IN AN effort to create its own unique identity and have guiding determinants for responding to the national situation, the Sanggunian released seven core principles on June 12.
According to Sanggunian President Ia Marañon, this is the first time that a Sanggunian administration has publicly released such a declaration.
The Sanggunian’s core principles are critical thinking and self-reflexivity, authentic humanism, democratic practice, subsidiarity, active non-violence, solidarity with the oppressed, and a faith that does justice.
Marañon noted that an identity of the Sanggunian in itself would be needed with regard to the various student-led institutions in the Ateneo.
Marañon, together with Vice President Benjamin Alvero III, came up with a set of principles which they presented to other members of the Sanggunian in their Planning Seminar (PlanSem). They were approved in PlanSem after discussions with the course representatives, school representatives, and the cabinet.
Returning to relevance
According to Marañon, the core principles were also created within the context of the persistently-low election turnout seen in recent years. She believed that having these principles would express their vision and give a reason for students to vote.
“We thought that [the low voter turnout is] because the students don’t see the need to vote – because whoever sits there, it would all be the same. We wanted to change that by expressing that these core principles are only for our term because the principles are reflective of the leadership,” she said.
Meanwhile, Communications Secretary Jules del Rosario said that the principles would only be official for the coming school year since they are specifically reflective of the current administration’s leadership.
“Having [the principles] change and only be reflective of each particular administration emphasizes why it is important to vote, because if students don’t agree, then they can and should exercise to vote for a candidate who they believe will have the principles they want,” he said.
“We wanted to show that – as cliché as it may seem – every vote matters,” added Marañon.
For guiding projects
The Sanggunian wanted to create these guiding principles to serve as guides for projects rather than convert them explicitly into corresponding projects.
One of their latest projects is the Sanggunian Town Hall held today. It was an effort by the Office of the President to serve as an avenue to discuss matters and concerns of the students, and for the Sanggunian to present points of collaboration. According to Marañon, the project aims to democratize student governance.
