champion and
Winner of Prime Minister
Dragon Boat Cup
FACULTY OF ARTS
& SOCIAL SCIENCES
NUS SPORTS
AWARDS & GRANTS
2010
The coveted NUS Sports Awards
& Grants are presented annually to
deserving NUS Varsity Athletes.
AVELYN WEI
NUS Sports Team of the
Year (Women)
Captain, teamNUS Dragon
Boat (Women) AY09/10
SCHOOL OF DESIGN &
ENVIRONMENT
In this issue of OSAY, we bring you our top NUS Sports Awards 2010 recipients and the receipients
of the NUS Sports Grants. These are the very best of our NUS Varsity Athletes who have attained
TENG YING QIN,
teamNUS Canoeing
Gold Medallist in a
multitude of Tertiary and
National Competitions
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
All Sports Grant recipients have a CAP score of 4.0 and above.
CHAI KAI LIN, teamNUS
Volleyball (Women)
NUS President Sports
Award (Team) 2010
Captain, teamNUS
Volleyball (Women)
AY09/10
BUSINESS SCHOOL
TAN PEI SHAN, teamNUS
Swimming – Freestyle /
Medley Relay Team
NUS Sports Team of the
Year (Events – Women)
teamNUS Swimming
(Women) AY09/10
YONG LOO LIN SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE
remarkable sporting achievements as well as academic achievements/sports grant.
LOW BI WEI, Vice-Captain,
teamNUS Water Polo
(Men) AY09/10
Tertiary Champion
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
BRYON TEO, Captain,
teamNUS Water Polo
(Men) AY09/10
Tertiary Champion
YONG LOO LIN SCHOOL
OF MEDICINE
JASMINE SER
NUS Sportswoman
of the Year
teamNUS Shooting
BUSINESS SCHOOL
LIM ZHONG XIAN,
teamNUS Shooting
– Air Rifle Team
NUS Sports Team of the
Year (Events – Men)
Athlete, teamNUS Shooting
FACULTY OF ARTS &
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Photographer SEAN TAN, OSA
Being a student-athlete has definitely made me do
things with structure and discipline. I learnt to be a
consistent worker; in sports, you start preparations
way before for your competitions. The same applies
to studying; to consistently put in effort the whole
semester, rather than working hard only at the
eleventh hour. Always be fully present at class
physically and mentally. Prepare for them, give your
best focus and learn to enjoy them! When school
gets too stressful, know that you can always seek
relief and comfort in your passion; your sport.
CHARIS ZHAO,
teamNUS Shooting
Gold Medallist in a
multitude of Tertiary,
National and International
competitions
FACULTY OF ARTS
& SOCIAL SCIENCES
- MOK YING REN
Sports has taught
me important lessons
such as not looking
for short cuts in life
and to be patient
and consistent in
whatever we do.
- LIM ZHONG XIAN

I paid particular attention to the section on
discretionary admission in my NUS application,
and provided full details of all my volleyball
achievements and awards, hoping to boost my
chances of gaining entry into my school of choice.
Writer SANDRA WONG, GRADUATE, NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL,
PIONEERING CAPTAIN, NUS VOLLEYBALL TEAM AY07/08,
THRICE TERTIARY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPION FOR AY07/08,
AY08/09 AND AY09/10
Photos courtesy of SPORTS SECTION
On the day of receiving my A level results, I was crestfallen
when I did not achieve my desired grades. With Bs in all
my three subjects, it was definitely a challenge for me to
gain entry into the prestigious NUS Business School, where
the average successful applicant had 3 As. It seemed like
an impossible situation and that my academic dream was
slipping away from me.
Filled with despair and anxiety, I was hoping that my national
volleyball achievements would give me an advantage. I paid
particular attention to the section on discretionary admission
in my NUS application, and provided full details of all my
volleyball achievements and awards, hoping to boost my
chances of gaining entry into my school of choice.
To my surprise, I secured an admission interview with NUS,
cleared it and got the enrollment into NUS Business School!
I am grateful that NUS considered my CCA achievements
and gave me a chance to prove my capabilities. Such
chances are indeed life-changing!
In my first year in NUS (AY07/08), the NUS Volleyball Team
was facing a crisis. Almost all its players had graduated en
mass. A completely new team had to be formed. As I was
committed to pursue my passion for volleyball in NUS, I was
one of the pioneering freshmen to step forward. Together
with my teammates, we built a new team with 11 freshmen
and 1 senior.
It was very unusual for a freshman to helm any NUS Varsity
Sports Team. Hence I was honoured and at the same time
wary when I was entrusted with the responsibility to captain
the team. Not only did the team lack the experience, I
also needed to manage the dynamics, bringing different
individuals together and get them to play like a team.
Differences in our preferred training methods, personalities
and lack of open communication within the team were
just some of the many obstacles we faced.
Knowing the difficulties faced by our team, the NUS Sports
& Recreation Centre (SRC) organised training trips for the
team to Kuala Lumpur and Taiwan. These trips went a long
way in giving our team the much needed exposure to
hone our skills and strengthen our team.
At the end of my first year, our NUS Volleyball Team had
defied expectations with an impressive two championship
wins in the Singapore University Games and the Institute-
Varsity Polytechnic Games. Our victorious streak continued
after I passed on my captaincy to my fellow teammates
Bonnie Ip (AY08/09) and Chai Kai Lin (AY09/10).
We continued to stay as a committed team with new players
joining us over the years, participating in many local and
international tournaments like the ASEAN University Games
and the Triennial Inter-Varsity Games. We had grown to
become friends and learnt to motivate and find strength
in one another.
I hope for all our NUS athletes, especially those in team
sports, to embrace a ‘never-say-die’ attitude. No conflicts
can be too hard to resolve and no obstacles insurmountable
when we learn to come together to support and encourage
each other. Synonymous with the spirit of the Youth
Olympic Games 2010, winning is not everything an athlete
should just aim for. It is the process of learning and achieving
the goal together as a team that is precious and important.
Through sheer hardwork and teamwork, our NUS Volleyball
Team has been the undefeated local Tertiary Champions
for the last three consecutive years. SRC acknowledged our
successes and awarded us Sports Team of the Year 2008,
Merit Team 2009 and the pinnacle, President Sports Team
2010! The team and I are thankful to SRC, our Sports Officer
and Coach for their unwavering support and belief
in our team.
Looking back, it has been a most rewarding and enriching
journey for me; from the anxiety of NUS admissions in
2007 to being awarded the prestigious President Sports
Team in 2010. Indeed, I am grateful to NUS for granting
me discretionary admission into my school of choice and
giving me the opportunity to fulfill both my academic
and sporting dreams.
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
11

OFFICE CHAT + FAQs
••••••••••••
12
Looking
back
at its
splendour
NUSSU Rag-YOG Flame Arrival Ceremony
Writer A/P TAN TECK KOON, OSA
Photographer HONG SI MIN, OSA
Friday 6 August 2010 was unmistakably one of the most
spectacular and memorable day for NUS. NUSSU Rag,
held in conjunction with the Youth Olympic Games
(YOG) Flame Arrival Celebrations on that day, showcased
the youth, spirit and aspirations of our students in ways
beyond imagination. Our students’ creativity, passion, grit
and indomitable spirit shone through the loud gaiety
and excitement, in a way that was truly the spirit of YOG!
Our students rose magnificently to the challenges of
what must have been the most difficult and demanding
Rag in the history of the event. They overcame all odds
and delivered a Rag that was a befitting tribute to the
inaugural world YOG event. And truly, a tribute
to themselves. Congratulations!
•••••••••••••••••
If you have missed the event, here are some
videos which captured the moments:
•••••••••••••••••
NUS Rag day 2010 video montage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0jEa9cAqao
School of Design and Environment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJb_C9Ezpc8
King Edward VII:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCIT360UmJw
For more videos, simply search
“NUS Rag Day 2010”
in Youtube.
Check out some
of the frequently
asked questions
we receive from
students.
When will the University Town (UTown) open its doors
and what inspired the design of the campus?
The NUS Utown will admit its inaugural intake
of students for two undergraduate residential
colleges and a graduate residence in August 2011.
UTown’s design integrates green concepts in
master planning and building, and its design
incorporates features that intimately entwine
living and learning.
How many residences will there be for students to
stay on campus?
In its initial phase, UTown will launch two
residential colleges and a graduate residence
in August 2011.
The two residential colleges, Cinnamon and
Tembusu Colleges, will house freshmen and
existing students. In particular, Cinnamon College
will house students enrolled in the University
Scholars Programme (USP). Each college has a
capacity of 600, and admitted students can
stay for up to two years in the colleges.
UTown’s graduate residences will house up
to a total of 1,700 residents, with 1,600 units for
single graduate students, and 100 apartments
for married graduates.
What are some of the details regarding the multidisciplinary
academic system mooted by UTown?
Students at UTown will have the opportunity to
integrate knowledge, skills and methods from a core
curriculum of five modules: a two-module writing
programme, an undergraduate seminar and two
multidisciplinary modules focusing on global
issues in both Asian and Singaporean contexts.
Meanwhile, NUS students will continue to
attend classes at the University’s Kent Ridge and
Bukit Timah campuses to fulfil their academic
requirements for the NUS undergraduate
curriculum.
What are some of the key facilities that we can expect
to see at UTown?
Students will also have many opportunities to
interact with top researchers as cutting-edge
research facilities such as the National Research
Foundation’s Campus for Research Excellence and
Technological Enterprise (CREATE) will be located
at UTown.
In addition, other facilities include an Education
Resource Centre and EduSports Complex, as
well as complete amenities like bookshops, retail
outlets and eateries which will be nestled amidst
an attractive landscape.
Will the facilities be open to existing NUS students
and staff?
Spaces and facilities at UTown will be open
to all members of the NUS community.
Have a question to ask?
Send it to osay@nus.edu.sg

HOT TOPIC
The Mentalist
Kong Mun Yeng
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Visualises that all the
information is kept in a
box and psyches herself up
believing that she has all
the knowledge required.
This helps me keep my
composure and stay calm.
The Kiasu One
Alan Ye Guan Jie
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Stocks up 7 to 8
ball point pens of
the same kind.
I am very kiasu, and must be prepared
for the worst case scenario.
The Unorthodox One
Yong Ho Yuet
Engineering
Wears red or
coloured shirt to
an exam!
It worked for me in the past and
I’ve stuck with this routine
ever since.
Mr Anxiety
Johan Tay
Faculty of Science
Visits the toilet
before any exam,
then prays.
To clear my butterflies.
TEST THESE RITUALS
FOR YOUR NEXT EXAM?
If you think that the way you prepare for an exam
is unusual, you may realise that you are not alone
after reading this article.
Writer MELVIN TAI & YUEN HUI TIAN, ARTS AND
SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
Photographer JASMINE HOW, ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES, YR 3
Everyone has his or her own way of dealing with the
pressures and rigours of an impending examination in
NUS. For those who do not practise any distinct rituals yet,
this story may be timely for you pick up useful habits and
routines to ensure a perfect CAP score for the semester.
OSAY! uncovers the various exam rituals that NUS students
practise en route to an exam. We interviewed several
students who revealed an interesting myriad of methods
and rituals, ranging from the purely serious and
sombre to the plain uncanny.
OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010
Groovy Gentleman
Mizael Poh
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Dances along to
all-girl J-technopop
group, Perfume.
It helps me de-stress and
build confidence.
Flying Without Wings
Ashton Chong Liang Shan
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Drinks Redbull with
1 whole lemon to
stay up at night.
The drink gives me a strong burst of
energy during the paper. It’s so potent
that I feel as if I’m getting kicked
off the exam chair!
Mr Hungry
Oh Chong Yee
Engineering
Eats before
every paper.
It’s quite cold in MPSH, so if you go in
on an empty stomach, you’ll struggle
with the cold and hunger
during the exam.
Mr Superstitious
Ivan Lim Kok Hao
Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences
Sleeps face-up and
keep mouth open
the night before.
This collects more good luck
and positive energy
13

LET’S TALK + MY SAY
14
LET’S
TALK
Are you facing a dilemma? Concerned about a
friend? Anxious about something? Need some
professional advice? Then ‘Let’s Talk’! ‘Let’s Talk’
is a quarterly column where a team of counsellors
and psychologists from the Counselling and
Psychological Services (CPS) provides professional
advice and tips on coping with your inter-personal
and emotional concerns.
I broke up with my boyfriend last semester and thought I was over with
him. To my dismay, a week ago, I happened to see him in one of my lectures.
Throughout the lecture, I couldn’t concentrate when the lecturer spoke and
couldn’t participate actively in the discussion. I kept on glancing at my ex,
feeling angry. I don’t want to continue feeling this way as I am afraid it will
affect my grades. I feel pretty silly as he seems cool about the breakup
and our mutual friends have accepted it. So what’s wrong with me?
How do I pull myself through? - LOST
Dear Lost:
The way you are feeling is very normal. After a break-up, some may react civilly
and amiably while others feel betrayed and angry. [But you should know that] it is
perfectly fine to have a mixture of feelings. Moreover, some people take a longer
period of time than others to pull themselves up again.
It seems that this breakup has left you with many doubts and what-ifs. Something
is missing, and that is closure! When a relationship ends, closure is important for
peace of mind and a deeper understanding of yourself. It could also save you the
trouble of repeating the same mistakes.
So how does one get closure? One approach is to maintain self-discipline without
holding back your emotions! You may want to keep a journal, talk things through
with friends who are there to support you, or engage in activities such as exercise
that will allow you to release all that negative energy in an appropriate place. If
matters escalate, you can always consult a counsellor for professional support
and guidance. - MS HAGIT BEN ARI
I recently began playing a computer game, which a friend recommended and
slowly got hooked to it. I find myself waiting for lectures to end so that I can have
some time on my own to play. Before, I used to feel insulted when friends went
out for meals without inviting me along, but nowadays I don’t seem to take it
to heart anymore. My grades are getting affected and I don’t seem to have
as many friends. Should I be concerned? - GAME LOVER
Dear Game Lover:
Computer games can be fun BUT when they slowly consume your thoughts and
interfere with your daily schedule, they could potentially turn into addictions.
If you relate to most of the following statements, you have most likely become
addicted and need help.
a. I play computer games every day for more than one hour.
b. I am thinking about playing the game while I am studying, having lunch or
engaging in other activities.
c. Computer games are more exciting and rewarding than hanging out with
friends.
d. My family/ friends tell me that I have changed and all that interests me is
playing games.
Addiction derives from the Latin word ‘Addicere’ which means ‘To give over’ or
‘surrender’. An addict at some point or another has traded self control for instant
satisfaction. So what now? When you feel the urge to play a game, do something
more productive such as going for a jog or listening to music. Focus on building
good relationships with people around you. Also, you may want to talk to a
counsellor who can help you come up with a game-plan to help you take
back your control. - MS HAGIT BEN ARI
The contributor, MS HAGIT BEN ARI, is a Counsellor
with the University Health Centre (UHC)’s Counselling
and Psychological Services (CPS). CPS serves to enhance
the emotional well-being of the NUS community through
a variety of services, such as short-term individual therapy,
couple and group counselling, talks and workshops.
Except in cases of imminent threat to life or a court
order, CPS maintains strict confidentiality regarding all
information shared by clients. More information about
CPS can be found at www.nus.edu.sg/uhc/cps.
This column is not a substitute for counselling. Should the problem / distressing
symptoms persist, students are advised to call (65162376), email (cps@nus.edu.sg)
or walk-in at the Univeristy Health Centre Level 2, to seek further assistance.
29 August
2010, a Sunday
morning. An
incoming sms on
my mobile woke me
up. It was from an excited
colleague. “Did you see the
article in the newspaper on
NTU’s orientation? About students
getting hurt in their activities? Not
NUS – phew!”. I was neither consoled nor
excited. It’s one of those things that bug me
year after year, especially during our orientation
period. The truth is – it could have been NUS too!
?
Taking Stock
of Orientation
I wish that the next FOC members would
reflect more deeply on the meaning of
orientation, the value-proposition of their
organisations, and appropriateness
of the games played.
Ever since I assumed my ‘national service’ in OSA, I have been engaging and
sharing with every new batch of our student leaders and FOC (Freshmen Orientation
Committee) chairpersons on what Orientation is meant to be, and the spirit with
which orientation activities are best conducted.
Going back to history, Orientation was introduced when Ragging of freshmen was
banned by the university after a series of major mishaps(I believe in the 1970s). An
unverified account has it that one freshman drowned when he was made to swim
across the swollen Bukit Timah canal. But I certainly recall reading in the newspaper,
the public outcry over some ‘pornographic’ pictures that a freshette (a female freshie)
was shown. The senior students (males of course!) defended that the pictures were
mere photographs of sex organs, taken from an anatomy textbook borrowed from
the Medical Library! If I recall correctly, the senior students were suspended from
the university after a disciplinary hearing.
Although Ragging had been banned for more than 20 years and Orientation had
become a way to greet freshmen by the time I came to OSA, a high degree of ragging
was still evident in the orientation activities of the Halls and student organisations.
I recall that the former Dean of Students(Prof Bernard Tan Tiong Gee) had to dash from
one location to another whenever someone telephoned to report ragging in progress
– and this included locations in the Orchard Road area! Orientation was in a way, some
ragging in disguise.
With the help of the Hall Masters and constant engagement with student leaders
from the Halls and student organisations, we have over the years helped to moderate
orientation activities. The number of complaints that we used to receive from
parents and members of the public has certainly gone down. But the reality is that
the annual ritual of deriving fun and humour at freshmen’ expense is still a central
feature of orientation activities. In a rather fortunate way, most of the senior students
and freshmen these days see this as part of the fun of bonding, rather than a rite
of passage (as in the early days of Ragging). Unfortunately, most of the seniors and
willing freshmen do not realise that this is nevertheless, a form of bullying albeit in
a friendly and fun way.
I fully endorse that orientation should be enjoyable with good fun. The question
is – enjoyable and fun at whose expense? And fun in what form? Having fun is part
and parcel of social activities be it among kindergarten play groups, Junior College
students or high corporation executives during their company retreats. But no CEO in
his right mind would have his senior executives throwing ‘water balloon bombs’ and
‘baby powder bombs’ at the new executives, or have new executives crawl through
a pool of starch, simulate milking actions with water-filled condoms, or pass a blob
of cream from ‘cheek to cheek’. Similar scenes are common in Junior Colleges and
repeatedly seen in NUS during orientation. Student groups compete for freshman
participation on the basis of how much of such fun is weaved into their orientation
games. This is indeed worrying. Have games and fun by all means, but I wish that the
next FOC members would reflect more deeply on the meaning of orientation, the
value-proposition of their organisations, and appropriateness of the games played.
I also wish that everyone, seniors and freshmen included, would take a stand on any
form of bullying (or taking advantage of another) be it subtle, friendly or something
lost in the name of fun and bonding.
A/P TAN TECK KOON
Dean of Students
Something to share
about your life in campus?
Tell us at osay@nus.edu.sg.
Don’t forget to include
photographs too!
This is
MY SAY
?
A/P TAN TECK KOON

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For Enquiries, please email: jeenenew@nus.edu.sg
Our Website: http://www.idmi.nus.edu.sg/NUS-MDA_SHAPE

THE
TWINS
ISSUE!
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I OCTOBER ~ DECEMBER 2010 I
issue 6