Inquiry into orientation activities still ongoing, says NUS
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SINGAPORE — The disciplinary process launched by the National University of Singapore against students behind the controversial orientation activities for this year’s freshmen is still in progress and will be completed only next month, the NUS said on Thursday (Sept 22).
In a strongly-worded statement, it also refuted an “incomplete and factually inaccurate” article by The Straits Times, which reported on its website that the university had taken action against at least 14 students for their roles in these activities.
In July, NUS suspended selected student-organised freshmen orientation activities following a The New Paper report on increasingly sexualised activities at its orientation camps. The university had said that those responsible would face its board of discipline.
The NUS statement yesterday said the students involved had been informed of the board’s decisions, without giving details.
“If the students decide to appeal against the decisions, a Disciplinary Appeals Board (DAB) will be convened to consider their appeals. The decisions of the DAB are conclusive and binding on the students concerned,” it added.
Students involved in the disciplinary proceedings have been offered assistance by the NUS Faculty of Law’s Pro Bono Group.
Earlier yesterday, The Straits Times published a report on its website, claiming that a disciplinary board was convened at the start of this month, and that punishment meted out to the students involved ranged from “warnings without record to mandatory community service”.
In its statement, NUS listed these as among the details in the report that were “incomplete and inaccurate”.
The university also took issue with The Straits Times’ report for stating that the students were involved in organising or facilitating the orientation camps for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the students’ union, and that “all orientation activities were suspended on July 29”.
NUS clarified that the NUS Students’ Union Rag and Flag Activities, which were student-organised, and the freshmen inauguration ceremonies, which were co-organised with students, had proceeded as scheduled.
These activities were done along with freshmen welcome receptions by deans, heads of department and masters, as well as faculty and department briefings, the NUS statement added.
Singapore Press Holdings, which publishes The Straits Times, did not reply to TODAY’s queries about the NUS statement by press time.
Following the public uproar over the controversial activities, the university last month convened an Orientation Review Committee to review and make recommendations to “further improve freshmen orientation”.
The 14-member committee is chaired by Professor Tan Tai Yong, executive vice-president (academic affairs), Yale-NUS College.
Its members include faculty members, student leaders and alumni, and the committee is expected to submit its report in the middle of next month.
NUS said: “The university will be in a better position to address media queries when the entire disciplinary process is complete in October 2016.”
