Nation

Outrage as Yale-NUS College Discards Hundreds of Books: Alumni Call for Action

2025-05-20

Author: Nur

In a shocking turn of events, piles of books were seen being thrown away from Yale-NUS College in Singapore, igniting outrage among alumni and raising concerns about the waste of valuable academic resources.

On Tuesday, May 20, piles of translucent plastic bags filled with books were cleared by a recycling company at the college's drop-off point near the National University of Singapore (NUS) in Kent Ridge. This incident comes at a poignant time, following the graduation of the last cohort from Yale-NUS College on May 14.

Yale-NUS, a prestigious liberal arts institution founded in collaboration with Yale University in 2011, is set to close after a controversial merger with NUS’ University Scholars Programme was announced back in 2021.

Alumni Express Heartbreak and Anger

Alumni, witnessing the disposal, expressed their heartbreak and disappointment. Avery Huang, a graduating student, remarked how painful it was to see books in pristine condition being discarded, highlighting the disregard for the financial contributions of taxpayers and the educational value of these resources.

Lee Jiaying, also part of the final graduating cohort, lamented the sudden disposal of valuable texts. "These books, mostly untouched, included popular fiction, non-fiction, and academic titles that retail for over $60. It was shocking to see them treated so carelessly," she shared.

Mystery of the Disposal

Library staff explained that the books were being discarded due to security reasons and the presence of RFID tags, which prevented them from being circulated. With a tight timeline to make decisions about the books' fate, the staff felt left with no viable options.

Many alumni attempted to organize a drive to donate or give away the books but were met with resistance due to the security tags in place. This lack of flexibility has ignited further frustration, as many believe these resources could have found new homes.

Calls for Reevaluation

Senior alumnus Yin voiced strong sentiments about the need for NUS to recognize the value of intellectual resources like books. He pointed out that many students were eager to volunteer their time to help salvage what they could.

Kristina Gweneth Simundo, a 2024 alumna, expressed anger over what she described as a "opaque, top-down decision" by NUS. "When institutions destroy knowledge so casually, they signal a disturbing disregard for memory and the future of learning itself," she stated.

The incident has sparked a wider discussion about sustainability, resource management, and respect for educational materials within academic institutions.

As alumni rally for accountability and change, the fate of these discarded books serves as a painful reminder of the values and priorities of educational establishments in today's world.