Basket.

My "feedback" essay (ie complaint) to RJC

To whom it may concern,

I am an ex-student of the college, and would like to lodge a complaint about the general behaviour of the security personnel responsible for the area of Raffles Junior College (RJC) and Raffles Institution (RI).

On this 30th day of August in the year Two Thousand and Five, my brother (also an alumnus of the school) and I decided to pay an impromptu visit to our alma mater. This was a trip I had made before on more than one occasion; on none of those previous occasions had I ever encountered any difficulties. On this occasion, however, we were informed by the security guard stationed outside the general office that we would have to change pass to enter the school. Deciding not to go through with the hassle of such a procedure, we turned to leave, and exited the compound through one of the front gates. As we walked past the main entrance of RI, a large Malay guard waved us over to the guardhouse, at the same time excitedly speaking into his communications device. "I've got them!" were his approximate words. Not knowing what was the matter, we complied with his instruction, whereupon he accused us of "loitering at the back there" after we were turned away by the guard at the office. This accusation is a blatant falsehood. All we did after leaving the office was to leave the school - unless the security guard has an alternative meaning for the word "loitering". It is also worth mentioning that on our way in, from one of the back gates, we passed this same guard riding past on a bicycle - and though we did not then possess passes, he made no attempt to stop us. In the light of the aforementioned events, this is most puzzling.

We did not, however, refute his accusation directly as we knew it probably would not do much good due to his rather insistent and agitated manner. We explained reasonably that we did not know of these new regulations - in fact, I had paid a similar visit to the school earlier this month and had not been informed of any such requirements. He responded in an extremely impolite fashion; to quote him approximately, "We not talking about last time! We now talking about today!" This was accompanied by some emphatic hand gestures. At this point, another guard of more seniority came up to us - he eventually resolved the situation by admonishing us more gently to keep track of regulation changes. We were then allowed to leave.

It is worth noting that the guard at the general office simply allowed us to walk away after he told us we would have to change pass and we decided to leave. From the events that were to occur later, it was obvious that we were regarded as suspicious characters. Would the right thing then not be to hold us and question us?

In addition, the security guard who stopped us by the main gate met us earlier around the school, and it was obvious that we did not possess passes then. Why did he not stop us on this occasion, then? Why wait until he saw us later to stop us?

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do think these actions on the part of the security guards concerned might have constituted a security breach. After all, we were allowed to wander around the school compound for more than a quarter of an hour without passes - if we had been visitors of malicious intent, that would have been more than enough time to carry out any nefarious plans we might have had in mind.

Another thing worth mentioning is the attitude of the security guard in question. I will admit that my brother and I were in the wrong, but we were genuinely ignorant of these new regulations - I had visited earlier this month and nothing of this sort occurred to me on that occasion. Perhaps he could be a little more forbearing? As it was, he was self-important and rude; surely this is no way to treat visitors to the school? I regret that I am unable to remember his name, but he was a short, stocky Malay man. I trust that the capable current school administration will take action against this character, for his impolite manner could be more of a hindrance than an asset to the school's image.

I fully understand Raffles Junior College's right to amend visitor regluations as and when the honourable school administration deems it necessary, especially where security is concerned. After all, with terrorism casting a long and dark shadow over the world stage, it is best not to take anything for granted. I sincerely apologise for the way my brother and I breached these regulations today, and give the school administration my honest word that it will never again happen. Unfortunately, I must also call into question the competence and attitude of the college's security guards, and say that there is much area of improvement in these two fields.

Once a Rafflesian, always a Rafflesian. I retain strong emotional bonds with my alma mater, and it is definitely not my wish to see it damaged in any way, shape or form through carelessness or ignorance. That could well have happened today, if only my brother and I were not alumni but saboteurs harbouring darker intentions than an innocuous drop-in visit. I can only urge and advise the august school administration to take the proper and necessary steps to amend the currently inadequate situation. At the same time, it would be a most severe blow indeed if the image of the school was harmed by the attitude of one whom I actually saw to be extremely devoted to his duty of keeping the college safe. Perhaps the school administration could also look into this area. After all, interpersonal skills are necessary for anyone to go far in life.

I shall end my statement thus, trusting the school administration to do what is necessary. I have full confidence in leaving these matters in your capable hands.

Auspicium Melioris Aevi.

The Honourable School Administration's reply

Dear Chun Wee

Thank you for your valuable feedback especially the manner in which Security dealt with you and your brother We deeply regret the incident and shall counsel the staff concerned and ensure that all such personnel have a basic understanding of managing interpersonal skills in collaboration with the Security agency.

The College has, as you have correctly surmised, institutionalised the need for all visitors to change passes so that we can provide a safe and secure environment for our students and staff given the current security climate. Given the size of the campus and several access points for walk in visitors, it has posed a great challenge for us and Security. The guardhouse is also manned by RI guards who may not be familiar with our Security requirements. This is a point that we shall raise with the Security agency to ensure that this does not happen again.

We apologise for the incident and wish you and your brother a pleasant visit in the near future. As alumni of the college, you are always welcome back to your alma mater and we hope this incident will not deter you from visiting us in future.

Auspicium Melioris Aevi
Regards

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

I'll let them off with that, because I was never someone who loved giving others trouble. But I will not be talked down to by a rude, incompetent and self-important junior security guard at an institution I sweated buckets for for six whole years. Yes, my complaint was overly long and extremely condescending. It was meant to be; whatever few letters of this sort I have written down the years have infallibly been. But you can't take everything that comes your way sitting down. The way my brother and I were treated yesterday was absolute rubbish, and the school administration better really be taking action - although my long experience with school administrations in general and the RJC school administration in particular suggests they won't.

I will go back again, and if something like this happens again, I will complain again. And when I do, I will not forget this first occasion. Nor will I leave it at merely a condescending essay. I also call upon all schoolmates who are dropping in in future to make similar complaints if the security guards are not impeccably behaved. It's time some of the unjustifiably arrogant got off their high horses.