A month into the job, the newly elected Students’ Union president shares her vision and aspirations for the students and the university in an interview with the Enquirer.
The first Students’ Union Council Meeting in late August was a time for leadership renewal and union representatives to rally for executive committee positions in the Students’ Union.
As presidential-nominee Ng Hwei Yun gave her rally speech in front of student leaders—some seeing her only for the first time—tears welled up in her eyes.
“I started tearing when I talked about how touched I felt by the encouragement and support of my friends and the 17th Students’ Union Executive Committee,” the English Literature major said.
“It was nerve-racking trying to impress all the council members to vote me in as president.”
But things have calmed down since the tense days of the election. The 21-year-old was far less emotional—exuberant and bubbly in fact—throughout the interview with the Enquirer.
Despite being the union president, Ms Ng is not unlike the 20,000 students she represents in NTU.
She loves watching reality television shows like the Amazing Race, Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model.
When it comes to school work and her classes, she enjoys reading the works of Jack Kerouac and Geoffrey Chaucer, describing The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer as “a crazy modern day road trip with friends.”
Friends described the president as a cheerful person.
“She is very bubbly and has this contagious laughter,” said third-year English Literature major Ms Shaun Low, who takes the module “Literature and Madness” with Ms Ng.
Ms Ng often breaks into this same laughter and a wide smile in recounting her involvement in union activities for the past two years.
“I just feel that I’m quite an average person,” said the second female president in the union’s history.
A recent straw poll of 100 students conducted by the Enquirer showed that NTU students cannot name the new union president.
When informed of the poll results, she appeared shocked, but recovered with a short giggle and replied in a formal manner. She said students need not know her name as long as the union has played the important role of representing the student body.
“After all, it’s not so much about me, it’s more about the Students’ Union as a whole,” the third-year English Literature student said.
Involvement in the Students’ Union
Ms Ng’s journey in the union all began when her sister, Ms Denyse Ng, one of the assistant group leaders, persuaded her to participate in the union orientation camp. There, she met friends who would later work with her on events in her freshman year.
She then took on the roles of the union’s welfare festival business manager and business director before being stepping up as orientation executive in her second year.
“I’m not naturally ambitious so I didn’t really think of joining [the union executive committee],” the president said.
But the idea of interacting with freshmen and giving them a good first impression of NTU enticed her to take up the orientation portfolio.
She spoke fondly of the hard work involved in organising the camp, such as getting her hands dirty with programming and logistics.
Though this left her drained from the demands of union work, Ms Ng said she ran for president as she understood the need to continue serving the students and giving something back that will benefit them.
“I have never gone up to this level before,” she said. “I have never been the president of such a big organisation with power to implement more changes or to listen to the students.”
Encouraged by the support of her peers and the previous executive committee, she decided to take up the role of president.
Her views as president
Throughout her interview with the Enquirer, Ms Ng was candid about some of the challenges that the current executive committee faces.
These included issues like the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) option, the Hall Allocation Scheme and the triple sharing proposal (see below).
The S/U option was implemented by the university in August 2005 for students under the Grade Point Average (GPA) system. This option lets students declare a small number of courses to be excluded from the computation of their GPA.
It was meant to encourage students to explore areas outside their major, in line with the university’s aim to provide an all-rounded undergraduate programme.
On hosting the upcoming Youth Olympic Games
“This event will provide plenty of opportunities for NTU students to be volunteers and help out in this project. I would personally be the first to help and volunteer. It will also be good for NTU’s publicity at an international level.”
On triple sharing
“The fact that there is no triple sharing now is evidence that the Students’ Union and the Union Council have done something. We have been quite effective here.”
On the revision of the HAS
“The cut off points, currently at 15, should be brought down lower. One result of this is abuse of the international-local student scheme and hence the illegal swopping of rooms.”
However students need to exercise this option during the semester, before the examination grade is known.
The S/U issue arose after the National University of Singapore changed its policy in October last year to allow students to exercise the option after the release of their examination results.
In a survey conducted by the NTU Students’ Union in April this year, nearly 70% of students voted to exercise their S/U option after knowing their examinations results.
When the union approached the Office of Academic Services (OAS) and Senior Associate Provost Er Meng Hwa with the survey results, the union was told that such a change would compromise the quality of NTU’s degrees.
Ms Ng agrees with this explanation and would like to point out that OAS did take up the feedback of students needing more time to decide on their S/U option.
As a result, students can make their S/U declaration up to week 11 this semester. Previously, students need to do so by week 8, just a week after the semester break.
However, Ms Ng said that her committee will continue to review the current system, gather feedback and reflect students’ sentiments to the relevant school authorities.
When referring to her current committee, she emphasised the word “team” several times. She understands the strength of a combined team effort and the fact that she cannot achieve anything on her own.
“I am expecting them to be alert, efficient and always up-to-date with what is happening around campus,” said Ms Ng who described her leadership style as casual yet making sure that the work gets done.
Ms Ng also responded to the poll and how 36% of students feel that the union cannot bring about the changes they want. She clarified that the union does not govern everything that happens on campus but will “guard the general welfare and interest of the students.”
However, if there is an issue that students have, she said the union will do what they can to voice out to the relevant authorities.
She also hopes that students will be a bit more forgiving and understanding in their efforts to improve and serve the community.
“We may be the leader among our peers, but we hope to be accepted by them even if we fail.
“We are still average students, with the same work assignments that other students have,” the president said. “We see this as a form of responsibility to try and do more for the community that we are living in and I hope students are able to appreciate that.”
How others view her as president
The former union president Mr Choudhury Anshuman Das, 22, advised Ms Ng to pay greater attention when handling student policy and university negotiation. He said she should understand and tackle each policy with care.
“Do your homework before negotiating with the university administration,” said Mr Das, a final-year student in the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
This is due to Ms Ng’s lack of experience in this aspect as her experience comes mainly from events management, he says.
Still, vice-president for internal affairs, Samuel Chee, felt that as long as Ms Ng is aware of what has happened in the union in the past year, she should be able to handle the job as the president.
“She is dynamic, hands on and likes to be involved,” the final-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student said. “But the downside is she will sacrifice her own personal time eventually.”
As for the moment his successor shed tears on stage, Mr Das was moved by Ms Ng’s sincerity in serving the university.
“In answering a question from the floor, she cried as it [taking on the role of president] was an overwhelming experience for her.”
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pang
says:October 15th, 2008 at 1.32am
The S/U issue arose after the National University of Singapore changed its policy in October last year to allow students to exercise the option after the release of their examination results.
In a survey conducted by the NTU Students’ Union in April this year, nearly 70% of students voted to exercise their S/U option after knowing their examinations results.
When the union approached the Office of Academic Services (OAS) and Senior Associate Provost Er Meng Hwa with the survey results, the union was told that such a change would compromise the quality of NTU’s degrees.
Ms Ng agrees with this explanation and would like to point out that OAS did take up the feedback of students needing more time to decide on their S/U option.
Apparently, without the Enquirer, we wouldn’t have known what was behind the poll that the administration had got us to participate in last semester. This has once again shown the lack of communication between the school admin and the student body, when a decision has been made but news not disseminated to students on the reasons for so and also, what has the Student Union done on behalf of the students about the issue.
Apparently, when 70% of the student body is in proponent to the change in the S/U system, the university just dismissed it by saying that it “compromises the quality of the degree.” Why is then NUS (which is better ranked than NTU) able to do it and NTU can’t?
I’m also taken aback by the response of Hwei Yun, who agreed with the university without probing further into WHY the university thinks the move will compromise the quality of the degree. IF the Student’s Union is the voice of our students, why are they agreeing with the university with something that doesn’t make sense. It’s like having the opposition MP in the Parliament agreeing with the ruling party with issues they raise. What’s the point of having them then?
Keith Ong
says:October 15th, 2008 at 2.06pm
Great article written :)
I agree that the Students Union should press for an answer regarding the “compromising the quality of the degree.”
Allowing for the SU option after results are announced allows students to be more involved in the elective they have chosen. I have known a lot of friends who adopt a “hands-off” mentality once they have SU-ed the subject. This applies to myself, as I am commenting on this in the middle of an elective that I have SU-ed.
Additionally, some of us students go into the module wanting to try it out, see if invokes our interest, and will only SU if it is felt we will be unable to score a decent enough grade. Thus, by allowing the SU option after results, this group of students can benefit much more from the elective by being attentive and studying indepth for it. This will really meet the purpose of the university of providing an all rounded undergraduate experience.
Lastly, for the group of students going into an elective already with a SU mentality, it will not matter when the SU option is to be done.
Xiong
says:October 15th, 2008 at 5.32pm
In 2006, THE-QS ranked NUS 19, NTU 61. In 2007, THE-QS ranked NUS 33, 69. In 2008, THE-QS ranked NUS 30, 77!
“such a change would compromise the quality of NTU’s degrees.”
Huh? What quality?
Anshuman
says:October 16th, 2008 at 2.57am
I was part of the negotiations for the S/U option and it wasn’t the issue of “Compromising NTU Degree” that changed our perception on the whole matter… Their were figures and facts provided by the online system that roughly 1/4 of the students only choose to use the S/U option completely(the figure not exact and should be found out separately from OAS) and any radical change in the system will affect the remaining 3/4 of students…
Anyways the discussion went over couple of hours and number of email correspndence prior to the discussion. I am pretty sure the current committee will oversee the system and help improve it further.
Secondly OAS needed to provide explanation to all students and not SU (at that point of time)as it was agreed upon in our meeting with them. So how about we ask them for it?
Scott
says:October 16th, 2008 at 9.42am
So it is apparent that yet again, the University does not want to communicate with their student population about matters such as the all important SU. When will the University understand that communications with the most important and biggest stakeholder is the most important aside from doing PR namesake stuff.
This is mortally disturbing.
On the accounts of quality of degree, if I do not recall wrongly this S/U option was out for people to engage in modules they enjoy and broaden learning while not compromising the GPA, so that we can have more breadth of learning. ALSO we all know that CORES CANNOT be S/U, so the argument on the OAS part is just unintelligible at best.
In fact allowing us to S/U these UEs after the exam results is out will ensure also allow the students to take these subjects which they have interest in, and they will still study for all the subjects because it still matters and since anything that is C and below will warrant a U, i fail to see the concern of OAS.
Can the OAS please clarify instead of sitting idly around?!?!
bizzkit0102
says:October 16th, 2008 at 10.05pm
OAS people are Only Asleep or Slacking :D
EEEstud
says:October 22nd, 2008 at 9.08pm
Lets not put the cart in front of the bull…. Its kinda sad tat I also dunno who on earth is the SU president. Perhaps she needs to reach out to US… hopefully the divide of the 2 spines arent that great to recover from. (for that matter i reckon she studies same side as me)
GG
says:October 24th, 2008 at 3.12am
Spotted: Union President wearing a retro print dress with dark blue cardigan at the South Spine. She went to the Shuttle Bus C stop, and the minute she walked there, the bus came. Maybe she calls the drivers up personally on her phone.;)
gorge
says:October 25th, 2008 at 7.07pm
Hi!
I agree that more should be elaborated (perhaps by the NTU SU President herself) on “agreeing with the explanation” of how NTU’s degree would be compromised.
Sometimes, we need to learn how NOT to take “no” for an answer.
NUS (where I come from) did not implement exercising S/U option after the exam results were released across the board initially (at first it was only applicable for the freshmen). Following several polls conducted on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students, the NUSSU Exco initiated several negotiations with the school admin (Office of Student Affairs, if I am not wrong). It was a long process before the new policy was extended to the entire student population.
That said, I am not a big fan of the NUSSU either. My point is that as a student representative of a tertiary institution, a healthy dose of irreverence for the existing system is a must-have, to say the least.
Oh, and “She spoke fondly of the hard work involved in organising the camp, such as getting her hands dirty with programming and logistics.”
Having organised a large-scale orientation camp myself, I wish to point out the difference between programming and planning the programme for the camp.
berton
says:October 27th, 2008 at 11.26pm
Gorge: “Having organised a large-scale orientation camp myself, I wish to point out the difference between programming and planning the programme for the camp.”
nit-picking much?
Overall, an excellent profile of an individual who have proven herself to be sincere and persistent time and time again.
gina
says:November 22nd, 2008 at 6.59pm
i am 110% for the option of being able to S/U after receiving results. who wouldn’t? it makes life as a student a whole lot easier! and just because we S/U something before our exams doesn’t mean we don’t have to study for it. we still have to pass. and let’s not even go into the realm of regrets- not S/Uing something and then do terribly in it. as a student herself, i am sure President Ng would love this option too. before we start with the blame game and finger pointing, perhaps we should cut her some slack. as a student herself with a horribly busy schedule, i believe President Ng would love this option more than any of us. we take it for granted when things go our way and throw hissy fits when it doesn’t?
lovin’ this « the moment after
says:November 22nd, 2008 at 7.03pm
[...] [ http://enquirer.sg/2008/10/15/ms-union-president/#comment-260 [...]
zihan
says:November 22nd, 2008 at 8.37pm
Oh come on, what is the point of having it after getting the results? Yes, we can prevent wasting one option in case we heng heng get a good results after doing nothing for it and aiming for a pass. Easy way out? Then again. Does it matter if you had a su mentality when u took the elective?
I don’t think they really need to announce what was discussed between them. Because the general population would still complain that the union is not doing enough, and want their way on the su option.
Thing is, no matter what the school admin decides, it doesn’t matter as long as u study sufficient enough for it. No confidence? SU it.
Be appreciative of your Union. You won’t have one fighting for you using a survey and negotiations when taxi/bus/electricity fares rise in the future.
daniel
says:November 22nd, 2008 at 10.22pm
I think the comments here should be objective and not making personal remarks that injure anyone in particular.
I do not know how many of you here have had the experience negotiating with the sch admin. But i would tell you it does not seem as easy as what you think it would be.
The Union tries to reach out to students through the aid and presence of the Academic Clubs. Ask yourself how many of you responded positively to sch activities. Ask yourself how many of you really care about what is going on.
We want a Union who fights for us. But we ourselves are not supportive in terms of real action and motion. Just imagine a platoon commander who goes to war and shouts “Charge!!”. His men were all hiding behind who didnt charge along, leaving the commander to lead the front and die alone. And then the men pointed fingers and lament- only after the war is lost.
This is the problem why the Union in NTU is not strong. Only when issues surface that do not seem to be beneficial to most of us, only then we come out to point fingers and make noise. Otherwise, we are all busy studying hard for OURSELVES and do not care much. Face it, most students in NTU are NATOs with a I, Me and Myself attitude.
We always fail to remember that a leading organisation is only as strong as it’s people.
However, I’d agree that the structure and concept of the Union is not well publicised to the student body due to a lack of support, communication and lack of dissemination from the SU, OAS and SAO. Perhaps the current Union can look into this and publish the details of Union structure in the undergraduate’s handbook.
Voice
says:December 21st, 2008 at 11.41am
Daniel,
Wise words. If only half of the NTU student population can think like you, nothing is imposssible.
Ryan Ong
says:January 18th, 2009 at 7.24pm
Please don’t bull Miss Ng Hwei Yun!
“When the union approached the Office of Academic Services (OAS) and Senior Associate Provost Er Meng Hwa with the survey results, the union was told that such a change would compromise the quality of NTU’s degrees.
Ms Ng agrees with this explanation and would like to point out that OAS did take up the feedback of students needing more time to decide on their S/U option.”
Would you mind explaining further in detail what’s the meaning of compromising the quality of NTU’s degrees? How and in what aspect?
You agree with the explanation? Was there even one?
Joseph Thia
says:April 21st, 2009 at 10.45am
It irks me when the Student Union claims credit for something they did not do.
The Triple Room battle was fought by the 16 Hall JCRCS not the student union.
The union was almost bought over by Prof Loke and stayed NEUTRAL throughout the whole episode. It was the 16 Hall JCRCS who put pressure on the School Admin.
Please dont claim credit on a battle you did not fight. Thank you.