Candidates (Directors)

Running For Business Director

Chou Chan Sovita

Proposer: Pang Teck Hock, Aldan  

Seconder: Staines Boanerges Stephen

Rally Speech Summary

Sovita is a Year 2 Mathematical Sciences student running for the role of Business Director. She begins by expressing gratitude to everyone present, especially her proposer, seconder, and the outgoing Business Director, who have been an inspiration to her. Sovita is motivated to run for Business Director due to her appreciation of the welfare pack initiative, which she found memorable and meaningful during her first year in university. Knowing that the role involves liaising with sponsors, she aims to secure high-quality sponsorships to enhance the student experience with improved welfare packs. Additionally, she seeks to make SPMS a more vibrant and engaging community by giving students a voice and contributing to making their ideas a reality.

 

Sovita has relevant experience as the Assistant Events Director, where she handled proposal writing, event execution, and team collaboration. She has managed a Subcommittee and worked closely with other directors. Her role as Assistant Events Director also prepared her for the responsibilities of handling paperwork and negotiations, which is key to the exceling as a Business Director. Sovita enjoys interacting with people and has experience as a Group Leader during the Freshmen Orientation Programme, which further fuels her desire to enhance the student experience and promote pride in the welfare packs received. Sovita plans to attract more sponsors by collaborating closely with the Publicity Subcommittee to enhance SPMS Club’s social media presence. She proposes revamping the TikTok account, as many companies prefer being featured in videos and skits rather than just photos.

Rally Q&A Summary

Do you have any ideas to improve sponsorship sourcing?

Sovita proposed creating engaging content like skits for social media instead of just using pictures. She also plans to reach out to more sponsors and negotiate on the types of sponsorships.

What are your thoughts on the current job scope of the Business Subcommittee and how do you plan to involve them more?

Sovita wants to involve the Subcommittee more in sourcing sponsors and proposal writing, making their role more significant beyond just executing events.

How would you carry over what you have learnt from leading the Events Subcommittee and how you lead the Business Subcommittee differently?

Sovita plans to involve the Subcommittee more in event planning to enhance engagement and bonding, rather than just having them execute tasks.

What kind of sponsorships do you intend to source?

Sovita will work with the Student Life division and use tools like Google Forms to gather students’ preferences for sponsorship types.

What exactly does the Business Subcommittee do, and what can your Subcommittee members expect to learn by working under you?

Sovita wants to involve her Subcommittee members in sourcing sponsors and proposal writing, providing them with broader experience and a better understanding of the Management Committee.

You mentioned earlier that you want more high-quality sponsors. What do you consider to be high-quality sponsors?

Sovita believes the difference between high-quality sponsors and low-quality sponsors are how much substantial benefits they are offering. For instance, things like practical items or vouchers with no minimum spend, rather than just standard vouchers.

How do you plan to attract companies and organisations for more high-quality sponsorships?

Sovita aims to improve the Club’s visibility through creating engaging content on platforms like TikTok and work with the Publicity Subcommittee to showcase what the Club can offer.

How do you plan to use TikTok to convince sponsors that they can widen viewership despite the SPMS Club’s TikTok account being new?

Sovita wants to build up viewership first by posting frequently, and says that it is not possible to determine the effectiveness of this approach without taking the initial step to implement it.

Do you plan to help the Freshmen Orientation Programme (FOP) find sponsors?

Sovita believes that the FOP is great opportunity to garner even more sponsorships as a new batch of students matriculate into the school which is good for increasing viewership.

How do you ensure that your Subcommittee members perform their roles consistently?

Sovita will perform a thorough selection process and ensure that her Subcommittee members are bonded. She acknowledges that it is still possible that some may remain unengaged, but will still try her best to do so.

What themes do you plan to have for future Back-to-School events?

Sovita suggests that having each portfolio can host a booth during Back-to-School events to introduce and expose students to the SPMS Club.

How do you intend to improve the current logistical processes for the welfare packs, from sourcing sponsors to giving the packs to students?

Sovita supports the idea of using a room for students to collect the items in the packs by themselves, thereby reducing the need for manual packing by Subcommittee members.

How do you plan to maintain a good relationship with sponsors so that they are willing to sponsor again?

Sovita believes that maintaining genuine, respectful communication, and delivering on promises will build trust and encourage future sponsorships.

How do you plan to make SPMS Club more attractive to sponsors, big and small?

Sovita believes that improving the social media presence of the Club and showing consistent, meaningful results will make the Club more appealing to sponsors.

Running For Events Director

Li Jiayi Jamie

Proposer: Amar Sham Nair S/O Mohd Azhar

Seconder: Om Sardar

Rally Speech Summary

Jamie, a Year 2 Mathematical and Computer Sciences student, is running for Events Director and expresses her gratitude to everyone present and to the outgoing Events Director for her inspiring leadership.

Jamie is motivated by a passion for bringing people together and aims to create a vibrant and memorable SPMS experience. With extensive experience in organising school-wide events from secondary school and junior college, Jamie has developed strong organisational skills, flexibility, and adaptability, which she believes are essential for the role of Events Director.

Jamie has also gained valuable insights from being a Subcommittee member and participating in the planning of the recent SPMS Club Dinner and Dance. This experience has provided her with a better understanding of the Club’s operations and what it takes to make events successful. Jamie is confident in handling communication with other faculties for events like Inter-School Games and is committed to effective team collaboration.

Despite challenges, such as not being a morning person and shyness, Jamie is dedicated to putting in her maximum effort into event planning and execution. Jamie values listening to feedback and ensuring events reflect student interests. Emphasising teamwork and collaboration, Jamie aims to create an environment where ideas are valued, and creativity thrives.

Jamie is enthusiastic about leading with energy and dedication, and hopes that people vote for her to make future events exceptional.

Rally Q&A Summary

Since you have experience as a Subcommittee member, how can you improve the experience for your own Subcommittee members?

Jamie plans to give her Subcommittee members the opportunity to choose and plan events they are interested in, promoting more active involvement and commitment.

What events do you plan to introduce?

Jamie wants to reintroduce more sports-related events, potentially collaborating with the House Committee to increase outreach.

Since you have a passion for bringing people together, why did you choose to run for Events Director and not House Director?

Jamie acknowledges the value of smaller-scale events, but prefers working on larger-scale events due to personal fulfilment, having done so since secondary school.

How do you plan to improve on existing events like Halloween and Lunar New Year?

Jamie plans to reach out to students to get more feedback regarding how to better tailor the events to the student body. She also plans to make each event more interactive instead of just having stations where students briefly skim and glance through.

How do you plan to make events livelier in SPMS, especially with the departure of the Chemistry and Biological Chemistry course from the school?

Jamie believes that good publicity is important to attract SPMS students to attend events. Further, she wants to improve the overall presence of her events by placing more effort into decorating the MAS Atrium.

How do you plan to cope during periods with multiple events?

Jamie is confident in her time management ability and believes that this is the key to coping with the workload.

As the Events Director, you will have the largest Subcommittee in SPMS Club. How do you plan to effectively manage them to minimise the workload for everyone?

Jamie re-emphasises her strategy to involve her Subcommittee members in the planning stage of her events instead of just having them appear for the event execution itself. She believes that this will not only reduce the workload for the Events Director, but also actively engage the Subcommittee members and make them feel more included.

You mentioned earlier that you intend to allow your Subcommittee members choose the events they want to plan. What would you do if a majority of them choose to plan one event, like the Inter-School Games?

Jamie intends to have her Subcommittee members rank their top three choices. She will allocate them accordingly to ensure that there will be sufficient manpower planning each event.

How will you handle unexpected issues, like vendors not delivering on time or Subcommittee members suddenly not showing up?

Jamie intends to have back-up plans for these scenarios, including communicating with the planning committee and finding temporary help from other portfolios to fill the manpower gap if necessary.

How do you intend to gather more people to sign up for the Inter-School Games?

Jamie intends to publicise the event widely, possibly hosting an SPMS Club Sports Day event before the Inter-School Games, to build interest. She will also consider personally reaching out to potential participants to represent SPMS.

Will there be dancing at the next SPMS Club Dinner and Dance?

Jamie is considering adding dance to the next Dinner and Dance, based on previous feedback and interest.

Running For House Director

Ong Kai Jun

Proposer: Iestin Yap Xiu Qi  

Seconder: Wong Ding Xuan  

Rally Speech Summary

Kai Jun, a Year 2 Physics student, is running for the House Director position. He expresses gratitude to his proposer, seconder, and the outgoing House Director for her inspiration.

Kai Jun shares his background, noting his prior experience as a House Representative and a Group Leader during the Freshmen Orientation Programme (FOP). Previously inactive and introverted, Kai Jun has embraced university life and is motivated by the opportunity to plan events and foster connections among students. This inspiration drives his desire to become House Director, as he values the House System deeply.

Kai Jun’s vision is to transform each House into a home by supporting and empowering House Captains and Representatives. He aims to turn their ideas into reality and create opportunities for them to build stronger Houses. Additionally, Kai Jun plans to enhance interactions among the four Houses through collaborative events and opportunities for cross-House bonding. He also wishes to involve mentors and faculty in House events, seeing them as valuable contributors to the community.

Despite his limited experience compared to previous House Directors, Kai Jun emphasizes his passion and commitment to building a supportive and engaging House system. He asks for votes to support his vision of fostering belonging and creating a nurturing environment within the SPMS Club Houses.

Rally Q&A Summary

How would you encourage more mentors to participate in events?

Kai Jun plans to engage with mentors through genuine interaction and by showing real interest in their lives. He believes that connecting on a personal level is key, as mentors can relate well with students when given the opportunity. He also plans to invite professors in groups to bridge any conversational gaps and facilitate meaningful interactions.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Kai Jun identifies his lack of creativity as a weakness but sees the support system in his role as House Director as a way to overcome this limitation. He also mentions overcoming his introversion by stepping out of his comfort zone, inspired by friends and mentors.

How will you remain impartial while managing all four Houses?

Kai Jun emphasises his objective approach. He acknowledges the responsibility of making decisions that affect everyone and trusts in his ability to remain unbiased.

How will you bridge the gap between the House Committee and the other Subcommittees?

Kai Jun is open to collaboration and aims to integrate House more closely with the rest of SPMS Club, leveraging his experience as both a House member and an SPMS student.

How do your House events differ from other large-scale events?

Kai Jun explains that House events focus on the distinct cultures within each house, whereas larger events, like the SPMS Club Dinner and Dance, lack this cultural segregation but offer broader participation.

What is your ideal working relationship with your House Captains and the Vice-President (Student Life)?

Kai Jun values collaboration with the House Captains for creative event planning and sees the Vice-President (Student Life) as a partner in addressing broader issues while maintaining firm boundaries when necessary.

What plans do you plan to make for the Houses and FOP?

Kai Jun wants to strengthen the bond between the four Houses and increase the competitive spirit in FOP events. He believes in fostering a supportive environment where all Houses can collaborate and grow together.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of your term?

Kai Jun envisions a well-connected SPMS community where students from different Houses interact and maintain good relations. His approach includes pushing for more collaborative events and nurturing a sense of belonging.

How do you plan on increasing participation for House events?

Kai Jun plans to leverage the support of House Captains and House Representatives, who know their members well, to foster engagement. He also supports using existing resources and collaborating with other portfolios for added exposure.

How do you plan to rely on the SPMS Club Operations division for your events?

Kai Jun appreciates the support provided by the Publicity Subcommittee and hopes they will continue taking excellent photos and preserving event memories. For the Logistics Subcommittee, he wishes for assistance in manpower to support House events.

Actually, photos are taken by the House Representatives themselves and not the Publicity Subcommittee. Do you think this practice should continue?

Upon reconsideration, Kai Jun prefers House Representatives to continue taking photos for their events. This not only reduces the workload on the Publicity Subcommittee but also ensures that the photos are unique, as the House Representatives are closer to the participants and can capture moments that might otherwise be missed.

Historically, House Directors have always hosted unique events during their term. Will you be continuing this practice and what will it be?

Kai Jun acknowledges the need to review past events for inspiration. He plans to consider fresh ideas based on what has already been done and the interests of the community.

What will you do to prevent burnout among the members in the House Committee?

Kai Jun emphasises the need to be firm about commitments and to prioritise the well-being of his Committee while supporting SPMS as a whole.

How will you engage House members who miss the FOP?

Kai Jun suggests inviting them personally and being encouraging to ensure they feel welcomed and included in House events. He aims to offer a positive introduction to the SPMS community.

Running For Logistics Director [Contested]

Tan En Qi

Proposer: Winona Ong Fei Xuan

Seconder: Nicole Liew Ke Xuan  

Rally Speech Summary

Tan En Qi, a Year 1 Mathematical Sciences and Economics student, is running for Logistics Director and outlines three main points: why she wants to join the Management Committee, why she is suitable to be the Logistics Director, and her plan for the student lounge and logistics room.

En Qi initially planned to join a sports CCA, but shifted towards contributing through SPMS Club instead due to a positive change in her perception of SPMS. She values the wholesome, kind community she encountered during the Freshmen Orientation Programme, which motivated her desire to join the club.

En Qi highlights her suitability for the role by citing her experience as the Vice-President of the student council in secondary school, where she managed logistics, conducted stock checks, maintained the student council room, and liaised with teachers and students. She believes that her adaptability, time management, and interpersonal skills will enable effective collaboration within the Logistics Subcommittee and with other Subcommittees.

For improvements, En Qi plans to enhance the cleanliness and safety of the student lounge by addressing issues like poor ventilation, clutter, and maintenance. She proposes checking and improving ventilation, installing air fresheners, and conducting regular facility checks. Additionally, she intends to utilise the budget to refurbish games, liaise with the Welfare Subcommittee to add more games, and encourage donations of unused games. She also plans to organise and shift the books from the lounge to the corridor outside the lounge to declutter the space.

En Qi concludes by asking for votes to bring about these changes and improve the student lounge.

Rally Q&A Summary

How do you plan to manage yourself and your Subcommittee for the betterment of the SPMS Club logistics, given the timeliness required?

En Qi will allocate tasks among Subcommittee members to ensure an even workload. She plans to use an Excel sheet to assign roles and manage tasks, ensuring that no one person is overwhelmed.

What sets you apart from other candidates running for Logistics Director?

En Qi believes her fresh perspectives allow her to introduce new ideas and solutions. She is eager to learn from experienced Management Committee member and collaborate with her Subcommittee for improvements.

How do you plan to adapt to university life while handling this role?

En Qi relies on her strong time management skills to balance her academic responsibilities and her role as Logistics Director, if elected. She avoids procrastination and plans to prioritise tasks effectively.

How would you improve the cleanliness of the student lounge beyond using air fresheners and checking the ventilation?

En Qi proposes placing reminders in the student lounge to encourage users to keep it clean. She also suggests assigning a Subcommittee member to perform by-weekly cleanliness checks and monthly safety checks.

How will you enforce accountability of logistical equipment and cleanliness of the student lounge?

En Qi plans to implement weekly checks and store games in a locked room with a QR code system for borrowing. She acknowledges the challenge of ensuring accountability and believes it largely depends on users’ integrity.

If there were games which were borrowed but not returned, what would you do?

En Qi acknowledges that tracking missing items without CCTV footage is difficult but emphasises the importance of users taking responsibility. She suggests encouraging students to bring their own games if they want to play.

How do you plan to manage yourself and your Subcommittee for the betterment of the SPMS Club logistics, given the timeliness required?

En Qi will allocate tasks among Subcommittee members to ensure an even workload. She plans to use an Excel sheet to assign roles and manage tasks, ensuring that no one person is overwhelmed.

Will you require Subcommittee members to come back during the summer break for lounge checks?

En Qi plans to have only one person from the Subcommittee responsible for checks during the summer break. She will consider the inconvenience of those who do not stay on-campus.

How do you intend to work with the House Captains and the House Director for logistical equipment needs?

En Qi intends to have House Captains submit equipment requests through an Excel sheet, detailing the purpose and duration. She will review the requests, plan accordingly, and arrange for their return as well as item condition checks.

What are your plans for improving the printing room?

En Qi suggests organising the printing room with shelves categorised by item types, so that the process of locating items is simplified, thereby ensuring efficient event planning and execution.

How would you inspire your team to support your vision?

En Qi intends to explain the reasoning behind her solutions to her Subcommittee and encourage their input. She aims for collaborative decision-making to ensure everyone feels included and motivated.

How will you maintain the standards of the logistics room in conjunction with the Freshmen Orientation Programme Logistics Subcommittee?

En Qi emphasises the importance of communication. She suggests using an Excel sheet to track borrowed items, ensuring clarity on item status and return times, and maintaining cleanliness through mutual understanding.

Running For Logistics Director [Contested]

Tan Yen Zhen

Proposer: Lai Jun You 

Seconder: Tan Yi Shi Bryant

Rally Speech Summary

Yen Zhen is running for the Logistics Director of the SPMS Club and expresses gratitude to his proposer, seconder, and the outgoing Logistics Director for their support. He promises to account for all logistics equipment by creating detailed lists and tracking equipment to minimise loss. He plans to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment by evaluating and sorting needs before and after events. He is committed to supporting SPMS Club Subcommittees with manpower issues to ensure smooth event execution. With experience as a former Logistics Subcommittee member, Yen Zhen has a solid understanding of the responsibilities of the Logistics Director. He hopes that everyone will give him their votes.

Rally Q&A Summary

How will you enforce the accountability of logistical equipment by the Subcommittee?

Yen Zhen plans to create and maintain a list of all items, counting each one, and recording the details in an Excel sheet. Items will be sorted by event and type for accurate tracking.

Do you think there are enough shirt sale events throughout the Academic Year?

Yen Zhen believes that having two shirt sales per year is sufficient. By analysing past data when he is elected, he will adjust the stock levels to match trends and avoid excess inventory.

How do you intend to improve merchandise sales and the sales procedures?

Yen Zhen intends to work with the Publicity Subcommittee to enhance sales promotions and following existing procedures for sales and order correction, making adjustments as needed.

Do you intend to assist during large House events and how?

Yen Zhen is prepared to provide manpower for large House events and will follow the specific instructions from the House Director and House Captains.

Is it feasible for the Logistics Subcommittee to help out for all House events?

Yen Zhen believes that it depends on the overlap between the Logistics and House Subcommittee job scopes. He will assess the feasibility based on the specific needs of the event and the workload.

What about for smaller House events, especially considering their frequency?

Yen Zhen believes it would be best to consult the current Logistics Director about this matter. He will manage the resources based on necessity.

What should the working relationship between the Freshmen Orientation Programme (FOP) Logistics Subcommittee and the SPMS Club Logistics Subcommittee look like?

Yen Zhen is unsure about the specific role of the FOP Logistics Subcommittee, but plans to communicate with them to better understand their responsibilities and ensure effective coordination.

What about for handling equipment loans by other clubs in SPMS?

Yen Zhen will follow existing procedures for checking out and returning equipment, ensuring items are accounted for and are in good condition.

What do you think you can do better than the previous Logistics Director?

Yen Zhen believes that he will be able to do better planning before event executions, resulting in less confusion.

How do you intend to improve the management of the logistics room?

Yen Zhen wants to re-organise items and re-plan the layout of the logistics room for better accessibility and efficiency, considering both current and future needs.

What are your thoughts on having an online inventory system?

Yen Zhen sees the value in an online inventory system but wants to assess security and data integrity before implementation.

How will you gauge the job scope and the utilisation of the Subcommittee to ensure smooth operation?

Yen Zhen plans to distribute tasks based on workload and ensure his Subcommittee members handle their responsibilities efficiently. He will monitor and adjust as necessary.

How do you plan to manage the SPMS student lounge in terms of cleanliness, facilities, and bookings?

Yen Zhen will conduct monthly cleanliness checks, manage bookings by informing users of scheduled booking periods, and ensure that the lounge remains organised and accessible.

What qualities do you have that will help you stand out from other candidates running for Logistics Director?

Yen Zhen believes in being open-minded and listening to ideas from his Subcommittee members. He emphasises his commitment to responsibility and collaboration.

What have you learnt as a Logistics Subcommittee member for the past year?

Yen Zhen believes he has learnt to avoid being passive in discussions, and now actively contributes suggestions and improve from being a passive listener to a proactive problem solver. He aims to enhance planning and organisation in logistical tasks.

How feasible is it for you to set up and organise a logistical list for tracking items?

Yen Zhen considers it feasible by categorising items based on events and tracking them accordingly, using past data to refine this approach.

Running For Publicity Director

Aldrich Chiong Zhi Xuan

Proposer: Tan Kian Yang Lynst 

Seconder: Emily Wong Wei

Rally Speech Summary

Aldrich, a Year 3 Mathematical Sciences student, is running for Publicity Director. He emphasises his passion for photography and graphic design, showcasing his favourite photos as a key focus of their presentation. Aldrich highlights his experience with photography, videography, and editing, and expresses a willingness to incorporate feedback to improve SPMS Club’s social media presence.

Aldrich’s relevant experience includes being the Media Resource Secretary and Vice-Chairperson for Production of Hall 13, where he managed social media, produced creative content, and led a photography workshop. He also contributed as a videographer and graphic designer for Hall 13’s Orientation Publicity and Publications Main Committee and other SPMS and Hall events. 

Aldrich invites voters to connect with them over shared interests, such as anime and manga, and asks for their support to bring his skills and creativity to the role of Publicity Director.

Rally Q&A Summary

How would you manage the various social media accounts of the SPMS Club, like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, and the Club website?

Aldrich plans to work with the Business Subcommittee to understand the requirements for sponsored content before strategising the use of each platform. Instagram and Facebook will be linked for consistency in publicity and sponsored posts. YouTube will be utilised for collaborations with other SPMS Club Subcommittees to publicise their events. For TikTok, he plans to explore how it can boost visibility and will check with other portfolios on their publicity needs.

What are the responsibilities of the Publicity Director?

Aldrich believes that the main responsibilities are ensuring timely posting of sponsored content, supporting other portfolios with their publicity needs, and designing graphics for various platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

How will you manage the Subcommittee and distribute the workload?

Aldrich plans to implement a strategy he has previously employed, where understanding each member’s strengths and interests helps him to decide how to allocate tasks efficiently as well as introducing shift work and task delegation.

What can the next Publicity Subcommittee learn from the current one?

Aldrich believes that many platforms are underutilised and believes improvements could be made by increasing engagement and better utilising existing resources. He acknowledges that, while Instagram stories and posts are well done, there is room for enhancement.

How do you plan to cover all bases of social media and design, given your background in photography and videography?

Aldrich reiterates that his skills are not limited to photography and videography, and he has experience in social media and design. Nonetheless, he plans to find an assistant director who specialises in design and to utilise passionate subcommittee members for design tasks. If suitable candidates cannot be found, he will leverage tools like Canva Pro to assist and will tap into the resources available to NTU students and use them to learn these skills from scratch if necessary.

How will you attract people to join your Subcommittee, given that publicity has a high skill floor?

Aldrich believes that by reaching out to passionate students with a keen interest in design and the arts and offering to teach them, he can attract members to the Subcommittee. He emphasises the importance of passion and a willingness to learn.

In previous speeches, many candidates expressed their interest in collaborating with the Publicity Subcommittee. How do you plan to manage the increased workload?

Aldrich plans to balance the workload by dividing tasks among his Subcommittee and collaborating with other portfolios. He suggests that if the workload becomes overwhelming, individual Subcommittees could assist with some publicity and design tasks.

Is there a particular social media platform that you will be focusing on?

Aldrich intends to prioritise Instagram, Telegram, and the main website for engagement while also boosting activity on other platforms.

The candidate running for Business Director expressed interest in using TikTok to attact sponsors. How do you think you can support this, given your background in videography?

Aldrich suggests that before attracting sponsors via TikTok, SPMS Club needs to establish a strong presence on the platform. He proposes using trends and engaging content to boost visibility and encourages collaboration from committee members to enhance TikTok’s impact.

Do you intend to bring back the “(A)S(K)PMS video series? Do you have any new initiatives you want to introduce?

Aldrich believes in revitalising existing content before introducing new initiatives. He suggests connecting TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for short-form content to engage with students. He does not have new ideas at the moment but emphasises the need to first reestablish rhythm and momentum for the current platforms.

You mentioned that the Publicity Subcommittee will be involved in designing Instagram posts. Will you be extending this to the House Committee?

Aldrich is open to offering support to the House Committee, including sharing materials and providing guidance on improving their House’s publicity. He suggests providing basic resources and training rather than lending expensive equipment.

Do you have any other commitments? How do you plan to balance them?

Aldrich currently has commitments related to his hall and D&D Subcommittee, which will be concluding soon. He believes he can fully focus on SPMS Club and his studies moving forward.

Would you allow the House Committee to borrow publicity equipment?

Aldrich is willing to lend basic photography resources and offer training on using them but prefers not to lend expensive equipment.

How many workshops do you plan to hold?

Aldrich plans to hold at least one workshop for the Subcommittee and encourages interested members to sign up as well.

Running For Welfare Director

Natasha Alexandra Japardi

Proposer: Koh Ke Nee  

Seconder: Ryan Paulo Perez Mendoza

Rally Speech Summary

Natasha, a Year 2 Mathematical Sciences student, is running for Welfare Director and begins by expressing gratitude to the audience for attending her rally.

Natasha outlines her extensive organizational experience, including roles as Assistant Welfare Director of SPMS Club, involvement in the SPMS Freshmen Orientation Programme (FOP), and as a programmer for her hall FOP. She also served in the CAC Publicity and Publication Subcommittee, was an NTU Open House Hall and Campus Ambassador, and volunteered as a student ambassador for the NTU Full-Discovery College of Science Camp. Outside NTU, she contributed to Pelajar Indonesia NTU’s Welfare division, organizing activities like cooking sessions and events to support freshmen and foster community spirit.

Natasha’s commitment to welfare began in junior high school and was further developed through her role as Assistant Welfare Director. She gained valuable experience in event planning, administrative tasks, and liaising with external organizations. Notable projects included organizing Seniors Gathering Day, participating in Project Radiance, and engaging in various community service activities.

As Welfare Director, Natasha plans to build on previous initiatives and make improvements, focusing on collaborations with organizations such as NewLife Student Care and NTUC Health. She aims to enhance internal welfare activities and partner with mental health organizations.

Natasha concludes by requesting votes to support her vision and dedication to making a positive impact on the SPMS student body and the wider community.

Rally Q&A Summary

How do you plan to manage your academics and your role as Welfare Director?

Natasha has no other commitments this year besides her potential role as Welfare Director. She believes that strong time management is crucial for balancing academics and the director role. With her experience as an Assistant Welfare Director, she is familiar with the schedule and events, which will help her execute tasks more effectively.

What shortcomings did you experience as Assistant Welfare Director? How can you improve as Welfare Director?

As Assistant Welfare Director, Natasha was initially shy and preferred following instructions rather than initiating ideas. Over time, she became more proactive, moving beyond just following instructions, and now plans to introduce more volunteering activities for those in need.

What new external welfare events are you planning this year?

Natasha plans to organise a monthly volunteering event at children’s orphanages. This new initiative aims to provide ongoing support rather than one-time engagements, fostering a consistent bond with the children.

What changes and improvements do you plan to introduce during the planning stage of external welfare events?

Natasha has observed low participation and feedback about the venue distance. To address this, she is considering to provide transportation for volunteers and increase publicity to better engage students.

How feasible are monthly events, especially during the Academic Year? How will you encourage participation beyond providing transport?

Natasha believes that starting the Academic Year with clear publicity about the events will help students plan and become more interested. This approach aims to encourage greater participation.

How will you more effectively engage the student body and increase attendance at these welfare events?

Natasha plans to clearly explain the purpose and benefits of welfare activities so that students understand their value, beyond just fulfilling a commitment.

What can you do better than the previous Welfare Director?

Natasha appreciates the hard work of the previous Welfare Director but believes improvements can be made by being more selective during Subcommittee interviews. Her goal is to find more members who are genuinely passionate about welfare.

How will you handle accountability among Subcommittee members and ensure their participation in events, especially during university breaks?

Natasha plans to schedule events primarily during university term time to accommodate international students who are away during breaks. She also emphasises clear communication of roles and responsibilities to maintain accountability.

How will you address the low popularity of some internal events, like Mental Health Awareness Day?

Natasha proposes inviting a speaker or organising a workshop for Mental Health Awareness Day to provide more meaningful engagement and insights, rather than just a passive activity.

How do you plan to use the Welfare Subcommittee Instagram account more effectively?

Natasha plans to post more pictures from events, including before, during, and after, to increase engagement. She also aims to provide live updates and stories about ongoing projects.