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.