Joined by over 50 guests, Professor Brenda Yeoh (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) hosted the second FASS Alumni Dinner and walking tour at University Town on 21 March 2013.
With the completion of the Stephen Riady Centre, eight FASS undergraduates walked the alumni visitors through the centre as well as Educational Resource Centre and the residential colleges. The alum marveled at the beautiful architecture and impressive sports and social amenities.
Ms Sandra Buenaventura (B Soc Sci (Hons) Political Science 1975) shared her views on the new campus: “We were green with envy with the amenities and accommodation provided at UTown. We never had a 24-hours Starbucks, Sakae Sushi and a quaint Italian restaurant. We only had the 10pm push cart pau man; the sarabat stalls at Adam Road Hawker Centre, the Tuesday pasar malam at Kheam Hock road apart from of course the canteen, Union house and the hall food.”
The alumni also enjoyed dinner at Sapore Italiano, catching up with old friends and making new ones as well. It was a good opportunity to reminisce on the past. As Mr Sunit Singh (MA English Studies 2004) mentioned, “Attending the dinner brought back memories and I certainly would love to be a student now given what NUS has become.”
Entertainment for the evening was provided by a magician, a FASS alumnus no less, Mr Alexander Yuen (B Soc Sci (Hons) Psychology 2012). The dinner ended on a high note with many of the alum expressing a desire to return to reconnect with friends and faculty members, and revel in the ‘good old days’.
[FASS hopes to invite alumni to a tour/dinner at UTown each semester. Please contact reunion@nus.edu.sg if you are interested to visit]
Original Quotes
“Attending the dinner certainly brought back memories but I certainly would love to be a student now given what NUS has become.” – Sunit Singh (English Studies Class of 2004).
“There is a misconception that FASS Alumni activities are occasions to solicit donations and support for the Faculty. Neither are they just nostalgic trips down memory lane. I brought two former varsity classmates to the FASS Alumni Dinner on March 21st. They were pleasantly surprised.
The dinner like all other alumni activities provided us with an opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with long – lost varsity acquaintances. We shared our experiences with younger graduates and also learnt from them the new challenges that young graduates face these days. These networking and sharing sessions are indeed invaluable for personal and professional growth.
We were green with envy with the amenities and accommodation provided at U town. We never had a 24 – hour Starbuck, Sakae Sushi and a quaint Italian restaurant. We only had the 10pm. push cart pau man, the sarabat stalls at Adam Road Hawker centre, the Tuesday pasar malam at Kheam Hock road apart from of course the non-hostelite canteen, Union house and the hall food.” – Sandra Buenaventura (From the History, Geography and Political Science Class of 1974 and Political Science Class of 1975)