Catch this article also in our Boto Bedista 2023 3.0 Special Issue

FOLLOWING THE FERVOR persisting within the campus in hopes of finally occupying the presidential and first-year representative seats of the San Beda Student Council (SC), let us dwell deeper in grasping their general duties shared throughout various universities, whether it would correspond to the ideals campaigned by today’s candidates: 

President 

An officer that is not novel to us as its name alone is as grand as the outstanding functions they must undertake under the obligation of serving the student body. With the president being the standard bearer of the SC, needless to say, this role is not for the faint-hearted.  

For one, relative to the constitution of all universities in Manila, the president has the authority to supervise all endeavors done by the council. Accordingly, when meetings are on hand, the president must preside over the matter, along with the mandate of penning all documents and communications of the board.  

The president is also the official representative of the students in school-related matters and represents other organizations and activities on and off campus. In addition, the president’s role as a representative of the students is primarily exercised on special occasions when the student body needs their representation. 

As such, with the candid and active representation of the studentry, the president serves as an ex-officio member of the Dean’s Council and the Board of Discipline, by which they will act as a liaison between the student body and the university’s administration.  

Insofar as organizations are concerned, unique to the SC Constitution of San Beda is the president’s mandate to ​​endorse the approval of the activities of recognized clubs, organizations, and homeroom organizations into the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Prefect of  Student Activities.  

Furthermore, sharing similarities between San Beda University (SBU) and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Graduate Student Council Constitutions, the president also has the power to create special committees subject to the limit that its mandate should not conflict with the Executive Committee.  

Considering the myriad of roles performed by the SC president, it is evident that another abstain-win would be detrimental to the systematic management of the council, the studentry, and even the whole university in general.  

With only one candidate which is Eunice Bermudez of San Bigkis Party (SBP), it’s going to be another challenge if whether or not the students have finally found their SC president or shall continue the abstain voting streak for the third time in a row. 

First-Year Representative  

In direct representation of their batch, the first-year representative is elected essentially to raise concerns and advance the interest and welfare of their respective batch. For the academic year 2023-2024, Robert DelaPaz from the Nationalist Youth and Progressive Democrats (NYPD), Beige Campbell from SBP, and Ang MITHI’s Beatrix Lareza are the candidates for the position.  

The first-year representative, or any batch representative for that matter, is much like a president on a lower scale, with a much limited scope compared to the latter.  

Taking into account the council constitutions of SBU, Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), the first-year representatives, with its duty as spokesman or representative of the first-years, act as a liaison of their year-level toward the student council as well as the university’s administration.  

As such, the first-year representative must attend to respective year levels’ needs and grievances by voicing their concerns. Thus, the first-year representative is also responsible for disseminating all announcements from the administration and the council to their respective year levels.  

Furthermore, the first-year representative is also in charge of coordinating the activities of their respective year levels while serving as the chairperson in their respective batch councils.  

In addition, as a member of the council, the first-year representatives are to participate in the deliberation and approval of resolutions, regulations, and rules prescribed for adoption by the student council.  

Unique in the Ateneo’s Constitution is the first-year representative’s ability to appoint committees in consultation with the student council and be an ex officio member of these committees as long as it is within their functions.  

It cannot be emphasized how pivotal the roles of the student council president and first-year representatives are in establishing a community grounded within the university’s principles and hallmarks. It is both an honorable and demanding job to foster dialogue and consensus between the diversified outlooks brimming within the school gates.  

Come election day, as the electorate, may we possess a more critical and holistic perspective, one whose hands would favor none but a candidate who has all the qualities of a servant-leader and an eye that seeks the betterment of the Bedan community.