NUS to deploy security staff, limit tourists' access to foodcourts

Moves to manage crowds come as student body calls for townhall to address concerns

- Gabrielle Chan, Kolette Lim and Fatimah Mujibah

The National University of Singapore (NUS) on Aug 16 announced measures to manage an influx of tourists to the campus, even as its student union body called for a town hall to address students' unhappiness.

In a circular signed by NUS associate provost for undergraduate education Daniel Goh, the university said that from Aug 19 to 30, security personnel will be stationed at selected bus stops to allow only students, staff and authorised visitors to board.

It will limit access to the UTown foodcourts only to these groups of people during peak hours.

These measures were among the proposals put forth by the National University of Singapore Students' Union (Nussu), who called for a town hall on Aug 21.

The influx, first reported earlier in 2024, saw students up in arms about overcrowding in canteens and on internal bus shuttles, among other issues. The complaints prompted the NUS administration to set up a pop-up visitor centre to better manage the flow of visitors.

In its Aug 16 circular, NUS said it was "aware that many independent tours are being offered and organised by freelance student guides" and measures to regulate such tours were being evaluated.

It reiterated that all students and staff are not allowed to help visitors gain entry to restricted areas such as student residences, laboratories and classrooms, and those who do so face disciplinary action.

NUS said in an Aug 14 circular it would be implementing "targeted measures to manage visitor traffic and reduce disruptions to teaching and student life activities".

Under a two-month pilot initiative, 40 undergraduates are being deployed as NUS student ambassadors, where they will be paid to educate tourists on etiquette on campus and lead guided tours.

NUS said its student ambassadors have guided over 25 tours and about 500 tourists since Aug 5.