Kiasuism at work

This blog is becoming easier and easier to write as time goes by. Just received the following email and just could not resist taking a dig at it.

Subject: Wednesday afternoons, UCL policy


Dear all,

Another reminder to everyone that all undergraduate teaching should finish
at 12.55pm on Wednesday afternoons and that graduate teaching after this
time should be avoided if at all possible.

Wednesday afternoons are extremely important for all our students, since
this is the time when they can take advantage of UCL's many opportunities
for personal development through taking part in extra curricular
activities. The need for teaching to finish at 12.55pm is especially acute
for those students taking part in field sports, since the completion of
matches and training in daylight hours is essential for the safety of the
participants.

I have learned that two Departments have scheduled undergraduate classes on
Wednesday afternoons and would be most grateful if these and, indeed, all
undergraduate classes scheduled for Wednesday afternoons could be
re-scheduled. If re-scheduling poses a problem, it is extremely important
that a decision to hold classes on Wednesday afternoons be discussed and
agreed with all students involved. If it proves absolutely impossible for
one reason or another to hold the classes at any other time but a Wednesday
afternoon, arrangements should be put in place for students who wish to
take part in extra-curricular activities on Wednesday afternoons.

The Wednesday afternoon policy is extremely important to our students and I
would ask you all to observe this policy. We should remember that several
of the league tables of universities are now taking into account sports
rankings. As the Sunday Times University of the Year, we clearly have a
position to defend...

With thanks to all for your cooperation in upholding this important policy.

Many thanks.
Michael Worton
Professor Michael Worton
Vice-Provost
email vp.arts@ucl.ac.uk
Tel 020 7679 7854
Fax 020 7916 8505

Pay special attention to the last paragraph. Now whoever said that only Singaporeans are kiasu are clearly way off the mark! This email is soooo kiasu!! Imagine your vice dean or whatever you call it in NUS sending an email to ALL undergraduates in NUS to say that "league tables of universities are taking into account sports rankings blah blah blah". Oh man that would immediately be picked up as kiasuism!! Hope you had a nice little chuckle at this email like I did. =)