By: Kate Giordan Flores
The Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) Special Projects Committee implemented students’ suggestions, feedback, and proposed activities ahead of Genesis 2025 held last July 14 to 16.
The committee released an org fair survey last July 3 to gather students’ expectations and points for improvement from last year’s set of activities.
According to SUSG Special Projects Committee Chairperson Angelina Athena Rival, the responses guided them on how they curated this year’s events and initiatives.
“The SUSG always strives to create a more tailored and inclusive experience for all students […] In a way, Genesis was organized hand-in-hand with the students. We couldn’t have done this without them,” she said.
SUSG SpecProj launched student guides such as the Genesis 2025 Booklet and GeneSeek 2025 to help students, especially freshmen, to “navigate the start of their Silliman Journey.”
Meanwhile, SUSG Vice President Antonio Delicana said that other suggestions from the survey included extending the duration of the fair from three days to one week and a more accessible venue for students.
Last year, various college and organizational booths were placed at the College of Business and Administration (CBA) Grounds and were only allowed to operate for only three days.
Delicana stressed this prompted the SUSG to relocate this year’s iteration to the Roman T. Yap Lane or 70’s Lane which provides students a “more accessible” venue.
For the first time, this year’s Genesis was also opened to local concessionaires such as “Bazinga!” “Kapeng Lokal,” “Tubo Pick n’ Mix,” “ChaNoom Thai Milktea Shop,” and a photobooth from “Opulens.”
A total of 11 institutional organizations and 16 SUSG Executive Committees participated in the organization fair.
SUSG SpecProj returns as host
This year’s Genesis also marked a comeback for the SUSG SpecProj Committee as the event organizer after a year of hiatus, however, with only two weeks to prepare.
“Many of the major preparations were already being managed by the [SUSG Executive Committees]. So instead, we made it our goal to make Genesis as “bongga” as possible,” Rival said.
Moreover, SUSG SpecProj Committee Vice Chairperson Angelita Lee shared that they faced challenges on manpower and the inclement weather conditions.
“Although we managed to pull through despite the lack of members at the time, having a few extra hands would’ve certainly made planning the event a lot easier,” she said.
Themed “Through The Seasons,” Genesis is the annual organization fair organized by the SUSG that aims to foster a “sense of belonging and cultural integration among students.”
The event, originally scheduled from July 14 to 18, was cut short by two days following the provincial-wide class suspension due to the onslaught of tropical storm Crising.
