Better than the best

By Cheeno M. Luang

(Vol. XXVIII No. 11, Editorial Cartoon)

Everyone is spic and span for one of the most significant events of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU)—the 83rd Founder’s Week Celebration with its theme, “Nurturing Desire for Harmony of Man and Nature.” The full-wit and grace ambiance is already lingering widespread the campus, and Norsunians are now making their shift in fulfilling a dedicative contribution for the most anticipated event.

With the ample time given, various colleges and satellite campuses are now giving a full-swing performance in every event that will surely leave the spectators a wow feeling. The different organizers are now in the thick of fulfilling their promise to make the best out of what they are doing to contribute to the success of the university celebration. Even the homecoming alumni have their part—sharing their gratefulness and the successes they have achieved to their alma mater.

However, while the rest of the NORSU family are gathered as one in this big celebration, there are still those who take advantage and decide to go home and have an early vacation. More often than not, students would just leisurely disregard the must-have-been bond between students and faculty members, which can be strengthened during the Founder’s Week Celebration.

This gleeful event is not a time for long sleeps and more siesta. This is a high time wherein we need to be happy and have fun. It is the moment to wash away all the stresses given by bulk of tasks in the university while unleashing our artistic and playful side. An undeniable fact that twinned with the participation in these events is, tiredness, but it should never be an excuse not to participate.

Each and every Norsunian and all the members of the faculty and staff should take part in this celebration because we all have roles to play making the best Founder’s Week ever.

To those who are not part any of the events, try helping through other little ways like volunteering on doing the props and costumes, distributing snacks for the participants, or helping in designing the canopies. These little things should not be overlooked, because these may turn to something significant in the end. Thus, it is your job to make sure that you have done your part in making things go smoothly.

We all have the intelligence, uniqueness, and talent to make it to the top, but only a true blue Norsunian has the character to appreciate and be thankful of each special moment along the way – and that character could never bear the idea of leaving his alma mater in times when his presence and participation is greatly needed. Happy Founders Week NORSU!

Not far from true

By Paul Anthony M. Eso

(Vol. XXVIII No. 9, Editorial Cartoon)

Five months after implementing the first departmental enrollment system in the history of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) piloted by the College of Industrial Technology, the College of Education (CED) and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) followed.

The College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), College of Maritime Education (CME), and College of Agriculture and Forestry (CAF) in Main Campus II also implemented the same. However, students from the three colleges still have to go to Campus I to pay their tuitions and other fees, settle their subject-related problems, and process other important papers which are not handled by the faculty and staff of their campus.

But the University Registrar answered that the money collected must be put into consideration first. He continued that the other campus is a little far from the main, hence transporting the amount paid by students might be taken by whoever has big interest on it.

Moreover, going back to the focal point, through the advancement brought by the departmental way of enrollment, the line of students decreased and the crowd was controlled.

However, the problem is on the payment of NORSU Scholars Federation (NSF) Fund which was handed to the Cashier’s Office and to colleges having the departmental system such as the CIT, CEd or CAS (depending on where the student belongs), instead of receiving the payment right after the verification of scholars’ grades in the Student Affairs Office Hall. So, which most of the scholars considered a hassle and burden.

One week after enrollment was officially started [when the schedule was set for the second years to higher years], colleges implementing the departmental system were no more accepting NSF fees from students because according to a receiving personnel in one of these colleges, it was the instruction given to them.

Thus, scholars did not have a choice but to proceed to the Cashier’s Office. Students with different purposes (e.g. paying tuitions, INCs and retakes, NSF) flocked in the area. Students from Campus II were one of them too.

This long queue delayed the enrollment of students resulting to the closing of subjects they wanted to take. Worse for scholars for they still need the approval and the signature of the authorized person for their forms. So they have to stand in line outside the Accounting Office, and when they proceed to the encoding station, there were no more available schedules aside from the major subjects.

The aforementioned situations only indicate that the system of enrollment still has many things to improve.

One of these is to give ample time for scholars to process their scholarship because some benefactors do not submit the lists and approve the scholarship grants on time.

In the Accounting Office, there should be two or more personnel to cater the needs of thousands of scholars because if you ask the latter, majority would say that it is the major hindrance of scholars to enroll early.

The main solution is to implement the departmental enrollment in all colleges [in the two main campuses] of NORSU, for this will assure a convenient and speedy enrollment.

But let’s not lose hope. Let’s continue believing on the capability of our leaders, of the school administration especially of the University President to make the great enrollment process transformation in our school.

It will happen in a no longer span of time. Let’s just patiently wait for this big improvement we have been aiming for.

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.

One skewed rule

By Paul Anthony M. Eso

(Vol. XXVIII No. 5, Editorial Cartoon)

One Skewed rule

It seems that University President Henry A. Sojor felt like the students of Negros Oriental State University are not only hardheaded but also beyond help. Perhaps, because of this belief he has cooked up a policy that is not only absurd but also ridiculous if not demeaning for an administrator of his stature.

Who wouldn’t want a clean university?

If Sojor will be asked, he would most likely point his fingers to the students. That is why in one of those boring days, he had a talk with Chief Security Officer Nilo Lauron. No one really knew what they talked about, only that days after that, Lauron has mobilized his minions and asked them that foods taken inside the campus by the students should be confiscated.

By the way, Lauron said that it was not their job to inform the students of the orders given by the university president. He said that it is the Student Government’s job. So, even without properly informing the students, they continued with their stunts. As usual, they hid again behind “we are just following orders.”

So imagine the surprise of the students when the baon they brought from home [took time to prepare and pack it] were taken away like it was a piece of bomb ready to explode. Imagine the faces of the students who, because they have no extra money at hand, have to buy biscuits in advance just to save some extra pesos, but only to end up with nothing to eat at all.
Sojor said that the main purpose of this is to maintain cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene inside the campus.

Could this mean that the university president is finally reaching that point wherein he can’t come up with better means to discipline the students, so he would stoop as low as confiscating baons and hide behind saying that it is to maintain cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene?

It is true that drastic times call for drastic measures. There is no problem about wanting to maintain cleanliness but to go as far as confiscating baons is stooping down way too many levels.
It was Sojor who keeps on admonishing that NORSU is a school for the poor but deserving students. It was also Sojor who said that students go to school in order to learn.

But with this new policy, is it even fitting for the poor but deserving students? A lot of students cannot afford the food served at the canteen. Guess they have no choice now but to really buy, wouldn’t they?

And what kind of lesson does he want the students to learn this time? Obviously, he wanted the students to learn cleanliness at the expense of the students getting hungry because the baon they can afford is taken away.

If Sojor thinks that the students are beyond help, that they cannot be disciplined anymore by plainly showing them how to do it, then what difference is NORSU to a prison or an asylum?
Only the university president can answer that.

More improvements

By Cheeno M. Luang

(Vol. XXVIII No. 4, Editorial Cartoon)

More improvements

There were significant developments in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) that made the NORSU community commend the progress, while there were some others who did not even care to give a single note.

There is the ongoing construction of the College of Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Allied Health Sciences building. Also, the offering of two new courses last school year: Doctor in Dental Medicine and Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. However, the latter was temporarily closed since it attracted only a few enrollees. An addition is the beautification of the NORSU grounds with the repainting of the buildings.

It may either be big or small improvements, but the institution has made its part to create a new environment for the NORSU community. As most of the said ventures were successful, there are another new set of progress that NORSU community will start embracing for the next few days.

The university administration’s line-up of projects this school year are the renovation and construction of a three-storey College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) building, an Amphitheater, a religious activity center or a Chapel, a two-storey food building, and the roofing of the open courts. The Amphitheater and the Chapel will be situated in front of CBA, west side of the NORSU Cultural Complex and at the back of the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management building. University President Henry A. Sojor, in an interview, shared that any religious activity can be done in the Chapel.

The two-storey food building will include the seven-unit food stalls located at the ground floor and the Engineer’s, Supply’s, Bids and Awards Committee’s/Technical Working Group’s, and Evening Vocational Courses’ offices that will be positioned in the second floor of the said building. Sojor also related that with the said project, the neatness of the university will be improved since everything will be in place this time.

From all of the projects of the institution for this school year, it only provides that NORSU has been stepping on from one ladder to another – higher and higher. Subsequently, these plans will add dominance and prestige of the school since it builds up growth of the institution and at the end, the stakeholders will benefit from the said development. It’s quite a big challenge at first to provide some of the many needs of the NORSU community especially for the students. But despite all the odds, the institution remained firm and established to provide not just quality education but also a one-of-a-kind security and tenure.

But since NORSU has been improving a time now, most Norsunians and the watchful NORSU community were already hoping that the needs in facilities and equipment will be catered as well in the near future – as soon as today. Students were even claiming that if not with hard work and dedication to pursue their goals in life, things would have not fall into place – relating to Norsunians who top exams. Consequently, since it is a known fact that NORSU has delinquency in facilities and equipment, it should also have been addressed.

If then the administration has appropriated a big amount for building new structures for the university, it might as well be better if they could also supplement the requests of the students with their demand on facilities and equipment, and allocate some for the said appeal.

It is assumed that there are still some other set of projects that will be implemented in the next few years for the improvement of the institution and the betterment of the NORSU community as a whole. But still, there are other important needs that supposedly been addressed by the administration by now. The projects are a commendable one though. Kudos to more improvements!

Vague policies

By Arvin V. Rodriguez

(Vol. XXVIII No. 3, Editorial Cartoon)

Vague policies

Many rules and policies of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) have been discussed and debated by most students, faculty members, and other staff many times already, and even the outside-of-the-campus community has participated in the discussion, took different actions, and questioned the indifferent moves and sanctions of the university administration and authorities. But of all the parties concerned, students are constantly the vulnerable ones to inconsistent and prejudicial implementations of such school regulations.

Most Norsunians are relatively annoyed with the confusing [past and current] policies of the school. Some of these policies are enforced without giving the students enough information – leaving students hanging and defenseless on what to do.

Like the case of the proper dressing attire policy, it drew adverse reactions from the NORSU community especially the students. The confiscation of IDs for renewal and the bag inspection from the security department have also earned different impressions not just from Norsunians but the local community as well. It was and never been announced to students that such rules will be implemented. There weren’t even posted announcements.

The security personnel claimed that they were tasked to execute certain policies directed from the administration. However, the confiscation of IDs was not directed from the administration but merely the idea of the chief security officer that made students asking “why”.

According to the student handbook, no one of any authority can confiscate any personal belonging of the students. Then and there, there is already a manifestation of abridging the right of the students. Is the execution of the policy helped the students to acquire a new ID though they have the choice to have it renewed or not? It might also be a good idea that students will no longer pay for renewing of IDs.

Yes, the chief security is correct with his reason that it is for the students to avail of the renewal of IDs since they are paying that every school year that’s why he confiscated the IDs. On the other hand, the Students Affairs Office who is in charge in facilitating the renewal of IDs is defending students.

It also upholds the right of the students to whether obtain a new ID or not. If that’s the case, why are students paying it every school year when in fact they are given the option? It might as well be a good idea that students will only pay if they wanted a new ID.

Meanwhile, Norsunians have also abided the policy on the random bag inspection. Security personnel will check bags if there are food and all related stuff inside of which are not permitted to be taken inside. For what reason? Cleanliness – was the main rational.

The administration assumed that students will only litter the plastic wrappers that were accumulated with the food anywhere inside the school premises. So if students will buy foods inside, will they not litter it anywhere in the campus? Will they politely throw it in the garbage can? How will that be sure? Some will perhaps, but students are just students.

To some extent, the administration has the point. However, if students could no longer avail of the costly meals in the cafeteria or the food court, do they have no right to bring a packed meal inside? It would sound too insensitive if they don’t have. The administration might as well provide food for the students if they will not permit bringing of such in the campus.

Such were some of the many confusing policies of NORSU that baffles the students at no end.

Strict but inconsistent

By Paul Anthony M. Eso

(Vol. XXVIII No. 2, Editorial Cartoon)

Strict but inconsistent

Another school year has opened, but still some of the many rules and regulations in Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) are still left unclear, not apparent, and even unapproved. Consequently, there were no consistent implementations of such policies from authorities concerned. As a result, the NORSU community has raised their eyebrows to the said personnel because of the way the policy is executed. There were even confrontations and misunderstandings between students and authorities.

One of the policies that gained most attention is the proper dressing attire. The Student Government of Dumaguete City I has revised the dress code for several times last school year. But with several revisions, the policy is still not yet approved until this very day. However, the security department of the university is implementing the previous policy.

The office of the security matters shared the dress code that provides the proper dressing attire with specifications addressing to all concerned that says “no wearing of short pants, sleeveless, spaghetti strap and tubes, slippers, sandals below two inches, and sando shirts; and third sex is not allowed to wear sandals, pedals, tube-top, and spaghetti strap blouses.”

The chief security officer once revealed in an interview last school year that the said policy will strictly be enforced not only to students but also to administrators, faculty members, and practically all the staff. The security department even clarified that the policy will have to be observed not only on weekdays but also on weekends excluding those who will have their clean-up drive.

The rule on the proper dressing attire is a little bit clear from the said point although the policy is not yet approved by the university administration. However, heating arguments between students and the security personnel and even between some bigwigs and the latter occasionally broke out.

The common cause of the dispute is that the concerned students and university staff are not following certain policies. But Norsunians reasoned out that the policy is not properly disseminated since there are no appropriate announcements posted.

Some of the security personnel also refuted that they are only following orders from the office of the security matters. If then the policy on the proper dressing attire is simply implemented without further squabble, it would just have been smooth sailing. However, there are university guards who were too harsh in the execution of such rule. They tend to frighten students from entering if they will not follow the policy. But is that how the policies are implemented?

There were other events that a security person allowed a student to enter the university premises even without following some of the rules while other students were not permitted. It only suggests that they were either considerate to people they know or they were simply careless on their work.

On the other hand, it would have been better if they could just simply ask the students to obey the rules calmly without hostility. But they simply brag themselves being the security personnel – a great authority that no one should ever violate. What a great power, but have they ever been responsible with their actions?

Moreover, university guards’ schedule varies from time to time, and it seems that some policies vary as well from one personnel to another. Were they ever told the same points from their superiors? Norsunians even noticed that there are some security personnel who were strict but inconsistent with the implementation of the rules.