A value to be valued

By Cheeno M. Luang

(Vol. XXVIII No. 8, Editorial Cartoon)

Everyone was disheveled upon hearing the staggering news that the NORSU guards are once again acting gruesome on the affairs of the students especially on the status of their identification cards and their decency as university goers.

These might be considerable for it is their job to ensure the safety of the institution as well as follow orders from higher authorities.

But it seems more than enough already to include confiscating food and drinking items from outside the campus. Even candies and gums were never exempted.

Instead of pelting a splendid amount of negativism to the administration, especially to the university president who gave direct orders of confiscation, let us try to delve deeper into the justification of the one man who started it all, for a change.

In a statement, University President Henry A. Sojor said that the students have to do their part in maintaining the cleanliness of the school. “Ask not what NORSU can do for you but what you can do for NORSU,” he said. Norsunians seem to act like grade one pupils for disregarding pieces of paper and plastic loitered everywhere, waiting to be reprimanded every time. Aside from that, the comfort rooms are not well taken care of, even after giving necessary repairs to it. He saw that the cleanliness of the school was at stake together with the comfort rooms and utilities which ceased to flush and started to malfunction so he put up a solution, which obviously was not taken lightly by the students and even by the parents.

Students cannot just turn tail and run from the fact that we are so much better in wailing for an upgrade of facilities, which, of course is beneficial, but are never cautious in taking good care of these provisions. We even ignore the efforts of having a clean school environment by not disposing garbages properly or neglecting the overlaid trashes on foyers and walkways; but then advocate on the upheaval of the students against the disciplinary acts of the father of the university.

Always put in mind that we are in a state university, which tries to be grateful for that meager budget coming from the higher office. We are not contained in a private institution wherein we can enjoy airconditioned rooms, high technology facilities, and instant servicing systems.

This year, the national government’s proposed budget for the 2011 has cut the fund for state universities and colleges. But to an optimistic leader like Sojor, Negros Oriental State University can still “do more with less.”

This time, more than ever, it would just be quite right for us to remember and put in heart the elementary values taught to us by the song, “This Is My School,” This is my school and because I love her, I shall try to make and keep her beautiful…so shall my school become the school beautiful, back-upped with the adage, “cleanliness is next to godliness.”

The president is then right in inculcating one important value: Responsibility.

NORSU’s crowning glory

By Paul Anthony M. Eso

(Vol. XXVIII No. 7, Editorial Cartoon)

NORSU’s crowning glory

A few months ago, the whole NORSU community was amazed by the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) declaration that Negros Oriental State University is one of the top performing schools in the entire country offering Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Imagine the mixed emotions of surprise, gratefulness, and glee for those who were directly and indirectly concerned of the news. That was the time when this institution was very much awed with the performance of the Nursing students —when all the pioneer 17 graduates who took of the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) passed, making the university an automatic 100 percent achiever.

This made us, NORSU-Main Campus I, the number one record-holder for range three (those schools with 10 to 99 takers) and the top nursing performing school along with the Bukidnon State College—Malaybalay Campus and the University of the Philippines—Manila Campus.

Very recently, NORSU’s banner was once again raised after three board takers namely: Dante Alcona, Richard Bajado and Edsel Electona successfully passed the Master Mariner Licensure Examination (MMLE), giving the university a glorifying 100 percent passing rate. They would not definitely conceal that wonderful feeling of receiving kudos from fellow Norsunians and a highly-acclaimed future waiting to be ventured. In line with that is the succes of the 19 more Norsunians who passed the O.I.C.- Navigational Watch Licensure Examination (NWLE) which furnished the school a 63 percent passing rate, and Timotheo Buscato Jr. who, out of two takers, made it to the Chief Mate Licensure Examination, giving the university a 50 percent passing rate. Wonderful performance indeed!

Here is another fact. The dean of the College of Maritime shared that “as far as the College of Maritime Education is concerned, we are glad that in every board examination, the college has passers.” He assured that this 100 percent passing rate in MMLE will certainly inspire the students to strive harder.

With the university’s top performing colleges, the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), the College of Maritime Education (CME), and the College of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences (CNDPAHS), Dr. Henry A. Sojor is very much confident with the potential of every Norsunian and said that intelligence will not matter whatever the social status of a person is.

What do you think would be the best way for you to contribute to this notable success of the university? Would you want your name to be in tarpaulins and be the future reasons of the beaming smiles of the faculty and staff of this institution, too? It is your choice, and it is your decision to make.

Tightening the leash

By Karl Sheen A. Ates

(Vol. XXVIII No. 6, Editorial Cartoon)

Tightening the leash

University President Henry A. Sojor is convinced that it is important for the students to attend grand events like convocations every now and then. Because of its importance, he has ordered students to remain within the gymnasium premises where the event is being held.

For him, not letting the students go regardless of reasons is teaching them discipline. His challenge is for students to act maturely, to become university students as they are, rather than becoming whiners like high school kids.

So imagine the reaction of some students who begged the security guards to let them go because they have to go to their part-time work, but rather got snide remarks and hostility. But instead of spending their time where they can earn money so that they have something to eat the following day have to miss a day’s work and have to stay in a crowded gymnasium.

In an interview, Sojor clarified however that some students will now be excused provided that their deans approve the validity of their reasons.

It was a lousy attempt to appease the students who are not only disgruntled over the not-so-well-thought-about policy, but angry as well, that they are becoming guinea pigs of the university president’s fickle mindedness.

What has become a threat is that Dr. Sojor made a sweeping statement that students will now be asked to attend all grand events. Whether university–led and sponsored masses are included in these events is yet to be clarified. Because imagine how students of other religion would feel.

In line with Sojor’s excuse which is to discipline the students, it seems like the university president is saying that the four units and countless of hours spent by the students in Reserve Officers’ Training Corps training (ROTC) are for nothing. That the efforts of the commandants and officers of the said program are useless and that the security guards of the university can teach the students discipline better.

That the security guards are better than the commandants? That would be both offensive and demeaning. Even the officers of the ROTC training programs will most likely agree.

It is understandable that convocations play a major role in every student’s life. It is also commendable that the university president has thought of ways to make sure that every student takes time to attend these. However, in making policies, the administration should always consider all things relevant to the matter and be more specific in giving out new policies.

Because imagine the damage they have done to students. And imagine the damage they might have caused to some others who chose to keep quiet.