THE UNIVERSITY is missing in the popular Campus Bulletin of Globe because it refused the offer by the mobile phone industry leader to provide UST information through Short Message Service (SMS).
The project, Campus Bulletin, was supposed to provide information to Globe texters about different colleges and universities via text messaging.
According to Education Technology Director Fr. Melchor Saria, O.P., the University had to refuse because the institutional website of UST, where the information will be gathered, is not yet finished.
“Sabi ko hahabol na lang kami siguro later kapag natapos na ‘yung website. Pero, definitely, we could provide better service later on,” he said.
The deadline of the contract signing was last May 31 before the start of classes.
However, University webmaster Marcial Dupet said that the institutional website is not really needed to facilitate Globe’s text service, since any data-based and web-maintained website can act as the host site where the information will come from.
He added that this kind of website can easily be maintained because the Net administrators can update the information anywhere they are or anytime they deem necessary, using data-based information.
Furthermore, Dupet and Campus Bulletin officer-in-charge Jeff Chua already tried Globe’s system using a free website, Geocities.com, and the system worked.
By texting certain codes such as UST news, UST sports, UST events, UST alumni, UST directory (local numbers of offices and departments), to 2333, any Globe user can get the information needed immediately. For Globe users who have a line, each text costs P2. While for prepaid users, it’s P2.50 per text.
“(When I saw it in the advertisement) I called up Globe and I asked why is it that UST, being among the top universities in the Philippines, is not included in the list of schools. (Because the offered service) is an easier form of communication,” said Medical Technology freshman Jerome Go.
According to Globe’s advertisement, 13 schools availed of the SMS service: Adamson University, Arellano Law School, Centro Escolar University, Colegio San Juan de Letran, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, Philippine Christian University, St. Scholastica’s College, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of the Philippines (Manila), Ateneo de Manila, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, and University of the East.
“It would be better kung tinanggap ng University (‘yung contract) kasi (mas) magiging aware agad sa lahat ng (activities), especially ‘yung freshmen kasi nag-co-cope pa lang kami,” said BS Education freshman Helen Marie Halili.
In addition, other students commented that the service would have provided easier information dissemination especially when there are no classes not only among Thomasians, but also to other Globe users who need information about UST.
“Nakakapang-hinayang na hindi siya tinanggap ng University kasi parang napapag-iwanan ‘yung UST, considering na the top schools are Ateneo, La Salle, UST, UP. Tapos ‘yung UP, Ateneo, and La Salle may contact sila through text, tayo wala,“ said senior BS HRM student Ramon Gonzales. Marie Carisa U. Ordinario
