NUS students' union calls for town hall meeting with review committee to get 'concrete answers'

SINGAPORE — The National University of Singapore Students' Union (NUSSU) has requested a town hall meeting with the university’s review committee on sexual misconduct, following an earlier meeting on April 25 with an NUS panel that left students feeling dissatisfied.

In an email addressed to NUS students on Thursday (May 2), NUSSU president Benjamin Loo said that NUSSU “acknowledges that the town hall did not meet the expectations of the students, resulting in a loss of confidence”.

“We share your frustration and disappointment at the lack of transparency and the absence of satisfactory answers to the questions raised last Thursday,” he added.

As such, NUSSU’s executive committee had submitted a request to NUS president Tan Eng Chye to convene another town hall meeting with members of the review committee so that “students can receive committal and concrete answers from the individuals who have true decision-making power”, said Mr Loo.

Calling for students to send in their concerns, questions and suggestions on the matter (//nuslistens [at] nus.edu.sg" target="_blank">nuslistens [at] nus.edu.sg), he added that “it is important that the Review Committee concludes with a report that is acceptable to all NUS students”.

The eight-member review committee comprises members from the NUS Board of Trustees, Singapore Management University president Lily Kong, NUS president Tan and three students, including NUSSU deputy student life secretary Richard Wang.

The first town hall meeting on April 25 was convened following a voyeurism scandal after NUS undergraduate Monica Baey took to Instagram to express her anger at the “light” punishment meted out to a fellow student. He had filmed her without consent when she was showering at Eusoff Hall last November.

As her posts went viral, her story was picked up by the media and triggered a public outcry.

NUS then convened a review committee to relook its disciplinary and support frameworks and held a town hall for students, while Education Minister Ong Ye Kung criticised NUS’ penalties against voyeurs as being “manifestly inadequate”.

But the town hall left many among the audience of more than 400 students and staff unhappy and dissatisfied. The panel was chaired by vice-provost of student life Florence Ling and included dean of students Peter Pang and counsellor Celestine Chua.

NUS students and staff members whom TODAY spoke to after last week’s meeting expressed discontent at how the event unfolded. They felt that insufficient time was given for attendees to raise questions and comments, and were unhappy that a request for the 90-minute session to be extended was rejected. Students were instead asked to voice their concerns via email.  

Other issues raised were that no member of the review committee was on the panel, and that NUS had not presented any suggestions or proposals and failed to tap on its wealth of academic resources.

In an email to students, staff and alumni on Wednesday, review committee chair Kay Kuok said that NUS is working on the concerns raised by students during the town hall and has increased student representation on the committee.

Madam Kuok added that the university is making progress on the commitments it announced on April 26, particularly those related to enhancing physical security in halls and residences across its campuses.