Hallmarks of NTU halls

Sports halls

Residents bring the heat with talent, passion and a healthy dose of friendly rivalry.

Hall 3

With a hall that calls its residents “Lions”, it’s no surprise it brings ferocity to every competition. Hall 3 is well known for its bold, cohesive and colourful social culture, and striking strength in sports.

It’s on a 13-year championship streak in NTU’s annual Inter-Hall Games (IHG), where NTU’s 23 halls compete in floorball, squash, frisbee and more.

“We’re crazy rowdy during IHG when we cheer for our players, but that’s how we bring the good vibes,” says communication undergrad Ashley Wong, who takes charge of finances for the hall’s student activities. “Even our arts and culture room doubles as a table tennis spot, because half the time, residents go there to play it with friends. That’s how I picked up the sport too.”

Hall 6

Known for its “kampung” community culture and an indomitable spirit, Hall 6 is never one to shy away from a good game.

With booming drums that echo across campus during IHG season, you may hear the residents even before you witness their fanatical support or see their feats on the field. Located next to the NTU Sports & Recreation Centre, Hall 6 has a strong sports training culture too.

“Our fighting spirit has been passed down through generations of students, and we strive to give our very best in each sport,” says Clement Choo, the former sports secretary of the hall and a mechanical engineering student.

When asked about the supposed rivalry with Hall 3, both Clement and Ashley laugh. “We do have a pretty longstanding rivalry,” admits Ashley. “It does get quite intense during IHG,” agrees Clement. “But outside of it, we’re all friends.”

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Supper halls

Refuelling and unwinding with friends after a busy day is one of the perks of communal living.

Hall 5

Hall 5 residents have a beloved tradition, and a special way to connect, especially after a full day of activities.

“Supper Bojio?,” a playful phrase about feeling left out of a food outing, is even printed on the back of their “Fiver” T-shirts.

“We often check with each other before ordering food in or heading out to the many late-night food spots near Hall 5,” says Ng Kai Lun, an information engineering and media student and the hall’s publicity director. “I’ve even seen people squeeze nearly 20 friends into their double room for supper,” Kai Lun says, adding that Hall 5’s spacious dorm rooms with large ledges make that possible. “Our blocks also have a balcony on the top floor, where we have hotpot together – making for good meals and great conversations.”

Hall 4

This hall proudly calls itself a “hall of all trades”, with its residents active in CCAs from cultural arts to sports and recreational games – which often leads to the need to satisfy those late-night hunger pangs after an intense practice session.

“Supper culture has grown more popular, especially with the bridge to ‘Extension’, a popular supper place near the NTU campus conveniently located right outside our hall,” shares Ryan Nicholas Aw, a public policy and global affairs student and Hall 4’s former social secretary.

He adds: “Staying up late for events and practices makes supper the natural conclusion to our post-CCA gatherings and general hangouts.”

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The social hall

Hall 12

Take a walk through the corridors of Hall 12 in the evenings, and you may hear the unmistakable swish of mahjong tiles behind closed doors.

Games and activities bring people together, not just mahjong, laughs business undergrad Eunice Hung, the vice-president of the hall’s student committee.

“It’s a deliberate effort to be a ‘social hall’. Our hall committee plans many events like game night or themed dress-up events throughout the year. We focus on what residents enjoy most, which leads to high participation,” she explains.

Residents have been known to stay up late playing volleyball and badminton – making them great company for Kuro, the well-loved “campus cat” that roams Hall 12.

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The academic hall

CresPion (Crescent and Pioneer) Halls

CresPion, home to many NTU scholars, has earned Crescent and Pioneer Halls the affectionate nickname of “mugger hall”.

“My hall friends, who are mostly scholars, often ask me to study with them – they’ve actually influenced me to be more hardworking,” quips Kuo Te Yi, a communication student and Crescent Hall’s publicity and publications representative.

But all work and no play would make any NTU hall a dull one – and CresPion is anything but, with a calendar that includes many social events.

“One of CresPion’s most iconic traditions is our shared welfare. Each NTU hall has its own Exam Welfare Pack (EWP) event, where students distribute drinks, snacks and even perform to cheer their peers on during exam season,” she says. “But in CresPion, each scholar programme runs its own EWP – and the scholars often share their EWP goodies with the rest of the residents, so there are lots of treats to keep our spirits high all year round.”

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The home-for-all hall

Saraca Hall

Only seven years old, Saraca Hall is one of NTU’s younger halls, with less distinct traditions compared to its more established counterparts. Known for its laidback and “chill” vibe, it’s a welcoming space where anyone – especially introverts and quieter students – can truly be themselves.

“Saraca Hall’s orientation camp is a little different – we don’t do cheers,” reveals Afreen Rafi, a data science and artificial intelligence student and the hall’s social director. “Freshmen can take their time to get comfortable and express themselves however they like. It’s a safe space here.”

The hall often hosts welfare-centric events, including art and pet therapy workshops, for students to unwind with friends.

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All NTU freshmen are guaranteed a place in an NTU hall for their first two years of study. After that, senior students can apply to stay in their preferred hall. Hall and room assignments are based on several factors, including room availability and activity points earned the previous academic year. Check the NTU website for more information on campus housing.

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HEY! STUDENT WRITER
Coen is a nocturnal sci-fi fanatic with a sense for wordplay and a knack for creating his own problems.

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This story was published in the Jan-Feb 2025 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.