Student empowerment

Opinion

By Eden-Jan Dangla

It could have been a good manifestation of student empowerment in the university, but turned out to be just another activity for most students. Or perhaps, they were not aware of it in the first place.

Very few students participated in the freeze mob spearheaded by the University Student Council (USC) last Friday (Sept. 21). The activity was an off shoot of the freeze mob conducted by Youth Vote Philippines, a network of progressive, reform minded youth groups and organizations, in strategic areas in the country on the same day. Its aim was to encourage the youth to take an active role in the upcoming elections.

The aim was good as it teaches the youth to be proactive and participate in the quest for solutions to the problems the country faces today. Future leaders will come from the youth, so it is essential that as early as now, they are trained in the arena of leadership. But apathy seems to linger. It has even grown stronger and bolder. There are only fewer rallies organized by students, or none at all. Student publications have become kinder to school administrations. Alas, more students lost the interest to join the student council and the publication. Some of the interested ones join student organizations only for personal gain and for the popularity they get, which is very dismaying.

Of course, the USC failed to conduct a comprehensive information dissemination which resulted in the minimal turnout of participants. But, I believe that the student body and its leaders have learned their lesson and will do way better next time, so instead of plucking their misgivings off my list one after another, I will talk about student empowerment.

Many students are well aware of the mistakes of the university administration, but they never really do anything about it. They complain and talk about their grievances only in the background instead of voicing them out through proper channels. This is what we call passive action in dealing with the issues on the campus. Student leaders were elected primarily to represent their constituents in putting the matter on the table with the administration. The student leaders, however, no longer serve as real leaders; they now work as event planners.

I have seen that student organizations have lost their essence in the university. It seems that the purpose of their existence has changed from being the proper venue for airing students’ grievances to being a business center. Look, even fund raising projects are no longer conducted to support activities that truly contribute to the development of the students. Where do the funds go? College fests, Palarong UPANG (which promotes extravagance more than sportsmanship), and other projects that do not entirely hone the skills and well-being of the students.

Student empowerment is important in every institution. Student empowerment is immensely important in this university, whose administrators have failed to establish their role as educators, but have only promoted themselves as businessmen prying on an economically viable venture. And truly, like businessmen, they do not clearly explain to their clientele—the students—where their money go as shown in the Official Registration Form (formerly Certificate of Matriculation) which does not provide further breakdown of the items collectively termed as “Others.” Only hell knows what they are. The absence of this breakdown has resulted in speculations and cast doubts among the students.

What’s more dismaying is that the administration does not know how to take care of its students. Even a simple request for new and functional air conditioning units turns out to be very difficult for them to grant. Is it a “crazy idea” to replace dysfunctional pre-used units with brand new ones that the students rightfully deserve? Clearly, the administration can afford a brand new aircon or two considering that they spend large sums of money on renovations and re-renovations.

It’s high time that students built up the courage to stand for their rights and advanced their welfare in the institution that says it has become “bigger, better and the best.” Alongside that, it’s time the administration proved just that.