For many years, we have struggled with the administration’s anti-student policies. These include repressive registration policies, commercialization of education, and many more. As the pandemic pervades, the demand for an inclusive and pro-student type of administration continues to escalate. During this time where uncertainties grow, we need a vigilant and receptive administrator now more than ever.
A CHANCELLOR SHOULD BE PRO-STUDENT AND PRO-PEOPLE.
The institution certainly does not need a chancellor who neglects the opinions of its constituents or values his interest over theirs. As the direct constituents, the students and employees should always be taken into consideration. Surveys and consultations should always be conducted to assess the conditions of the university’s constituents, and also serve as a basis when implementing policies in the university. However, our calls have always been denied by the administration. This is why we call for the next chancellor to listen to the demands and grievances of students, faculty, and staff.
ON REMOTE LEARNING
During this pandemic, we are faced with challenges concerning remote learning due to lack of resources and lack of clear ordinance as to how the upcoming academic year shall progress in their favor. Students and employees have expressed their disagreement towards conducting online classes; however, the administration still pushed for it despite limitations and having consultations among its constituents. We call on the next chancellor to postpone the resumption of classes until we are safe to conduct face-to-face classes again. The safety of the student body can only be ensured once mass testing is implemented in the country. Likewise, resumption of classes online would only widen the educational inequality in this pandemic.
ON MRR/RE-AD
Under the term of Chancellor Fernando Sanchez and until this day, disapproved cases of Maximum Residency Rule (MRR) and Readmission appeals are prevalent. Students listed the seasonality of courses, SAIS inefficiency, and the absence of university officials that delay the fulfillment of their readmission requirements as the key factors as to why they are unregistered. Out of more than 600 cases of readmission appeals made since 2018, only 76 cases were approved as per Chancellor Sanchez’ declaration. Being denied of their appeals to continue their studies is a violation of their right to education, which is why we should look for a Chancellor who is genuinely concerned with the rights and welfare of students. A Chancellor should not deny any student’s right to education and therefore should approve all MRR and readmission appeals.
ON SAIS REGISTRATION
Another issue we struggle with is the utter failure of the registration system. Students struggle every semester to get courses, which is supposed to be a basic right of any enrolled student. Ever since the flawed implementation of the Student Assistance and Information System (SAIS) that resulted in registration incompetencies every semester, it has been the call of students to junk this system. Yet the administration still remains to be blind despite this demand. The next chancellor should be able to ensure every student’s right to accessible and quality education by heeding the call to #JunkSAIS and adapt a more efficient registration system.
ON FREEDOM/SAFETY/SECURITY
Students, leaders, activists, and progressive organizations from the university are also faced with threats to press freedom and the right to organize. There have been cases of red-tagging, death threats, unlawful arrests despite peaceful mobilizations, and black propaganda yet the administration has not shown their active support in protecting their students against these threats.
During an NSTP class in March 2019, Army officials were invited to supposedly discuss ROTC’s module but these officials had a different agenda: to red-tag progressive students and organizations. Pictures of protest rallies identified as parts of the New People’s Army were flashed in front of about 400 students at that time. The act proved very distasteful as just in February of the same year, John Carlo Alberto, a former UPLB student, died in an encounter between soldiers and communist rebels. In addition, most recently during the unlawful arrest of Cabuyao 11 before the Anti-Terrorism Law was implemented, Chancellor Sanchez did not release any statement of support. The protesters were freed by the collective demand of students and alumni.
The next chancellor should have a clear stance against the red-tagging of progressive students, ensure that their right to express and organize mobilizations are not violated, and lead in protecting the studentry against threats and abuses by state forces.
We, the UPLB Development Communicators’ Society, Inc., believe that the university needs a chancellor who will uphold integrity and compassion all throughout his administration. The UPLB studentry deserves a chancellor who will look after his constituents and by doing so, extend his service to the entire Filipino nation.
