THOMASIANS WERE encouraged to support and create a clamor for the long-sought passage of the Students’ Code, which is only two steps away from its approval.
Former Central Student Council (CSC) President Atty. Lorraine Taguiam stressed in a forum titled “The Great Charter” that the actualization of the code is every Thomasian’s responsibility.
“For the past years, it has been a struggle of the Students’ Code ─ reaching that level of awareness… It’s very hard talaga to reach everyone’s attention, especially in the University na sobrang laki ng population and very diverse ‘yung interest ng everyone. But we don’t just stop there,” Taguiam said.
She also said the enactment of the Students’ Code would guarantee a clear provision of the Thomasians’ rights, student empowerment and unified and equal system for all.
“We want the Students’ Code to be passed, to be enacted to maximize our rights so everything that we can do within the limits we know what are those rights,” the former student leader said. “We need it now and there is no best time to have it but now.”
With the revised Students’ Code being reviewed by Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Clarita Carillo, both the CSC and Central Board remain hopeful that it would be forwarded to Rector Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., should there be no revisions required.
Once approved by Dagohoy, a plebiscite would be conducted wherein two-thirds of the student population should vote for the passage of the said code.
“Kailangan natin ng clamor ng students para ‘pag dumating na tayo sa plebiscite part, hindi na tayo magtatanong [kung] ano nga bang laman nito. Dapat as of now alam na natin ang laman nito… It’s been 10 years,” said current CSC President Anna Mariz Mangalili.
Meanwhile, Central Board Speaker and Artlets Student Council President Jan Dominic Castro challenged all student leaders to fulfill their promise during the university-wide and local elections to pass the Students’ Code.
“I’m calling all the student council officers to renew the spirits of their oath and that is to be of service to their fellow Thomasians,” Castro said.
The Students’ Code is a legal document enumerating all the rights and responsibilities of students found in the University’s rules and regulations. It declares and affirms the students’ responsibilities and privileges regarding academic rights, freedom of expression, right to information, participation in policy making, organization, and due process. F – GAEA KATREENA C. CABICO
