GA Report: April 19, ‘08

Twenty-two out of thirty-four members of the University Student Council (USC) were present in its first formal General Assembly (GA) last April 19 at the USC Office. Discussed during the GA were the reports of the USC’s standing committees and the reports of the special standing committees. Also discussed were the reports of some College Representatives, the report of the Vice-Chairperson with regards to convening the League of College Councils (LCC), and the report of the Chairperson.

The attendance during the GA is as follows:

Chairperson Third Bagro Vice-Chairperson Airah Cadiogan         Councilors Mik Bueno * Nem Canete Rye Castillo Bang Dizon Jacque Eroles Joseph Gutierrez Stephen Larcia Bevs Lumbera Mico Maestro Fudge Tajar Sherry Tismal * Bikoy Villanueva * * excused ** late *** left early

College Representatives Acee Abulencia Anna Achacoso Jay Bagcal Issa Baguisi ** Rashell Cabrera ** Rinno Camilit Ace Castillo Chorva David Norby Geraldez Dyan Hatague Carmela Lagang Eshei Mesina Ruth Miguel Jeyson Ocay Raquel Perez Pierre Reyes * Hazel Rodelas Sophia San Luis Marc Virtucio Lester Yupingkun

 

SECRETARIAT COMMITTEE
The Secretariat Committee was the first to report on the progress of the committee’s projects. Councilor Bang Dizon, Chairperson of the Secretariat Committee, reported on the progress of the VolCorps Recruitment program. According to her, recruitment forms and the recruitment booth had already been prepared. In addition to that, she informed the GA that the planned rummage sale in order to raise funds for the USC Office would be postponed due to her graduation on the 26th. Councilor Joseph Gutierrez added that he has sent marketing proposals for the renovation of the office. The Secretariat Refresher, on the other hand, the refresher course for USC members to acquaint themselves with the various procedures in the USC, is scheduled next week.

FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee Chairperson, Councilor Nem Canete, reported that he would meet with the previous USC’s Finance Committee Head with regards to the turn-over of funds from the last council. According to him, the sale of planners reached more or less 250,000 pesos. Canete also reported that he would also meet with the UP Administration on April 28 with regards to the USC’s funds. He also reminded the other members of the USC with regards to the deadline of their financial proposals.

WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE
Councilor Sherry Tismal, Chairperson of the Ways & Means Committee, proposed that the USC sell centennial shirts, jackets, and jersey-type UAAP shirts as a form of income-generation for the council. The proposal was subsequently approved by the GA.

NEXT USC PLANNING SEMINAR
With regards to the next Planning Seminar of the USC, Councilor Nem Canete said that he would try to solicit funds from the UP Administration. Chairperson Third Bagro added that if the funds turned over by the previous USC would suffice, it should be used to fund the activity.

MASS MEDIA COMMITTEE
Councilor Bikoy Villanueva was absent at the GA. He, however, relayed to the GA his request for suggestions and materials for the USC website which he is working on, and is partly up at http://www.upd-usc.net/.

STUDENTS RIGHTS & WELFARE COMMITTEE
Councilor Jacque Eroles reminded the College Representatives to submit their College Reports on time. She asked CSSP Representative Jay Bagcal for a copy of the Real Time Enlistment survey conducted by the CSSP Student Council. Eroles also reported that she attended, together with Councilor Villanueva and Vice-Chairperson Airah Cadiogan, the lab fee consultations conducted by the College of Mass Communication (CMC) Student Council with regards to the lab fee hikes in their college. Hikes in lab fees for thirty subjects are apparently on the way. In addition, Eroles added that she has consulted the Dorm Councils to which she has forwarded the Dorm Assembly Plan. She also asked the council for a tentative date for convening an All-Leaders Conference (ALC) to present the various projects of the USC and to consult the different leaders of student formations with regards to various issues.

FRESHMEN COMMITTEE
CMC Rep. Ruth Miguel relayed to the GA the various plans of the Freshmen Orientation Program Committee (FOPC). She also said that her committee’s calendar of activities is at the USC’s email groups. The Freshmen Committee also asked the Environment Committee for an update regarding the Smoking Ban, for inclusion in the Freshmen Booklet. Also for inclusion in the booklet, she proposed that the USC hold a pictorial on May 3. The booklet is planned to be released on June 6-10.

PEOPLE’S STRUGGLES COMMITTEE
The People’s Struggles Committee, under Councilor Fudge Tajar, will be holding a press conference / forum with regards to the rise crisis issue, on April 30. The target venue, according to Councilor Tajar is the Palma Hall Lobby. She said that the panel would consist of representatives form various UP sectors. The lecturer would be Sonny Africa form IBON Foundation. The committee is also planning to invite representatives from the agriculture sector. A statement with regards to the rice crisis would also be released by the committee. The GA was amenable with the points presented by Councilor Tajar and agreed that its release would be considered urgent. A draft would be posted at the USC’s email groups.

ACADEMIC CONCERNS COMMITTEE
AIT Rep. Chorva David said that the immediate plan of the committee is to coordinate with Students Rights & Welfare Committee and the College Representatives with regards to the Summer Enlistment Update. He also asked the College Representatives to inform him of registration matters in their respective colleges.

GENDER COMMITTEE
According to CEduc Rep. Acee Abulencia, the plans of the committee for this summer are: connection building with other organizations; dialogues with different institutions; participation in the International Day for AIDS Memorial at the Quirino Grandstand on May 18; and an IDAHO committee on May 17. The committee also requested that the USC release a statement with regards to AIDS.

EDUCATION & RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Councilor Mico Maestro said that the committee is working closely with the Community Rights & Welfare Committee with regards to the “One-Way Academic Oval” issue. He also reported that the committee will be working closely with the School of Library & Information Science Student Council with regards to the management of the borrowing and rental system of the TREC and the Center for Nationalist Studes (CNS) Library, which are under his committee. The committee shall also launch a “Policy Review”. On April 28, the committee would conduct a college-hop for the LEARN convention to be held on May 30. Councilor Maestro added that should there be a League of College Councils (LCC) meeting soon, he would consult the local college councils with regards to their positions to various pressing issues.

STUDENTS LEGAL AID & ACTION COMMITTEE
CL Rep. Sophia San Luis said that the immediate plans of the committee for the summer are the Paralegal Training and Grievance Desk. She encouraged fellow USC members to attend the Paralegal Training workshops. Councilor Jacque Eroles asked if the committee can extend its services to the residential communities in UP facing demolitions.

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
CHE Rep. Rinno Camilit said that the USC, spearheaded by the Environment Committee, would be taking part in the Candle-Lighting activity by the League of Youth for the Environment (LYFE) at the Sunken Garden on April 21.

COMMUNITY RIGHTS & WELFARE
The committee, under CSWCD Rep. Carmela Lagang, and together with some members of the USC, met with the heads of the jeepney drivers’ organizations in campus to hear out their concerns with regards to the “One-Way Academic Oval” traffic policy. Some members of the USC also went org-hopping to gather reactions and grievances from the students regarding the policy. The committee also approached the UP Administration for pertinent documents to be able to come up with a position to the issue, but the requests were not acted upon. Councilor Eroles suggested that the committee write a manifesto and conduct a petition-signing campaign among students for a moratorium on the policy. According to her, “We are not against the bike line, but the thing is, it did not undergo consultation. The drivers had a proposed route but the UP Administration did not consider it.”

COLLEGE REPORTS
The Representatives from the College of Mass Communication (CMC) and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) briefly presented to the GA the conditions in their respective colleges.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Chairperson Third Bagro reported to the GA his plans of forming an ad-hoc committee for the project of renovating Vinzons Hall. The ad-hoc committee, according to him, will coordinate with alumni sponsors and donors, and arrange for corporate sponsorships. He also said that an Interior Design class would make it into their thesis. He appointed CA Rep. Marc Virtucio and Councilor Joseph Gutierrez as heads of this ad-hoc committee. Councilor Eroles suggested that the assignment of heads be delayed for the next GA, as a matter of procedure. Chairperson Bagro claims, however, that the matter is urgent and any member of the USC who is willing, is free to join the committee. Eroles added that the USC must be informed of such ad-hoc formations and plans earlier, to abide by the house rules of the USC. It was clarified in the discussion that the Vinzons Hall renovation shall only concern itself with the physical aspects of the renovation, its marketing, etc. It shall not be concerned with certain policies concerning the use of Vinzons facilities/rooms.

On other matters, the Chairperson also discussed election code revisions with regards to the student council elections. The matter, however, was deemed largely obsolete as the elections had just passed.