T he ‘Scarface’ Rule

By Ranulfo Repe

(Vol.XXX  Issue No. 6, Editorial Cartoon)

If you are a returnee—sophomore, junior, or senior student—of this university, you could have remembered the infamous face of the tall, dark, and…never mind…security guard who usually lifts his shoulders like a robust master of the gate. He was a policeman who confiscates unworn IDs, a fashion critic who prohibits students wearing sleeveless blouses and slippers to enter, and an icon of enragement to the students for his unwanted aura. He was better known as ‘Scarface.’ Rude right?

But he is nowhere to be found now. It could either be because of the insistent demand of the students to have him ousted or because of another issue, which we do not know.

Whether he is still working as a security guard right now in another institution or not, a security guard like him must surely be re-employed in this institution. You might protest and contest this idea, but you should hear this out.

When ‘Scarface’ left the university before the start of this semester, we could see some Norsunians entering the premises of this institution in not-so-appealing attires. If you are aware of the decency this university observes in terms of the dress code, then you have the idea that wearing sleeveless blouses, mini-skirts, and slippers inside the university are not advisable. In fact, these are the apparels that will never pass in the standards of ‘Scarface’ when it was his time to stand in front of the entrance gate, which is also the right thing to do.

Though there was a ruckus last school year on how this impolite security guard implemented the rule, it seems that there is a need for the strict re-implementation of the dress code. There have already been a good number of Norsunians who were spotted wearing slippers, sleeveless blouses, very short pants, and mini-skirts inside the university—attires that look less of an educated man who claims to be studying in a university.

Moreover, we ask the committee in-charge to strictly implement the dress code policy or more so, pass a memorandum specifically stating the shoulds and should nots of the policy. The realization of this already-sabotaged-dress-code is what this university needs, not only because this has been what was done in the past, but because this is what we believe is right and proper for university students like us.

Not a Recreation Station

By Karlo Billy Rubia

(Vol.XXX  Issue No. 5, Editorial Cartoon)

The 30-hour use of the Internet Research Station (IRS) located at the fourth floor of the College of Arts and Sciences building per semester is one of the many benefits a Norsunian can enjoy after enrolling himself in this university. The research station provides access to students to the internet and search for random facts which are of great help to their education. The computers can be used by all registeread Norsunians for making their projects and creating presentations using the many features of its software.

However, it seems like the aforementioned are not the only reasons why the IRS is opened for students access. After overcoming the past issues on slow internet connection, dirty PCs, unaccommodating personnel, and unauthorized access to social networking sites, the personnel of the said research station are yet again faced with complaints from dissatisfied and confused students.

Aside from research purposes, the computers are also used for gaming and movie watching. During the students free time, some of them would make use of their 30-hour budget just for entertainment. Behind this scenario is the disturbing fact that the IRS personnel are allowing the students to play computer games and watch movies as long as they do not flock in one unit and make unnecessary noise. Other students whose intention of researching for their school projects and assignments are left with no choice but to wait for these people to finish playing before they can use a PC. It would just be quite disrespectful if the IRS personnel would tell a student to log-out to give way to another student.

Other students reasoned out that instead of researching for their school lessons, they would just resort to gaming and movie watching because some of the PCs do not have internet connections. This is another dilemma the IRS personnel should take into account.

In the first place, why are the IRS personnel allowing the students to use the computers for gaming and movie watching? Who gave them the authority to have those PCs opened for entertainment purposes? Did they not know what the IRS mean? Obviously it does not mean Internet Recreation Station, but Internet Research Station. The two are very much different.

With all the students airing their concern about the inappropriate of the IRS, which has seemingly turned into a recreation site rather than a research station, we hope that the personnel assigned would do something to address this predicament. We do not want the students to get discouraged with the facilities of this university which were built for the improvement of their academic performance.

This is a university which aims at empowering students through providing competent instructors and sufficient facilities. If these facilities are not properly used according to its purpose, then there is no reason for us to use it anymore.

Have you forgotten?

By Cheeno M. Luang

(Vol.XXX  Issue No. 4, Editorial Cartoon)

They have sworn the oath of leadership during the Negros Oriental State University’s (NORSU) 8th Charter Day Anniversary. Together with this oath is their assurance to the studentry that they can put their full trust and aspiration to this chosen body. The new student leaders of this institution will have their chances to showcase their leadership skills in their respective colleges, and NORSU in general, in the way they want it to be.

Every student leader must be equipped with skills that make up a good leader. In the first place, that is one essential reason why the students voted them as their new leaders. It is also expected of them to at least realize the projects that they have presented in their platforms during the campaign period.

But before we judge them, let us first take a look at some of the student leaders’ plans for this school year. College of Business and Administration (CBA) Governor Stephen Villegas said that he will install ceiling fans in the CBA’s 3rd floor rooms, construct comfort rooms and a mini-library.

Meanwhile, College of Tourism and Hospitality Management Governor Juan dela Cruz said that his plans include putting up sign boards and trash bins around their premises. Michael Vincent Tubog, College of Arts and Sciences governor, articulated that he plans to construct a mini-library and audio boxes for special announcements.

Other college governors are also having plans of beautifying, improving, and redefining their respective colleges.
However, some of these plans are abstract and the realization of these lie in the hands of our present college governors—plans that remain in the tip of the tongues of these leaders, plans that remain drafts of an unattended official. We, the students, are witnesses of this kind of “false hope” years ago. Needless to say, some of our student leaders are creating plans just to impress the voting body in order for them to be in the position they are in.

Some student leaders visualize plans that are too superficial and idealistic. In the long run, they will realize that it is difficult for them to accomplish such because of too many things to consider before it is realized. This scenario has happened two or three years ago when the former Student Government of Dumaguete City–I (SGDC–I) President Christopher Don Catacutan envisioned the construction of a mini-chapel inside the university. This is just too impractical and a financially-absurd move since this plan requires money, money and more money.

More recently, former SGDC–I President Angelo Nabalse promised to roof the open-court. This is in order to give students and teachers a more convenient place to hold their classes in. However, nothing happened and his plan vanished into thin air.

Both student leaders are examples of people who have pledged before their co-learners of a better university, a better governance. But seemingly, they have planned too much and they forgot that their plans need a bigger monetary budget.

Now that our local student leaders are already making and visualizing some of their plans for the benefit of everyone, we just hope that these young leaders will use their minds to critically analyze the promises that they have made. Likewise, they must see to it that they are creating plans that are budget-friendly, achievable within a short-time frame, realistic, and a 100 percent factual.