by Chatherine Ng & Marguit Tolentino
Wednesdays are days when students crowd the University to attend organization-related activities. Organizations, whether student or non-student, are various bodies that provide students with opportunities to apply theories and principles taught inside the classroom.
The existence of many organizations is in line with the University’s goal of doing more than molding its students in the four corners of the classroom; their existence also serves to expand the students’ knowledge and transform them into effective communicators and critical thinkers.
In line with this, the University offers various avenues that welcome students who seek involvement. Such organizations include the University Student Government (USG) and even offices including the Lasallian Pastoral Office (LSPO), the Student Discipline Formation Office (SDFO), and the like. The more prominent among students, however, are professional, special interest (SPIN) and religious and socio-civic organizations under the Council of Student Organizations (CSO).
More than just studying
Business Management Society (BMS) President Angelee Go believes that workshops and contests that student run organizations organize develop students in areas that are not necessarily covered by academics.
CSO Organizations also provide members opportunities to expand their connections and gain experience in dealing with different people, says Lian Castillo, President of MOOMEDIA. She adds that officers also get something in the organization; officers are given the chance to develop their leadership and project management skills.
Despite these benefits, not all students consider joining and participating in organizations a priority. Debate Society member Alex Gonzales (III, IBS) explains that although he is a member of a student-run organization in the University, he is not active because he has other responsibilities.
Even though many students join organizations during CSO’s Annual Recruitment Week, certain organizations share that few actually attend activities that are conducted by the aforementioned. The Annual Recruitment Week is a weeklong event where students are given the opportunity to join of any of the 38 organizations under CSO.
Anna Robledo, President of Writers’ Guild (WG), recounts that during the first term of the academic year, many registered members regularly attended their activities. The numbers, however, gradually decreased.
“Generally, I think Lasallians are really active in extracurricular activities. [The increasing amount of] schoolwork [ in the latter stages of the academic year and other priorities], however, [hinder] them from being active,” adds Robledo.
ENGLICOM President Kimberly Lim believes that the six-day class schedule brought by the Rationalized Classroom Utilization (RCU) initiative makes it difficult for organizations to encourage students to join their extra-curricular activities. The scheduling, she believes, causes conflict between organization activities and academics as make-up classes are sometimes scheduled during the University Break when extra-curricular activities are usually held.
Go also mentions that since the University offers a wide range of options students can commit to, many students who joined several organizations find it difficult to give the same level of commitment to each.
Organizations’ responsibility
CSO Chairperson Candice Co says that most organizations employ incentive schemes to encourage students to be active. Organizations partner with various academic departments in the University to request for incentives in any form a professor finds appropriate.
Student Leadership Involvement, Formation, and Empowerment (S-LIFE) Coordinator for Student Organizations Cristina Eusebio mentions that organizations have varying cultures and structures. Hence, there is no single answer as to why not all members are active in their organizations.
She, however, reiterates that it is the organizations’ responsibility to make activities more appealing to the target market.
