9th July 2000
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We are 27 weeks into the year 2000 and the UK singles chart has yet another No: 1 song. This week the honour is taken by the track "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem. The song ousted 'Spinning Around' by Kylie Minogue which like most chart champs in recent years lasted only a week at the helm of the chart. 'The Real Slim Shady' is the debut release from Eminem's current album 'The Michael Mathers'. The award winning Eminem is a white rapper very much like the last high profile white rapper Snow. The young rap star is on the Dr. Dre label and has his album partly produced by the Dr. Eminem was featured on Dr. Dre's last single 'Forgot About Dre', which peaked at No: 7 a month ago. But 'The real Slim Shady', is not his UK release. Last year his introductory single into the UK scene was the rock punctured 'My Name Is', which peaked at No: 2 in April. The following single 'Guilty Conscious', peaked at No: 5 in August. He courted controversy on the way including being sued by his mother. As Eminem's 'The Real Slim Shady' ascended to the No: 1, some analysts believe it to be the best song to be released this year.Amidst the nine new en-tries into the UK Top 20 this week is the song 'Yellow' at No: 4 by the new band Coldplay. The song is the band's second single but the first to hit the upper echelon of the singles chart. The pop rock band from the UK has also an album out called 'Parachute'.
As the European summer season continues dance music also spreads out. A London garage DJ who is enjoying the fruits of success is Lonyo. His catchy dance tune titled 'Summer of Love', checks into the singles chart at No: 8. The track was written by the 24-year-old. Of course another song was also released this week by the group Steps and that track too is receiving a lot of airplay. Given their fan base don't be surprised if you see them in the Top 20 next week.
The R&B artist Keli had an entry in the second week of June with the song 'Good Stuff' at No: 19. This week she is the featured artist on the track 'Got Your Money' at No: 11 with the act Ol'Dirty Bastard.
In mid March the US rock band Blink 182 from California made their debut on the chart with the song 'All The Small Things'. Having been received well by the market, Blink 182 opted to re-release their earlier single 'What's My Age Again'. It is not clear as yet on what grounds the song succeeded in entering the Top 20 this time at No: 17. If the video was the influencing factor let's say the group members running around in the nude may have helped. But then 'What's My Age Again' is not a bad song either. It is quite passable compared to the many songs that did manage to register a place in the Top 20 basically because they sold well.
Areatha Franklin will conquer her fear of flying when she tours Europe later this year. Areatha had a bad experience while flying in a small plane in 1994. Since then she has been travelling only in the US by either road or rail.
Oasis and the Pet Shop Boys pulled out of the Roskilde summer music festival on July 1 after eight people died the previous day at the venue when Pearl Jam performed. 26 others were injured as thousands who had gathered to watch Pearl Jam play surged towards the stage and were crushed against steel barriers. The band posted a message on their web site saying they were devastated by the tragedy. Oasis and the Pet Shop Boys pulled out of the concert in sympathy of the victims . But the organisers refused to cancel the show saying "the show must go on".
LeAnn Rimes can- celled a 30 day concert last week after she was diagnosed with a torn throat ligament. Her parents meanwhile are locked in a court battle over her wealth. The father is sueing the mother, now his ex-wife, for squandering LeAnn's earnings. Let's hope the battles do not bring to a premature end the young singer's career as it did to Tiffany a few years ago.
What an Assumption
By Shelani de Silva
A never ending problem for teenagers is finding a university once they complete their studies. While many students will opt to remain in the country and gain entrance to Sri Lankan universities, more and more youngsters are seeking admission to foreign universities.The Assumption University, the first international university in Thailand is one such place where Sri Lankans have left for higher studies.
Beautifully landscaped on seven acres, the Assumption University initially originated from Assumption Commercial College in 1969 as an autonomous higher education institution under the name of Assumption School of Business, but was later accredited by the Ministry of University Affairs and renamed 'Assumption University'.
The University is administered by a Council which provides policy guidance for long term planning and formulates control procedures.
What is unique about the university is that it has a history which dates back centuries. The university is a non profitable institution administered by the Brothers of St.Gabriel, a worldwide Catholic religious order, founded in France in 1705 by St. Louis Marie De Montfort, devoted to education and philanthropist activities. The congregation has been operating many educational institutions in Thailand since 1901. In keeping with the Catholic beginnings a beautiful chapel stands in the middle of campus.
Rev. Brother Bancha Seanghiran, the Vice Rector of the University says that the Assumption university tea- ches a simple philosophy to students. The respect for religion, country and a democratic way of life, to be noble and the commitment to be a light that leads men towards true source and knowledge.
As the university is fully accredited by the Ministry of University Affairs, the graduates enjoys the privileges accorded to State University graduates. Its academic standards are accepted by the Civil Service Commission in Thailand.
Assumption University is recognised by the USA and other countries, as well as the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia, The Association of South East Asian Institutions of Higher Learning and the International Federation of Catholic universities. Transfer credits from the university are accepted by foreign universities.
While English is the officially approved medium of instruction at the university, five courses are conducted in Thai only for the Thai speaking students.
The University maintains four large libraries with over 500,000 volumes and subscribes to about 1,700 journals and periodicals. Similarly the students are given opportunities to broaden their knowledge through curriculum activities to enhance their personalities.
Assumption University is fast catching up with foreign students, mainly from Asia. At present there are 1100 foreign students, and work is scheduled to be complete on a spacious new building for the univeristy by 2004. 'We have students belonging to 26 nationalities. Fifty percent of our students are foreign students and we encourage them to organise festivals and other functions,' said Rev. Seanghiran.
The Sri Lankan Students
Naduni Nanayakara, who left Sri Lanka in 1994 after completing her Ordinary Level never dreamt that she would end up as an undergraduate at the Assumption University.
'I
still miss Sri Lanka, especially my friends, but I am determined to promote
Sri Lanka in Thailand' she said. Naduni, with the help of the other Lankan
students have organised several tea promotions and even Sri Lankan exhibitions.
'We also organise New Year festivals, this way we not only try to teach our culture and traditions to the foreign students but also it takes us closer to home' she said.
18-year-old Charitha Nanayakkara, another youngster at the university is a second year student in Computer Science. An old boy of Ananda College, the one thing he misses is his friends back home.
'Having been here for some time we are getting used to the Thai culture. The people are friendly especially at the university' he said.
Charitha who claims that Assumption University is one of the best for computer studies says that the lectures and the facilities provided to the students are excellent.
Chathura Bandara, yet another first year student at the Assumption University claims that it is difficult to make friends especially due to the language problem.
'I do a lot of sports, especially cricket. Since I played for College it was easy for me to get into the team' he said.
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