| This week is the official start of campaign period for Concerted Actions for the Upliftment of Students’ Endeavors (CAUSE) and Students’ Union for Reforms (SURE). These are the two long-standing parties that have been competing against each other for positions in the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) through the many years of the university’s history. |
The 2016 SUSG elections itself is interesting; this year, SU Commission on Elections Rules and Regulations states in Sec. 3 that online campaign is allowed. Students may see parties’ political platforms and programs online, and candidates may solicit votes directly through email and social media sites.
As election day is fast approaching, two opposing parties will do their best to win students’ vote. Students will soon decide who to entrust positions in the SUSG.
In Philippine politics, credentials and level of brilliance matter. Even the existence of a master’s degree is a concern. And there is nothing wrong with having expectations and standards on candidates. In a university setting, the usual kind of student voter also weighs the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate and base his/her decisions on capabilities and past leadership experiences.
However, the Weekly Sillimanian would like to remind every student voter that more than the achievements and intelligence, a leader has to have a heart to sincerely serve and lead effectively.
Perfection or being spotless is not a requirement in taking leadership positions. We are in a university that has many different avenues to learn, and SUSG is one of these. What the student body needs are student leaders whose desire is to advance student welfare in the campus. At the same time, they must be people who admit mistakes and would still choose to do the right thing when no one is watching.
If a candidate has the genuine heart to serve, then wise, selfless decisions will follow. The deceitful-hearted candidates, however, will only look forward to possessing the power and perks of having the positions and uplift their own political parties and agenda. Assess wisely.~
