On November 4, 2010, J-on conducted two separate polls on its website to get feedback from students' on their preference for their convocation venue. The poll ran for a week, until November 11, 2010.

For the first poll, respondents were asked what is the most important thing that they would consider for their convocation venue. Of the 359 respondents, more than half or 190 respondents said that a nice environment would be the most important. Another 113 respondents or 31% wanted easy access and facilities for their convocation.

In the second poll, a total of 383 respondents were asked which location would they prefer their convocation to be at. Three quarter of respondents or 292 picked Kampar as their choice while another 55 respondents or 14% had Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur as their choice.

While a large portion of respondents selected Kampar as their preference (76%) the significant number of respondents that chose easy access as their priority (31%) indicates that some respondents do not acknowledge the logistical challenges.

However those who opt for a natural scenery for their convocation still make up the majority of respondents (52%).

The poll is a non-scientific poll but measures were put in place to improve accuracy.

The poll is meant for final year students however acknowledging that for some readers, the poll may just be too tempting to resist, a "I'm not a final year student" option was added to reduce sampling error.

Also the poll uses cookies, meaning that users may only vote once per internet browser type per computer.

The poll was created with the intention of gauging the opinion of students' and to provide students a say on their preferred convocation venue, particularly since to our knowledge, no final decision has been made by UTAR management.

J-on also invited readers to express their opinion on this matter, and have received several feedback and ideas which can be read here.

The general trend is that those favouring Kuala Lumpur find it more convenient, particularly those living in Sabah and Sarawak on top of the abundance of entertainment centres.

Those who prefer Kampar generally has a sense of attachment to the place which have seen them through for three years and its natural scenery is another plus.

We acknowledge that UTAR management has its managerial challenges in deciding the most suitable place for the convocation of January '08 degree intake students, ranging from convocation hall, transportation and lodging.

However, for many students, convocation is a defining moment in their lives, and not just another managerial issue. Also, there have been some constructive suggestions from the students, such as an open air convocation ceremony.

While UTAR management has its logistical concerns, we urge that the management to kindly take into account the sentiments of the students in its decision making process.

We also call on the Student Representative Committee (SRC) to assist in passing on the results to the management.

By Eugene Kok Li-Jin

Photos by Oh Chin Eng

Kampar, November 16 (J-on) - Around 13 light strike force police kept a hawk’s eye at McDonald’s in response to a cake party organised for “1M Malaysians Reject 100-storey Mega Tower” Facebook group.

However it proved to be an overreaction as police equipped with batons outnumbered attendees which only numbered at six, two of which were the organiser's uncle and auntie who had come down from Ipoh to lend their support.

Observation showed the pressence of a police car and a four-wheel-drive as well as a police truck.

Edward Chin who helped organise the party said that it was just a celebratory event and nothing political.

“We don’t have any banners, posters, or shouting, its just cake,” he explained.

Earlier UTAR had sent 3 officers to meet Chin, warning him that the event may violate the law.

Chin also added that UTARians should be more aware of the issues around them.

"This concerns 5 billion ringgit, what if this tower is just a tool of our dear Prime Minister's legacy. This is an issue we are not aware and we don't look into much," he said.

He further related his experience that would make him to want to organise the event.

“There was once where Bill Clinton was invited by a college to give a talk, and I thought that Clinton was actually dead, it was stupid of course, but that got me thinking – that we don’t really know about the things happening around us,” said Chin.

Ironically Kampar OCPD Supt Abdul Aziz Salleh played to the tune of Chin, claiming that he was only there to eat.

“Saya nak makan pun you nak angkat gambar,” he said.

No action was taken by the police who left about an hour later, with a large bag of burgers.

The cake party at Kampar McDonald's is one such event held simultaneously at nine other locations nationwide.

The proposal to build the costly mega tower amid the gradual withdrawal of government subsidies and increase in service taxes has not bode well with the public, allowing the Facebook group to grow up to a quarter of million supporters.

Kampar, November 16 (J-on) - Traffic was choked as UTAR guards beefed up security at both entrance gates following the theft of a keyboard at Block H.

Security guards conducted random checks on both cars and motorcycles as well as students' bags.

According to Security Assistant, Mr.Chandran, the keyboard's wire was severed from the central processing unit of the computer.

A lecturer reported that the keyboard was stolen at about 3pm today.

When asked why was security so jittery over a single keyboard, Chandran explained that it was necessary as a deterrent.

"Its important that we do such operations so that students know, if there are anyone who want to steal university's property they will think twice," he said.

The search which started at around 5pm went on for two hours but the keyboard was not recovered.

Kampar, November 14 (J-on) - The Election Comission will be setting up a booth in Cafeteria, Block C tomorrow and Tuesday to assist students with voter registration.

Students who are at least 21 years old are encouraged to register to ensure eligibility to vote in the 13th General Election.

Registrants are required to bring their identity card. The process will not take more than five minutes.

I prefer my convocation to be in Kuala Lumpur because it is much easier for us Sarawakian to reach KLIA without the need to waste our time and money to travel to Kampar. Furthermore, I don't think Kampar have enough hotels for parents to stay during the convocation.

Having to wait for half a year for the convocation and to get the transcript as well as waiting for the confirmation of the date is already wasting our time and money. As Sarawakian, I have to book the flight ticket for my whole family to attend the convocation.

----------------------------------------

No! No! No! I don't want my graduation to be in Kampar! I want it to be in Kuala Lumpur so we can go on an outing after the ceremony. If its at Kampar, what are we going to do? Yum Cha at mamak? Come on! Its a memorable day, don't do it at Kampar!

----------------------------------------

I prefer Kampar as the place for convocation for the first batch of degree students. All our memories in the past three years have been here. Also, we also hope to take pictures with our coursemates and lecturers once the convocation ceremony has ended.

----------------------------------------

I want my convocation venue to be at Kampar. Kampar has watched my study life since the first day here. No matter how unsatisfied I am with the condition, people or other things, I want to be able to graduate here.

Besides, Kampar campus has beautiful scenery and is good for convocation phototaking. Kampar is a large campus, why must we pay high fees for our convocation to be held at a congested building. I studied here, I graduate here, no other place.

----------------------------------------

Where would I want it be held? Its Kampar for sure. It's like what? We spent the last three years in MCA hall? Come on, it is Kampar! It's not a big town, but it a place where our campus is. No other choice, just Kampar.

I am A freshman at UTAR Kampar and a resident of Westlake, Danish Homes.

My friends, majority of them, have put up a place in the apartments in New Town. Being nearer to campus with access through KTAR, it was really convenient for them. Especially considering the fact that apartments in that area are very reasonably priced.

The distance from my residence to campus is also nearer through the KTAR way. But, when the rule to bar UTAR students from accessing it is put into place, it has brought upright irritation and nothing more than severe tension and headache to every student staying in the Westlake and New Town area.

The UTAR way through Jalan Universiti is not convenient at all, with no shade protecting students and cyclists from rain or extreme sun. Furthermore, the distance is way farther for students who are either cycling or walking to UTAR.

As a national level institutions, the managements should first look into the matter as how a student will look into it. Analysing it in such a way, will always capture the hearts and minds of the students, and will always leave a good impression on the institution.

How would students react, finding such a careless action being carried out? To intellectual students, writing and approaching this matter peacefully would be among the options but what about those students who would like to shout at the top of their voices and get things straightened out? Will it be a nice front page report on any local daily newspaper? Will it shine and bring fame and glory to UTAR or KTAR?

Just, in a nutshell, please oh please, carry out an action that the students can be satisfied with in which all of us will be facing in what is called, a win-win situation, with solutions that will satisfy both parties.