THE FILING of candidacies for Central Student Council (CSC) Executive Board aspirants will open on Sept. 9, in a renewed attempt to hold elections after the failure of last year’s exercise due to the mass withdrawal of candidates.
The Central Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday that the onsite filing of certificates of candidacies will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Central Comelec Office at the Tan Yan Kee Student Center.
On Sept. 10, the filing of candidacies will shift online due to the Bar exams scheduled the following day.
As in previous elections, the positions of president and vice president will be restricted to incumbent members of their local student councils. The positions of secretary, treasurer, auditor, and public relations officer will remain open to all students.
The requirements to file a candidacy are as follows:
- two copies of the certificate of candidacy;
- a black-and-white passport-sized photo;
- transcript of records (TOR) with general weighted average certified by the UST registrar, or a certified copy of transcript from the MyUSTe student portal;
- Certificate of Good Moral Character issued by the Office for Student Affairs;
- a photo of the candidate’s student ID or MyUSTe student profile;
- a copy of the registration form;
- a copy of the program of government; and
- a copy of an updated curriculum vitae.
Incomplete requirements must be accomplished by 5 p.m. on Sept. 13.
The Central Comelec has yet to announce the dates of other election-related activities, such as the campaign period, Tagisan or the debate for candidates running for an Executive Board post, and the elections proper and proclamation.
Normally, student council elections are held at the latter half of the academic year or in Term 2.
However, last year’s elections, meant to select the CSC Executive Board officers for Academic Year 2024-2025, faced an unprecedented setback when all seven candidates pulled out of the race, leaving all positions vacant.
READ: No CSC bets this year as last candidate withdraws
Only the elections for the local student councils pushed through, with the winners of the presidency now comprising the Central Board, the CSC’s legislative body.
Recently, the Central Board appointed officers in charge for the seven CSC Executive Board offices, who shall assume the responsibilities of the CSC until the next officers are proclaimed.
READ: CSC gets interim officers to fill vacancies in Executive Board
The term of the CSC Executive Board officers elected in the upcoming polls will run until May 2025. Ella Mae A. Sison
