Drill #2

The Arts and Letters Student Council (ABSC) organized an open forum entitled “Speak Up” last Feb. 10 at the Rizal Conference Hall of the St. Raymund de Peñafort Building in line for the forthcoming college week.

            The said event was led by both the student leaders and members of the administration, mainly by Assistant Dean Narcisa Tabirara, Faculty Secretary Ma. Zenia Rodriguez and Professor Lino Baron answered questions regarding the current issues of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

            AB students predominantly asked about the loss of the P50, 000 supposedly by the ABSC back in October 2014 which originally was for the use of organizing events such as the Athena Cup and support for the Pautakan Quiz Bee team of the college.

            When asked about how the leaders will aim to regain the students’ trust, Vice President-Internal Dominic De Castro replied that they do not have a specific agenda, depending upon the individual, quoting “It is a subjective thing. Every personality or every student has this standard that the student council would really try their best in order to gain their trust.”

            It was also tackled whether a hearing may be held in view for the public or between the Board of Majors (BOM) comprised of the society presidents, the administration and the council itself, scheduled initially for November of last year but delayed due to the preparation for the final examinations for first semester.

            Asst. Dean Tabirara answered by saying that there are certain processes to be followed when the inquiry is handled, adding that the Student Welfare Development Board (SWDB) were informed first hand but declined for the petition.

            Questioned about the hearing’s privacy as it will be held as a change of objectivity, Tabirara replied that it is unfair for it to be held as it is, affixing that the SWDB who will hold the case are independent people and their questions will be subjected to objectivity.

            Other concerns were pointed out by the audience, such as the lack of equipment, the events for AB week, the overpopulation of its students and the rumored Type-B uniform to be implemented on Feb. 19 in line with the start of the summer season.

            One question that had everyone’s attention was about the college’s faculty, emphasizing their complaints on the professors citing various reasons such as their unpunctuality and the kind of service they provide when they teach their students.

            “Iyan kasi ang problema sa inyo. Reklamo kayo ng reklamo, hindi naman itinataas sa authorities. Kaya sa faculty room marami kaming naririnig tungkol sa mga reklamo galling sa inyo [students] na hindi naming ma-confirm. It’s best if you express it written or orally to settle it”, said Prof. Lino Baron who served as the representative of the faculty.

            After the forum, ABSC president Majann Lazo told in an interview that in her point of view and of others, the questions asked were not that liberal, commenting that the questions were still on school politics and not of other concerns.