Making the University's presence felt with much colour, vibrancy and fanfare - SMU made its symbolic move from the Bukit Timah campus to its new and permanent campus in Bras Basah.
On the morning of 31 July, a loud convoy of vehicles and buses with an entourage of SMU faculty, staff and students, made their way down Orchard and through Bras Basah and Stamford Roads to finally end at Campus Green, where SMU Chairman, Mr Ho Kwon Ping led the SMTU community into the heart of the University's brand new campus, bearing the SMU flag high.
"It has been a long wait for this moment but the moment is worth the wait," said Mr Ho. "Today marks a new chapter in this journey of success that SMU has enjoyed since it opened its doors to its very first undergraduates. This is a different kind of campus for a different kind of university - a place which will produce a new generation of graduates with the passion to make a difference and to shape the global business landscape."
The University had marked the end of its residency at the historical Bukit Timah campus with a solemn flag lowering ceremony earlier that morning, in contrast to the loud and celebratory parade that followed. "When SMU started its active university life, we were generously granted the use of this campus, which through its illustrious life has been home to other great educational institutions," remarked SMU President, Professor Howard Hunter.
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"SMU has certainly carried on the proud tradition of this campus, and I have no doubt that in another 75 years, when this Bukit Timah campus turns 150 years, many of SMU's community will be added to the list of great personalities who have walked its corridors." The same University flag was later raised proudly at the new Campus Green to a stirring musical performance by the SMU Symphonia.
“It is, in everyway, a ‘new
millennium’ campus, but
also a ‘living and breathing’ campus, alive with the
energy and vigour of our
student population, and
replete with optimism
and hope.”
SMU President, Prof Howard Hunter
The symbolic move formalised SMU's relocation to its 4.5 hectare, state-of-the-art campus, giving it the unique status of being Singapore's only university in the civic centre.
Carefully integrated into the cityscape, the campus took five years of planning and construction. A series of celebratory events will culminate with an official grand opening of the campus in January 2006, to be graced by guest-of-honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
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