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.