CENTRAL STUDENT Council (CSC) candidates from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) bared their platforms and stands on different University issues in Tagisan 2016 mandatory debate, all seeking to end student apathy and to promote active involvement in the Thomasian community.
Both vying for the position of public relations officer, Journalism junior Enna Hermoso from Lakas ng Diwang Tomasino (Lakasdiwa) and Behavioral Science junior Jherome Ramos from Lakas Tomasino Coalition (LTC) presented measures to combat Thomasians’ political apathy.
Hermoso said it is important to know the cause of students’ apathy first in order to come up with efficient solutions while Ramos sees the lack of awareness among students as the main problem.
“Kapag naging aware na po ang mga estudyante, here comes involvement at kapag naging involved na po ang mga estudyante, mawawala na po ang apathy because these projects (#MillennialGoals and Yellow Info) that we in LTC are presenting will empower each [student in the] Thomasian studentry,” Ramos said.
As for gender empowerment, Ramos said that through #MillennialGoals, a bimonthly congress in partnership with different organizations outside the University will be held to make Thomasians more aware of the “true essence” of respect and to fight against discrimination.
Under Hermoso’s project Respetomasino, a campaign will be conducted to protect students from harassment and discrimination inside and outside the campus.
Meanwhile, former AB Student Council secretary and independent candidate Samantha Anne Williams said there is still room for improvements within the CSC in addressing student awareness.
“Hindi lang po talaga masyadong nata-tap ‘yung mga estudyante. If we reach out to you, then the students must also reach out and that starts with knowing the role of the student council and the role of the students as members of the Thomasian community,” she said.
The CSC polls which opened last April 18 will continue until April 22, Friday. Winners will be proclaimed on April 22. F – Christian De Lano M. Deiparine
