Your Say, Your Rights: Revisions for USG Bill of Rights

by Martha Elisse Teves and Joss Yeo

Last June 20, the University Student Government (USG) Legislative Assembly (LA), together with Ley La Salle, hosted a forum on the need for the revision of Article IV of the USG Constitution Bill of Rights. The event was held at the William Shaw Little Theater.

Functions of the Bill of Rights

Chief Legislator Carl Au stressed the strong affinity of the USG Bill of Rights with the one in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. He also emphasized the LA’s drive to defend and uphold the rights of students through a government mandated by and for the students.

Committee stance

Three committees were made to assert their respective stance on the revision of the Bill of Rights. Each committee reserves its right to suggest changes that they deem to be fit.

The Rules and Policies Committee expressed that the revisions must push through in order for the University rules to remain effective, fair, and pro-student. The committee also suggested revising certain sections that remained vague, and the inclusion of clear provisions concerning the rights of the different student organizations.

The Students Rights and Welfare Committee pushed for drafting resolutions in line with the Bill of Rights in order to remain consistent with the Student Charter, proper implementation of policies, and effective information dissemination.

Conversely, the Committee on National Affairs felt that there was no need for revisions unless there had been precedent change, as may be embodied in charter change.

Spearheading the revisions

Ley La Salle then proceeded to offer their specific suggestions after close examination and deliberation on the USG’s Bill of Rights.

One such example according to the aforementioned organization is Section 3 of the Bill of Rights states that “every student has the right to receive professional competence from the faculty and administration.” For Ley La Salle, “professional competence” with regards to the stated provision is vague, and could mean a lot of things. Hence they proposed further clarification of this provision.

Aside from pointing possible points of revision, Ley La Salle also proposed additional provisions to be added to the Bill of Rights. One proposal, according to them, is giving every student the right to protection from any form of discrimination against their gender, race, age and religion.
As a Catholic university as well as an international one, Ley La Salle is convinced that the university must uphold that basic right, because each year DLSU is continuously accepting more students of diverse backgrounds.

Ley La Salle also pointed out that there is no urgent need for a complete overhaul of the USG Bill of Rights, but instead what is needed is the recognition of this bill by the faculty and administration, and the effective promulgation to all sectors of the University.

In addition to their statement, proper dissemination and promulgation could be the answer to what is termed as student apathy. Partnering with the Council of Student Organizations to assist in the circulation or dissemination had also been considered, since professional organizations also have their rights.

Next steps

After hearing the various concerns and suggestions, Au stated that the next step for the Legislative Assembly is to propose and to draft new resolutions.

“The next step is to lobby a resolution for amendments on the Bill of Rights, which will be authored by the chairpersons of the three committees,” Au shares.

With regards to the amendments to the additional provision to the constitution, the LA needs to follow the normal process of discussing and approving the amendments. The opening and closing of the USG Constitution for amendments and revision would need two-thirds of the votes in the LA as stated in Article 26 of the said constitution.