Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2003

Perspectives f rom the Water Tower Hui Hon-yin President of the Representative Council of New Asia College Student Union 2002-2003 One-and-Only Collegiate System Hon - y in knew l i t t le else about the University before becoming a CU student apart from its having four colleges. After three years here, he is extremely fond of the University's unique collegiate system. Among other things, he is particularly impressed by their handling of student affairs. There are special provisions for non-residential students, and, as a boarder, he feels his needs have been thoroughly looked after. ‘In a large university with large student numbers, many student-related matters have to be shouldered by the colleges to ensure that student needs are well taken care of,' he remarked. Hon-yin has been an active member of many student associations. He was involved in organizing activities of the departmental society in his freshman year. In Year 2, wanting to further the reach of his service to his college, he became a board member of the New Asia College Student Union. This prepared him for presidency of the representative council of the New Asia College Student Union in his senior year. I n such capacities, Hon - y in tried to develop his own outlook on life and learn to do things his own way, and encouraged others to do the same. “‘Veterans” of the student union always want to pass on their ideals and values to their successors and I ' m no exception. But my experience also shows the importance of finding your own path and persisting in your beliefs rather than doing what the “veterans” tell you,' he said. Merits of University Traditions and Systems Hon-yin believes that the University's traditions are defined to a large extent by its colleges. ‘New Asia, Chung Chi, and United have very different college ethos while Shaw has been working hard to build its own in recent years. The University's uniqueness is nourished by allowing the distinct character of each college to flourish,' he said. He commends the University's emphasis on cultivating its Chinese heritage and its insistence on a bilingual and bicultural policy. Like many CUHK students before him, he has also benefited immensely from the University's general education programmes, which he likens to keys opening doors to different academic subjects. Chinese University Bulletin Spring • Summer 2003 18