NUS officials stop Democrats from distributing flyers
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NUS officials stop Democrats from distributing flyers
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Chee speaking with University officials Michael Ng (centre) and Peck Thian Guan (right)
Singapore Democrats
The SDP was prevented from distributing flyers today at NUS. Mr Michael Ng, Director of the Office of Estate and Development, asked leaders of the party not to give away flyers to the students.
"We have to protect the interests of our students," the official said.
"From what?" Dr Chee asked. "Are you running a university or a kindergarten?"
Another official Dr Peck Thian Guan, Director of the Office of Safety, Health & Environment, chipped in, "It's not only you but we don't allow anyone to distribute flyers."A staff member walking by could not resist taking a dig at the officers: "Great job, guys. Thanks so much from keeping us safe!" Messrs Ng and Peck could only smile sheepishly.
Just then several students wanted to take a picture with Dr Chee. A few asked for autographs.
Turning to Mr Ng, Dr Chee said: "The students don't look like they want your protection."
Several more students came up and started popping questions to the leaders. Mr Gandhi Ambalam, Mr Francis Yong, Mr John Tan, and Ms Chee Siok Chin were soon answering students' questions ranging from the state of the opposition to the media to the reality of the economy.
"I have been to Japan many times," one first-year Engineering student said, "and I've never seen seventy- and eighty-year-olds sweeping the floor and cleaning tables like in Singapore. It's so sad." He added that the University seems to be mass producing graduate robots.
Another student from Political Science who had attended the recent defamation hearing between Lee Kuan Yew and the SDP, told Ms Chee that there was still much fear among students.A journalism major indicated that she "will never join the Straits Times" after she graduated. She probably learned a thing or two in school that didn't quite square with the nonsense that was practiced in the state newspaper.
A couple of other students conducted brief interviews with the SDP leaders for the online university newspaper Campus Observer. From the repeated line of questions, it was clear that the students seemed to be sensitive to the fact that most of their college mates were rather uninformed and apathetic about current affairs. Why is this so, they asked.
"That's not hard to figure out," Dr Chee explained. "From years of authoritarian rule where students have been cowed into silence, we have bred a very unhealthy university culture. The sad part is that you are being deprived of the type of cutting edge educational experience that your counterparts in the top universities elsewhere are getting."
Turning back to officialdom, Dr Chee said that all the SDP wanted to do was to raise political awareness among the students."Why can't you guys see that education is not just about hitting the books, taking exams and getting that degree," he said. "It's also about developing one's intellectual and moral character. It's not just about producing graduates, but also developing leadership."
Dr Peck said that he too wanted to see students to think beyond their books. He suggested that the SDP write to the student associations and ask them to organise events.
"I've been down that road before. The university administration will say no and then what?" Dr Chee asked.
"Then you come back to me and we'll see what we can work out. You have my word," Dr Peck assured.
Dr Chee then asked some of the students to take the lead and organise themselves to raise political and social awareness on campus. "In the meantime we'll write to some of the student bodies and see if they will organise an event," he promised.
11 September 2008
Donald Koh
President
National University of Singapore Students' Union
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Dear Sir,
My colleagues and I were at NUS today to distribute flyers to raise awareness among your fellow students about our nation's politics.
We were, however, told by University officials that such an exercise was not allowed. They suggested that we write to student organisations to see if an event could be organised for us to address and interact with students.
Being the University's students' union, I would like to ask if you would organise an event for this purpose. From the reaction of the students today, it seems that there is great interest in what we have to say.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Gandhi Ambalam
ChairmanSingapore Democratic Party
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SDP try to do propaganda work at NUS to raise awareness of students on local political situation but NUS officials stopped SDP from doing so.
Is this attitude correct?
Do overseas universities practise this type of suppresssion of propaganda activity?
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In the United Kingdom, political parties have representation on campus. Students are allowed to open a student society which is affiliated to a particular political party. Such student societies are deemed as university chapters of the political parties. Examples include Labour Student and Socialist Student. On top of the weekly debates on political idealogy, current affairs and heartland issues, there are campus forums and monthly campaigns for raising awareness, raising funds and also to survey fellow students what issue concerns them the most. The Socialist Student also runs a popular campaign to call for the scrap of undergraduate tuition fees for EU/UK citizens attending UK universities.
There are also non-partisan political representation on campus. They usually represent NGOs such as Amnesty International, Pugwash Conference and the United Nations Youth and Student Association (UNYSA). They serve as a platform to engage students to pursue a narrow scope of interest in public policy. Amnesty International advocates for human rights and monitors human rights violation worldwide. Pugwash Conference seeks to raise awareness on the ethical implication of science and technology policies and it is particularly vocal on issues relating to weapons of mass destruction. The UNYSA provides a plural platform to engage foreign affairs with particular emphasis on UN ideals such as the Millenium Development Goals. It also acts as a portal to introduce university students to career opportunities with the United Nations. Although I am Singaporean, I have been fortunate enough to be sponsored to attend UN conferences through the UNYSA (UK) and advocate my interest.
I should add that the student union is also a popular platform for non-partisan politics. However, issues of interest are strongly linked to student welfare. A successful campaign embarked by the National Union of Students and University of London Union was to introduce substantial student discount for public transport in London. As a result, university students in London are given 30% discount for monthly and annual travel pass. However, the campaign is still going on to further introduce discounts to weekly and daily travel passes. Just like the Socialist Student, the National Union of Students also advocates for the scrapping of undergraduate tuition fees. On top of that, the student union also provides free legal services to union members for issues relating to accomodation (e.g unscrupulous landlord), defamation and libel, unfair treatment by university staff on students.
Singaporeans at our local universities are missing out a lot.
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PAP keep on suppressing political activities, political development, how to produce future political leaders like that?
I don't like this killing off of our intellectual development in universities.
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of course, if PAP want to engage the students thru' `dialogue', they have full access into campus, usage of the LTs and media coverage no less.
very clearly double standard here.
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Do you think Kim Jong-il will allow an alternative democratic political party distribute flyers in his Universities?
Singapore is not a democratic country based on meritocracy, surely you don't expect to be treated as such.
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Oh yeah! I saw Chee and gang at the Deck yesterday!
They weren't giving out flyers, but saw them having a chat with some of the students. Have to say, that man is fit as a fiddle... must have been really physically challenging going in and out of prison.
Seriously, not being allowed to give out flyers on campus is such bullsh!t. People give out flyers all the time...
Funny, I don't see PAP or WP representatives wanting to come to NUS to give talks. Maybe we can ask for 2 representatives from each party to come to debate about something. I think that would be damn awesome.
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"We have to protect the interests of our students," the official said.
"From what?" Dr Chee asked. "Are you running a university or a kindergarten?"hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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<< Mr Michael Ng, Director of the Office of Estate and Development, asked leaders of the party not to give away flyers to the students.
"We have to protect the interests of our students," the official said.>>This is indeed a very stupid thing to say. It shows that our uni is still stuck in the 3rd world!
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Another official Dr Peck Thian Guan, Director of the Office of Safety, Health & Environment, chipped in, "It's not only you but we don't allow anyone to distribute flyers."
really? can any NUS verify this point that no one ever distribut flyers of a any sort at campus??
"We have to protect the interests of our students," the official said.
the abvious is to protect your own job and interest more than the students.
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Is it wise to involve university students in politics? Personally, politics for students is just a distraction when they should be studying. If we look at protests overseas, a lot involve students because
- They are poor (in relative terms) and hence make cheaper "pawns" for manipulation
- They are easier to rally, since there are so many students in the universities and many student leaders to rally the students
Since they always have the meet-the-MM/SM/PM sessions annually in NUS, maybe the SDP can request for a meet-the-CSJ session and call it quits
. Any other form of propaganda should be discouraged IMO. -
If student life is all about studying, students would definitely miss out ont an all-rounded education. Students should be involved in politics because they are young - it means they would have be alive for at least another 30-40 years to experience the effects of policy implement now. If anyone should be involved in politics, students are not less qualified.
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Silliporeans, even in university, they need to be protected from thinking and debating.
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Damned dishonorable despots.... and that old despot, still trying to sell his propaganda even after staring at his own future visiting his wife in hospital.
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so far in NUS, the flyers I received come from either students, or organised roadshows/bazaars
No one else come specially to distribute flyers
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Originally posted by gRaZeRX:
Is it wise to involve university students in politics? Personally, politics for students is just a distraction when they should be studying. If we look at protests overseas, a lot involve students because
- They are poor (in relative terms) and hence make cheaper "pawns" for manipulation
- They are easier to rally, since there are so many students in the universities and many student leaders to rally the students
Since they always have the meet-the-MM/SM/PM sessions annually in NUS, maybe the SDP can request for a meet-the-CSJ session and call it quits
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Any other form of propaganda should be discouraged IMO.There's GEM and SS for political studies in NUS for all students. This is already not mentioning those majoring in political studies.
The module that I took is called Government and Politics of Singapore. It's still around... And in the module, the lecturer invited pple from 3 political parties to give a talk. My year was Steve Chia, Sylvia Lim and MP Gan from PAP
And Sylvia Lim also gave a talk all by herself too on a different day.
But but but.... none gave any flyers out.
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i was one of the NUS hostel main committee member, otherwise known as JCRC. no one is suppose to put up poster or hold any event in my hall without either informing the us or the perm staff in my hall.
It is just considered rude to come without informing. don't you think?
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Originally posted by eagle:
There's GEM and SS for political studies in NUS for all students. This is already not mentioning those majoring in political studies.
The module that I took is called Government and Politics of Singapore. It's still around... And in the module, the lecturer invited pple from 3 political parties to give a talk. My year was Steve Chia, Sylvia Lim and MP Gan from PAP
And Sylvia Lim also gave a talk all by herself too on a different day.
But but but.... none gave any flyers out.
The issue is not about giving out flyers... the issue is stopping NUS students from listening to anything other than "The Propaganda"; to "protect" them from listening to anything other than "The Propaganda" so that they continue to be running dogs putting the interests of a certain despot and his cronies above the interests of the country.
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This is really insulting to the nus students.
It's like the professor telling the students in the class," Don't question, don't think. I am always right. Just listen to me, do as I say and you will be fine."
Fcuk, you pay thousands of dollars of tuition fees to follow orders.
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:
The issue is not about giving out flyers... the issue is stopping NUS students from listening to anything other than "The Propaganda"; to "protect" them from listening to anything other than "The Propaganda" so that they continue to be running dogs putting the interests of a certain despot and his cronies above the interests of the country.
Pardon me... I thought that the issue was about flyers...
The SDP was prevented from distributing flyers today at NUS. Mr Michael Ng, Director of the Office of Estate and Development, asked leaders of the party not to give away flyers to the students.
If I really want to listen to what Dr Chee has to say, I can simply log on to their website to read.... Afterall, I'm part of the younger generation who is much more internet savvy :D
And don't worry... many times I read the newspaper, I can see propaganda at work at places
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Originally posted by eagle:
Pardon me... I thought that the issue was about flyers...
If I really want to listen to what Dr Chee has to say, I can simply log on to their website to read.... Afterall, I'm part of the younger generation who is much more internet savvy :D
And don't worry... many times I read the newspaper, I can see propaganda at work at places
too bad majority are not smart enough to see through the propaganda.
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Originally posted by freedom4ever:
too bad majority are not smart enough to see through the propaganda.
who are the majority?
I see taxi driver, and they will talk about politics, and not blind propaganda. I see uncle at kopi shop saying that chiam see tong is a good MP.
Who are the not smart majority you are talking about?
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Originally posted by skythewood:
who are the majority?
I see taxi driver, and they will talk about politics, and not blind propaganda. I see uncle at kopi shop saying that chiam see tong is a good MP.
Who are the not smart majority you are talking about?
people who take in everything the PAP and media say without thinking about it.
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Originally posted by freedom4ever:
people who take in everything the PAP and media say without thinking about it.
are they the majority? how many of such people have you met?
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"people who take in everything the PAP and media say without thinking about it."
I think this was the case in the past. Now, it would be hardly so for the younger gen.
"are they the majority? how many of such people have you met?"
The majority of Sg would not give a hoot about politic anymore, esp the younger gen. Even as they are more educated and can be more decerning than the previous gen.
Both of you have yr points but from diff perpectives.