Singapore Democrats, 6 Oct 2008
The recent student anger that erupted at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) over censorship of political news brings to focus a long neglected issue in our nation's universities – the wholesale de-politicisation of our students.
Student life in Singapore has been reduced to organising beauty pageants, jams and hops (student parties).
A check with the NUS Students' Union website showed little discussion of national affairs. The section on “Events” is blank and “Current Issues” highlights the unhappiness of the fee hike – in 2006! “NUSSU News” carries a news flash that dates back to February this year.
The NTU's version is a little better, we emphasize "a little". Its Students Union's website carries updated news, the biggest of which is the change in operating hours of a bus service. There's a section dedicated to the food festival and even an iMall when one can buy and sell anything from an MP3 player to raspberry vodka. But there is no section carrying news and discussion on socio-political issues.
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