Page 8 - The Flame

ABSC eyes amendment of its constitution

By CHRISTINE DIANE R. ALMANZOR ABSC, told [Fernandez] that is not the way to “I believe the constitution needs more
do it. What he has to do is to officially initi- specifications,” Fernandez said. “There are
THE ARTS and Letters Student Council (ABSC) ate a petition through the Board of Majors,” certain provisions in the old constitution that
filed an appeal to the Board of Majors (BOM) he said. “We, as the Board of Majors, should needs to be specified a little further.”
last October, addressing the need to amend be the ones to provide a policy kung paano Though Mariano agreed with Fernandez
the current ABSC constitution due to some babaguhin yung constitution natin.” that ambiguities are present in the docu-
ambiguous provisions. The BOM functions as the sole interpret- ment, he said that “the [BOM] believes it is
The petition, filed by ABSC President Ju- er of the ABSC Constitution. It is composed of not necessary to amend the Constitution re-
lius Fernandez, suggested for the “opening the presidents of each society in the Faculty. garding the general implementing rules and
of a Constitutional Convention” to determine In response to the petition, the BOM regulations” because it is just a matter of de-
the possibility of modifying the current con- provided the policy on the procedures of termining who will provide it.
stitution. amendment through issuing Resolution No. “Yet, I commend his intention to fight the
He stated the “need for the content to be 003. It stated that a referendum to be facili- apathy of the students and to involve them
further specified and thoroughly written” as tated by the Artlets Commission on Elections more,” he added.
the main reason for the appeal, adding that (AB-COMELEC) must follow. Mariano noted that another hindrance
the amendment “shall lessen the possibili- A plebiscite will also be done to de- in pursuing the constitutional amendment is
ties of ambiguity in the interpretation of the termine if the student body would like to the lack of knowledge of the student body to
current constitution.” change the constitution. the contents of the ABSC Constitution.
In the proposed draft made by Fernan- However, the proceedings were put on As a solution, the BOM advised the ABSC
dez, he specifically defined the grounds for hold after an impeachment complaint was to create an information dissemination cam-
impeachment, added provisions in the stu- filed against Fernandez and ABSC Vice Presi- paign.
dents’ bill of rights, and imposed stricter dent for External Affairs Rhodel Sazon, forc- “While it is really the council’s role to
qualifications for those who will run as ABSC ing the BOM to set aside the amendment further inform the students about it [Consti-
president and vice president. appeal. (See story on page 28) tution], it is also our responsibility and duty
“The draft of the new constitution was “[The plan to amend the constitution] is as members of this Faculty to be acquainted
based from the draft of the Central Student the business of the BOM before the Insignia and to be informed with its contents,” Mari-
Council constitution,” he said. “It is only issue. It was part of the discussion, ang prob- ano added.
meant to give students an idea, but the last lema is hindi na tayo nakapag-proceed kasi With the above-mentioned factors, Mari-
say will still depend on them who will vote pumutok na itong Insignia issue,” Mariano ano said its actualization may take a longer
for its ratification.” said. time.
However, BOM Speaker Rogelio Mariano, “We need to change the mandate that
Jr. noted that the draft made by Fernandez Need for amendment we have because it has to comply with the
cannot be considered because the BOM has According to Fernandez, the appeal to needs of our time. But with what is happen-
the sole authority to provide the amend- amend the constitution “envisions better ing here in Artlets, kung magkakaroon man
ment proceedings. working relationship with knowledgeable, ng Constitutional Convention to amend the
“The BOM, being the body that decides truly vigilant, responsible, and leadership- Constitution, baka next year na ‘yun,” he
on the constitutionality of the affairs of the oriented Artlets students.” said. F

Admin bans class from borrowing equipment

By MARIA NIKKA P. POLICARPIO action should be done to serve as an example
THE ADMINISTRATION of the Faculty of Arts for other students not to repeat the same
and Letters (Artlets) banned a sophomore mistake.
class from borrowing equipment utilized for “A strong and concrete action should be
classroom discussions due to the latter’s ir- done so it will not be repeated and so that
responsible handling in one of their classes other students will learn from it,” he said.
this semester. Due to this, Doma, had a dialogue with
Section 2 Political Science 2 was prohib- the section and discussed options to resolve
ited from borrowing laptops, projectors, and the problem.
other pieces of equipment after they “failed “The class understands that such decision
to return the laptop they borrowed from the of the Dean is just a response to their failure
office, and was found about to fall from the to take care of the equipment,” he said.
podium where it was placed,” Faculty Secre- After the dialogue, the class filed a peti-
tary Cresencio Doma said. tion signed by all of its members for the Dean
Doma said the incident commonly occurs to lift the ban, but it was turned down.
in the Faculty, urging him to share the matter A student who refused to be named com-
with Artlets Dean Michael Anthony Vasco. mented on the sanction imposed to them
“Actually, this incident is quite common. and said it was too heavy for the offense they
Students borrow equipment from the office committed.
for their classroom [activities], but often- “I know this ban is meant to teach us a
Students paraded at the University times, they fail to return it. So when I shared lesson, but should education come at the ex-
grounds during the USTv kick-off party the matter to the Dean, he said students pense of education?” the student said.
last November 10. should learn from the incident,” he said. The section is banned from borrowing
CARLOS BENEDICK R. ARCAYAN Doma added that a “strong and concrete” equipment for the rest of the semester. F
8 | FLAME