EMBARGOED TILL 1630 HRS ON FRIDAY, 6 AUGUST 2004

1st GIANT PATCHWORK FLAG BY 2,000 STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE NATION’S 39^TH BIRTHDAY AND MULTI-RACIALISM:

“CELEBRATING THE REPUBLIC @ THE REPUBLIC”

6^TH AUGUST 2004 – SINGAPORE – Republic Polytechnic celebrates the nation’s 39^th birthday in distinctive style with its unfurling of a huge 8m wide bunting. The bunting—the height of a seven-storey building and weighing about 25 kg—includes 162 squares of red and white fabric bearing national symbols as well as expressions of pride and belonging to the polytechnic. Almost 2000 staff and students of The Republic witnessed and cheered on the unfurling of this giant flag as a fitting backdrop to the school’s National Day Observance Ceremony. The ceremony took place at 4.30 pm at The Republic’s Tanglin Campus on Kay Siang Road.

Singapore’s newest polytechnic—arguably Singapore’s most technologically advanced educational institution—is just two years old but has already managed to forge strong ties amongst staff and students that form the foundation for a dynamic and successful institution. The giant bunting is an apt and symbolic representation of these bonds.

“When it comes to RP spirit, we may be young but our spirit is definitely not wanting. Coming together to make this giant flag has demonstrated the deep wellspring of one-ness that The Republic has, even as we’d just turned two” said Professor Low Teck Seng, Principal and CEO of The Republic.

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CELEBRATING THE REPUBLIC @ THE REPUBLIC

Bunting contributions were submitted by academic and administrative centres, student clubs and interest groups, and sports teams. Regardless of their artistic abilities, the RP family came together to produce a huge visual celebration of community, institution, and nation. Recognition was given to the best decorated contribution in five categories (winners indicated in parentheses): Best Academic Unit (Centre for Culture & Communication), Best Administrative Unit (Office of Human Resources), Best Aesthetic Club (String Ensemble), Best Sports Club (Kayaking), Best Non-sports and Non-aesthetics Club (Rotaract Club).

RP’s celebratory bunting is also noteworthy for having been produced almost entirely in-house with efforts being coordinated by the Centre for Culture and Communication (CCC). “Our home-made bunting is truly a team effort and you cannot put a price tag on the fun we had and the friendships forged in putting this flag together,” said Dr Gan Su-lin, Deputy Director of the CCC. “This is community building and bonding, this is just one example of the RP family’s pride in our institution and our nation.”

CONTACT PERSON(S) FOR MEDIA:

Ms Le-Anne Lim

DID: 6510 3021

Fax: 6415 1310

lim_le_anne@rp.edu.sg