THE ATENEO College Fair is back on track.
After blocking the fair in a vote last year, the Sanggunian Central Board (CB) has approved a motion requesting the Sanggunian to grant institutional support for the College Fair Task Force in a session last April 13.
The fair is a proposed two-day event featuring booths, games and shows, among other activities. Last year, it was supposed to be held on February 11 and 12 at the Bellarmine Field.
However, Sanggunian President Drew Copuyoc says that the approved concept of the fair is that of a non-Sanggunian project, in contrast to last year’s proposed college fair. The task force requested only for Sanggunian representatives during the discussions and planning for the project.
The proposed fair has been rejected thrice by the CB last school year, with the last vote needing the final confirmation of the Student Judicial Court (SJC). During the last vote, 13 out of 20 (65%) CB Reps supported the project, falling short of the 2/3 vote (66.7%) requirement needed for approval.
Not an ‘official project’
Although the college fair is a non-Sanggunian project and will not be handled by Sanggunian officers, the student council will be providing ‘institutional support’ for the project.
Copuyoc said that this institutional support would include the assistance with promotions, the permission to use the Sanggunian name and the presence of Sanggunian representatives in the task force.
An officer from each batch level and officers from the Central Board Committee on Extracurricular Activities will be part of the core group of the college fair task force.
Sanggunian Vice President Gio Alejo said that the representatives would help in consulting their constituents on certain details of the fair.
“This is to ensure that the welfare of the general student body is advanced and protected in the planning and execution of the college fair,” Copuyoc said.
Improved proposal
Junior School of Humanities CB Rep AJ Elicaño and Junior School of Social Sciences (SOSS) CB Rep Moses Albiento crafted the resolution that enabled the institutional support, after consultation with the CB. Sophomore SOSS CB Rep Dan Remo acted as the principal sponsor.
Remo said that the college fair proposal has come out stronger compared to the initial one raised last year. As of press time, there are around 200 student volunteers for the task force.
They are also working with the Ateneo Resident Students Association (ARSA) and the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA).
As a response to comments about the similarity of the proposed college fair to the annual ARSA Fair, Remo said that ARSA is set to host a variety show during the college fair.
Sanggunian Secretary-General Ian Agatep said that the College Fair Task Force requested for an appearance during the CB session last April 13.
During the meeting, the task force presented the concept of “community-building” as a thrust of the fair.
“We envision a tradition which will bring the Ateneo community together in a shared experience of creative and recreational inputs and activities, towards creating a richer, stronger sense of the student body’s recognition of its Atenean identity,” the task force said.
