USC spearheads freeze mob to support 2013 polls

News

THE NATION STOOD STILL. Few students participated in the freeze mob spearheaded by the University Student Council (USC). Adrian dela Cruz, USC president, attributed the small number to the busy schedule of the students.

By Eden-Jan Dangla

For three minutes, everyone stood still, all for the cry for good governance through clean elections.

The current trend is flash mob, but the University Student Council (USC) chose not to dance. Instead, the officers led the students in the exhibition of a frozen reality called a freeze mob, on the campus on Sept. 21, 2012.

Initiated by Youth Vote Philippines, a network of progressive, reform minded youth groups and organizations, freeze mobs were simultaneously staged in strategic places in the country. The activity aimed to catch the attention of the youth and to encourage them to participate in the electoral process.

“The freeze mob aims to instill in the minds of the youth that change will transpire through their active participation in the government,” Adrian dela Cruz, USC president, said when interviewed after the activity.

“The message is that we must not be passive about the issues our society faces,” he added.

The activity also happened in Trinoma, Mendiola, University of the Philippines, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila; Ayala Center in Cebu City; in the Cities of Davao, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.

Few participants

Few students of the University of Pangasinan (UPANG), however, participated in the freeze mob. Dela Cruz estimated the total to 50 students only.

Asked what could have been the reason why many students did not join the activity, the USC president explained that since it was Friday, many students were not in the university.

“Perhaps, it was also due to the exams scheduled this week. The weather could be a factor, too,” he added.

Dagupan City experienced heavy rains that afternoon.

Unprepared

But, some students said that the USC was not prepared to conduct the activity. Leaders of recognized student organizations (RSOs) were not present either.

Supposedly, the freeze mob would start at 5 pm. But, it started at 5:38 pm.

Dela Cruz explained that the USC had conducted a seminar on parliamentary procedures which finished later than what was expected.

“That was why there was little preparation,” he said.

“This freeze mob will make us students aware of what’s happening in our society now,” Reggieric Recodos, governor of the College of Social Sciences, said when sought for comments.

‘Should be announced’

Jan Marlon de Vera, vice president of the Political Science Students’ Organization, said that the freeze mob was “exciting and makes the students aware of their status in the country.”

He said, however, that should there be a similar activity, the USC should announce it a week or even days prior the event.

“That way, everybody will be aware that there will be an event like this,” he said.

But, according to Dela Cruz, the USC informed the RSOs and college student councils about the event.

Future activities

Dela Cruz disclosed that the student government was looking forward to the conduct of a satellite registration at UPANG either on the second or third week of October.

“We’ve already sent the invitation. We’re just awaiting approval from the provincial office of COMELEC (Commission on Elections),” he said.

The student leader said that he was hoping that through these activities, more youths would participate in the government and the electoral process.

However, when asked whether this aim could be achieved in the university, it took him a while before finally answering “yes.”