Yale-NUS Archives - The Octant

Problematic Placements & Planetary Positions: The Astrology of a Yale-NUS Student

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 Muhammed Naeem Shehryar0

“People at Yale-NUS are intensely chaotic. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean this in a ‘will drink too much soju at 11:13 pm on a Saturday night, despite the fact that their 11:59 pm Literature and Humanities submission isn’t yet finished’ way. I mean that in the ‘your planetary placements all contradict each other so that every aspect of your personality is at war with each other’ way.” Shehryar reads our birth charts.

A Case for the Expansion of Green Lunches

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 Michael Sagna0

“Climate change activism and advocacy is a role we have to choose to fulfill, rather than an opinion that we hold, and it therefore follows that we have to repeatedly make active choices to commit to solving the climate crisis.” Michael tells us why we should accept more plant-based food in the dining halls.

Dean of Faculty Affirms Report on Interdisciplinary Higher Education

November 11, 2019November 11, 2019 Ryan Ma0

Yale-NUS Dean of Faculty Jeannette Ickovics spoke at a panel discussion on Oct. 23, 2019 at the ArtScience Museum Singapore titled “Branches from the Same Tree”, on the benefits and challenges surrounding the liberal arts. Ryan reports.

Admissions Priority Not Given To Yale-NUS Siblings

November 4, 2019November 4, 2019 Xie Yihui0

With at least 14 pairs and two trios of siblings in the College, some have wondered if siblings of Yale-NUS students are more likely to be admitted here. Yihui reports.

New Hire Adds Flavor to Our Dining Halls

November 4, 2019November 4, 2019 Michelle Lee0

Yale-NUS has hired a consultant to ensure accountability between the school and dining hall caterer Sodexo. Michelle reports.

Urban Planetary Health: Relocating to the Concrete Jungle

October 30, 2019October 31, 2019 Shawn Kit0

Shawn Kit tells us how the relocation of his West Kalimantan Week 7 LAB to Singapore due to the haze taught him about planetary health and community resilience.

Seeing Spirits: Experiential Learning in the Ghostly Singapore Week 7 LAB

October 30, 2019October 31, 2019 Isabelle Liew0

Canceled plans and uncomfortable crematorium visits: horror junkie Isabelle shares how the real spirit she saw on the Ghostly Singapore Week 7 LAB was the ghost of experiential learning.

First-Year Mental Health Surveys Get Mixed Reactions

October 29, 2019October 30, 2019 Jia Xuan Yap0

Early this July, the Counselling Centre sent out a mental health survey to all first-year students matriculating in August. In late August, after processing the results of the survey, the Counselling Centre sent out emails to first-years who received elevated scores in mental health aspects such as depression and anxiety. Jia Xuan reports.

Waves From The Past: Retelling the Legacy of Okinawa

October 27, 2019October 28, 2019 Shivani Dayal0

Students who participated in a Learning Across Boundaries (LAB) programme held in Okinawa last summer hosted a powerful art exhibition conveying the resilience that Okinawan locals display while overcoming their challenging past. Shivani reports.

From Arrow to Algorithm: The Aphrodite Project Could Find You True Love

October 26, 2019November 8, 2019 Michael Sagna0

Come this Sunday, participants of the Aphrodite Project might be matched with their soulmates. Michael speaks to the creators behind the campus-wide matchmaking survey to find out more.

Rest and Support at NUS’ “Pit Stop”

October 21, 2019November 3, 2019 Kenisha Alicia0

Alicia ventures into NUS to tell us more about the resources available to us a bus ride away.

Have Some Selective (Self) Empathy: Lessons from Nas Daily

October 21, 2019October 21, 2019 Harrison Linder0

“After attending the intimate post-event dinner, where questions focused less on politics and more on his personal journey as a content creator, I realized that it is not simply delusion, but rather faith, that enables Nas Daily.“

Calls to Action from the SG Climate Rally

October 13, 2019October 19, 2019 Dion Ho0

The recent Singapore Climate Rally garnered a lot of attention in the press and on social media – but what are the actual policy changes the Rally called for? Dion reports.

Local Students Become Kingfishers for a Day

October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 Ryan Ma0

The week of Sept. 9, 2019 saw 109 students from local pre-university institutions visiting the College for the Kingfisher for a Day program to experience a typical day in the life of a Yale-NUS student. Ryan reports.

First-Years Struggle With Opening DBS Bank Accounts

October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 Rapahel Romasanta1

Many international students in the Class of 2023 have experienced trouble with their Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) bank accounts. Raphael reports.

Financial Aid Office Addresses Student Complaints

October 13, 2019October 13, 2019 Avani Adhikari0

Miscommunications and Standing Committees. Avani writes about the problems plaguing need-based financial aid on campus.

Spilling the (Bubble) Tea

October 5, 2019October 6, 2019 Elizabeth Koh0

“We can fervently debate issues and advocate for causes until the cows
come home to graze, but if we never bring that conversation beyond our bubble, then we can never expect anything to change.” Elizabeth tells us why we should move our discussions about social issues into our personal lives outside of Yale-NUS.

False Alarm or Forewarning? Lessons from the Week 7 Controversy

October 5, 2019October 19, 2019 Yip Jia Qi0

“The divided reactions to the cancellation of the Week 7 program reveal a growing polarization between different groups in Singaporean society with competing notions of what Singapore can and should look like.” Jia Qi and Daryl reckon with what public reactions to the cancelled LAB mean for Yale-NUS students and Singapore at large.

In Tanjong Pagar for the World: Why Kilo Lounge is the Yale-NUS of Clubs

October 5, 2019October 5, 2019 Michael Sagna0

“I was hesitant to try it out when I first heard of it, due to the protests of Singaporeans describing it as overpriced and seething with expats. Nevertheless, I gave the pretentiously named ‘lounge’ a chance, and I don’t think I’ll ever look back.” Michael tells us why he clubs at Kilo.