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.
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