TWO ORGANIZATIONS have been accredited and are now among the organizations listed under the Council of the Organizations of the Ateneo (COA).  These are the Ateneo College Ministry Group (ACMG) and the Ateneo Association of European Studies Students (Aeuss).

The status was granted by the Office of Student Activities (OSA).

ACMG is composed of students who act as liturgical servers, lectors and choir members in Eucharistic celebrations held on campus. It was established in 1982.

According to ACMG President Sophia Palma, the organization aims to deepen the Ateneo community’s “knowledge, perspective and relationship with the Mass.”

She added that ACMG also provides talks and seminars to help prepare other student organizations and offices in the Loyola Schools (LS) in holding liturgical celebrations.

ACMG is now part of COA’s Faith Formation cluster.

Aeuss, on the other hand, is the home organization of European studies majors in the Ateneo. It is a now member of COA’s Analysis and Discourse cluster.

Through its projects, the newly-accredited organization aims to create avenues for members to improve their diplomatic skills. Aeuss’ projects are also designed to foster a stronger relationship between the Philippines and European countries.

Aeuss President Monica Ricafort said that this year, their organization would strive to go beyond the Ateneo community’s expectations of it.

“We feel that all eyes are on us since we’re newly accredited and we want to show the Ateneo community what our fullest potentials are,” said Ricafort.

Accreditation experience

Both organizations encountered difficulties before being officially accredited by OSA last school year.

Palma said the biggest hardship ACMG encountered during the accreditation process was trying to prove themselves to the community.

“[The process] was exhausting and frustrating,” she said, adding that applying for an accredited status encouraged the members to improve on the internal systems of the 31-year-old organization and identify its niche in the LS community.

“That’s all it takes to establish who you are: Improvement and knowing who you were, are and where you’re going,” said Palma.

ACMG was last accredited in 2009.

Meanwhile, Ricafort said that the accreditation process for Aeuss was “long and exhausting” as well.

Aeuss had to apply for accreditation twice before the status was finally given to the organization.

Ricafort said that Aeuss’ officers exerted more effort during the last application process, as a rejection would mean that the organization would be asked to reassess its systems for two years before it would be allowed to apply again.

“We wanted to give it our all since we felt like it was our last and final chance,” explained Ricafort.

She added that Aeuss would strive to maintain its accredited status.

Recweek 2013

Both ACMG and Aeuss participated in this year’s Recruitment Week (Recweek).

Entitled “Central Station,” Recweek 2013 was held at the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership roof deck from June 24 to June 28.

The theme, adopted from the movie Wreck-It-Ralph, aimed to encourage students to join the various student organizations of the Ateneo.

COA President Micha Aldea said she wants organization life to positively influence the lives of Ateneans this year.

“We hope [the students] will learn how to love and value the organizations, for it is a nice experience that they shouldn’t miss,” she said.

Some students recommended points of improvement for Recweek 2013.

Freshman Luchelle Alegrid suggested putting the dates for the unaccredited organizations’ recruitment on the manual.

Unaccredited student organizations were given a maximum of three days to recruit members over the week, as opposed to the five days allowed for accredited organizations.

“We went to the roof deck but the [unaccredited] org we wanted to join wasn’t there,” said Alegrid.

“It would save time and effort if they placed the schedule for everyone to see so we’re informed,” she added.

Meanwhile, freshman Kyla Tinio thought it would be better if more ushers were available in the area.

“The event was organized but the people were just all over the place,” said Tinio.

“It’s not really a bad thing but it kind of makes lining up and doing the other processes more difficult,” she added.