Freshies, on your mark
Transcription
Freshies, on your mark
MAY 2008 Freshies, on your mark... ...welcome 02 ...survive first year 04 ...make friends 07 The Singapore Public Service: Integrity, Service, Excellence ...do well 09 Win goodies! 18 FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page p e t S 1 Your st By Sufian Bin Suderman and the Fullstop team mar 27 We’re TRAIN-ing-- Y ou can finally ditch your uniform, boring haircut and standard school shoes. You’re now officially a poly student – hip, hip, hurray! can range from thrilling jetty jumps to turning dude-cool boys into women. See how much we love you, dear freshies? But first, it’s only polite to warmly receive you – the SP way. Here, it’s tradition that enthusiastic OGLs give freshies their – hiak, hiak – special welcome… which This initiation, also known as the freshmen orientation programme, took place last month. Each school held their own camps respectively, and here’re some highlights… mar 28 mar 29 geddit? School of Maritime Academy Club Freshies plunging from Bedok Jetty. Banzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai! School of Business Club All red-dy to start the term! School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Bowled over: W ing alley hoa, SP got bowl april 8 School of Communication, Arts and Social Sciences april 9 Flag Day All first year students are reminded of the importance of charity work. They did their bit for the President’s Challenge as part of their orientation programme, by garnering public donations with flag day tins. Donate? Sure, here’s my coffee money... april 10 Freshmen Live Party Let’s backstab one another. Muahaha Catching falling water bombs intact. Ah boy ah, stop wearing mei-mei’s skirt! april 7 mar 30 april 11 ha! april 12 International Freshmen Orientation 305 foreign students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and China joined us this year. Welcome! one! Learning to trust Live band Glo e “I never thought orientations wer). (ME 18, , Thu this fun!” Myo Mon ther. bal friends warming up to one ano Is Singapore really THAT small? Add SPICE: Learning the SPICE Page • Social circle: first, we find a hula hoop… FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper software FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page W e had such fun putting this issue together. Believe us – after sifting through photos of freshies enjoying themselves during orientation, we too wanna group ourselves and cheer till we’re hoarse – all in the spirit of SP camaraderie. Of course, we know poly life’s not all about fun, fun, fun. Which is why we’ve got stories to help you cope with your first sem, such as freshmen survival tips and SP senior Cheryl Cheong’s first hand account as a newbie (see facing page). For our would-be graduates (yay to the close of one chapter, and double yay to the start of your next), we wish you the best. For inspiration, take a leaf from former SP student Woo Mei Xia, who nailed a highflying job even before graduating from a prestigious Australian university. And because we love you to bits, dear reader, we’ve got VCDs, posters, NYDC dining vouchers (yum, yum) and celeb-autographed note pads to give away this issue! So, from all of us at Fullstop, have fun, fun, fun. Sufian Bin Suderman Editor Published by Department of Corporate Communications. fullstop@sp.edu.sg Editorial, design and marketing services by NTUC Media Co-operative Ltd. Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd. For advertising enquiries, ring 6236 5790 Student Editorial Team Sufian Bin Suderman operationrancid@hotmail.com “Do not over work. Chill!” Chan Si Ying, Gerlynn purpletwiggies@hotmail.com “Don’t know who you are, or what to do with your life? Fret not, there’s still time!” Vihasini Gopakumar Vgjuly_19@hotmail.com “Work hard play hard!” Dexter Tay Hai Hong dextertay@hotmail.com “Good friends make good work.” cool pool No paint, no gain Our pool was recently retiled, and had its pump and filtration system replaced. We also installed a new purification system that releases copper and iondisinfectants instead of chlorine Remember your first day in SP? Cheryl Cheong looks back and shares her tale. Simply annoyed. That’s my earliest memory of my first day in SP. My palms just wouldn’t stop sweating and I had to keep wiping my hands on my jeans. My, what an unglamorous start to the term. But I don’t really blame my cold, sweaty palms: That day was not only my first day in SP, but also my first day of school in Singapore. Leaving on a jet plane You see, a huge part of my 17 years of life revolved around my loved ones – family and friends – in Brunei. Until five days before poly started. Social circle: Cheryl (third from right, The plane ride to Singapore took several hours, but anticlockwise) now has a cool group of it seemed to have brought me to another planet. I was friends with whom she hangs out. Just suddenly alone, and the only contact in my mobile look at their numerous outings! phone list was Starhub Customer Care. On top of having to navigate through the cement jungles of SP, there’s also a brand new culture to face. You know the kiasu jostling in trains, the fighting for space on buses during peak hours… And being alone amid all these is an especially lonely task. How does one build a home in a whole new world? Tee with famous golfers Two SP students who volunteered to help out during the recent HSBC Women’s Championships share their experience: SP to the rescue The quickest remedy for a lonely heart would be of course, to make friends. SP’s bi-annual CCA drive gives ample opportunity for students to connect with like-minded enthusiasts. Attending the numerous SP events held over the course of the year is another sure way to network. And sometimes, it helps if strangers make the first move too. “You don’t have to come to class this early, you know.” I looked up to meet the eyes of my classmates for the first time. “Why don’t we come in together at around this time tomorrow?” another suggested. That brought on a smile. Tomorrow, I thought to myself, there would be friends awaiting. I felt my palms. They were sweaty no more. “I felt lucky to be part of such a large-scale event. The event staff, mainly foreigners, was happy with the quality of our work!” Melissa Goh Birth at Vivo Visitors to VivoCity saw first-hand how creative our SP students are. But of course, right? Graduates from the school of Creative Media Design and Interior Design put up the Birth exhibition, showcasing some of their award-winning and graduation projects last Feb 28 – March 2. Among the exhibits: Integrated brand communication designs, games, and video developments. “We were well taken care of – two buffet meals and snacks – so we kept eating every few hours!” Chia Kia Huat Formula dayOne By Sufian Bin Suderman and the Fullstop team We know it’s not easy – starting your life anew in a polytechnic can be quite intimidating. But hear it from us at the Fullstop team. We’ve been there, done that, and we survived! Here’re some tips – coming from former freshies – to help you cope with your first year. Solar so good taxi Spotted in SP: A unique vehicle which relies solely on solar energy. It was in SP last March, as part of its global European Sustainable Energy Forum tour. You’re not alone Mon Thi Han Monthihan@hotmail.com “Plan your time well!” Students from the SP Environment Club recently gave recycling bins a splashy makeover at the Youth Park, as part of the Recycling Bin Painting event, organised by the National Environment Agency. A similar project has since been initiated in SP by the Club. – By Victor Lee, President of SP Environment Club. If you feel miserably alone without all your old mates from school, take heart that you’re not the only freshie in SP. There are a bunch of others just like you, all desperately seeking a friendly face. Let’s play raft Log on to www.sp.edu.sg to take part in this year’s Singapore River Raft Race 2008, and win $300 cash. Call Mr Ho Thiam Aik at 68790601 for more. Stuck-up? More likely shy Thet Su Htwe wanchinster@gmail.com “Make the best of your three years.” Wondering why some people seem less approachable than others? For most of these it’s really because they’re more introverted. So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and introduce yourself. Make eye contact, smile or nod, but don’t scare them off by staring or being overly exuberant. SPortsmanship Plan, plan, plan Khin Ei Maung khineimaung@gmail.com “Managing others is strength. Managing yourself is true power.” Atiqah Firdaus Musiq_77@hotmail.com “Success = Preparation + Opportunity.” Nur Hazwanie Begum Hazzie_isms@hotmail.com “Make your poly journey a worthwhile one!” Whether you like it or not, you’re going to have to be even more independent with your new poly workload. Get organised by noting down all the important dates on your diary, which can include exam or test dates, project timelines, meetings, and deadlines. Surf Take some time to surf our SP website (www.sp.edu.sg) for regular updates and be in the know of SP happenings. New chomping place Woooo, it’s nice, it’s clean, it’s so cozy. Check out SP’s newly renovated food court. Gee, we feel hungry already. Our SP team may have lost 1-3 to the ITE team on March 10 at the SR Nathan Soccer Challenge Cup, but they’re not disheartened. Now, that’s sportsmanship. Facilities galore We’ve got state-of-the-art sporting facilities here in SP, like our gym and the newly renovated pool (see Pg 5). Make use of them: You’re likely to meet like-minded enthusiasts there, and being active helps reduce stress! Join activities There’re various activities planned in SP throughout the year. Make time for them! Collin Wang Slyboy_1990@hotmail.com “Be natural!” Page • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page By Mon Thi Han Mr Lim Peng Hun’s constantly on the go. The former Electrical & Electronic Engineering lecturer – loved as a fun and approachable teacher – is now Singapore Polytechnic’s Deputy Principal (Technology & Industry). Humorous, smart and easy going. In a nutshell, that describes Mr Lim Peng Hun. His love for working with young people is what propelled him into teaching, he says. And he has never looked back. His-tory Mr Lim joined SP in 1985 as a lecturer in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. An ASEAN Scholar who came from Malaysia to Singapore in 1979, he spent two years in Hwa Chong Junior College, before attending Nanyang Technological Institute (now known as Nanyang Technological University). Mr Lim was the institute’s pioneer batch of engineering students. Some of Mr Lim’s contributions in SP 1993 Mr Lim led a group of students and staff to Outer Mongolia and helped set up the Industrial Automation Laboratory at the Mongolian Technical University. They also brought with them solar panels which they installed on the roof of a building in the university. They’re from another part of the world, and they’re in love with campus life and our friendly locals after spending one sem in SP. Meet exchange students Masako, Stephen and Julia who’ve obviously been hangin’ out with the right crowd, woo-hoo! Bubbly Masako Who Masako Oze of Japan What On a five-month overseas study programme from Hiroshima Institute of Technology Polytechnic Masako loves ... Studying My Information Communication Technology lessons are very interesting as they’re practical and hands-on. I owe my recent good results to the dedicated and motivating DICT staff! … Satay I’m impressed with Singapore’s delicacies – I love char kway teow and satay. And murtabak and wanton mee too! … Singapore Singaporeans are generally warm and friendly. I’ll certainly miss my friends and lecturers who have been so helpful to me throughout my semester in SP. 1998 Mr Lim was one of the brains behind the E-Learning system, the online learning tool which we are now familiar with. The project started in 1998 and took five years to complete, but their efforts paid off in 2003, the year SARS struck. Because the E-Learning system was already in place then, there was minimal disruption to lessons and communication. 1999 In 1999, Mr Lim was the team leader for SUNSPEED, Singapore Polytechnic Solar Car Team, which participated in the 5th World Solar Challenge, held in Australia. Till today, SUNSPEED is the only solar car from Singapore which has taken part in the World Solar Challenge. Many students see you as a fun and approachable lecturer. What do you think of that? “It relates to my motivation. I enjoy working with young people. I like to share my experiences and I hope that they can learn and benefit from them. After all, would you prefer a lecturer who reads from his textbook, or a lecturer who can relate real life experience?” You spent a year in Harvard, Boston, studying for your Masters. What are your hopes for Singapore Polytechnic students? “To keep on learning. I hope that they will aspire to achieve as much as they can, but always remember to have the humility to continue learning from others. I hope that they will never give up in the face of adversity and rejection. Also, grasp the opportunity when it knocks on the door.” Page • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper Mandarin speaking Germans Who Stephan Struppler and Julia Kroll of Germany What On a cultural exchange programme from the University of Applied Sciences, Stuttgart, Germany In love with the Chinese culture Stephan and Julia took part in the exchange programme mainly because of love – their love for the Chinese language and culture, that is. One of their favourite activities in SP is conversational Chinese classes, conducted by staff from the School of the Built Environment. Wurst craving German sausage, tea, corn and bread are some of the yummy hometown goodies Stephan and Julia miss. Ah, but fret not. They’ve since found comfort in the famous FC3 canteen roti prata. Harmonious lot Stephan and Julia are warmed by our friendly Singaporeans. They’re amazed by our harmonious multi-cultural society, and say they’ll certainly miss Singapore when they return to Germany. Altogether now, awww… FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page Good to be direct Most applicants enter polytechnic through the Joint Admissions Exercise. But why not secure a place in SP using your prelim results, and get a head start? They’re certainly no time-wasting youths. Nurasyikin Ishak, Ahamed Nisha, Yap Yu Zhi and Lim Chong Ping are among the pioneer batch of students in SP’s Direct Polytechnic Admission programme. They secured a place in SP through their preliminary results last year – even before their O level results were released. Our four go-getters share their experience Hands-on reward I initially wanted to continue my studies at a junior college but I wanted a practical-based learning experience at the same time. After attending the SP Open House last year, and hearing from my brother (an SP graduate) his wonderful experience at SP, I made my decision to choose the polytechnic route to further my studies. I am now studying a course that I have always wanted to pursue and it has been really interesting and exciting so far! Nurasyikin Ishak Diploma in Digital Media Tanjong Katong Girls’ School Well done Mei Xia! Her years in SP gained Woo Mei Xia entry to a prestigious Australian university; and helped her nail a high-flying job with the world’s largest, leading reinsurance company — even before she graduates. There’s no shortcut in life. But as we know, hard work is one sure way to success. SP graduate Woo Mei Xia confirms this. Mei Xia sure walks the talk. The studious Diploma in Accountancy graduate is now an undergrad at the prestigious Australian National University. Thanks to her diligence, Mei Xia has also earned the ANU Terrell International Scholarship – one of eight scholarships awarded annually, which covers up to half of a student’s tuition fees – a year after she began her double degree course in Commerce and Actuarial Studies. And even before she graduates this July, Mei Xia has nailed a job as a reinsurance underwriter with Swiss Re – the world’s largest leading reinsurance company. Mei Xia attributes her impressive achievements to Singapore Poly… A good foundation SP has definitely nurtured me in many ways. Firstly, it was my Accountancy Diploma from SP that gained me a place in ANU. My foundation in Accountancy also helped me cope with my undergrad course. Useful skills x No regrets My relatives have always persuaded me to apply to SP because of its reputation as the leading polytechnic offering quality courses. I like SP’s state-of-the-art facilities and appreciate how easily lecturers can strike a rapport with us! My advice is, you probably won’t go wrong with the polytechnic route in SP – because I’m enjoying my experience thoroughly! I think I aced the reinsurance writer interview because of my confidence, gained from years of executing presentations in SP. Other skills such as people and time management through group work also proved useful. Don’t laze To SP students, she says, to succeed be prepared to work hard. Ahamed Nisha Diploma in Business Information Technology Cedar Girls’ Secondary School Aye Aye, Mateys Going the extra mile Who My father told me not to be bothered by the distance between our house and SP. He said that if I really wanted to study in SP, then I should go ahead. It takes me more than one hour to travel from Loyang to SP but I have already gotten used to it. SP is well known for its engineering courses. I believe my strengths in maths and science will help me do well in my course, and I hope to continue my studies in a university when I graduate from SP. SMA graduates Kunal Chadha (left) and Goh Choong Leong What Both received top honours in their Bachelor of Maritime Operations degree programme, offered by the Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB), University of Applied Sciences Noordelijike, Netherlands. Yap Yu Zhi Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Tampines Secondary School Farsighted I’ve set my eyes on the Optometry course for a long time now, so naturally, I chose SP – the only polytechnic that offers this programme. There is a lot of potential for optometrists in Singapore and graduates from Optometry are one of the highest earning polytechnic graduates. I’ve been in SP for about five weeks and it’s been fun! We have a big, green campus. I’m also looking forward to joining the SP Dragon Boat or Canoe Club when the CCA Drive begins. Entering and contributing to the marine industry has always been my dream. Lim Chong Ping Diploma in Optometry Evergreen Secondary School Being taught by highly qualified professionals with many years of industry experience was the best part of studying for the degree. – Kunal Chadha – Goh Choong Leong Page • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page ! S N IO T A L U T A R G N CO RESEARCH TALENTS right at our doorstep Behold. We’ve got Alexander Graham Bell potentials in MODEL STUDENTAWARD and software that creates virtual, interactive models of buildings. • • wings? Erm, right… But hey, never underestimate the wonders of a youth’s mind. Not only did a group of SP students conceptualise that seemingly bird-brained idea, they even modelled a prototype with commercial uses in mind. These bright sparks are some of this year’s winners of the Polytechnic Research Programme, an initiative by NTU. Launched in 1997, the programme aims to nurture local polytechnic students in research and and engineering research environments at universities and research institutes. This year, the programme attracted 81 projects submitted by 240 students from local polytechnics. And among them, only six were awarded the Best Project Award. Two of the groups are from SP… Lum Pei Lin Adelene (DMTM) (Paya Lebar MGS) Chng Shing Ji Shuan (DME) (Delta Secondary School) Outstanding student with a GPA of 4.0 Member of SP’s Track & Field Club represented SP in Singapore Marathon 2006, Mizuno Wave Run 2006 and 2007, Swissotel Vertical Marathon 2005 Self –driven individual Self disciplined to ensure success in his undertakings • • Lim Jian – Ting (DBF) (Xin Min Secondary School) • Member of the SP Primers Management Committee in 2006 Excellent academic performance SB’s Director’s Honour Roll • • • • • • • • • • • • • PLANE AMAZING The dream team: Tan Zhen Yong, Poh Yi Xiang Denzil, Chen Li Zhen, Low Boon Ming and Tay Chin Jie Amos, from the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Ng Jua Him (DECC) • • • President of the SP Red Cross Management Committee in 2006 EEE’s Director’s Honour Roll Winner of the ILOG Book Prize/Ngee Ann Kongsi Scholarship Project: Devester Choo Yun Ming (DBT) (Maris Stella High Secondary School) minutes before landing. • Possible uses: • Aerial surveillance or spark a trend for hobbyists keen on miniature aeroplanes. • • MODEL BUILDING The dream team: Maung Linn Htet and Kyi Myat Moe, from the School of the Built Environment Project: Came up with software – which makes use of laser scanning technology to construct models – with interactive virtual touring capabilities for Google Earth users. Possible uses: This technology can pave the way for master planning, archaeological archive and game use. P age 10 • FULLSTOP • MAY 2008 • Y OUR C AMPU S NEW S PAPER • Committee member of the SP Taekwondo Club Won a Silver Medal in the IVP Games 2005/06 Won a Gold Medal in the Whampoa Taekwondo Tournament in 2006/07 Winner of Gold Medal at the National Pesta Sukan Taekwondo Tournament in 2007/08 Conscientious and a well-mannered student Excellent academic performance • • Zakaria (DMTM) (Dunman Secondary School) • One of the top students in SMA • Secretary of the SMA Club in 2005 • Represented SMA in the Inter-School Debate in 2007 • • • • • • • Secretary for the SP Chinese Orchestra Management Committee Organising Chairlady for the Orchestra Music Camp 2005 Class Representative in 2006 and 2007 Motivated learner Striving for excellence • • SP Changi Youth Ambassador Director’s Honours List 2005/06, 2006/07 Winner of the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Scholarship 2007/08 C Anlong (DARCH) (Catholic High School) • Winner of the Built Environment Scholarship for 2005/06 and 2006/07 Winner of the Director’s Roll Award, 2007/08 2 nd place winner of the Marina Magic Photo Competition 2004 Winner of the SP National Day Photo Contest, consolation prize 2005 Winner of the 2006 Commonwealth Youth Photo Competition • • • Lee Hee Hoe (DEEE) (Nan Hua High School) • Vice President of the SP Library Club Committee member of the CLS Dinner and Dance events in 2005 & 2006 Excellent academic performance Eugene Quek Jian Liang (DASE) (Junyuan Secondary School) Poh Hui Bing, Joyce (DMAT) ( Serangoon Secondary School) • Received the Interior Design Confederation Design Excellence Awards Daniel Lie (DCP) (First Toa Payoh Secondary School) A • • • Peer – Helper Training Programme National Splash awards (IT) committee member Singapore Computer Society Student Representative Winner of the National IT Youth Award 2007 Excellent academic performance Shows great aptitude for technical subjects Diligent President of the SP SB Mentoring Club in 2006/2007 Excellence in Service Award winner in 2007 Proactive student-helper at the SP Courses and Careers Fair Excellent academic track record • Jenny Teja Sukardi (DID) (Pioneer Secondary School) Tan Chun Siong (DIT) (Dunearn Secondary School) • • Chua Jingyi Alister (DBF) (Orchid Park Secondary School) Represented SMA in the SP Inter-School Debate Championship 2007 Volunteer in the SP-CYA Changi Airport 2005 Director’s Honours List SMA • Set up the Mangrove Planting Club Received Loyalty Award from the Mayor of Concepcion, Philippines Excellent academic track record Ow Kok Kiat (DECC) (Chestnut Drive Secondary School) • • • Helped out in the Poly 50 & Care Community Service Society Energetic and helpful Excellent academic track record E) LTUR EX CELL ENCE IN SE RVICE AWARD (ARTS & CU Alexandra Tan Min Lin (DBT) – Vice President SP Dance Club (Telok Kurau Secondary School) • • • • • • Talented in dance and music Participated in the SuperStar Pop Musical 2005 Organisers of the recent Dance concert Positive attitude Loads of energy and zest Supportive of the many poly events Mizushima Emi (DBA) – Team Captain of the SP Dancesport Club (Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School) • • • • • Pioneers of the SP Dancesport Club Helped to develop the SP Dancesport Club to a formidable competitor in the Tertiary DanceSport scene in Singapore Keen and passionate dancer Committed individual Hopes to someday represent Singapore in the Dancesport event FULLSTOP • MAY 2008 • Y OUR C AMPU S NEW S PAPER • P age 11 You did us proud! … the CABARET MECHANICAL champs Who: Eight teams from the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Won: ALL top awards at the 2007 Cabaret Mechanical Theatre Competition Hooray: Their awards also include all three Judges’ SpecialMention Award and two Merit Awards out of 12 Awards. – By Choy Fook Seng, Senior Lecturer, (MM) … the DANCE champs Who: Students from the SP DanceSport Club (SPDS) Won: Came in first at the 7th SGDF National DanceSport Championships last December 29. Hooray: The SPDS bagged 22 medals - 7 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze awards. … OTHER champs Who: Students from 10 secondary schools pitted their aircraft modeling skills against one another, at the Aero Competition 2008, organised by the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Winners: Award: Best Automata ($1,000) Award: Best Mechanical Design ($500) Overall champion: Woodlands Ring Secondary School Plane assembly: Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Simulator aerobatics: Woodlands Ring Secondary School Aero quiz: Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Sec School Circuit flying: Bowen Secondary School It’s lunchtime, iiiiiiit’s… show time! Lunch time at SP will be a boring affair no more, now that you can eat and enjoy student performances at the Theatre@Moberly. Sufian Bin Suderman checks out the facility’s inaugural show. Award: Best Aesthetic Design ($500) Award: Judges’ Special Mentioned ($300) Award: Judges’ Special Mentioned ($300) Oh, what a treat. Spicy samba and cha cha numbers and bringthe-house-down type beatboxing were some of the lunchtime highlights at the inaugural show at the Theatre@Moberly. Our student entertainers – including beatboxers Bryan Koh (SB), Samuel Chao (CLS) and members of the SP DanceSport Club – had the crowd going wild with their stunning performances. The show not only attracted students. Among the hyped audience was a group of SP staff, who went to lend their support. Here’re what some students had to say… Award: Judges’ Special Mentioned ($300) … the CIRCUIT champs Who: Won: Hotplates for rental Graffitti@Moberly LAN@Moberly ! Hooray: Our team took part in six out of the seven challenges in the Polytechnic/ ITE circuit. And they received their prize on the Singapore Flyer. Some other facilities@Moberly… Sizzle@Moberly Leave your mark on the graffiti panels ay Second place at the National Infocomm Competition, an annual interschool competition that allows students to hone and showcase their Infocomm skills. Oo Students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering p n layu d , p s l p Need a hip and happenin’ place to relack-one-corner between classes? Well, move over to Moberly. There’re lots to do at the new lifestyle facility – LAN gaming, jamming, karaoke-ing. And if you’re a budding performer, congrats. You’ve just found a place to showcase your talents. Expect hip-hop dances, dancesports, jazz singing, deejaying, short plays and many more. To showcase your talent, call Ning@67721517 or Hope@67721696 – lunch will be on us, dear talented performers! Ahem, just so you know, Oops student reporters were among the media bigwigs – such as Reuters, The New York Times and The Straits Times – invited to the recent Singapore Airshow 2008. We hope they had fun sourcing for scoops! The show was very good – a great way for students to hang loose and do something else besides the 3 Ls – Lunch, Call Ning @ Lecture, Loo. 6772 1517 or Hope @ Pose@Moberly Have your professional shots done. Smile! Shoot@Moberly Pool tables and foosball tables for booking Café@Moberly Eat, drink, relax 6772 1696 for details on how you can perform at Theatre@Moberly. Be transported to the land of LAN games during lunch break The lunch time show is an excellent platform for us to showcase our talents! Moberly Launch May 9, from 5.45pm SP Guitarists May 14, noon-1pm For more info, please approach the Moberly counter or call, 6772 1335. Page 12 • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper • Page 13 Sports the difference They work hard and they play hard. Ladies and gentlemen… we give you the double Js – Joshua Lim and Jasmine Yeong-Nathan, SP’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year! SP’s Sportsman of the Year Joshua Lim Wen Hao Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering I am happy to receive this award. Hard work certainly paid off. I am also grateful to my parents, lecturers and friends for supporting me all the way through my 3 years in SP. Other Achievements: • SEA Games 2007 – Relay Gold • FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup (Singapore) 2007 • FINA World Championships 2007 – Participant • Hong Kong Open Swimming Championships 2007 - Participant SP’s Sportswoman of the Year Jasmine Yeong-Nathan Diploma in Media and Communications Other Achievements: • SEA Games 2007 – Women’s trio 3rd and Masters finalists • World Women’s Championship I feel grateful to the institution for awarding me the Sportswoman of the Year and supporting me in every way so I could excel in both my sports and studies. (Mexico) 2007 – Representative • 40th Singapore International 2007 – 5th • 1st Asian Girls Bowling Competition 2007- Representative • Euro-Med Storm International Masters Challenge 2007 - Representative And the winners of the other Sports Awards categories are: Who Ryan Chew Diploma in Business Administration Koh Dengshan Diploma in Business Administration Tan Gong Jing Gordon Diploma in Maritime Transportation Management Hadizan Bin Jaaman Diploma in Electronics, Computer and Communication Engineering Tan Jinyang Joel Diploma in Business Administration Jason Ong Koon Yew Diploma in Business Information Technology Low Chuan Kai Diploma in Property Development and Facilities Management Lim Wai Sian Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Au Da Ren Diploma in Mechanical Engineering Chen Zhao Xiu Diploma in Bioelectronics Phua So Bing Diploma in Marine Engineering Wu Han Diploma in Business Information Technology Tan Jun Wen Nicholas Diploma in Business Administration Goh Wee Teck Diploma in Property Development and Facilities Management Lo Jun Hao Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Mohd Hafiz bin Mohd Azhar Diploma in Banking and Financial Services Abdul Rahim bin Anwar Diploma in Media and Communication Nur Dinniyat Diploma in Interior Design Zhou Xiang Diploma in Banking and Financial Services Tan Ji Pung Gilbert Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering Page 14 • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper Category Canoeing Golf Pentanque Rugby Swimming Taekwondo Taekwondo Basketball Canoe Polo Canoe Polo Canoe Polo Fencing Lawn Bowls Pentanque Sailing Silat Silat Silat Weiqi Volleyball Award Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours (Gold) Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Honours Compiled by Sufian Bin Suderman and the Fullstop team Oh boy, do we love our jobs. We had fun reviewing the following (for your sake, of course), and we wish you good luck with the giveaways! Bryan Adams’ 11 Consistently impressive he is, this Canadian rocker. We dig his raspy vocals – crooning meaningful lyrics – amid the upbeat rock ballad jamming. Mariah Carey’s E = MC2 Diva Dolphin seems to be deliberately playing down the vocal acrobatics in this album, but that didn’t compromise any musical quality. Mariah’s still in her element doing her thang. Eason Chan’s The First 11 Years – What Next? Mister mellow-timbre-voice evokes wistfulness in the listener one emotive ballad after another in this album that’s made up mainly of his past best hits. What do Mariah Carey, Bryan Adams and Eason Chan have in common? Okay, they’re all great singers, but nope, that’s not the answer. The three have just respectively released their eleventh album – and they’re goooooooood. East to West Ning Robust vocals, humongous lungs (and equally humongous mouth) who made it big with her 1994 In Another Life. Yup, that would be Ning Baizura. It’s hard to accept her new dance slant here, but there’re the radio-friendly tracks like Water and Salt and Drama. Randy Jackson’s Music Club Vol. 1 Randy Jackson We shudder to think what Simon Cowell would say of this album produced by fellow American Idol judge Randy. There’s nothing memorable, despite featuring artistes like Mariah Carey, Joss Stone, Richie Sambora and Ghostface Killah. Yo, dawg, better find the right mix for Vol. 2. The Gold Record The Bouncing Souls The Bouncing Souls’ seventh album is a shining beacon in the emo music scene of rock The band displays a sense of maturity evident in Midnight Mile and A Letter from Iraq – which, interestingly, is a poem written by a soldier serving in Iraq, with whom the band corresponds through letters. Love to bits, the classy compositions which pay attention to harmony and optimistic lyrics. This album stands out for its cheery factor – a welcome change from the usual gloom and doom prevalent in rock music today. Flower Show Riots The Great Spy Experiment The guys of Great Spy Experiment prove good music’s not exclusive to bands overseas. I take pride that this Indie/Rock album – so professionally produced – is a made-in-Singapore product. Flower Show Riots showcases all their flair and talent in 11 infectious tracks, without the ‘ella-ella-ella’ brand of annoyance. Most notable mentions of the album: Late Night Request, Class A Love Affair and Flower Show Riots. The only thing that bothers me? The Great Decay, Dance with Me and A Kind of Love lack musical originality. They sound like weak clones of Late Night Request and Class A Love Affair. - by Cheryl Cheong MiG Miguel Ayesa Remember Miguel Ayesa? Well, this clean-cut rocker was in town last April here for his We Will Rock You musical at the Esplanade. Though this is MiG’s debut album, his early-years exposure in showbiz culminates into a seasoned vocal performance. Commendable theatre-music and rock flair. Be Kind Rewind The skinny: Jack Black plays Jerry, a joker who tries to sabotage the town’s power plant, thinking that the plant was the cause of his headaches. Instead, Jerry’s brain accidentally gets magnetised in the process. Failing to realise that, he walks into his best friend’s video store and unwittingly erases all his tapes (what are best friends for, right?) Desperate, the duo resorts to refilming every movie in the store – their way. Score 7 /10 – if you’re desperately in need for a hearty laugh. Relatively well-paced plot despite the irrelevant and draggy bits at the start. The characters in the show work very well together – their chemistry apparent; and the comedy first class. The clever mix of slapstick and intellectual humour enhances its comedic value too. Have loads of laughs with friends and family – and make sure you don’t buy Jerry and friend’s re-made version. I am Legend The skinny: Really Jazzy Saskia Laroo A variety of catchy tunes ranging from funky jazz, to reggae and rap made atas with Saskia’s trumpet awaits. Need a quick recharge before you hit the lecture notes? Jazzin’ Jamz will help warm up your grooves before leading into Big Blues and Munchin for the big bang. Cool down with the soothing Jealousy and voila! Era Reborn If you’re intending to channel Era into your iPod, be warned. Don’t listen to it if you’re walking home alone… Most of the tracks exude cryptic effects, making you feel like you’re drawn into a mystical Wiccan ritual. Then again, there’re those which simply transport you to MOS where’re you’re drowned senselessly in trance. Page 16 • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper A cure-all drug invented by some smarty-pants scientist goes wrong, turning mankind into bloodthirsty zombies. The only human left standing is Will Smith, who plays a brilliant scientist slash hunky soldier. He needs to concoct an antidote in time, before the zombies hunt him down. Score 8 /10 – especially if you dig the zombie-who-finds-joy-attacking--humans type of films The poor Will Smith, the only main actor in this film, is so lonely he has make-believe friends with several mannequins. Yet, it’s his near one-man-show that scores. His portrayal as the last human in Manhattan city is excellent. And coupled with the kancheong storyline and film pace, you’d be bowled over. Love it for the acting (without many co-stars, Will has the advantage of attention all on himself), and then for the gore. Win giveaways! Blood and Honey By Graham Hurley The Skinny: Yes, yes, yes, we’re generous people. And since everyone’s Yes, yes,mood yes, inwe’re generous people. And in a jolly SP (what with the recent freshmen orientation and graduation we’re gonna away since everyone’s in a mood), jolly mood in SPgive (what some goodies. A decomposed and mangled headless body is found in the sea – trapped in a boulder – beneath the Isle of Wight cliffs. The uphill task of identifying the corpse involves Inspector Joe Faraday. There are no clues. No tattoos, rings, piercings, dental records or IDs. Even the fingers of the corpse have been chewed off by fish. A case of suicide or homicide? with the recent freshmen orientation and graduation gonna givewe’re away And becausemood), we’re verywe’re kindhearted people, gonna make it easygoodies. for you to win prizes. some Afterthought: Simply email fullstop@sp.edu.sg and indicate which Fill up the coupon below and******** giveaway you’d like in your subject head. Choose one only – and email only once *********************************** (repeated senders will be disqualified!) Closing date: May 30, 2008. st! a tocks L S e l i h W Overall a brilliant read especially with the vividly depicted crime scenes and in the way both cops and crooks are portrayed. Definitely a satisfying novel that gets you deeply engrossed in the deep dark world of thrills. - Nur Hazwanie PS, I Love You By Cecelia Ahern The Skinny: Jerry dies of brain a braintumor, tumor,leaving leaving hishis wife wife Holly Holly to grieve. Butgrieve. to little did Butshe little know did that she know Jerry had thatthoughtfully Jerry had written her a written thoughtfully series ofher posthumous a series of posthumous letters, helping letters, her to moveher helping on. to move on. •I am Legend Posters • I am Legend VCDs • Singer Wu Jia Hui’s autographed note pad • $20 NYDC dining vouchers Terms and conditions: Indicate in your email your full name (as in NRIC), student ID and mobile number. Student IDs must be produced upon prize collection. We reserve the right to reject incomplete entries. Page 18 • FullStop • MAY 2008 • your campus newspaper Afterthought: Now, unless you were in Outer Space last February, you’d know this chick lit went from print to screen during the Valentine’s Day Day’speriod. period.ItItprobably probablysqueezed squeezed some tearssome out of tears the out galsof (don’t the gals deny (don’t it now) deny andit the now) and the closeted closeted RomeosRomeos (ditto) but (ditto) really, but the really, novelthe is not novel at is notmorbid. all at all morbid. You may Youcry may reading cry reading it, but more it, butbecause I promiseit you it’d mainly celebrates love.be tears of laughter.