GASC successfully amends CRSRS

After almost five days in session, in three different venues, the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC) was successfully concluded yesterday morning with progressive and democratic reforms in the Codified Rules for the Student Regent Selection (CRSRS).

The GASC convenes on two occasions. First is to amend the CRSRS, and second is the actual selection of Student Regent nominee to be forwarded to the Board of Regents. The first assembly scheduled on October 22-23 in UP Visayas-Cebu failed to discuss the proposed amendments due to the long debates spent on the house rules and intense scrutiny of authorization letters of official delegates. The body was, however, able ratify the House Rules to complement the Rules of Parliamentary Procedure which would govern the discussion of the proposed amendments ensuring structure and order in the assembly.

And so the session resumed on November 12, 2005 at the UP Diliman–School of Economics. Much to the dismay of many councils who had to spend twice for transportation fares in just three weeks, a great amount of time in the continuation of the session was spent on circling debates primarily due to the inability of the presiding officer to facilitate the meeting. For his culpable failure to properly perform his duties in the assembly, culminating on the improper ruling of adjournment of session, objected to by members of the body, and without the necessary approval of 50% + 1 of the assembly as required by the House Rules, the position for presiding chair was declared vacant resulting to the election of a temporary officer who was to preside over the assembly for the rest of the session. Several councils on this occasion refused to participate but the body, being on a quorum, proceeded with the session. Due to logistical constraints and political tension of continuing the session at the School of Economics Auditorium, it was moved that the assembly be continued in Teacher's Village where the body was able to act on all the submitted proposals.

In brief, the GASC was able to amend the CRSRS by including good academic standing as a requirement for nominees for Student Regent; deletion of KASAMA sa UP, a political formation, and its functions from the CRSRS; and the changing of the mechanism allowing college and university councils one vote each in the selection of the Student Regent.

Given the approved amendments in the CRSRS, the students can be rest assured the selection of the next Student Regent will be based on a genuine and democratic student representation. The next GASC is scheduled on December 17-18 of this year.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF STUDENT COUNCILS (GASC) 2005
15 November 2005