Both La Salle institutions in Taft and in Canlubang have finsihed campaigning for this year’s General Elections (GE) as candidates from Alyansang Tapat sa Lasalista (Tapat) and Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) have delivered their platforms and are awaiting the results of the elections, which will be released on April 4.
Campaigning for DLSU-M started last March 11 while the candidates started at the Science and Technology Complex (STC) last March 7. The election period for both campuses was held last March 19-21.
Integrating DLSU and STC
In light of the larger USG, one major concern is the USG’s capacity to accommodate its new constituents, which would require a new system.
The student government, in an effort to bridge the gap between the two institutions, has accommodated STC in the current general elections (GE). Together with the respective political parties, the USG has started addressing these issues faced by the STC student populace.
While many of the officers are eager to meet their would-be constituents, responses from incumbent members of the USG Executive Board show that STC is in its infancy stage. Moreover, the USG is currently formulating policies as both campuses have to be bound by a single and unified constitution.
Vice President for External Affairs Janine Noblezada, explains that USG has enacted supplementary guidelines that would include STC as a part of the USG following the failure of the Legislative branch of the USG to pass the 2013 USG Constitution, which would fully incorporate STC.
Since the integration process has started, incumbent FAST2010 LA Representative Jam Padilla explains that student representation needs to exist so that students could address their concerns to the administration.
Addressing problems at STC
Padilla, shares her concern over equal representation of students for both institutions in light of certain issues such as STC’s absence of a grievance system and an efficient enrollment system.
Padilla adds that students at STC do not have an online enrolling system. Hence, 500-600 students would have to fall in line for enrollment. Furthermore, Padilla says that STC needs to create a student handbook that would work for the welfare of the students.
Concerns over STC’s disciplinary proceedings have also been raised. Padilla claims that STC has a “very, very lenient handbook.” She continues “They don’t have a voice and they don’t have a system for them to be heard as students.”
Representation of candidates and COMELEC at STC
Pursuant to the USG Constitution supplementary guidelines, STC would be represented as a college. Hence, STC would have a campus representative who would have the equivalent powers of a college president. The only difference between the two is the scope. The campus representaive needs to address issues in the entire campus in the capacity of a college president. The USG president would, however, represent STC and DLSU students.
STC will also have four representatives to represent STC’s four colleges (College of Liberal Arts, College of Business, College of Engineering and the College of Computer Studies) and two legislative assembly representatives.
Padilla adds, “Previously, they only had executive before, and it is hard to implement the LA branch because it is new to them.”
In response to the recent changes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has resolved to developed its own STC electoral board known as Elections Commission (Elecom). Comelec Chair Alvin liu explains that his office is working together with Elecom to facilitate the transition between both campuses.
Liu adds, “The Comelec will send its respective representatives so that they will directly oversee the elections there and address any necessary concerns that might arise.”
Take off point: Evaluating the USG
According to College of Science (COS) College Assembly President (CAP) Clarisse Yeung, the USG encountered less competition in planning and executing projects this term as opposed to the previous terms
Yeung adds that the different events and celebrations for the past academic year as well as slight changes in several academic curriculums made it “difficult for most units to implement the projects proposed at the start of each term due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Former Tapat President Gab Andres explains that the USG was able to reach out to other student governments and advocacy groups, allowing Lasallians to be involved in societal movements. He adds, “However, the USG as a whole must not only focus on creating activities but more importantly, focusing on creating the right kind of opportunities and services rooted in students’ rights and welfare.”
With the recent shift from student council to USG three years ago, School of Economics (SOE) CAP Kaila Astorga believes that the USG has not fully actualized its potential as a student government. “We’re on the right track, but we have to keep pushing even harder,” she furthers.
To address the matters regarding other student fees, Executive Treasurer Carlo Innocencio together with other student organizations, is lobbying for the revision of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) memorandum number 3 (CMO #3), which should address financial matters and issues associated with student representation.
He adds, “However, we must take into consideration that it is not only tuition fees that we are paying inside the university. There are miscellaneous fees and other student fees that are not covered by CMO number 3.”
New face
This year, former FAST2010 Batch President Jose Miguel Moreno’s (III PSM-LMG), a former member of Santugon, is vying for the position of USG president as an independent candidate.
In a survey conducted by The LaSallian, respondents expressed that the platform of an independent candidate could potentially address new ideas, as well as the needs of non-partisans who do not vote because they do not adhere to the platforms of the two political parties.
On automated elections
Comelec Chair Alvin Liu explains that the Information Technology Services (ITS) has been working on the automated elections since last year.
He adds, “We can use the system, fully utilize it, then we could get support from the administration [by getting] supplies needed.”
Liu, however, cites that the processes, if not fully developed, may also serve as a hindrance towards the full implementation, but argues that labs could make the Canlubang campus voting process easier to control and more convenient.
Issues to address
USG Executive Secretary Sasa Hermoso shares that although the current administration has shown efforts in publicizing and disseminating information, the initiatives are is still inadequate to fully address the problem, because there are certain offices that are inaccessible (i.e. if the Parents of University Student Organizations (PUSO) office is closed or the staff are not present) in times of crisis.
She adds, “we must recognize that although many use social media, not everyone does or may have access to Internet at that moment or emergency.”
