CONTENTS 03 FOREWORD 04 MEET THE TEAM 06 KRAKEN’S CURSE 08 STUDENT WELFARE 10 GOVERNMENT CAREER CONNECT 11 AIESEC 12 SOCIOLOGY CLUB 13 MUAY THAI 14 ASK LANCE 15 ASK GRIZZARD 16 CHATS OVER COFFEE: Bennett and Lempke 18 ASK ALUMNI 20 UB KOREA 22 FIGHT STRESS, LIVE BETTER 23 UB PLAYING: Poor Student Edition 24 UBINGE WATCH 26 ONCE UPON A TIME 27 STUDENT CARE 28 SOCIAL CAUSES 30 8 ALBUMS WE’D RECOMMEND 32 GASTRONOMICAL ADVENtURES II 34 WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FAIL YOUR MIDTERMS 36 EMONIGHT (SG)
Foreword
T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
FOREWORD
Dear SIM-UB Students, Faculty, Staff, and Friends, Welcome to the latest edition of the UB Horn. With every new edition of the Horn, we can see on display not only the various aspects of our program which are featured in the articles, but also the rich and unique character of our collective UB culture at SIM. The Horn has always been a studentinitiated project, and it is a tangible expression of the creativity and motivation of our diverse and talented student body. On behalf of the entire SIM-UB community, I would like to thank the editorial staff, writers, photographers, and designers of the Horn who have dedicated their time and effort in producing this wonderful magazine. Kevin F. McKelvey Resident Director SIM-UB Programs
Hi there, fellow reader! As 2017 comes to a close, The Buffalo Horn releases its 4th issue to spread the vibrant culture we have here at SIM-UB! From #UBWednesdays to #UBMooving, there’s always something going on. Kick back and relax, the Horn is here to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on, and what’s more to come. You can even find the previous issues at our Facebook page, University at Buffalo Singapore. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our committed UB Faculty led by Mr. McKelvey and Ms. Fassbinder, for their continuous support. Also, we want to thank the awesome crew from Higher Education 4, led by Lee Keng and Samantha, and the SIM Student Development (SDEV) Department, especially Suzanne, who has been diligently helping our Council! I also extend a hearty thank you to you, our fellow UBians, for your encouragement and support. Thank you for this inspiring journey. Signing off, Pranammeka Sathya, Director of Publications, SIM-UB Student Council 2017
Hey there Buffaloes! Welcome to yet another awesome issue of The Buffalo Horn put together by UBSC’s very own Publications Department! As we’re coming to the end of 2018, it’s that time of the year where we reflect on what’s been going on through the year. Could be about the friends gained or lost, accomplishments met or unmet, or even about the more immediate midterms that have just passed (I feel you, and there’s a segment in here to teach you how to deal with it!). This year saw a couple of new initiatives from UBSC! Welfare introduced a new line of merchandise with the limited edition maroon Buffalo t-shirt and UB Caps, on top of a new sports movement – UBMooving! Events, with the help of volunteer OGLs and Game Masters also executed 3 kickass FOCs for the freshman of Spring, Summer and Fall ’17. There is however, one more event to look out for and that is our Annual End-of-Year DnD: Starry Starry Night which will be held on the 25th of November at The Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel! It will be a chance for students, staff and alumni to unwind together after a year of hard work. We hope to see you there, and with your continued support for UBSC in the year 2018! Stay cool, Marcus Ong President, SIM-UB Student Council 2017
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THE
Publications TEAM meka
Vivien
Editor In Chief
Lead Designer
ZAC
TANVEEN
Lead Writer
Lead Writer
CHRISTIAN
DARREN
EU JINN
GLEN
Writer
Writer
Writer
Writer
trish
JEREMIAH
ASHLEY
NICKSON
Writer
Writer
Writer
Writer
SHANE
CASIA
BENJAMIN
DIYANAH
Writer
Designer
Designer
Designer
SOFILIA
IFFAH
ASHWINI
KULVIN
Designer
Designer
Designer
Designer
Contributors: Casper, Germaine, Corliss
T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
FOC
KRAKEN'S CURSE Will UB a part of our
crew?
BY ASHLEY SEOW
W
e kicked off the semester with the highly anticipated Fall Freshman Orientation Camp, held at Sembawang Adventure Camp from the 22nd to the 24th of August. The theme of the camp was ‘Kraken’s Curse’, loosely adapted from the Pirates of the Caribbean. Over the course of three days, the freshmen had the opportunity to sail the Seven Seas and brave treacherous waters together. With months of planning, the camp was filled with non-stop fun, with games, skits, and dances; it was certainly a camp like no other. The first day of camp started with a mass dance, with the Orientation Group Leaders (OGL’s) and Housemasters teaching the freshmen the choreography. Everyone had a blast learning the steps, and the satisfaction of eventually nailing the moves together really hit the spot. When it was finally time for the nightwalk, the freshmen were treated to an unforgettable adventure. When Will Turner (a.k.a. Gary the Camp Commandant) was discovered murdered in cold blood, it was up to the freshmen to uncover the hidden secrets, plots, and clues, which would eventually lead them to the murderer. It was a spine-chilling night, packed with shrill laughter and blood curling screams.
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The second day of the camp consisted of lively games, amusing skits, and ended perfectly with a campfire. With games such as ‘Scissors Paper Stone’ and a massive Captain’s Ball game, it definitely set the tone right for the rest of the day. Friendly competition ensued, with each team vying for first place. The freshmen had the opportunity to produce their own skit, and it was obvious from the audience’s laughter that it was a hit. Eventually, Taita’s group from Falcon won the best skit. The campfire brought everyone together to bond and reflect upon the day’s activities. The OGL’s provided a little entertainment by performing a skit and having the freshmen decide what would happen next. The camp ended on a high note with a water bomb war between the houses. Everyone headed home sweaty, drenched, but happy. It’s safe to say that the camp was a roaring success, thanks to the Organizing Committee! With hardly any breaks, holidays were burnt and sacrifices were made, all for the dedication and commitment to the UB pride. The committee finally got to see the fruits of their labor through the smiles on the freshmen’s faces, and the friendships made from the camp.
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Quotes from Committee: “It rained throughout
the
FOC
Organizing
the prep and our plans got terribly interrupted because most of the dry run had to be conducted outdoors, but ultimately FOC still came through and even better yet, it didn’t rain during the execution — a record first for this year where there was bad weather for both Summer and Spring FOC.”
“Being a part of the Fall ‘17 FOC, our 7th
and last camp where we get a chance to be in the Organizing Committee, was a great way to celebrate the end of a rigorous two years in the UBSC Events team. There is no camp like each other, every single one of them, significant and unique. Even so, it is the bonds we forged and friendships we cemented that make each camp an unforgettable experience. The biggest takeaway we garnered from these three months was the joy our members felt when their efforts paid off. UBSC has come a long way since we first joined, and being the most senior of the lot, we couldn’t help but feel utterly, absolutely proud of how far we’ve all come. Let the curtains fall as we take our final bow — and on this bittersweet note, we can finally say, “ORD LOOOOO!”
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T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
WELFARE
STUDENT WELFARE U BMOOV M OOV IN NG G Amidst all the projects, presentations, assignments and exams, students need an avenue to get up and get active. This summer, the SIM-UB Student Council introduced their newest initiative yet — UBMooving, an intra-university sports movement meant to inspire and encourage students to bring out their athletic side. UBMooving is not a just day of sporting activities, but also a movement that advocates having an active lifestyle. The movement was set in motion on 23rd June at the Multi-Purpose Sports Hall. The participants, who could choose to come in groups or individually, formed teams and took part in sports such as badminton and basketball.
Participants could also connect with fellow classmates from all six different majors and different academic intakes. UBMooving is not an exclusive initiative for the athletically inclined, but for everyone UB at heart. The movement is also set to encourage students disengaged from sports to participate and enjoy something different, while building valuable friendships. By promoting a sports-culture among students, the focus is on fostering an even stronger school spirit by motivating students to put on a UB t-shirt, tie our laces, and head out in any direction we choose. You can join the Moovement online on Instagram via the hashtag #UBMooving!
Merc r chh Sa S allee Me
Welfar e Wee k
With our semester of the year, Fall Merchandise Sale was a huge success that saw us selling out most of the limited edition tees and caps on the first day! The success of the new designs was greatly heartening to the Welfare Department. Thank you all UB Students for your support! Special thanks to the Publications Department for designing our merchandise!
Our Spring Welfare Week saw the return of 7 Atoms with their cold brew tea and many talented performances from our very own students! Students and Faculty alike enjoyed the games and welfare packs prepared. Fall Welfare Week is ongoing from 7-9th November; come on by to support your friends and chill out with us for the rest of the event!
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CAREER CHAPTERS
Defining Careers, Bridging Aspirations: BY DARREN CHAN
Government Career Chapter
“Being part of the Executive Committee has allowed me to meet like-minded friends who share similar interests”, said Yeo Shun Yuan, 21, a first year UB undergraduate majoring in Sociology. She shared that her most memorable experience was leading the Public Service Sector talk in April 2017 and that
it was well received by SIM GE students. The Government Career Chapter is one of the 15 career chapters by Career Connect that seeks to streamline and develop specialised career interests of like-minded students. This chapter focuses on conducting events relating to ministries and statutory boards. She said, “If you plan to intern or work in the civil service in future, knowing more about the industry will be useful.” To better equip SIM GE students with skills related to the workforce, Shun Yuan was encouraged to organize the
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first event of the year with her EXCO- a talk on the “Mysteries of the Public Sector Culture” by Mr. Terence Chew, an RMIT associate lecturer, in April. The talk uncovered myths of working in the public sector and the shed light on culture of working in government organizations. Mr. Chew also stressed on how important writing and communication skills were in the public sector. Taking charge of planning and executing duties has helped Shun Yuan hone her leadership and communication skills. She said, “Even though it was pressurising at first, with the support from my EXCO members, the talk was carried out successfully with proper time management and planning.” Other than talks, the Government Career Chapter partnered with Career Connect to organize a visit to Yusen Logistics. It gave an excellent opportunity for students to go behind-thescenes and see the operations that take place in a logistics firm. Shun Yuan said, “I hope to plan more activities to help more students explore our career interests.”
Flexibility is one unique trait that the chapter has, and it has ensured that they proactively reach out to a vast range of organizations that students are interested in. The Chapter is actively planning a public sector visit to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) as well as organising a public service dialogue with REACH. They have also set their sights on organizing a talk with the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) at the end of the year. Those that are interested in the government and services sector are welcome to join and contribute in helping the Chapter grow in strength. The Chapter will be recruiting new EXCO members early in 2018. Feel free to join the chapter’s mailing list by reaching them at gov.s.cc@ gmail.com and like the “Career Chapters” Facebook page for more updates!
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AIESEC
UB interviewing:
AIESEC in SIM BY DARREN CHAN
A
IESEC in SIM offers 3 initiatives for SIM GE students: The Global Talent program, Global Volunteer program and Global Entrepreneur program. The Global Volunteer program is a 6 to 8 week internship with a NonGovernment Organization (NGO) regarding overseas volunteering work. It involves spearheading educational projects such as building better community infrastructure, travel journalism, or staying at a refugee camp. On the other hand, the Global Entrepreneur program is a 6 to 12 week internship that targets start-ups in a corporate setting. Global Talent is a 3 to 18 month paid internship where students might get to work with partners of AIESEC, which range from SMEs to MNCs such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Deloitte and Alibaba. Jarrett Tan, 23, President of AIESEC in SIM and a second year University of London (UOL) undergraduate majoring in Business and Management said, “Majority of our exchanges are with smaller companies in different countries. Students who participate in this program should have a stronger resume to show for it due to the program being a long term commitment.” However, there are restrictions that are in place for the program as the applicants need to be 18 to 30 years old. Also, the applicant
is not allowed to do an internship in his or her own home country under the program’s guidelines. Jarrett shared that AIESEC in SIM is unique from the other SIM GE interest groups as they offer an extended network of opportunities such as attending global conferences through their vast AIESEC network worldwide. Students will get the opportunity to forge close friendships with other international students and moreover becoming an AIESEC in SIM member will open opportunities to enhance one’s personal development skills such as attending personal development workshops.
The origins of AIESEC started in World War II and it boiled down to one’s European’s man dream of changing the world for the better due to the horrors of the war. He went around to gather seven people from each European state to form AIESEC in striving towards peace and fulfilment of humankind’s potential. Now, AIESEC is present in 2,400 universities across 113 countries and is the world’s largest youth organization.
country for at least 6 weeks, and be aware of the country’s culture.”
AIESEC in SIM serves as a platform for students to network with the greater AIESEC network and to pursue a career in working with different NGOs. Some of the members in AIESEC-SIM have proceeded to work for AIESEC full-time and even work for the United Nations.
Being a member of AIESEC in SIM offers students rewarding experiences such as creating work and networking opportunities with potential employers. Currently, the EXCO comprises of one president and seven vice-presidents. Stepping up to be part of the AIESEC in SIM EXCO will help members increase their opportunities to network with companies in securing global opportunities and gain more exposure in planning for AIESEC in SIM publicity events.
On advice joining either one of the 3 programs that AIESEC in SIM offers, Jarrett said, “Students will need to be comfortable with living independently in a foreign
Do follow the A.I.E.S.E.C in SIM’s Facebook page and their Instagram page at aiesec.sim for their upcoming events or to join their program!
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T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
SOCIOLOGY CLUB
UB Interviewing: The Sociology Club BY DARREN CHAN
“S
ociology is a subject that can be integrated with many disciplines. More than a major, it is a lens through which we view the world,” said Andrew Lee, Publicity Head of the club, a second year University at Buffalo (UB) undergraduate in Sociology and Economics. The Sociology Club consists of 6 Executive Committee (EXCO) members, Renette Lee, Shu Hui Ooi, Amanda Kwek, Andrew Lee, Anita Malhotra and Anusha Hegde. The Club strives to facilitate the growth of students and raise awareness of society’s social issues. It was started by a group of Sociology students in 2012 and they initiated exhibitions, discussions and tutoring underprivileged children. One of the Club’s most memorable event was when they hosted the Singapore Committee for UN Women Talk in November last year. The event was well-received with many SIM GE students participating in the talk’s lively discussion session. Ooi Shu Hui, Secretary of the Club, a third year UB undergraduate in Sociology and Communication (Double Major) said, “It was great to see students taking an interest in gender equality and sharing their opinions on the topic.”
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In June 2017, the Club held a Sociology Human Library event where the EXCO invited UB Sociology professors and alumni to share their experiences about Sociology through an interactive setting. The students were the “readers” and they could choose the “books” they wanted to read and ask any burning questions they might have. The Club has organised learning tours to the Asian Civilisations Museum, the Peranakan Museum and the NEWater Plant in May and June 2017. The students had fun in participating in these tours organized by the club. The teamwork of the EXCO has been the driving force behind the Club’s many successes as it is evident through their membership growth through the years. Anusha Hegde, Events Head of the club, a third year University of London (UOL) undergraduate in Business and Management said, “I joined the EXCO to plan exciting events for the Club and for students to understand society as a whole. As student leaders, I have learned to manage my time and be more understanding towards my EXCO members’ point of view.”.
Also, the EXCO has been actively engaging current and new members by catering to their needs and interests in organizing of events. Renette Lee, President of the Club, a second year UB Sociology undergraduate said, “Our activities are executed with the hope that members can gain awareness of societal ills, empathy to the marginalized, and the ability to think critically about societal issues.” Renette hopes that members continue to strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The Sociology Club recently organized ‘‘Sociology Week’’ with week-long events, and hopes to push for more events that involve volunteering opportunities. Amanda Kwek, Events Head of the Club, a first year UOL undergraduate in Business and Management said, “We believe that students will be stimulated to think deeper about society’s pertinent issues with like-minded individuals by participating in the Club’s activities.” Furthermore, students that take part in the club’s events will get different quirky and exclusive Sociology themed stickers. Do follow The Sociology Club on Instagram @simsociology, and their Facebook Group, The SIM Sociology Club (TSSC) for more event updates!
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MUAY THAI
FIGHTING FIT: MUAY THAI CATCHING ON AS EXERCISE BY TRISH KAUR
M
uay Thai, or “the art of eight limbs”, is one of Singapore’s most popular martial arts – and for good reason. The credit for its rising popularity goes to its promoters, the biggest of which is the US-based Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), staging fights that draw crowds by the thousands. The discipline of Muay Thai focuses on simple, effective movements – think knee strikes and swift kicks – that are easy to learn and might come in handy in situations where you might have to defend yourself. Also, Muay Thai training is known for its rigorous activity and is a great way to keep in shape. Experts agree that Muay Thai not only burns up to 1,000 calories per hour, but that it’s also arguably the most effective striking martial art in the world. Now, isn’t that amazing? Many of you may be wondering at this point as to why I’m talking to you about Muay Thai, since we all know that we probably have to enroll ourselves in classes that costs hundreds of dollars and many of us are too broke to afford any other type of classes except UB’s. Fret not, for we have SIM’s very own Muay Thai Club! Well technically, it isn’t a club but a CCA. Nonetheless, let me enlighten you on what a gem this CCA is. When I entered UB, I was very determined to keep fit, so I considered
joining Muay Thai classes outside of school since I had no idea that there was Muay Thai in SIM. Imagine my delight when I found out that SIM had Muay Thai as a CCA! Beginning something new can be unfamiliar and daunting to the point where you just don’t know where to start. Thankfully for me, I was not alone in this, since I urged my friends to attend the first class with me. We were shot questioning looks at first, but were soon welcomed by the other students. After some (intense) warm ups we were taught some basic techniques – like kicking, punching, and blocking. We then had to pair up with a person and practice unleashing these moves on them - by ‘them’ I mean on the pads that they are holding. The EXCO’s and Instructor went around and supervised the class to see if we were doing it right. Since I was completely new to Muay Thai, I was stumbling around a lot and getting t h e techniques wrong. The EXCO’s patiently went through each move with me and made me practice them until I got it right - they really made us feel welcomed in their class. While firm when needed, they never made us feel intimidated and constantly gave us encouragement and
guidance when they sensed we were lost amongst a class of seasoned Muay Thai students. Time passed by so quick and before I knew it, the lesson was over. I felt sore all over my body but for once in my life, I felt healthy and accomplished! We were told to gather once lesson was over and the EXCO’s had explained to us the basics of the club. Trainings are on every Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:45PM, with each lesson costing $5 and lasting about one and a half hours. When I first joined, the total count of members were about 20, but it has since expanded. It is not compulsory for us to show up for trainings on both days and the CCA is quite flexible about attendance. For those of you who are really keen on Muay Thai, you might also want to consider their packages – 1 month for $50, 2 months for $90 and 3 months for a $110. The best part about this package? You are able to train at Impact MMA, the gym that the club is affiliated with. Do give this CCA a try if you want to keep fit and look sexy!
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T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
UB TEACHING
ASK
Lance Rintamaki BY TANVEEN VOHRA Q: Tell us a bit about your background, what were your hobbies while growing up? I’m from Michigan, I grew up on a small farm. About half my family was involved in farming, my father worked for General Motors, my mom was a professional cake artisan. So we were farmers but it was more passive, we grew pumpkins and sweet corn which I used to work on during my summers. My hobbies mostly included sports. I played almost every sport except American football and hockey. Q: You switched majors very late during your communication degree. Why did you want to change your major, and what advice did your parents give you? I went to Michigan State University for my undergraduate degree, where I started out doing Genetics. I knew that course wasn’t for me before the end of my first semester. I was so upset with the idea of shifting course because I was so concerned I was wasting my parents money. When I ultimately talked to my parents, I was halfway through my Junior year. They sat me down and told me that they could see that something had been clearly wrong for a long time. They told me, “A big part of this game is figuring out what it is you don’t want to do in this life and we’re just sad it took you this long to tell us what was wrong”. They said they sent me to college so I could figure out what career path I wanted, so I told them that I really enjoyed all the Communication classes I was taking, and they were very supportive of letting me pursue Communication, rather than Genetics. That’s the kind of guidance I hope every student can benefit from. Your purpose at 18 isn’t to know what you’re gonna do with the rest of your life – your purpose is to discover your options and see what resonates with you. Finding the thing that is meaningful to you is by far the best thing you can ever do for yourself while going through college.
Q: When you switched majors, did you feel as though there was a stigma around getting a degree in Communication? Yeah, that stigma has been around for a long time. I think it’s because of this perception that communication is an easy program. The other thing is that, when you do engineering you become an engineer, but there isn’t such a clear path with communication, there’s so many careers are open to you with this degree. Honestly, I feel like communication prepares you for so many different jobs, if you’re ambitious and if you want a career that communication prepares you well – the sky’s the limit. Q: Your students were very surprised to learn you used to have anxiety about talking to crowds, how bad was it and how did you fix it? As a child, I was fairly introverted and didn’t enjoy public speaking. When I was in fifth grade I had to give a presentation on the Monarch Butterfly, and I was so nervous that not only could I not speak, but I also peed my pants. That scarred me for years. Then in college I had to drop my public speaking class because I was having so much trouble. However, I had this one graduate student who told me to imagine I was someone I admired as a public speaker, and then I should try to impersonate them and fake that confidence till I really was that confident. So I got up and gave it a try, and I really did become that confident while speaking in public. The irony is that now my job requires me to speak in front of people everyday. Q: What is a fun fact about you? So I am part of a small group of people who are trying to build the first bona fide castle in the United States. So, that’s a 10-year project that we’re teamed up with the UB School of Architecture on. We’re in a competition both for the architectural design and for the landscape design. Q: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers? I love coming to Singapore, and I really hope I get to see you guys next summer. However, if I’m not here, it’s because I’m having a baby. Photo courtesy of Lance Rintamaki
T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
UB TEACHING
ASK
MATTHEW Grizzard BY CHIA EU JINN
Q: Tell us a bit about your background! A: I grew up in the U.S., in a small town in southern Virginia; it was really small, with about 500 people in the entire town. I moved away from there to the University of North Carolina for my undergraduate degree but majored in Music for the most of my time there. But then I switched to Communication during my junior/senior year and after that, I went to Michigan State University where I got my Masters and PhD. I’ve been with UB ever since! Q: What are your hobbies? A: So I’ve always played the piano and guitar. I started playing the piano when I was five and then learned the guitar in high school, so music has always been a big part of my life. I also played a lot of video games and watched a lot of movies growing up. Q: Many of your students research in gaming. What got you into video gaming research? A: I always liked gaming and it always made me curious about it. One of the reasons why I wanted to do game research is that I read a lot of it when I was a student. I always felt like game research kind of missed out on a big part of video games, like why they’re so much fun and something enjoyable thing to do. A lot of the research seem to focus on the violence and negative effects of games, and so I started to be more curious about why we enjoy them so much rather than the effects are. Q: What is a game that’s close to your heart? A: One of my all-time favorite games is Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo! Lately, I have been playing a lot of Horizon: Zero Dawn for the PlayStation 4 and I like that one a lot too. Probably my other all-time favorite game would be Red Dead Redemption for the PlayStation 3 when that came out.
Photo courtesy of Matthew Grizzard
Q: You have a quirky hobby of collecting action figures. How did that start out? A: (Chuckles) When I was in graduate school, I was out one day and I saw the action figure of The Predator from the movie Predator and thought it was neat. I just finished a big project and so I decided to buy it for myself, and that got me buying one every time I finished a project, get a paper published, or do something big. They are all characters from ‘80s movies or video game so basically if anything big at work happens, I’ll end up buying an action figure. Q: Do you have a favorite action figure? A: I have several Freddie Krueger action figures. I have quite the collection for horror movie action figures like Freddie Kruger and Texas Chainsaw Massacre characters Jason and Leatherface. Q: What is your favourite module to teach? A: Honestly, I really liked teaching COM205 Research Methods this semester (Summer 2017) - that’s kind of my favourite one to teach. If I could pick anything that I could teach in the future, it might be the Psychology of Media Entertainment. I’ve got a class I taught at the graduate level for that, and I think it’ll be fun to teach at the undergraduate level. Q: What did you look forward to the most when you came to Singapore to teach for the first time? A: It was all the really good food I was going to get to try. The unique dishes like Chilli Crab I hear all about and trying out durian – those were the foods I was excited about. Also, seeing all the skyscrapers, buildings and the warm weather; in Buffalo, it’s pretty chilly. Even in the summer, it’s not very warm, so it’s nice here to get some warmth.
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UB TEACHING
CHATS OVER COFFEE BY ASHLEY SEOW Q: Tell us a bit about your background. Heather: I grew up in New York, and I studied liberal arts at Houghton College. I used to be in choir and musical theatre. I played a little bit of soccer here and there, but I wasn’t particularly good. Mark: I studied liberal arts in Houghton College as well. I did my graduate work at University at Buffalo, and finished my PhD in History in 2011. Q: Heather, did you have a favorite play that you did when you were in musical theatre? I think one of my favorite plays that I’ve done was ‘Crazy For You’. It was filled with fun show tunes and I really enjoyed working on that! Q: I think we’d all like to know how the two of you met. Was it love at first sight? Heather: Definitely not love at first sight! Mark: Well, we met in college. I was a teaching assistant and there was a program where freshmen could study abroad. Heather was one of them and I was a teaching assistant at the time. We stayed in touch from there and started dating 5 years later!
teacher. After a while, it felt like the right thing to pursue a higher degree, and now I’m a college professor! Mark: I had the privilege of always encountering really good History professors and lecturers, even in high school. They had the common thread of being able to let history come alive, and they had the ability to make us think critically about it and how change happens over time. Heather: Oh, mine was the opposite! I had a really bad History teacher. I think I wanted to go back and take his job. Q: What are some study techniques you used when you were in University? Maybe we can steal some. Heather: Oh! I love sharing my technique. I would set a timer for maybe, two hours, turn off the Wi-Fi and all my gadgets, and I would force myself to focus for that duration. I’m a very easily distracted person, so it really helps. Mark: I would write songs. I find it easier to memorize song parodies, and this study tactic easily became a teaching tactic!
Q: What made you want to move away from Liberal Arts and into History?
Q: What’s the most enjoyable thing about teaching?
Heather: Well, music was very much a hobby for me, and I don’t think I had the discipline to pursue it further. I was always interested in education, and I started out wanting to be a high school History
Heather: I love it when students ask questions that I don’t know the answer to. I get to see what they’re interested in and learn new things in the process. It’s one of the more rewarding parts of teaching.
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Photos courtesy of Heather and Mark
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UB TEACHING
Mark: I’d have to agree with Heather. It’s rewarding to be able to engage with other people’s curiosity, and students are able to make connections that you would never have thought of. It’s a constant sense of having familiar material becoming new. Q: How long have the both of you been in Singapore? Mark: Well, I moved here after I finished my PhD, which was in the fall of 2011. We actually maintained a long distance relationship for two years before we got married. Heather came down to work here permanently shortly after that. Q: So, what do you enjoy most about Singapore? Heather: I really like Singapore’s quirkier side. Places like Haw Par Villa are very interesting and fun. We love exploring coffee shops and art
galleries, so we’re always looking for recommendations from friends or students. Mark: I think places like Changi Village gives you a much richer sense of Singapore. People tend to fall into the trap of judging Singapore from its airport, but it’s a lot more than that! Q: Did you have a culture shock when you moved to Singapore? Heather: We actually felt very welcomed, so it was a very easy transition. It’s just small things like the types of conversations. Take Singlish for example! It’s more interesting and enjoyable, rather than shocking. Learning new Singlish words is pretty fun. Q: What do you guys do in your free time? Mark: Well, I’ve started a little side project of following the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I usually blog about it, but now I’m trying to turn it into research. Heather: Well… I’ve recently started playing Dungeons and Dragons. There’s a group that I meet up with every Friday night to embrace my geeky side. Q: What are some things you miss the most about New York? Mark: The campfires. I was from a more rural part of New York, so we would always have campfires. Just the smell of them and being in a place of nature that’s not curated, like parks for example. Heather: My answer’s mostly environmental as well. Watching the transition of seasons is beautiful. I think it would be around autumn now. The leaves would be changing and the weather would be spectacular. And family, of course!
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ASK ALUMNI
Where
A re They Now?
ARUN UDAYA
Bachelor of Science (Business Administration), graduated in 2017
BY CHIA EU JINN Q: After graduating from SIM-UB, what are you currently doing? Q: What are some of your hobbies? A: Really, ever since I started working, sleep has been a very important thing for me. So, every time I’m back in Singapore I’ll just be sleeping or watching TV shows on bed. I’m more into Sitcoms. Q: What drove you to pursue a business degree as your major? A: Business has always been my area of interest, but when I went to polytechnic, I happened to get into a biomedical engineering course so I stuck with that. When I got the opportunity to choose my own major in UB, that’s when I decided to change to business. It was completely different as I was tired from engineering for 3 years. Q: How would you describe yourself when you were a student in SIM-UB? A: I was the most carefree person in university. Studies was one of the things that were second on my mind. I came to school to do anything other than school. Of course, I did not slack off in my academics as well. My grades were on par with the rest of my peers and while my friends and classmates were more into school work, I was just everywhere in school, doing FOCs (Freshmen Orientation Camps) and being involved in CCAs (Canoeing and Film and Performing Arts).
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A: I’m currently working as a cabin crew for Singapore Airlines. I would say at first it was very difficult for me as my 3 years in university was just about going to school and being a student. I never left Singapore the entire time I was in UBSIM since I was involved with FOCs all the time. when I graduated, and started working it’s very difficult because I still had a strong connection with my friends in UB and I felt I was missing that friendship at first, but eventually I got used to it. This job doesn’t really feel like I’m working, more of having fun and it wasn’t too bad for me. Its really interesting, I get to meet and work with a lot of different people, coming into contact with different groups of passengers every day. And even if I were to travel to the same countries day after day, the experience and people you meet Is completely different. Also the different places you get to visit. And when I’m in a different country you sort of pick up their norms like in Singapore, if you want to run up the escalator you move to your right but in Japan and Korea it’s on your left. Q: You started an online bazaar with a best friend. How was it like setting up a business for the first time? A: Actually, we started off when we were still in polytechnic. So, we already had this interest to get something going so back then blog-shops
Photos courtesy of Arun Udaya
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ASK ALUMNI
were popular so we started by registering one as well. We didn’t manage to have enough time for it and it closed but soon after I went to university we brought it back up again by giving it a new concept, bringing in new products with our shop under a new name and ever since we’ve been doing that for a while. When school gets intense we’ll help each other out Q: Would you say that your degree in business helped you with your business? A: Yeah definitely! I would say that we have a better foresight and what we were doing, our approaches towards our marketing efforts, the type of customer we would have to concentrate our market to. It did assist us and mainly because of our main interest in business itself Q: How did you maintain a balance on being an entrepreneur and school life? A: Honestly at the start it was crazy, there were so many orders and sometimes I’ll come back from school and sit down and do orders before my school work so it’s a tiny bit difficult at the start but eventually we settled with sharing the workload with my friend between how many orders we would process each day. And yeah eventually we balance out both at the end of the first year. Q: Do you think the education in SIM-UB has prepared you for the workplace? A: Being in UB, what I found the most beneficial was that it’s a small school and it’s a very close
knit community. I developed a lot of people skills interacting with so many different types of people. I do a lot of camps as well so I work with different people, student council members and welcoming different freshmen. It was a big experience to develop my people communication skills. Q: What are some advice you would give for current and graduating students in SIM-UB? A: One thing is that when you’re still in school, don’t be too afraid to do something apart from studies. Yes, its important, but you’re preparing yourself for the real world outside and just a paper degree won’t do much. You really need a lot of communication skills to interact with different people and how to get along with them. Use this time to open yourself to opportunities and see what’s out there besides school. The real world isn’t the easiest thing but this is what you’ve been preparing for your entire life. It’s not going to be easy thing to find a job meant for you after graduation at first, but it’s all about persevering and taking that risk to reach that goal.
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SUMMER ABROAD
South KOREA
W
e spent the summer at Korea University and we’re back wiser than ever! If you’re thinking about applying for Summer Abroad to Korea next year and need some sort of guidance, fret not, we’re here. Been there, done that. We’ve narrowed down the hottest places to hang out at, handy apps you’d want on your phone, and how-tos on making the most out of your trip!
BY ZACHARY SOH AND CASIA CHEW
Places TO GO
DAEHANGNO
BUKHANSAN
SAMCHEONG-DONG
Ascend the highest mountain in Seoul, with the tallest peak Baegundae at 836m. It only takes about 5 hours to hike up and down but the sights and experience are so rewarding!
Where chic art galleries, trendy cafés and shops integrate with the Korean traditional houses in this residential neighbourhood. It is both unique and refreshing to see the architecture of the past blended with the modernity of the now.
YEOUIDO HANGANG PARK
A vibrant and charming neighborhood with lots to shop and eat sans the tourists. Take a walk around Ihwa Mural Village for interesting street art and an awesome sunset view from the top of Naksan Park!
HONGDAE Mostly clothing shops that sell trendy apparel. It is home to Hongik University, which means the items are priced affordably to cater to students!
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As one of the venues for the Seoul Bamdokkaebi Night Market held from March to October, be sure not to miss the line-up of food trucks every weekend for a relaxing riverside dinner with a magnificent view of the city skyline from across Hangang River.
ITAEWON It’s party central up in here. Filled with bars and clubs that stay open all night long, it is wellknown for its colorful nightlife.
MYEONGDONG
EDAE Similar to Hongdae, the clothing shops here are catered towards Ewha Women’s University students (which means it’s mostly women’s clothing here). Pro tip: head down to a shop called “Baviphat” for discounted beauty products from your favorite Korean brands like Laneige and Innisfree!
Rows and rows of streets filled with food carts and Korean beauty brands like Tony Moly, Nature Republic and Innisfree at every turn; it’s a skincare and cosmetics wonderland.
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Tips! 1
Register for just one or two modules and take the morning classes, if possible. That way, you’ll get more time to explore the city for the rest of the day!
2
Be really fast in signing up for school activities. While university summer programs usually offer fun (and free) cultural activities and/or excursions, the slots tend to be limited - and they fill up fast. Register as early as you can with your friends so no one gets left out.
3
Take day/weekend trips out of Seoul. There are so many places in South Korea you can travel out to, such as Everland in Yongin, Chuncheon (famous for stir-fried chicken dish dakgalbi), Busan, and Jeju Island!
4
Request for a room assignment with a friend right after paying your school fees and get your friend to do the same. It’s safer to send your request early so you won’t end up being assigned with a total stranger (unless you’re fine with that, of course)!
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Find out more about the different dormitory buildings. For example, in Frontier House, you share a room and toilet with only one person. But in CJ International House, it’s a suite; so you share a room with one person but share the toilet with four other people. Plus, it’s further up on a hill, which can be a chore to climb every day! But it is equipped with a gym, a facility that Frontier House does not have. So pick a dorm that suits your preferences best! If you’re thinking of extending your trip beyond the 6 weeks in school, do it before the school semester starts. So around midJune would be best, as that’s when the scorching summer heat has yet to set in (trust us, it gets hot).
UB KOREA
Apps KAKAOMETRO KakaoMetro is an absolute lifesaver when commuting in Seoul whether you are new to or familiar with the area. The app suggests routes by travelling time or fewer transfers, along with the door number closest to the exits so you can get ahead of the crowd. Train timings are also accurate to the minute, so planning ahead is easy. You can also bookmark stations and routes for future reference. Best of all, the app works even offline!
EGGBUN EDUCATION Why not learn a little bit of Korean before setting foot on their land? This app teaches the language in a “chat” format, making it simple and interactive with a human touch. Step-bystep instructions, quizzes, and practices guide you to learn and revise as you go along. There is also a tab filled with culture notes so you can assimilate into the country easily and learn beyond just the language!
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APP REVIEW
LIVE BETTER BETTER LIVE
BY GERMAINE TAN
I
n recent years, there has been a spike in the concern for personal health around the globe. This is further aaugmented by the government’s push for healthier lifestyles with Sports Hubs and supporting health and fitness activities. A BBC study found that we optimize our behaviors to expend as little energy as possible. This results in many of us sitting on our decision to embark on our journey towards a heathier lifestyle as resting expends less energy than exercising. In view of this, many creative app developers have designed a myriad of mobile apps to alter human psychology through operant conditioning, rewiring us to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Run, Zombies! Run, Zombies incorporates an interactive storyline to keep you hooked on it while staying fit. Players are required to cover various distances with time limits to receive emulations or to get to safety. ‘Death’ in the game will result in restarting the whole game, will keep you on the edge to clock the miles. For a more personalized and invested training, paying for your fitness usually does the trick.
Fitness
Aaptiv A freemium personal audio trainer app that comprise of a selection of activities that you can select from, based on your interests. Each unit of training lasts between 10 and 65 minutes, giving you ample room to nurture and train any aspect of your fitness and health. It can also be integrated with the Health app in Apple and Samsung phones to monitor your total health and fitness. Having a sedentary lifestyle is not the only reason for love handles. Ranking second for the longest hours worked a week in 2016 (at 49 hours), poor sleep habits, late night supper and drinks, and a high stress and anxiety environment is commonplace. It comes as no surprise that insomnia is one of the most common problem faced by youths and young adults today.
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A paid trainer app with various levels of difficulty for different readiness. Depending on your desired level of activeness and motivation to exercise, Fitness will plan a series of 10-minute or less exercises spanning a period of time to help you achieving your target goal. Each training ends with a measurement of how you found the training.
Built-in Apps Pzziz Helps you fight insomnia and obtain quality sleep through tested and proven psychological persuasion. Pzizz uses a monologue coupled with easy and meditative music to convince your mind to relax and ease your body into sleep. At its core, Pzizz requires trust for its effects to be realized. If you are a cynic of the concept of ‘tested and proven’, brace yourself for a rocky first attempt as you battle your skepticism and build trust with Pzizz.
To monitor your all-round health from sleep to fitness, both Samsung and Apple have their built-in apps that can can link up with third party apps to create a centralized health database for you. For Apple, this would be the Health app, which is already synched up with BedTime (another built-in app for Apple users that assists with the creation of a good sleep cycle through gamification). As for Samsung users, the Samsung Health app would be the go-to app where even stress and heart rate can be measured. Fall not into the habit of neglecting your health because of a busy schedule or just sheer laziness. Your health is for life.
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UB PL AYING
POOR STUDENT EDITION
BY CASPER TAN Can’t afford that swanky new game to fuel your gaming appetite? Looking for budget versions of trending games? Don’t worry, we hear you. Guest writer and cheapskate gamer, Casper, has searched far and wide for the best Free-to-Play (F2P) games that can scratch that itch! Now you can enjoy the game you have always wanted! Well, sort of.
GIGANTIC What do you get when you combine Overwatch, DOTA, League of Legends, and Smite? If you were thinking: “A GIGANTIC mess,” hold on to your horses.
PATH OF EXILE You play as an Exile, stranded on the shores of Wraeclast after being exiled for your crimes. Explore the grim and depressing continent as you smash, zap, and loot your way to victory. And save the world from the corruption of the gods in your free time. On the surface, Path of Exile appears to be a cheap copy of the classic loot focused ARPG (Action RPG) Diablo. As with all loot focused ARPGs, the point of the game is to kill monsters and loot your way to victory. Simple enough. But stick with it for a few hours and the incredible depth of the gameplay system will make your jaw drop. Character classes and skills work differently here. Classes are mostly freeform, with no restrictions on what skills you can use. A beefy marauder can utilize magic and zoom around at top speed with the right equipment, a Witch can use a Greatsword to cut down her enemies. It’s all up to you. This is where it gets complicated. Skill gems link your weapons and armors up to modify skills with an obscene amount of flexibility; with approximately 15,825,417,300 possible skill combinations (I did the math). With an ever-changing barter trade economy, regular content updates, race and league events, Path of Exile is the epitome of all F2P games. And you simply can’t beat a $0 price tag.
A newcomer to the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre, Gigantic mixes the best of all worlds to create a unique, fun, and accessible game. Choose from a rotating roster of 19 heroes to fight it out on a battleground in a 5 vs. 5 format. Each match in Gigantic follows the same formula: Players must defend and empower their guardian, a massive beast that sits at each team’s base. You gather power for this guardian by killing enemies, summoning beasts and controlling points across the map. Once you’ve pooled enough power, your guardian can attack the enemy team’s guardian in a massive, screen-filling fight. This is your opportunity to hustle to the opposite end of the map to fight alongside your guardian, and attempt to attack the downed enemy guardian before it struggles free. If you cause enough damage, you inflict a wound on the enemy’s guardian. Three of those and you win. These mechanics meld well together, creating memorable gameplay moments. With a colorful roster of heroes with distinctly different playstyles, each game is intrinsically different from the next. Set up shop on a cliff and rain bullets from up high as the robot HK-206, or rush into the flurry of battle throwing punches as Wu, a Kung-Fu frog. Gigantic is a gigantic mess of fun, pulling gameplay aspects from a ton of different games and genres. This might sound messy on paper, but somehow Gigantic manages to strike a balance, creating a truly unique game that stands out amongst the crowded MOBA genre. “Still an Overwatch clone!” You might stubbornly proclaim. But Gigantic is a pretty dang good one at that.
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TV SHOWS
U B in g e W a t c h BY ZACHARY SOH Netflix Singapore doesn’t exactly have the widest selection of content as compared to its American counterpart. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have access to great, binge-worthy shows too! Here are three on Netflix that you can watch right now, for those times when you just need a break from school work.
Narcos The King of Cocaine was a family man. He was a doting father, a passionate husband, and a loving son. But Pablo Escobar was also the world’s richest drug lord, operating a highly elaborate drug cartel all over Columbia producing and exporting cocaine. At the height of his career, he was estimated to be worth US $30 billion, controlling around 80% of the global cocaine market! Based on the real life story of drug lord Pablo Escobar, Narcos follows Pablo’s shot to wealth and power as his drug empire grows. It revolves around his interactions with politicians and law agents hell bent on capturing him, and explores his various relationships with his family, rivals, and loyal underlings. He builds numerous cocaine labs, orders for mass killings and even the bombing of a plane! But amidst the blood and violence, people loved him giving back to the community. He was the voice for the voiceless, seen as a “Robin Hood” figure for building churches, schools and hospitals in Columbia. Narcos keeps you at the edge of your seat at every turn, shedding light on the complicated history of drug smuggling, fear, and political unrest in Columbia.
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Photos courtesy of Netflix
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TV SHOWS
Rick & Morty Morty is just your average, socially awkward teenager. Except for when he’s dragged into wacky intergalactic adventures by his grandfather Rick, an alcoholic scientist who works on all sorts of crazy alien technology. Make no mistake, Rick might be a super genius, but he is cynical, selfish and arrogant. In one episode, he turns himself into a pickle just to get out of family therapy! The duo goes on all sorts of inter-dimensional adventures together, sometimes accompanied by Morty’s superficial older sister, Summer. From teleporting across alternate universes to killing aliens purge-style, frantically escaping alien captors to entering miniature universes Rick created in a car battery (yes, a car battery), their insane misadventures are hilarious and always fun to watch.
Scream Emma Duval and her group of friends are popular high school students living in a small town named Lakewood. But when a video goes viral online, the dark secrets that lie within their sleepy town comes to haunt them - in the form of a masked serial killer. One by one, Emma’s friends end up brutally killed. She receives cryptic phone calls from an unknown number with a creepy voice (a classic aspect of the Scream franchise), as she slowly unravels her town’s troubled past, as well as her family’s entanglement with it. In Scream, everyone is hiding something. With twists and turns at every episode, it seems like anyone could be the killer. The plot culminates at the season finale, where the killer’s true identity is finally revealed. Can you guess who the killer is?
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Once Upon Upon A A Time Time Once we sat and watched the stars one night in February; we were twelve and the world was exciting – so full of possibilities. we talked about the present, the future, and the past; we shared about our families, and how time so slowly passed. you promised you would never go; and I promised you more days, happy ones. we read somewhere that humans took to bipedalism to reach for the stars; we colonized the Moon, and soon too Mars. it was a clear night out. we could see them shining down. there were crickets among us. we had love to give. we hid in corners of your home my house to in hushed whispers send chatter down cordless landlines. we were ignorant, we had fun; we were carefree and loaded with only hope and time. The Doctor turned female, and an adventure in time and space became much more than that and then – we turned grown-ups; we could vote, we could drive – we stayed out past 0000 and felt we owned the morning night. it trickled though: hurried notes under refrigerator magnets, little to no conversations; you brought home-work, whilst I wandered and wondered, and we started clocking time. the candles stopped being enough. the streetlights came, and the nanobots swarmed. we started masking the bright world above with our light, and our musings. we tried and there was light pollution, overpopulation, climate change and capitalism; it was pinned stars and flags waved, while neighbours became stateless beings. we saw a mushroom cloud. you asked and I replied: maybe this is it. we pondered: is it destructive? Is it insensitive? Is it not but a natural progression of progression and progress? That beginnings and starts become but foggy memories of the passed? All it takes is a little less care, and conditioning; less forgiveness, less peppering of I love you(s) sincerely. we began to consider what really are stars – those twinkling spots wavering into dying light. What will, what has, what had, become of us? we looked up to resonate with the unspoken fear of our mortality; we were confident in that certainty. it was dark out. Have we reached them? – our goals, our dreams, and our then made plans. Maybe in some flicker of time, Liss, we’ll understand – in twenty twenty – why Corliss wrote this
T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
STUDENT CARE
Student Care BY DARREN CHAN
L
ocated at Block C, Level 2, the Student Wellness Centre provides SIM GE students with a conducive place to destress, seek professional help and where they can be equipped with the relevant knowledge to lead a more balanced life. The Centre also provides professional counselling services for students who need someone to speak to and the alternative is to speak with a student group known as the Peer Mentors. They are able to provide a listening ear and are equipped with peer support skills. Ms Sophie Wong, Senior Executive from the Student Care Department said, “It is important to have a support system-family members, friends whom we trust and can freely share with.” She explains that talking to someone about one’s concerns does not always make the problem disappear, but new perspectives might be gained and solutions surface. Communicating and sharing does make the sharer feel better. Student Care has two initiatives which are the Peer Mentors & Wellness Advocates. The Peer Mentors seek to promote a culture of care and emotional support to facilitate social integration between students through the different programs that the Centre organizes. Likewise, Welness
Advocates are agents of change that champions the adoption of healthy lifestyle in promoting healthy living through 4 domains- Physical, Mental, Emotional and Social to students in SIM GE. In July 2017, Japhne Ho, 21, a first year RMIT University undergraduate majoring in Bachelor in Business (Management) said, “I joined the Centre in 2017 as a Wellness Advocate, I help with the planning of initiatives such as Wellness Week, workshops and writing articles for the World of Wellness (WOW) page.” Recently, Japhne attended the Student Wellness Advocates Camp in July this year, which served as an avenue to bond the Wellness Advocates together through team building activities and to discuss the upcoming future plans for wellness initiatives. Echoing similar sentiments, Sophie said, “The constant stream of activities such as Wellness Week act as platforms and serve as reminders for students to care for themselves and gain knowledge to combat the negative effects of stress in managing it.” Another program that the Centre runs is the Optimal Living Discovery Series workshops where different topics ranging
from Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness, Physical WellBeing and Quality Relationships. Moreover, each topic is covered covered in-depth over three sessions, each lasting about 3 hours, which are conducted by qualified and engaging trainers. The Student Wellness Centre is open from 1pm to 5pm on weekdays and students will be able to walk in to participate in art jamming activities, board gaming, quiet reading, chatting with friends or even take a power nap. The Centre compliments these activities by providing additional programs such as Yoga, K-Pop Dance, Zumba and Nature Walks. Students are encouraged to register to help de-stress and lead a happier life. Do look out for Student Care related activities through your SIM mymail inbox or visit the SIM GE Student Care Facebook page to join their upcoming events. Alternatively, students can visit the Student Care notice board at Blk A, Level 3 to look out for posters of the month’s workshops and events. Drop by the Student Wellness Centre today!
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SOCIAL CAUSES Photo courtesy of Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Shelter
NOAH’S ARK NATURAL ANIMAL SHELTER BY DARREN CHAN
F
ounded in 1995, Noah’s Ark Lodge Private Animal Shelter, a Non-Government Organization (NGO) was set up in Singapore by Raymund Wee in Jalan Kayu. His passion translated in giving the street animals a second chance and to provide a safe haven for the animals to live out their lives with freedom, dignity and companionship. Now, Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Shelter (NANAS) is a shelter for 700 dogs, 300 cats, 9 horses and many other animals.
The dogs happily eating food raised by a food donation drive as it is one of the daily essentials in keeping the animals fed.
Photo courtesy of Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Shelter
Raymund constantly relies on his team of dedicated volunteers and workers to care for the animals in organizing food donation drives, fundraising dinners, merchandise sales and public tours to educate the public about the importance of respecting and caring for animals. Adopting the mantra of “The Street is Not their Home”, Raymund also spearheaded a program called Vet Help @ Noah’s Ark where final year veterinarians from around the world complete their veterinarian placement at the sanctuary. These veterinarians are given the practical experience and knowledge to work on rescue cases and shelter duties. Do support the efforts of the shelter by purchasing calendars and merchandises, participating in the public tours or even joining their volunteer program! Head over to their Facebook page to find out more about how you can help today!
Raymund Wee, Founder of NANAS taking a group photo with visitors during the public tours.
H
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SINGAPORE
abitat for Humanity Singapore (HFH) started out in 2004, the Non-Government Organization (NGO) has been engaging many volunteer teams in spearheading many disaster relief efforts and building projects in the Asia Pacific region such as Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand.
Photo courtesy of TSSC
BY DARREN CHAN
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Currently, HFH is running its Project HomeWorks program where they assist those such as the elderly, poor or needy families. The organization provides volunteer-run cleaning services to these group of people to understand their situation and provide them with a helping hand. On 19 August 2017, The SIM Sociology Club (TSSC) partnered HFH in the club’s first ever collaboration with the NGO. Eight members from the club stepped forward to help clean up the living space of an elderly man.
T H E B U F F A L O H O R N – F A L L 2 017
BLK 100
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SOCIAL CAUSES
BY GLEN WONG
hat is the significance behind this number? Yes, it does look like an address, but it is more than just a number - it resembles a community of social outcasts in desperate need of help. Located in Aljunied Avenue 2, BLK 100 is a lowincome flat under the Housing & Development Board (HDB) that contains the highest rate of mentally ill patients. Due to its low socioeconomic value, this particular flat has been fully supported by Non-Governmental Organizations; primarily to provide meals, and to attend to each resident’s request. The only way for each resident to connect with society is if we provide a helping hand. On a monthly basis, a group of volunteers visits each resident. We generate a program to attend to each resident’s home, to just be there for them. Our initiatives include building friendships through games, and giving them a listening ear for someone to hear their stories.
While it is popular to think of how different we may be, our similarities are striking. They are not inferior, and neither are we superior. I had the privilege of forging a close friendship with Kumar, one of the current residents. Kumar was labelled mentally ill due to damage in his brain following a suicide attempt, twenty odd years before. He has had a history of hearing voices. Initially, our conversations were strained and difficult, over time I came to understand his perspective of the world. Over the course of each visit, his psychological state gradually improved – all because of an initiative to strike up a casual conversation. I soon came to realize he is extremely outgoing, witty, and could relate to millennials surprisingly well. This program has inspired me to help others around me – especially the outcasts, and the marginalized community around me. Why? For the simple reason that we are all humans, and that we are no different from each other. Instead of tearing each other down, we should build one another up to make the world a better place. Because after all, we are a community of people under the same roof.
Photo courtesy of TSSC
This proved to be an eye opener as they helped with tasks such as scrapping and re-painting the ceiling of the flat, scrubbing the floor and walls and clearing out unwanted items. It was a time where members of the club get to bond with each other through such meaningful experiences. Spurred by the encouragement and guidance by HFH’s volunteers, the club hopes to continue such volunteer projects on a long-term basis as it helps members to understand the plight of the less fortunate and marginalized in society. For more exciting volunteering opportunities and to participate in Habitat for Humanity Singapore’s programs, check out their website at www.habitat. org.sg or “like” their Facebook page to find out more!
The SIM Sociology Club members all geared up and ready to help out on a weekend!
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8 ALBUMS
8 ALBUMS
YOU’RE MISSING OUT ON
Morningside (2017) Fazerdaze Materialized from the bedroom of Amelia Murray, her debut album features nothing but honest music void of pretension. The perfect imperfections of it lend an intimate quality to the airy grunge-pop, rarely expressed in today’s music. Rejoice, for introverts finally have something new to call a summer soundtrack! Faves: Last To Sleep, Misread, Little Uneasy, Shoulders
BY ZACHARY SOH & CASIA CHEW
T
he Top 40’s are getting boring. Your Spotify library is playing the same old songs. That’s why we’re back this Fall with a fresh mix of funky beats to get you through till the end of the year.
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Warm On A Cold Night (2016) HONNE If this album were to look like anything, it would be a candlelit romantic dinner. Soulful and relaxed, the British electronic duo shines through their sensual lyrics and slick tunes, promising to bring you on a smooth, sultry journey at every track. Faves: It Ain’t Wrong Loving You, Warm on a Cold Night, Coastal Love
8 ALBUMS
Flower Boy (2017) Tyler, The Creator Tyler, The Creator’s fourth studio album boasts of features by friends from both Odd Future and A$AP Mob. A perfect blend of 90’s old-school rap chords and Tyler’s trademark fast pace, this album is a perfect example of the new direction rap/hip-hop is looking toward. Possibly one of the best albums of this summer, the sunny vibes from this album is perfect for Singapore weather.
Cozy Tapes Vol. 2 (2017) A$AP Mob A$AP Mob’s second group effort proves even more fruitful than its first. This album is hilariously underrated and overlooked because of its association with the typical hypebeast on a night out. However, with some of rap’s biggest names – Joey Bada$$, Frank Ocean, Playboi Carti, and Quavo – as guest features putting in their two cents worth, this album does not fail to impress.
Freudian (2017) Daniel Caesar The Toronto based R&B artist swings into the scene strong with his debut album displaying the perfect blend between gospel and modern R&B. Thematically grounded in that of romantic sentiments, Caesar’s album flows from song to song seamlessly, keeping us drawn in with head-nodding beats accompanied by divine harmonies.
Painted Ruins, Grizzly Bear After a five-year long hiatus, the alt-rock outfit is back with their fourth studio album personifying a plethora of detailed emotion through intricate compositions. A blend of the band’s unique take on folk-rock, melded in with the synth lines you’d expect of dream pop, the album is bound to transport you to a drive through the alps. All-in-all, amazing and honest music.
WRITER’S PICKS: CHRISTIAN SNG
Days with Uncertainty (2014) The fin. Try imagining what an ethereal slur layered over strong bass sounds like. It’s tough, but this band delivers just that, and it’s confusing how they can be so good when you can hardly hear distinct words in their lyrics! And yes, they are actually strings of English words. Faves: Illumination, Night Time, Without Excuse
WRITER’S PICKS: TANVEEN VOHRA
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pale machine (2013) bo en Calum Bowen selects components from several genres and effectively mashes them up to create a vivid soundscape bordering on chaotic. Psychedelia-infused underground bitpop doesn’t even begin to describe the flurry of elements that shouldn’t be put together but somehow works under his composition. Faves: Miss You, Every Day, My Time
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GASTRONOMICAL
Gastronomical
Adventures
By Zachary Soh and Casia Chew We never thought we’d live to see a new food court open on campus (or a Subway® outlet, for that matter). While we are all grateful for the changes, sometimes even a juicy 6-inch turkey sandwich isn’t
enough to make eating in school appealing. We got your back; here are four restaurants near campus guaranteed to satisfy those study break cravings!
Ming Jia Korean BBQ
Bukit Timah Plaza 1 Jalan Anak Bukit #B1-55, S(588996)
Inconspicuously nestled in the basement of the outwardly boring Bukit Timah Plaza lies this Korean eatery, a humble place that seems to be a favorite haunt of Korean expatriates (which is solid proof that it’s the real deal). Despite the restaurant’s name, most diners opt for dishes that aren’t BBQ-related! From kimchi stews to bibimbap to jajangmyeon, this place has you covered. The flavours aren’t the only thing that mimic what you can find in Korea (our Korean friend agrees); the portion sizes (read: generous), the variety and prices do too! For less than $20, you’ll be able to get a heaping bowl of what The Land of the Morning Calm tastes like. If you’re not a big eater, do bring a friend to share a meal with – you’ll get to save money and not waste food!
Guzman y Gomez
The Star Vista 1 Vista Exchange Green #01-32, S(138617) Tacos, burritos, quesadillas - you name it, they got it. In this Mexican restaurant, you decide what goes into your meal. From grilled chicken, roasted pork to even grilled steak, there is a wide range of fillings that is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Whatever you select, you can be sure it’s going to be bursting with flavour (we especially love getting the triple tacos because then you get three options for fillings). The chips with guacamole ($5) is great as a side meal too – generous portions of chips and fresh-tasting dip!
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GASTRONOMICAL
Da Jie Niang Dou Fu 354 Clementi Avenue 2 #01-253, S(120354)
Yong tau foo is one of the simplest comfort food there is out there. Da Jie Niang Dou Fu happens to be one of the best ones we’ve seen around, and even better since it’s just a stone’s throw away from school. If you think yong tau foo is lame, you’ll be in for a surprise when you see how huge the pieces are! Of course, these overflowing pieces
come at a slightly higher price ($0.70 - $1), but we’re really getting what we pay for. They are also really generous with the soybeans, and that’s a sign that the soup tastes fantastic. With a large array of ingredients to pick, and several styles of sauces for you to choose from – Hakka, Ampang, tom yum, and laksa – the combinations are endless!
Viet Thai Food
Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre 20 Ghim Moh Road #01-72, S(270020) This hawker stall is a hidden gem. Tucked away at a corner of the elusive Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre near Buona Vista MRT station, it sells a variety of affordable Vietnamese and Thai dishes like spring rolls, papaya mango salad, and sliced beef noodle soup. But we specially recommend the $4 chicken noodle soup. We love everything about it – from the springy rice noodles to the generous servings of chicken, but it’s the soup that takes the cake! Clear, fragrant and rich, it’s comfort in a bowl. Try it and you’ll know what we mean. Pho real.
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STUDY TIPS
F What to do when you fail your midterms
) g n i y r C s e d i s e B (
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BY TANVEEN VOHRA & TRISH KAUR So you’ve failed your midterms. It’s okay. These things happen. In fact, midterm failure can happen to the very best of us. It’s okay, you can cry. Let it all out. We here at The Buffalo Horn have just what you need: the guide to getting through those failed midterms and getting your grades back up to where they need to be. Before we move on to our study tips and suggestions, we at The Buffalo Horn realize you probably feel like you would be 100% okay with getting hit by a bus if it meant no more university. However, in order to combat this depressive episode you should…
TREAT YO' SELF Go out! Hang out with your friends and dance away the pain. If that isn’t really your thing, you could always plan out a low budget Spa Day with your squad with some good ol’ Netflix and those $5 Avocado face packs from Sephora (for the guys who think this would degrade their masculinity — relax, no one ever died from hydrated skin, jeez). And if all that still doesn’t work for you, immerse yourself in some Retail Therapy. Always remember kids, the hole a C in class leaves behind can easily be filled with shopping! Now on to actually improving your grades…
STUDY FOR YOUR EXAMS
First things first, you have to identify just what you gotta do in order to get those grades back up. For many classes, this means getting a good grade on your final exams. So study up! Even if your friends and classmates mock you for trying too hard, shrug it off , show those exams who’s boss!
STUDY TIPS
Talk to your professor
Yes, we know, the last thing you want to do is talk to the professor who did you wrong and failed you on your midterm. But the thing about professors is, they love try-hards. Therefore, you must try hard! Talk to your professor and ask them where you went wrong and what you must do to do better on your next exam. It’s crazy how many hints professors drop for you when you stay after class to talk to them. If they see you really trying hard and ‘engaging with the material’, they will help you get to where you wanna go!
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
Next, you have to focus on the daily grind and the mountain of work your professors are bound to dump on you in order to keep you from bothering them about the midterm grades, or just to keep you down, man. This means having to actually doing those discussion questions and watching those 30-minute TED talks you’re assigned every night. It’s not easy, and if you hate your module or your professor, it’s not fun either, but you HAVE to fight off the urge to give in to the #1 enemy:
DON'T PROCRASTINATE!
Every college student’s nightmare and poison. If you can complete those busywork tasks and stay focused on the long term goal of acing the final in the class, the only thing standing in your way is the most dreaded part of any course — the actual studying. You can do this! This paper could be the crux of that final grade, and you have to do your best! If you work hard and drink your daily matcha latte, you’ll get through these trying times just fine. We believe in you.
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LIVE MUSIC SG
EMONIGHT(SG)
NOT A SIMPLE REHASH, BUT A REBRAND As I dug out my trusty old pair of black ripped Vans from the back of my shoe closet, I realized that this old totem stood for more than the function of standing with covered feet – it represents the totality of a phase that an entire generation went through, a phase of anti-establishment beliefs, and anti-actually-seeing haircuts best represented by the music we had listened to: Emo From Taking Back Sunday and Mayday Parade, to Bring Me The Horizon and Linkin Park (RIP Chester), the lyrics sung and shouted by these bands were anthems to my generation; speaking out against the norm, and perfectly expressing that particular brand of angst that we ‘90s kids are all too familiar with. Covering genres of Punk, Rock, Alternative, Post-
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BY CHRISTIAN SNG
Hardcore, Hardcore, Screamo, and countless others, the ‘umbrella-genre’ of Emo encapsulated music with confessional and expressive lyrics that spoke the unspoken words of a generation. There is a particular reason why I find myself dancing and drenched with perspiration every time I’m at Refuge, located in the basement of Singapore’s iconic CHIJMES. A particular reason I arrive in school on Friday mornings contented and without a voice from screaming lyrics to the anthems of my adolescence: EMONIGHT(SG), a party once a month, presented to us by the good folks over at the Look Ma, No Hands! collective that encapsulates the experience of being back in that era of emo. From the music, to the dresscode and the themes of each night, it is clear that the organizers are not merely trying to bring back the old tunes that a generation had kept so close to their hearts, but to introduce this amazing culture and its music to the new generations, including the people who did not grow up in said subculture.
Photos courtesy of Jared Rezel
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LIVE MUSIC SG
something right. How does it feel to know that everyone’s enjoying your night consistently?
On behalf of The Buffalo Horn, I had the privilege of speaking to the Look Ma, No Hands! team to find out about how and why the wheels turn behind EMONIGHT(SG), and their plans for the future. How did you guys come to the decision to bring EMONIGHT to Singapore? Bryan: Amelia and I were clearing out my old band tees that I can barely fit into from my closet (shout out to Peninsula and Image 2001) and we were just reminded of the good old emo days we had in secondary school and how the music really shaped who we are today. We thought it’d be cool to throw a party that encapsulated all of that nostalgia from the fashion to the music into one night. Pitched the idea to Edwin and Ritz over beers and that’s how the first EMONIGHTSG began. We weren’t even aware that there were already a bunch of emo-themed nights happening in the States. Why do you think the night resonates so well with our generation? Ritz: Who doesn’t? The people from our generation have grown up in the glory days of MTV, where rock and emo music were dominating the charts. Everyone wanted eyeliners, ripped black jeans, band t-shirts, and attended music concerts. So this was a chance for all those people who have grown up to relive those days. It’s amazing how packed it is every single EMONIGHT! You guys are definitely doing
Edwin: Pressurizing, in a good way! It’s definitely a great feeling to see so many people having the time of their lives at our parties because when we (Look Ma, No Hands!) first started EMONIGHTSG, we were only expecting our friends to show up. But part of the challenge (and the fun) for us is coming up with new ways to outdo ourselves each month so we can continue growing this community and give the people more reasons to come every single month. Guess it gets a lil’ repetitive sometimes when you have to focus on a singular genre - love how you guys combat this by having themed nights! Thoughts on this? Amelia: We always try our best to make the experience as immersive as possible — apart from the music, which is at the heart of our event; we constantly find other ways to connect people (those who know it and those who are experiencing it for the first time) to the music and the culture. Our themes are usually a parody of pop culture, which helps make our content more accessible to people who might be unfamiliar with what ‘emo’ is all about. Even something as simple as a theme, and seeing everyone come dressed according to the theme promotes a sense of camaraderie.That sense of closeness amongst strangers is something we value greatly. Where to from here! - Anything you’d like to share with us about what’s next? Bryan: The bigger dream for us would be to throw something of a larger scale be it a festival or block party. Who knows? Whatever it is, EMONIGHTSG is here to stay.
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