SINGAPORE, May 29 -- Singapore's Yale-NUS College student workers were reportedly instructed to deliberately destroy library DVDs with penknives shortly before the college's final cohort graduated, raising concerns among students and faculty about the handling of cultural materials.

CNA reported two student associates saying they had not been informed in advance and were surprised when directed by library staff to scratch the discs during their shifts.

"I didn't feel comfortable doing so ... But the library staff told me to help her still as they were running short of time," one student, who used the pseudonym Janet, reportedly said.

Janet estimated she damaged between 80 and 100 DVDs, mostly international films, including titles from ...