Jan. 25, 2015, 1:50 p.m. – THE CONSERVATORY of Music
Student Council (CMSC) has begun the process of amending its constitution amid
budget cuts that had forced the college to reduce departments to seven from 14
this academic year.
The council will gather its officers and student senate
composed of all department officers and class presidents every Tuesday from
Jan. 20 to April 14 for a constitutional convention, according to a memorandum
by Music Dean Raul Sunico.
CMSC Vice President Czen Reganit said the new constitution
would accommodate the newly implemented seven-department scheme.
“Balak naming ayusin [kasi] nga nagbago ‘yung departments so
isasakto na namin sa bagong departments [‘yung constitution] saka ililinaw din
namin ‘yung ibang kulang,” Reganit told the Varsitarian.
CMSC President Mary Rose Luzande said the new constitution
would also make clear the duties of an elected officer and fix various
“loopholes” in the 2012 charter.
“May mga procedures na hindi kami maka-continue kasi hindi
s’ya written down,” Luzande said in a round table discussion with Reganit and
Secretary Zairra Pili. “May incident kasi na hindi enrolled ‘yung officer tapos
hindi namin ma-remove sa position kasi walang nakasulat [sa constitution] na
[dapat] bona fide student ka [kapag] officer ka.”
The 2012 constitution allows students to run for office even
if enrolled for less than 15 units. Students with a maximum of five units of
failed subjects will also be allowed to run during elections.
Luzande said they will pattern the new constitution after
the University-wide Central Student Council Constitution and Student’s Election
Code of 2011.
Former officers under the 14-department setup will still be
included in convention deliberations.
The 2012 constitution was the first ratified charter in the
Conservatory’s 68-year history. Jerome P. Villanueva
