ARTLETS junior Gerald de la Cruz, the only vice presidential candidate in this year’s Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board elections, wants the University to ensure student welfare amid the current online learning environment.
Among de la Cruz’s platforms is the “STRAW Initiative,” which aims to push forward “comprehensive” guidelines and policies regarding distance learning.
STRAW stands for the Student Rights and Welfare Coalition, which de la Cruz aims to revive and maximize “to address the different problems that students, organizations and student councils are facing in the online/distance learning setup.”
“From my own personal experience, mas mabigat dalhin [ang online classes] ngayon given na some professors expect you na 24/7 ka lang nasa bahay, na kaya mo i-accomplish lahat ng [tasks],” he told the Varsitarian.
“So I think kilalanin natin not just ‘yung academic hardships ng mga estudyante but [also] their personal problems. Kilalanin natin yung mental health problems na dinadala ng mga estudyante natin and ‘yung burnout na nae-experience not just ng mga estudyante but yung mga professors din natin,” he added.
The legal management major also wants to mount a voter education program to prepare Thomasians for the 2022 national elections.
“Hindi siya titigil lang sa national elections. I think ‘yung voter’s education is a process…’Yung pag-educate dapat natin ay tuloy tuloy kasi nakikita natin yung importansiya considering ‘yung nangyari sa 2016 national elections na ramdam pa rin natin ‘yung effect hanggang ngayon,” he said. M.D.M.P. Reyes
