Past and present memories of College Green
In May, the President of Singapore S R Nathan officiated the opening of College Green alongside the NUS President Tan Chorh Chuan, Professor Wang Gungwu, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Dean Kishore Mahbubani and many illustrious former residents, current students and staff of the LKYSPP.
Formerly known as Dunearn Road Hostels (DRH), College Green (CG) today houses overseas students of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy hailing from over 40 countries. Reminiscing on his hostel days, President Nathan was pleased to return to visit DRH as it brought back many memories. “Students came from different races, faiths, with different ideas and idiosyncrasies, but we still made friends,” said President Nathan. Similarly, he hoped that the new residents of College continue that experience and develops a sense of camaraderie1. During the event, LKYSPPeak spoke to past and present residents about their most memorable moments living in College Green.
President S R Nathan met with with fomer DRH resident, Dr Lim Kuang Hui.
During the event, Donald Wyatt, Sheares Hall Non-Resident Fellow and 1959 President of the Student Union mentioned, “I enjoyed a long association with Dunearn Road Hostels. It held many dear memories for me, particularly the birth of my first daughter whose birth certificate was registered with the old Dunearn Road Hostel address”.
“I grew up in DRH while my Dad was the chief at the cook house. I was still very young when I saw the infamous ragging session. During one rag session, a group of 10 to 20 students were locked up together and abandoned in a cupboard for long hours often till 1 AM, leaving them totally exhausted.” remarked Betty Goh, from the Sheares Hall Alumni Office and former Dunearn Road Hostel resident while looking at the old hostels photos on display at the event.
Two MPP seniors (09/11) were also invited to share about their favourite moments living in College Greenn. Ambar Widiastuti, remarked “I love the times spent having dinner and studying together before the exams. I love the times celebrating multiple birthday on different nights. Living in CG makes me feel loved”. Reuben Hinz from the US said, “By living with each other we learn so much more about the nuances and subtleties of other cultures than we ever could in a classroom setting. We also have a chance to celebrate cultural events together and develop bonds that will last long after we have forgotten much of what we learned during our classes”.
- by Bernard “Berno” Oh MPP 09/11
1 http://newshub.nus.edu.sg/headlines/0410/green_13Apr10.php
