[13 February 2006]
SMU marks sixth Patron's Day at new city campus

Singapore, February 13, 2006 – Singapore Management University (SMU) celebrates its sixth birthday today at its annual Patron's Day. Held at its new city campus in Bras Basah, the celebration is graced by His Excellency, President S R Nathan who is also Patron of SMU. It is President Nathan's first visit to the new SMU city campus.

An annual event, Patron's Day for SMU is commemorated as an event for the university's Board of Trustees, management, faculty, staff and students to interact on a social basis and to reflect on a year of remarkable milestone achievements. In January this year, the university marked its official opening of the new city campus. For an academic institution with a short history, the move to the heart of the city represented the most significant development to date for Singapore 's first and only autonomous tertiary institution. With the new $450 million, 4.5-hectare city campus which is purpose-built to SMU's pedagogy, the university's appeal to students seeking an all-rounded and well-balanced education is further enhanced.

Using the joyous occasion to thank staff and students involved in making the official opening a resounding success, Professor Howard Hunter, President of Singapore Management University, said “The Board and Management are proud of your efforts, your incredible display of talents and underlying it, all the strength and spirit of unity at SMU that were exhibited to the Singapore community.”

In the speech by Mr Ho Kwon Ping, Chairman of SMU, it was noted that SMU is a university which prides itself on contributing positively to the wider society, and has started to make its mark as a socially conscious institution on several fronts. These include the field of the arts with its Visual Arts Initiative; public guest lectures with the Presidential Distinguished Lecturer Series that offer global perspectives and insights on current affairs; and leadership in social innovation with the setting up of Asia 's first Centre for Social Innovation in collaboration with Lien Foundation, among others.

Aside from acknowledging these accomplishments, President S R Nathan also presented the SMU University Student Life Awards to honour outstanding students who have achieved both academic excellence and exceptional performance in various CCA categories, contributing to the vibrant student life in SMU.

Even with the long list of achievements, Professor Hunter said the university will not rest on its laurels and rallied the SMU community. He said, “We have many more goals we want to achieve and challenges that we have to overcome at SMU. I look forward to your continued participation and support to make our dreams a reality.”

In keeping with SMU's community's irrepressible joie de vivre outlook, the city campus is drenched in a boisterous and colourful celebratory mood as students, staff and faculty alike revel in an afternoon of non-stop games, activities, dance and martial art performances, all set in a bazaar and carnival-like atmosphere. Students display their CCA achievements and there are bazaars and stalls with challenging games like rodeo machine, bungee trampoline, dunking machine, archery, combat laser, abseiling, rapelling and inline skating. Among the stage performances is a multi-cultural display of Muay Thai boxing, Bollywood dancers, a Mardi Gras parade and a Tug Of War where President Nathan sounds the air-horn in good tradition. Patron's Day rounds off with a rousing rock concert on the campus green as the SMU community parties the evening away.