XU Campus Electoin 2014 Reflection

Introduction 

What is one of the major constraints of the CSG and College Councils as student institutions? It is the yearly leadership turnover (but actual work in the school year is just 10 months). I consider it as a constraint because this opens the gate to reboot the whole operation of government every year. This means program priorities change every year, new programs cover old programs, good stuff was not sustained by the next administration etc. – you get the picture. But again, that is just the whole nature of student government. It is fluid. But then it got me thinking. What can be significantly and fruitfully done in a year? A lot maybe in terms of event-based activities or basic services delivery but in terms of long term policy and program initiatives, which ought to be the heart of a student government, 1 year is just too short a time. So what could be a possible remedy to this reality? The answers are actually mere suggestions born out from my years of observation. It entails looking at a broader context of politics in campus and this is just my humble attempt to at least break it down into levels and hope that this can push the conversation.

Strong Student Political Parties

In the student-level, the answer might be the development of strong student political parties. This is where we should come in. In reality, what we offer to the student body are enumerated list of activities and programs we promise to do in a year. Ideally, a student political party should offer the student body a governance program that does not limit to a one-year timeline but outlines a long-term vision and policy priorities. The long-term action plan can then be broken into doable yearly accomplishments that each “yearly” candidate can carry and promise. Our dream of having a platform-based election rather than personality-based could start in our school. 

What is a student Governance Program?

But what is a governance program anyway? A governance program is a long-term strategy founded on a certain philosophy or set of political beliefs in how student governance should be conducted. This is in a sense, the practical and doable translation of the party’s political beliefs.

If you consider yourself an “Extreme” party, you might espouse for the eventual abolition of the uniform policy or the de facto recognition of fraternities and sororities (I highly doubt). A “liberal” party might fight for the organization and recognition of an LGBT student group, or a “green” party may want to push for greater green campus funding. This is the reason for a party’s existence and consequently, the banner, which the candidates carry year-in and year-out. The student body then evaluates the performance of the student leaders under such program of governance and pass their judgment through the ballot - in our case, through a click of a button. But of course, these parties don’t just sprout out of nowhere. They sprout because the environment allowed them to. (But sustaining their active existence is another story.)

Student Formation that specializes in policy-making and engagement

But I understand that a pluralistic and dynamic political community in campus is close to a fairy tale and it might even be a reflection of a greater reality of apathy or repulsion about politics among the youth. While we recognize this sad phenomenon, we can never discount how important the intervention of the school is in creating an environment that facilitates critical political thinking among students. So in the administration level, the whole XU student leadership formation apparatus ought to put special attention to the development of a specialized skill-based leadership formation program on public and school policy crafting and engagement. It would be an interesting new field considering that the school consistently provides so many skill and leadership development programs raging from music to dancing. It is time to explore policymaking as one field of expertise students can immerse in. This would reinforce existing parties and encourage the formation of new ones.

Political Science Class as fertile ground

In the academic level, one key component here is the Political Science Department. We all must pass basic Pol Sci in undergrad. This then presents a creative platform in which Pol Sci teachers can integrate policy making (local or campus) as one concrete application of their learning in political science. This is one venue where the student body in general (the voters) can appreciate the importance of collective decision-making and how it affects their daily lives. Political Science classes to say the least are very fertile grounds for nurturing a politically active student body.

In the end, engaging into student political formation as an administrator or as a student leader possesses an intrinsic formative value. It is where students get to put their Ignaitan heritage of social justice as a framework to analyze the dynamic social forces of an issue and transform it into doable actions in and outside campus.

Conclusion

The mission of our university is the formation of leaders. This entails not only forming persons who have the competence to prosper and lead in the world, but most importantly the courage and compassion to use that competence to transform the world. In practical terms, it is transforming processes and systems that have been ineffective or oppressive be it government, business, academe, church or our very own family.

Student Leadership formation grounded in social analysis and policy engagement is that vital competence necessary for us to fruitfully engage in institutional reforms in the long run. Election season affords us to rethink our approach and I hope that we put our heads together to make ways in strengthening the political maturity of our student body.