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Office of the Provost
PROVOST’S CIRCULAR
University Hall
Lee Kong Chian Wing UHL #05-01D
21 Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119077
Tel: (65) 6516 6688 Fax: (65) 6776 1956
Website: NUS - Home
26 March 2012
Dear Students,
Last month, one of our students, an undergraduate at the Faculty of Engineering,
posted offensive remarks about Singaporeans online. He has since been counselled
and has apologised unreservedly.
As the student had acted in a manner that was detrimental to the reputation and
welfare of the university community, his actions breached the NUS Code of Student
Conduct. A Board of Discipline was thus convened.
The Board of Discipline has ruled that his remarks were improper, insensitive and
disrespectful to the community. The remarks had also stirred up considerable
unease, distrust and ill-will within and beyond the university community. After careful
consideration, the Board of Discipline decided on the following penalties:
i. A community service obligation of 3 months, the details of which shall be
made known to him in due course. Upon satisfactorily completing the
community service obligation, he may be allowed to graduate, but no earlier
than the end of Semester 1, AY2012/2013;
ii. A fine of $3,000;
iii. An official reprimand.
The Board of Discipline’s decision sends a clear and strong signal that the University does not condone such actions. At the same time, as the administrator of his scholarship, the University has separately conveyed to him that his undergraduate scholarship benefits have been terminated for the final semester as his behaviour was unbecoming of a scholarship holder.
Beyond these decisions, it is hoped that the student will be able to learn important lessons from this incident and from the subsequent community service attachment.This incident is a regrettable one, but it serves to remind us of the conduct we collectively expect all members of this community to uphold. It provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the nature and tenor of dialogue and discussion which a respected and learned community should embrace, and reminds us that postings of offensive and disrespectful remarks on social media, forums and websites are inappropriate.
As a global university, we thrive best in an open and diverse environment in which
people from all walks of life, as well as different communities and countries, can
learn from one another, with mutual respect for each other. We are glad that the vast
majority of the NUS community embraces this. In particular, we look to our students,
as responsible and rational young adults, to uphold our values as a learning
community, and in the process, to make the University and your families proud.
Yours sincerely
Prof Tan Eng Chye
Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost
PVOCir(26Mar12).docx
PROVOST’S CIRCULAR
University Hall
Lee Kong Chian Wing UHL #05-01D
21 Lower Kent Ridge Road Singapore 119077
Tel: (65) 6516 6688 Fax: (65) 6776 1956
Website: NUS - Home
26 March 2012
Dear Students,
Last month, one of our students, an undergraduate at the Faculty of Engineering,
posted offensive remarks about Singaporeans online. He has since been counselled
and has apologised unreservedly.
As the student had acted in a manner that was detrimental to the reputation and
welfare of the university community, his actions breached the NUS Code of Student
Conduct. A Board of Discipline was thus convened.
The Board of Discipline has ruled that his remarks were improper, insensitive and
disrespectful to the community. The remarks had also stirred up considerable
unease, distrust and ill-will within and beyond the university community. After careful
consideration, the Board of Discipline decided on the following penalties:
i. A community service obligation of 3 months, the details of which shall be
made known to him in due course. Upon satisfactorily completing the
community service obligation, he may be allowed to graduate, but no earlier
than the end of Semester 1, AY2012/2013;
ii. A fine of $3,000;
iii. An official reprimand.
The Board of Discipline’s decision sends a clear and strong signal that the University does not condone such actions. At the same time, as the administrator of his scholarship, the University has separately conveyed to him that his undergraduate scholarship benefits have been terminated for the final semester as his behaviour was unbecoming of a scholarship holder.
Beyond these decisions, it is hoped that the student will be able to learn important lessons from this incident and from the subsequent community service attachment.This incident is a regrettable one, but it serves to remind us of the conduct we collectively expect all members of this community to uphold. It provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the nature and tenor of dialogue and discussion which a respected and learned community should embrace, and reminds us that postings of offensive and disrespectful remarks on social media, forums and websites are inappropriate.
As a global university, we thrive best in an open and diverse environment in which
people from all walks of life, as well as different communities and countries, can
learn from one another, with mutual respect for each other. We are glad that the vast
majority of the NUS community embraces this. In particular, we look to our students,
as responsible and rational young adults, to uphold our values as a learning
community, and in the process, to make the University and your families proud.
Yours sincerely
Prof Tan Eng Chye
Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost
PVOCir(26Mar12).docx
