Foreword of Mid-term Review of FASS Club
The FASS Club is a constituent club under NUSSU, as set by the NUS Statute. Its purpose is to
advocate student’s interest, provide representation for the student in the NUSSU Council and beyond,
and to enhance students’ vibrancy. As a 4th year student myself, I had undergone various changes in
nature of the NUSSU council, NUSSU Exco and the Club. My first 3 years here had little association with
the union in general, having criticized the system and institution of student representation found in
NUSSU, which I personally find powerless, excessive and elitist. Whilst not the most natural defender of
the union in its current form, my term as president of the 33rd Management Committee (MC) take
considerable pride, though unsatisfied, in the efforts thus far. More so than ever, we are looking for
avenues to change. To create a real Student’s Union: of the students, by the students, for the students.
This message is not the grand narrative of my own experience. It is not a selling of policy, or an
information sharing session. It is a stark reflection of the community and institution that we deal with,
here in FASS as well as in NUS. There is information provided in this review, but you would draw your
own conclusions. The efforts taken to understand the topic here would have immense impact upon the
future of our community.
There is a long history and tradition of student activism here in Singapore especially in the
1950s. While the resistance to the original problems (be it bourgeois culture or state repression) has
crumbled, the fight continued into the material comfort and welfare of the students. The battle for
ideals has translated into the battle for entitlement of goods. The changing powers-that-be has also
resulted in the curtailment in spectrum of the union. There is no harking back to the sit-in protests of
the eras past; time has changed our scope. As such, the perspective of the union and the club in this
context is very different from the understanding of the romanticized term.
I can only assure FASS students that actions have, and would be taken to make the club and
union continuously student-centric (the irony that we have not reached there in 34 years is worthy of
mention) in the changing times. It is for the individual to believe and gauge. Granted time and demands
by the students for change, the correct system will arrive.
In this report, I’ll like to pen down a detailed mid-term review for the club. My team and I are
only halfway into the term, and much more could be done in the following months ahead. Directed and
sustained critique by students would help in achieving this goal. With greater openness and
transparency, I pass the burden of information of this club to the students, so that we may all find fault
and move towards a better system. Of course, honesty is always a double-edge sword, and one may find
in the words below that touch the borders of discomfort, both for my Management Committee (MC)
members and the student population alike. Understand that information in fair, and that there exist a
greater goal behind our inputs. Let’s leave out the petty politics this time round, and give ourselves a
chance to make changes together.
Mid-term Review of the 33rd MC, FASS Club
Student interest
The direction of the club should be towards advocating student interest. It has often slipped
away in the past, as MCs get tied down into projects, orientation and internal club affairs. Affiliates (our
helpers/friends who are active in club activities) are students as well, but they are not representative of
the bigger student population out there. As such, external demands by the student population must be
set in place by the club if such a goal is to be met. There is no naïve idealism here; student advocacy is
only possible and sustainable under the culture of consistent pressure, checks and balances by the
student population. The club reflects the culture of the school.
There are many perspectives of how such interests should be achieved, but the fundamental
concept of ‘what it is’ must first be defined. One perspective sees the club as acting via its own
knowledge on policies. Another talks about how the club should be the mouthpiece of the students;
achieved via surveys and feedback channels (which in my experience students loathe doing). Another
perspective identifies the club as providing the opportunity for students to voice concerns. I advocate
the final camp. The reason so is that the club or the union are both not and cannot be the supreme
authority that makes decisions on the behalf of students. Our political system is neither complex nor
developed enough to ensure the union and its members can make the best decisions. As such, direct
advocacy is liable to distortion of the message of our true stakeholders (FASS students). Also, being the
mouthpiece of the students reduces the union (and the student population as a whole) into a medium
for mob rule, where only the loudest are heard. Populist policies must come hand in hand with an
informed public, and we have none of those in NUS. Self-interest would dictate community interest,
which should be avoided at all cost.
The only real path the union has is to mandate the creation of space for students to voice their
concerns. By implementing outlets and forums that would allow differing groups to debate with reason,
the outcome selected would be justified to the greatest possible extent. The check of the unionist action
is done in the public announcement of such intended actions, and the process that follows.
This term, FASS club has tried to formulate this form of ‘student interest’. Instead of traditional
decision-making by MC members, a survey was conducted on various issues that students faced. The
public announcement of several policies that were being pursued was also done across both semesters.
However, the result of this initiative is mixed.
A multitude of perspectives emerged with the ‘feedback project’, ‘townhall meeting’ and
‘responses by administration’. Some said that they were happy with being consulted. Some state the
lack of necessity to conduct these surveys, as they were happy with NUS. Some replied that this was all
‘for show’, and that they see no results after all these initiatives were conducted. It would be for the
next MC to choose which perspective to consider in their planning, or for students to demand for their
choice in the elections to come.
There is obvious resistance to this movement from all sides in the student population. Some
unionists remain comfortable with their positions dread the constant critique of their work and purpose.
The end of primacy of projects brings about discontent from projects do-ers and such committees, as
well as participating bodies of these projects. The general student population sees too much fuss over
too little; there is no consistent outcry against the union. There is a collective action problem as well,
leaving little manpower and effort to work on possible reforms.
The stance FASS club is taking as of this moment is to work on these platforms, instead of
offering endless policies to the students and administration. With seemingly disappointing results thus
far, one wonders if there really exists a demand to reform the union at all. Or perhaps such benefits are
not worth the cost of acting against the social inertia. While the current term is committed to this cause,
the future depends on the political demand of the students.
Student welfare (welfare packs)
Student welfare is one aspect of the club and union purpose. However, instead of addressing
the concept directly, I’ll talk about the most prominent aspect of the welfare initiatives, and hopefully
end with the crux of the term welfare.
With constant complaints about welfare packs by FASS students, the approach of the club is to
offer more information about the packs itself. This is NOT a justification of the packs; there are
underlining issues with this project that must, and will be answered below. Here, the primary action of
the club is to achieve better information flow to the students. With proper financial information
uploaded onto platforms such as Facebook and websites, the school can now see how much we spent
on the items. That is meant to invoke questions about the purpose of the club in general, and the
function of welfare packs.
Naturally, most comments on welfare packs revolves around its absence; be it the policy of one
pack per year, or the sign up process. It is indeed troublesome to sign up, and to collate the information
of students to prevent repetitive collection. The goal, however, is to ensure fairness. Unlike other
smaller faculties, FASS club cannot provide packs for all its members, due to the difficulty in obtaining
sponsorship for such large numbers. With 1500 packs per semester, we are already at the limits of our
capabilities. The entitlement one feels to a pack is misguided; it is a purely voluntary effort spearheaded
by the union. With my limited experience in other universities, these packs seem to be a uniquely
Singaporean treat.
Is welfare packs true welfare? No, I would argue. Instead, I find that it is merely planting a sense
of false consciousness that the union and club are doing something; to keep students happy and
satisfied via shorthanded exchange of goods for legitimacy. A feel-good event with no real tangible
benefit (all the items can be bought for under $10, so is that the purpose of the union to you?).
The social inertia for the packs is understandable, yet it highlights the regressing nature of the
union and clubs. Little is spoken about the management of funds for orientation and Rag, of class size
and education value-add. Yet, a huge uproar erupts on the issue of packs.
The FASS welfare packs this year contains items paid for by the club. It has not always
happened, but was implemented a few years ago on the basis of students complaining that the packs
were ‘lousy’ sponsored goods. It is for the future to consider if this form of distributive process (of
funds) is justifiable.
Student welfare (Policies)
Most policies by the club and union revolve around the school administration. Demands in
academic welfare, physical infrastructure and student rights are made yearly, with differing levels of
success. Perhaps here, I can spell out several policies that have been brought up in this term.
Two feedback reports were drafted this year, for the benefit of FASS Dean’s Office (DO) and the
Office of Estate and Development (OED). The reports were sent to all students, and posted along the
walkway for weeks (LT9, outside the Deck). It touches on various requests, and had been answered
point by point. An update on this would be made once again in the holiday’s period.
Another meeting was conducted in conjunction with OED regarding the Internal Shuttle Bus
(ISB). This initiative is new and unprecedented, and much credit goes to OED for choosing to listen
(when they can very well ignore). FASS club contributed to formulating these policies, and would
continue to do so. However, responses from the general students were almost non-existent, hence
undermining the purpose of such discussions.
A revamp of RAG and FLAG this year has been undergoing. FASS club is reducing the amount of
money spent on this project to reflect the diminishing interest in this project. As the degree of
participation is inadequate to justify the amount previously spent on Rag and Flag, we have no cause for
spending such a large amount on this project. As such, a removal of lorry, and a spending cap of $5000
has been implemented in NUSSU. FASS club hopes to go a step further by following a cap of $3000
instead.
Bazaars which the club host annually for societies to fundraise. FASS Club does not earn a profit
from events like V’Day Bazaar.
A review of elections and student governance is underway. This touches again on the purpose
of the union and club, and the outcome would shape how the union is run in the future.
FASS club is also pushing to be consulted on academic policies by the DO. This has not been
happening for a few years. The rationale for this is that a voice from the student perspective would be
beneficial to education policies. The result of this debate would be addressed in the future.
FASS club conducted the first townhall meeting in recent memory, where an open forum for all
students to critique the club could occur. Much was spoken about RAG at that point in time, and it
slowly veered into the purpose of the club. Such a platform needs further development, and it is in the
faith that future townhalls can help in ensuring the direction of the club is aligned with the interests of
the students.
A monthly financial report has been released on the FASS club webpage. This new initiative
hopes to make the club more accountable to the students, and for greater awareness of how student
funds (the $8 each student contributes) is spent. A further review on whether such a system of
compulsory funding is justified would be raised.
Beyond that, the usual meetings of the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUS) talked about the
problems that the students faced. This session has been traditionally poorly conducted by NUSSU and
clubs, due to the fast-tracked nature of the meeting.
A fare review committee for public transport to talk about concession for students.
Student Projects
FASS club often conducts projects to add vibrancy to our student experiences. This year, a
reduction in number of projects is very evident; only Foodhunt is being conducted. Manpower is one
such factor, as a lack of interest to HEAD the project now condemns most other projects to nonexistence (Bike quest, Arts Open, Beach Fiesta, Arts Quiz etc.).
Some have demanded that MC members themselves take up the role to conduct the projects.
After all, it is the responsibility of the club to ensure some form of vibrancy on campus. The arguments
against such an approach ties in with the purpose of the club once again, and it is irresponsible for the
general student population to allocate their fellow students roles and responsibilities without care and
regard. Perhaps less fighting for the moral high ground, and more factual assessment of the situation
would help in explaining why these projects are dying out.
In my experience, there is a lack of interest by the students on such projects anymore. With
other outlets to student vibrancy, perhaps physical term time projects are outdated. The generated
interest for such projects are also poor elsewhere, such as in halls and interest groups. It is neither
unique to FASS club, nor to the union. The club reflects the culture of the student population, and we
can see the shift in culture at present moment.
For Freshman Orientation Projects (FOP), the traditional Arts Camp and Oweek would still be
taking place. A large portion of money is spent in this aspect. Also, two cheaper projects would be
launched. First, a tour of FASS would bring student around campus, and to double up as an information
base that all new students can depend on. Second, a mentorship program for students to match with a
senior for advice. Also, there would be a continuation to CORS clinic. All these new projects would be
heavily prioritized to ensure that it is given a chance to take root.
Feedback channels
The ‘new’ FASS club website (accessible at http://www.fassclub.org) contains a feedback form
for all to use. A technical fault on our part resulted in the messages being lost in a drive, but such errors
have mostly been fixed (understand that the website was done by a fellow student as well). In addition,
a more open channel would be worked out in the future, where a robust discourse between club and
students can take place.
The biggest feedback unit we have now, however, is NUS Confessions. It seems that the
anonymity of such platforms helps in such feedback. Of course, I take high exception to unreasonable
demands and misplaced facts, but one cannot deny the shift of culture towards such platforms. The fear
of mass opinions is one of political demagoguery, where equality of opinions is upheld over reason. It is
not inherently negative, but highly inefficient in our context (a lack of reasonable thought into our
policies would be blocked by the school anyhow). Justification for purpose and stance must be open to
scrutiny; otherwise such criticism becomes the evil it labels upon others.
However, with the shift of acceptance towards such outlets, the club must evolve accordingly.
Thus, a direct confrontation with such feedback is taken, rather than ignored. The perceived
encouragement of such actions is the price to pay for the ideals of the club; student interest always
comes first. With more open channels of information regarding the functions of the club; it is in the
hope that future postings would be substantiated further than the current form.
Student election and politics
In NUSSU and FASS club, the singular term makes it difficult for such organizations to remain
consistent in outlook. The principle of representation must allow for an avenue for change, to fit itself
into the demands of various groups. Representation itself is not the outcome, but the process. It
cannot be granted by the union.
Observations into club elections often spell out categories of ‘beauty/popularity contest’ or of
‘elitist choice’. With an uninformed public and a lack of avenue for proper scrutiny, the election process
often disappoints. Yet, we blindly adhere to the past practices, without critique of its effectiveness or
principles.
In fact, the idea of elections for the union is itself a recent theme. There were fears that it
wouldn’t work in the past, but such thoughts have been banished as of now. Today, we talk about the
extent of union politics and elections process.
There would be a change in the election process this year, though it is as yet undetermined. By
politicizing the club, we hope that representatives would be more responsible for their members.
Equally, an increased interest in the actions of the club is a buy-in into the principles that the club stands
for. The root of the problem has always been traditional election process, ill-conceived and poorly
reasoned from the past. This will hopefully change this year.
MC members performance
In hope of a more accountable club, the bulk of the criticism must transfer from the institutional
entity to the people within. This removes the difficulty of tackling broad categorization, and pin-points
the exact problem. As such, it is in hope that members of the student public would help in the revamp
by identifying the poor performance of certain MC members, including myself. All such criticism can be
made public on the FASS club facebook page, or kept confidential via emails to specific individuals.
Alternatively, I’m open to a meet up for any such cases. The removal of the ego is one means to serving
the collective interest against self-interest, and it can start from the MC. Naturally, it is in hope that
one’s critique is substantiated and open to retort itself, and that a movement towards openness would
encourage others to step out and put their name behind their words.
Conclusion
Any feedback that you have can be sent to my email president@fassclub.org, or a simply text to
my number 94553143. I’m also available for meet-ups in school for any personal inquiries. As a
representative of the union, your inputs and concerns matter, be it on policies or structural
dissatisfaction. Also, I take responsibility for any mistakes and errors in this piece and I welcome any
feedback or critique of this writing. Have a good examination period.