UPHOLD DEMOCRACY!
UPHOLD STUDENT RIGHTS!
Pangkat Lingkod Bayan
Official Statement
January 23, 2009
We are about to make a history. This is just the start of the challenge given to us as Iskolars ng Bayan. We have to accept it. But the biggest question is: What do we like to happen next?
Before going into it, PALABAN would like to mention and explain the following:
Student Regent. The Student Regent is the only representative of the students to the highest policy-making body of the university, the Board of Regents (BOR). His/Her role is very important because it is only through the SR that we can address our issues and concerns to the BOR. S/he has the same powers and duties with the rest of the ten (10) regents of the board which includes:
(f) To approve the rules on student discipline recommended by the University Councils through the President of the University, with the Board retaining the power to review and pass final judgment on student disciplinary cases;
(i) To provide fellowships, scholarships and grants, including athletic grants and to award the same to faculty, staff and students having special evidence of merit, especially those who are poor and deserving students;
(j) To elect the President of the University for a single term of six (6) years following a process of democratic consultation with the university community based on standards and guidelines set by the Board. In the event of a vacancy, the Board shall elect a president who shall serve a full term. A Chancellor chosen by the Board may act as Officer-in-Charge of the national university when the search process is in progress. In no case shall the search and election of the next President be loner than ninety (90) days from the date when the vacancy occurs;
(m) To fix the tuition fees and other necessary school charges, as the Board may deem proper impose, after due and comprehensive consultation with students concerned. Such fees and charges, including government support and other income generated by the national university shall constitute special trust funds and shall be deposited in an authorized government depository bank. Any and all interest that shall accrue therefrom shall form part of the same funds for the use of the national university.
Codified Rules on Student Regent Selection (CRSRS). The CRSRS contains the guiding rules of the students on how to select the next student regent. It is also stated that:
Section 12 The Board of Regents. (g) One Student Regent, to serve for a term of one (1) year, chosen by the students from their ranks in accordance with rules and qualifications approved in a referendum by the students;
The Referendum. The referendum, as mandated in the provisions to ratify the CRSRS, is a question of legitimacy. The UP Charter mandates the CRSRS to be approved in a referendum by the students. A 50 percent plus one Vote manifests a successful referendum. It is a failure if the contrary occurs and if the percentage of voter turnout does not reach the 50 percent plus one.
A YES Vote means. . .
A YES Vote means you agree with the provisions that are stated in the CRSRS. If the affirmation of the CRSRS reaches the 50 percent plus one, we shall then proceed to the selection of the next Student Regent.
A NO Vote means. . .
A No Vote manifests that you are not in favor of the CRSRS (or some of its provision/s) to be the rules in selecting the next Student Regent. This will make the incumbent Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid stay in her position until such time that a replacement is selected.
If the referendum fails . . .
As what was mentioned above, the referendum has two ways to fail. We also mentioned that the incumbent will remain in office until such time that a new student regent is selected. For everyone’s information, the legal term of the incumbent regent ended when 2008 ended. Her term was extended because of the conduct of this referendum and to wait for the next regent. However, the incumbent regent is graduating this April. The CRSRS has been upholding the rule that a non-UP student [enrolled] cannot be a Student Regent. Thus, at the time that Regent Abdulwahid graduates, she cannot anymore serve as a regent. Here is where the predicament comes in if such will happen. Who will be our regent after? We cannot select a new student regent because we need the CRSRS ratified by the majority of the students before we select the next SR.
Everything about the selection of the next SR will be uncertain if a NO Vote prevails. What is certain about the implication of a NO Vote is that: NO RULES FOR THE SR SELECTION until the NEXT REFERENDUM. We should not wait for the next referendum. Here is our opportunity to protect and assure of our representation to the BOR. What is also threatening here is that the incumbent SR’s legal term was over. Because of the deferment of her term, her presence in the BOR and legitimacy as a regent may be questioned by the other regents. Because of the deferment of her term, her decisions may not be tantamount with the other regents. Anytime, she can be kicked out of the BOR. When this happens, vacancy is great possible. We shall not be definite of the period, but this will be one of the consequences when the incumbent can no longer serve as a SR and still, CRSRS is not ratified. We cannot tolerate vacancy because this will make the office and the students vulnerable to prejudices and abuses by the people in power. When such event occurred, since a SR is mandated in the UP Charter, there will be a possibility that the BOR will do something about this just to shun the absence of a SR. If we trace the history of the OSR, there were time/s that the BOR and the President of the Philippines denied the regent selected by the students, and appoint their own student regent to the BOR.
Are there people campaigning for a NO?
Yes. There are organizations campaigning for a NO. A NO Vote would manifest that you do not agree of the CRSRS (or its provision/s) and strongly proves that there is a need for the amendments. However, it is stated in the existing CRSRS that submission of amendments is on or before October 1 every year. The organizers of the NO-campaign presented and insisted their amendments on the General Assembly of the Student Councils (GASC) last December. Because it was submitted late, it was not deliberated further. The majority of GASC decided to have the referendum with a question: "Do you approve of the existing Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection (CRSRS) as rules and qualifications to govern the selection of our student representative to the UP Board of Regents? YES or NO.” The opposing organizations passed a manifesto to the OSR submitted last January 9 but were junked a week after (January 16) for the reason that the majority of the SC opposes the amendments. Only 13 out of 51 student councils (and six student leaders signed the manifesto in their personal capacity) in the entire UP system stipulated for the inclusion of the proposed amendments to the final question. “They are a minority. I would be questioned if I accommodate their demand.”- SR Abdulwahid. Yes, indeed that the SR will be biased if she goes for the minority decision when the majority says the contrary.
Definitely, a YES Vote does not close doors to amendments because the CRSRS mandated for the submission of amendments by the student council every year. And to those who want to amend the CRSRS, haven’t they thought that their amendments may not be tackled or touched if the referendum will fail? Only the CRSRS has the rules on how to amend such CRSRS. The rules regarding these things are included in the CRSRS, thus saying NO to CRSRS will cause again uncertainty for amendments.
What is the best thing to do?
This referendum, as we said, is a question of legitimacy. At this point in time, we do not want to end like those stated above – vacancy in the OSR, uncertainties on the amendments, and an appointed SR. The weapon for protecting out rights is her. The affirmation of the CRSRS will give us the assurance of having a new SR, and at the same time, would give other people the opportunity to submit their respective amendments.
A YES assures us to protecting our rights.
A YES assures us to have a SR!
A YES assures us of a democratic representation to the BOR.
YES to CRSRS!
DEFEND THE OFFICE OF THE STUDENT REGENT!
MABUHAY KA, ISKOLAR NG BAYAN!
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