FIRST THINGS first, said Office of Student Activities Director Pia Acevedo in a discernment talk on January 30: Do they really want to serve the students?

Acevedo gave the talk in preparation for the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral General Elections from February 21 to 22. She explained in her talk what a student government should and should not be.

In the audience were the candidates for the top 44 Sanggu positions, including presidential bets Jauro Castro (II AB MEco) and Gab Perez (III AB MEco) of Partido IBIG-Agila and Partido Ignacio, respectively.

Here to serve

Acevedo said that the Sanggu should be for service, not self-actualization. “If you are here to exercise your personal skills, then you should not run for student government.”

“You are there primarily, with service at the back of your mind … to have that ear, to have that humility and openness to listen to what your constituents need,” she added.

“You should be able to provide a sense of identity, [and] a sense of belonging.”

More than just activities

Acevedo also said that the Sanggu is not a place to plan for activities’ sake. “Anybody can have activities, why does the [student leader] have to do it?”

She added that a student government is supposed to offer services to Ateneans. “That is what sets a government apart from a Rotary Club.”

Aside from addressing Ateneans’ concerns, Acevedo said that the Sanggu is a significant student government, as its stands and opinions on important issues represent the stand of the studentry.

Ateneans’ needs

The candidates were also asked what student concerns the next Sanggu can solve.

Responses included awareness on student rights, apathy on political issues, increasing food prices in the cafeteria and the SOM Mall, environmental issues, bridging diversity among courses, and information dissemination.

“If you will be able to address all these [concerns] you mentioned, the Ateneo will be different after a year,” Acevedo said.

She added, however, that the Sanggu should not address these concerns by just solving the problem themselves. “You never get people involved if you do it yourself … you have to let people speak their minds.”

‘Stirred’

“I feel that [the talk] greatly helped in identifying our priorities and enjoined us to put the Sanggunian at the top of that list,” said Perez, the incumbent chair of Sanggu’s Student Rights and Welfare Committee, and incumbent School of Social Sciences junior Central Board representative.

“Our student government definitely needs a lot of work and results have to come quick, concrete and effective,” he added.

IBIG-Agila’s Castro, meanwhile, said that “many platforms were stirred” by Acevedo’s talk. Castro is the incumbent SOSS sophomore executive officer.

“Mrs. Acevedo’s point is very much true—one thing that a government can do uniquely, and very distinct as its niche in the community—is that it can listen to what the students need and do something about it.”

Castro also said that the talk was helpful in breaking common perceptions about the Sanggu. “It is a challenge for all candidates to rethink their priorities and, more importantly, know what we are here for.”

Tags: Sanggu Election