Banking on her past executive roles, former FAST2022 Batch Vice President and Arts College Government (ACG) Chief Operating Officer Elise Santos has her eyes set on the Arts College Government presidency, aiming to deliver a versatile and service-oriented student leadership for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) by improving communications and empowering her fellow Lasallians.
The LaSallian: What insights and knowledge have you gained from your previous executive positions in the USG and its units that may help you as college assembly president (CAP)?
Santos: Serving in the College of Liberal Arts through the ACG for the past two years, the biggest learnings and strengths that I’ve gotten from the student body is being able to understand the problems and issues that we are experiencing. [In] the past two years of service…I always wanted to ensure [that] the voices of the students are heard and to offer three characteristics: efficiency, transparency, and accountability. And those values and characteristics, which go hand in hand with understanding the needs of the student body, [are] the most important [things] that I have learned.
The LaSallian: What specific problem within your college do you find the most pressing, and how would you address this as CAP?
Santos: The biggest concern that the students of the College of Liberal Arts are experiencing is the disconnect [between] the student body and the administration. This concern manifests itself in the student body not being made well-aware and well-guided on University events and process. The students [are] feeling like their experience in the College of Liberal Arts is not as optimal as it should be. To address this concern, as college president, I want to be that direct voice of the student body and their concerns to the administration, through termly [reports] and getting the insight and the feedback from the student body firsthand.
The LaSallian: As CLA houses a huge population in the University, it is expected that there will be an abundance of problems and concerns that need to be addressed. How would you approach these matters?
Santos: Aside from platforms that we forwarded, which [are] having termly surveys, focus group discussions, and feedback being given to the administration of CLA. What I want to do is to have a proactive approach by utilizing the CAP13 (College of Liberal Arts Professional Organizations), program representatives, and the FAST units who have the direct connection to the student body from the different courses. In order to not only consolidate these issues and present it to the administration but also accurately find out what issues each student is experiencing, it is important to be able to form that connection.
The LaSallian: There has been a rise in political tensions within and outside the country in recent years. How will you ensure that Lasallians under your college are informed and are constantly participating in conversations regarding these issues, especially with the nearing 2025 Midterm Election?
Santos: Aside from producing projects and platforms that would empower these advocacies and amplify the voices of people who are well-informed about such national issues and national affairs. I want to [ensure] that these advocacies within the College of Liberal Arts [are] safe to be expressed. Because I’m well aware that especially in being close connections with the Council of Student Sectors, I know that there are a lot of passionate students who have a lot of passion for national affairs. And I want to ensure that their voices and advocacies are not only heard, but we have platforms and projects that will further push their advocacies and even make [them] more known to the rest of DLSU.
The LaSallian: In light of these opinions and expressions on national affairs, there is bound to be divided opinions. How will you prevent the possibility of having divisive disputes on these opinions?
Santos: To mitigate this tension within political opinion we can provide the avenue and the platform for these discussions to happen safely through projects [and] initiatives when it comes to national affairs. What we want to highlight is a safe avenue for discussion to happen. As we move forward into a more progressive [and] open-minded DLSU, we have to understand that this doesn’t come easy. It has to come through conversations and dialogues that are done safely.
The LaSallian: Your campaign is focused on making CLA and ACG “centered on service.” What does this mean, and how does this differ from past administrations, considering that the college government’s constitutional function is primarily service-driven in the first place?
Santos: Fostering a CLA that is centered on service means making sure that every policy, project, and platform is catered to the student body. Saying that the ACG is centered on service is aimed at the goal of ensuring that what we offer is what the students want and need. In serving the [college] for the past few years…this is the value that we have honed and upheld. Upholding that very characteristic is a service I want to further push, that the ACG is not just there for projects, it is there to truly serve you in your best interest.
The LaSallian: In your plans of action, you vowed to streamline student support services. What factors in student support in the ACG led you to include this in your platforms, and what specific improvements do you plan to implement?
Santos: We want to create a more streamlined process that would ensure that the students will be able to get accessible and prompt help from the Arts College Government for emergency concerns such as…service concerns, grievances, and other matters that need prompt assistance. While this is inherently the job of a USG officer, we want to…make it known to the students of CLA that [we understand that] going through the processes of student services and of University processes is very difficult [and] ensure that the students are well-guided by the ACG through streamlined support and accessible and prompt help from us.
The LaSallian: Most of your plans of action rely on or would need student participation. Being in a populated college, how will you urge CLA students to participate in your initiatives?
Santos: The number one thing that I have given importance to…is a college centered on service, meaning that the platforms I’ve presented are things that the students need and…want. Given that these platforms [and] projects are of student interest, what we can do is promote it to the best of our ability that these platforms have been made for you… Aside from promoting it on social media pages, we will utilize the CAP13 organizations, program representatives, and the FAST batches to make sure that the students of CLA know [about] these platforms and initiatives.
The LaSallian: The liberal arts has been pictured as inferior or least important to the general public in the Philippines. Do you believe that this should also be part of the advocacy that you’re going for, especially in the projects and initiatives that you will be implementing?
Santos: I want to…make sure that they are not only well-guided in moving forward with their courses but [also] empowered…As college president, I want to be able to further their thoughts. I want to be able to provide the students of CLA with the avenue and the platform to not only understand where they fit in the political sphere…but [also] make them understand…that what they have learned in the College of Liberal Arts can be utilized to further better our nation. Through policy workshops, journalism workshops, and foreign affairs workshops like language and even FSL (Filipino Sign Language), we want to ensure that the students of CLA are well-equipped with their advocacies and know how to further push for their advocacies, whether inside La Salle or out.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
