Vying for college president for the College of Computer Studies (CCS), Office of the President Chief Communications Officer Hannah Cosing from Alyansang Tapat sa Lasallista (Tapat) and CATCH2T25 Batch President Jex Corpuz from Santugon sa Tawag ng Panahon (Santugon) offer their respective views on key issues facing the student body, lay out their plans to address pressing matters in CCS, and propose initiatives to improve the college during their potential tenure.
The LaSallian: Your college received a low voter turnout in the previous election. How will you address these concerns, especially since student’s disinterest in University politics has been a prevalent issue throughout the years?
Jex Corpuz (Santugon): I plan to be more interactive when I talk to people and consult with them [during] on-ground campaigning kasi ‘yun ‘yung kulang in the past few years na online kasi tayong nagkakampanya sa mga tao. That’s why candidates don’t really have the chance to connect with the students [and] to build a more genuine and meaningful connection to the students of CCS para ma–feel nila ‘yung importance ng pagboto.
Hannah Cosing (Tapat): Sobrang disengaged talaga nila, especially with University politics. I think we can also use the batch units. They can also voice out the importance of voting [since] kilala nila batches nila, so they can really engage and really communicate with them according to what they know.
The LaSallian: Which of your qualities do you believe make you competent in implementing solutions for the issues in your college as college president?
Corpuz: Students are critical on the projects that we implement and maraming suggestions. For a leader, to have that grit, na amidst these challenges, kaya mong i-adapt, baguhin, [and] gawin pa ring maayos ‘yung projects mo is very important. Number two is my ability to connect with people. As a college president, kailangan mo talaga mag-consult. I’m a third year student, but kailangan ko maintindihan ano ‘yung kultura ng ID 123, 122, 121 and 120 [students]…Without being consultative, mahihirapan akong i-represent ‘yung college ko.
Cosing: First characteristic siguro ‘yung adaptability. Hindi lang tayo puwedeng stuck sa isang “Ito lang ako,” “Ito ‘yung gusto kong gawin,” “Ito lang talaga.” We need to be adaptable para if ever na ito ‘yung problem ng CCS, we can adapt and we can find new solutions to those problems.
The LaSallian: AI tools used in the industry and available to the public are criticized for their bias, which is often attributed to the bias in their source of information, among other things. How would you address this issue as the representative of computer studies students?
Corpuz: For me, AI on its own is not inherently bad kasi it’s a proof of progress sa atin bilang mga tao. As someone from CCS, AI is really cool, but in the academic setup, it all boils down [to] how we curate policies on protecting academic integrity. I believe that I can personally help the administration curate a more progressive AI policy that can be implemented in the terms to come.
Cosing: First of all, AI is made for good use, so it’s not made na parang mag chi-cheat ako. I think na dapat mas magkaroon ng clear set of policies ‘yung departments and ‘yung colleges onto, like, what they should limit…para hindi siya maging [abused] by the students.
The LaSallian: The University had recently experienced a data security incident that dealt a blow to our locally-hosted systems. What are your plans to promote digital safety and cybersecurity within your college and among other Lasallians?
Corpuz: One of the projects under [my Plans of Action] are actually certification programs. Tying it also to one of the problems of CCS, marami kaming webinars, but then, people don’t usually attend them. Together with DLSU-PUSO (DLSU-Parents of the University Students Organization), we aim to sponsor students to actually take certification programs hosted by Cisco and other certificating [bodies]. With that, mas napo-promote natin ‘yung education sa mga estudyante na one topic would [be] cybersecurity, like how could we avoid this, how could we avoid that, what are the repercussions, what is phishing. And nadi-dishearten ako that some students are not wholefully aware of how dangerous the cyberworld is.
Cosing: The best way to reach the students na wala silang takas is through the professors. The professors can include some parts or important aspects of what to know about data breach and data security. It’s a good way to actually have the students know more about it through their professors and inside the four corners of their classrooms.
The LaSallian: How would you also entice them to also become more interactive in applying what they have learned in CCS to these types of external opportunities?
Corpuz: I realized na the system of getting internships is a bit complicated and very limited lang [ang] mga companies that we have. The Computer Studies Government (CSG) would collaborate with the One CCS organizations…so that we can open opportunities not just for their members [and] the members [of] the CSG but also to the entire CCS…I plan to solidify the connection with One CCS and other offices [for] external opportunities to [be given] to the students.
Cosing: To spark the interest of the students sa external opportunities, I’ve consulted with OCCS. Sabi naman nila na it’s feasible. ‘Yung job fairs sa Cory Aquino Democratic Space, it’s more [for] COB (College of Business) [and] CLA (College of Liberal Arts) students, so being able to include CCS or tech companies in that job fair, it’s going to spark their interest.
The LaSallian: How do you envision your college by the end of your term as CAP and how do you plan to fulfill this vision?
Corpuz: If bigyan ng pagkakataon na makilala mo yung mga tao, CCS is really diverse. Outside our coding stress, we’re more than that. I envision a college that is more seen, a college na mas bibigyan ng importansya, and most of all, a college na bawat miyembro ng CCS, alam nila kung saan nila idi-direct yung excellence nila, alam nila na “I’m good at this, then I will join the opportunity given to me by the college.”
Cosing: I envision a CCS that fosters innovation through collaborative communication. It’s very diverse so not everyone knows each other, knows that there’s actually a CSG existing. CSG and One CCS organizations could work together, collaborate, [and] build bigger and more organized projects because right now nagka-clash. Through collaborating and communicating with each other, mas magiging organized kung ano ba talaga ‘yung main goal or main na kayang ibigay [nitong] organization na ‘to. By the end of my term, if ever elected, I really want a connected CCS.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
