On The Periphery of Death
Assessment of the 44th University Student Council
by John Rey Amestoso and Casandra Peñaverde
UP Manila is in a code blue emergency. Over the years, the University has been battling against a chronic condition of a debilitating political climate. The once vibrant ideological hues of campus politics gradually faded into darkness as the University Student Council (USC) started suffering from an incomplete slate every year since 2018. As a result, the students stand vulnerable to attacks outside and inside the University.
Infected with the political infirmities of the past, the 44th USC — the first council to emerge from the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic — faced the daunting task of resuscitating the flat-lining student participation in UPM. While they saw sparks of life amidst their earnest efforts to revitalize the university politics, the council still failed to fully revive the student body to its robust and healthy state.
Symptoms and Complications
The present council started its term with all the symptoms of deadened campus politics. Ma. Prescilla Irabon, College of Dentistry representative, pinned the stagnance of student participation in her college against the neoliberal education system, which burdens the students with heavy academic workloads. This was corroborated by College of Medicine (CM) Representative Ryan Miguel Rivera, who identified the same as why medical students historically have poor involvement in campus politics.
Thus, similar to their immediate predecessors, the council faced the persistent problem of low political participation as manifested by their numbers. Out of nine seats this year, only four were occupied following the general election. The chairperson and vice chairperson positions were clinched unopposed, while only two were declared councilors after one candidate failed to meet the 50%+1 majority rule.
Despite the significant lack of workforce, USC had to promptly hit the ground running as the learning modality slowly shifted from online to face-to-face, increasing the pressure for effective student representation. To cope with the vacancies, they were left with no choice but to tap the college representatives to head one or two committees in the council.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Representative Michaela Shane Sison, the current USC Secretariat and Head of the Students’ Rights, Welfare, and Basic Services (STRAWBS) Committee, lamented how some campaigns and projects had been compromised or not fully exhausted because of this setup. In fact, they were forced to neglect their primary responsibilities as college representatives in order to focus on a particular committee project. Unsurprisingly, the multiple hats worn by the members led to serious burnout, which severely affected the services provided to the student body.
The symptom was further complicated when no one ran in the special election and when former Vice Chairperson (VC) Gunther Brandon Deichmann resigned from his post, leaving the council as a three-person slate. With these circumstances, it was even more critical for the council to reignite the life of the student body. However, besides their inadequate manpower, they admitted that it was an extremely difficult task since they had to relearn the ropes of student engagement after the pandemic drastically changed the dynamics and traditional organizational culture inside the University.
As outgoing Chairperson John Venedict Cabrera claimed, “Nagkaroon ng cultural shift inside UPM na parang lahat inaaral ulit paano i-engage ‘yung students, ano ‘yung best practices, at pag-revisit kung ano ‘yung pinaka-effective [way] so that mas may participation.” VC Aija Lajara noted that college and university-based organizations struggled to organize and recruit new members. Furthermore, it was unfortunate as well that the Coalition of Fraternities and Sororities and the All Orgs Fair have not been convened this term, and even the old practice of room-to-room campaigns was limited due to the council’s insufficient staff. These were missed opportunities to maximize and exhaust all avenues for student participation.
Treatment for Chronic Crises
The foremost challenge for the outgoing USC then was to search for treatments to aid unresponsive student engagement. The council believed that one crucial factor was transparency in its operations. Hence, they introduced initiatives such as #UPMUSCWatch and Newsletters, which made the minutes of the General Assemblies and other pertinent updates publicly accessible. “Napapansin ko ‘yung mga estudyante na hindi alam kung anong nangyayari sa loob ng USC [ay] nawawalan sila ng participation or gana na mag-participate dahil hindi nila alam ‘yung ginagawa ng USC,” said Cabrera. This year, the council utilized its online information channels and platforms in launching campaigns and projects.
Thus, to the credit of the 44th USC, substantial victories were clinched during their tenure. Lajara, the former STRAWBS councilor before her ascension, cited: “Isa sa pinakamalaking factor na nakapag-enganyo ng sumali is when you understand what issues they truly are facing.” This was evident in the successes in organizing town hall meetings to address pressing issues like the UPM Dorm crisis and the Phi House controversy, which attracted almost 120 attendees. Drawing from her personal experiences, the departing VC also showcased how the council advocated for the student-led petition for higher wages for student assistants.
Meanwhile, notable developments in the We Need Space campaign were also welcomed, as additional spaces for UPM students were opened. However, the council underscored that the campaign continues, given that bureaucratic processes in reserving spaces remain to hinder student activities. A case in point was the cancellation of the first-aid training of the Health Committee headed by Rivera. The council asserted that the long-term goal is to assert and claim freedom spaces where the students can conduct activities without the need for permits.
Equally important, the council boasted its strong connections with administrative offices, specifically the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of the Chancellor. Last year, they pioneered the Chancy Chats, a forum to critique UPM Chancellor nominees, fostering a less bureaucratic and more objective relationship with the current Chancellor. Although incentives played a role in motivating participants, it was still regarded as a tactical victory in engaging the student body in discussions regarding University and national issues.
Overall, the 44th USC leveraged its strategic alliances and collaborations with administrative offices and existing organizations like the All UP Academic Employees Union to secure adequate support for student-led projects, like the Budget, Budget, Paano Ka Ginawa? This forum, led by USC People’s Struggles Councilor Kyla Benedicto, drew over 200 attendees.
Enhancing Campus Immunity
On more critical aspects, the council exhibited its fortified relationship with the Malayang Katipunan ng Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP Manila School of Health Sciences or MAKASAMA, the School of Health Sciences (SHS) unit-wide alliance. Together with campus-wide organizations in Ermita, the SHS units, particularly Tarlac, were seen and heard in the USC’s annual Alternative Classroom Learning Experience (ACLE). And for the first time in history, the SHS units also participated in the last midyear USC election.
SHS Tarlac Representative Princess Janray Ramos saw significant improvements in the alliance between UPM and the SHS units ever since she entered as a college representative, especially in streamlining the operations and communication within the alliance. Cabrera believed that the alliance-building with the SHS units would serve as a strong reference to the next USC, especially on the stark differences in the experiences and sentiments regarding the Return Service Agreement (RSA).
One positive thrust on the issue of RSA this year was the council’s effective assertion for student representation to the University RSA Committee, which was supposed to be led by Sison until the committee retracted its commitment to provide a seat for the USC two days before the closed-door meeting. It was commendable, nonetheless, that the 44th USC was able to convene the Students’ Assembly on the Return Service Agreement (SARSA) during the first semester. However, Sison stated that, given more time, the volunteer arm could still provide a more comprehensive action plan to better represent the students on the issue of RSA.
“Nakita ko iyon bilang isang malaking improvement, hindi lamang sa pag-ho-hold ng SARSA, since meron din naman ‘yong mga SHS representatives within SARSA, kundi sa pagpapalawak sa kampanya ng USC dahil hindi lamang siya nakakulong sa corners ng UPM na sa Ermita, pero binibitbit din siya ng SHS units natin,” Lajara commented on the enhanced alliance with the SHS units.
On top of these, another pivotal accomplishment of the 44th USC is its active participation in the formation of the Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Academic Freedom and Human Rights in UP Manila. The committee aimed to draft policies on red-tagging and create emergency protocols when threats against UP constituents arise, as in the case of the illegal arrest of six demonstrators, including one NNARA-Youth UPM student, during the Labor Day protest. Benedicto served as the USC’s representative to the newly established committee.
Exacerbating Factors
In finding ways to rekindle the once vibrant political climate, the council encountered one serious impediment: the lack of funding and access to financial resources. This issue prominently manifested in various USC programs and projects but was mostly apparent in the inability to properly execute Bakbakan, the university-wide sports fest of UPM, led by Albert James Tang, the College of Allied Medical Professions Representative to the USC.
“Hindi ko alam kung saan kukuha ng pera bukod sa student welfare fund. Saan pa ba ako puwedeng kumuha?” Tang responded when asked about the biggest setbacks the council faced. College of Pharmacy Representative Romer Valdez added that they had to reach out and solicit funds from various administrative offices in the University to initially sustain the event, which they would return once when they received their reimbursement from the Budget Office.
Aside from this, sustainability has also become a source of concern for this council. The USC members cited difficulty maintaining the campaigns advanced by previous terms as many materials were deleted and not preserved due to lack of storage. In response, creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) documents became one of the 44th USC’s priorities. The vision was to ensure proper organization of necessary materials, complete documentation, and a seamless transition for the next USC term.
“‘Yong isang magandang initiative din this term ay ‘yong SOPs, activities like pagsabit sa oblations, RTR (room-to-room), na magagamit ng mga susunod na USC terms. Wala rin kaming ganong nakuha, mas nanggaling lang talaga sa practice nila,” explained Benedicto.
Regardless of how positive the intentions of these initiatives were, the real question was whether these initiatives were sufficient to revitalize a declining participative student body. Upon assessment, it was determined that the council’s administration of these preliminary treatments had been ineffective — student participation and representation in the University remained weak and vulnerable.
Tumor of Irrelevance
While it is crucial to heed the calls within the University’s four walls, it is also similarly important to extend efforts to amplify the rights and voices of those outside the campus, thereby setting an example for the constituents. Regrettably, the 44th USC has not lived up to its militant past, failing to effectively arouse, organize, and mobilize (AOM) the student body for multisectoral issues.
Cabrera and Benedicto recognized that there were attempts to stay true to the USC’s militant origins, but these have been inadequate. “Nakikita namin ang pivotal position ng USC to AOM [the] student body at iyon ‘yung patuloy na sinusubukang bakahin, patuloy siyang hamon sa loob ng konseho,” said Cabrera. It has been the consensus of the council that their militant presence has been lackluster, as UPM students would sometimes ask, “Nasaan ang USC?” during mobilizations.
Although the council assumed an active role in consolidating the transport sector, especially during strikes, it, however, did not prioritize integrating with the basic masses, even in nearby communities. “Ang goal nga sana maging campaign center din ‘yong UP Manila sa kanila na malapit sa university,” Cabrera said as he looked back at the initial vision for this council. Retrospectively, Sison conceded that she could have initiated basic mass integration in the council, such as in the Navotas fishing community, as part of a National Democratic Mass Organization. Benedicto likewise admitted that she also fell short of materializing her Balik Komyu campaign platform due to the overwhelming tasks and urgent campaigns required as the People’s Struggles Councilor.
These shortcomings have led Benedicto to believe that the USC is becoming irrelevant to some students. “Irrelevant ‘yong naging role ng kasalukuyang USC pagdating sa student body. Nanggagaling naman siya din sa naging resulta ng RONDA UPM. Actually, ‘di nga din nakilala kung sino kami. ‘Di nila alam ‘yong mga pangalan namin, ‘yong mga mukha namin. So, doon pa lang malalaman natin, ‘di tayo kilala ng mga estudyante. At meron ding akong mga nakausap actually na kapag may problema, tingin nila hindi nila lalapitan ‘yong USC kasi hindi nila kilala.”
On the other side, Lajara offered a different perspective. She believed that the current USC was still relevant, which was evident in how students expressed their alarm when the council was further reduced to two members when Cabrera filed for a two-week leave of absence from March 24 to April 7. More than this, Lajara also justified that the institutionalization of student representation within various administrative committees signified the 44th USC’s continuing relevance to its constituents.
Nonetheless, the whole council acknowledged the disconnect between them and their constituents. Like a tumor, this disconnect has grown silently but steadily, undermining the health of the student body’s relationship with its representatives. One potential cure requires the council to be more present and responsive to the broad spectrum of calls — from the national level to the specific challenges faced within the University. To excise the malignancy, they must reaffirm their commitment to amplifying student rights and voices and making a tangible impact on the community.
Prescribing Change
The 44th USC started its term with all odds stacked against them. They inherited the political infirmities of the past, while so much was at stake as the University transitioned from online to face-to-face classes where student representation was firmly needed. While the council secured tactical victories on issues pertinent to the student body, it fell short of treating the dwindling political participation of UPM students.
The state of the University’s political condition is not necessarily the fault of the current term, but it is clear that its actions have been inadequate in addressing the ailment. Hence, significant changes must be implemented to revive the student body to life. The next USC is, therefore, challenged to learn from the mishaps of the present council and build on the positive initiatives they have put in place.
Truth be told, unless the 45th USC takes more aggressive steps to cure the illness, the same will plague the University, and a time may come when the death of student representation becomes inevitable.
