UP College of Media Communication (CMC) Student Council (SC) Chair Edelweiss Nazal calls for transparency and due process amid delays in the college’s dean selection process.
“Sa call for nominations pa lang may lapses na [ang UP administration]. Moving forward, magiging assertive tayo na hindi dapat minamadali or bina-bypass ‘yung maayos at demokratikong paraan ng pagpili ng dekano,” said Nazal via correspondence with Tinig ng Plaridel.
The call for nominations was only announced ten days before the term of outgoing CMC Dean Fernando Paragas concluded on Feb. 24. As a result, the college will not have a new dean until at least next month, when the UP Board of Regents reconvenes.
In contrast, the 2022 dean selection process began its nomination period three weeks before former Dean Arminda Santiago’s last day in office.
Those who will seek to become Maskom’s next dean have until today, Feb. 28, to submit the necessary documents.
This announcement also came after the UP CMC SC sent a letter to the Office of the Chancellor for an update on the selection process.
“The Office of the Chancellor did not respond to the letter, but was acknowledged by the secretary. According to the CMC admin, even they have not received replies when they asked for progress on the selection process last year,” said Nazal.
Nazal reiterated the essence of transparency to ensure democratic selection, citing UP College of Law’s 2023 dean selection as a situation they want to avoid.
The UP Law Student government criticized then the admin’s “rushed timeline, lack of transparency and sectoral representation” mainly brought about by the schedule set by the search committee.
“Ayaw nating maging anti-democratic ‘yung proseso ng pagpili ng mamumuno sa’tin. Be it through consultations, forums, and mobilizations, we are hoping na maka-isa natin ang buong CMC community in registering our calls to the Selection Committee, the Board of Regents [BOR], and the nominees,” said Nazal.
The main calls of the Maskom community will be outlined in the “Maskom Agenda,” set to be released alongside the public forum. One of the key demands CMC SC will present to the nominees is to refine the recognition process of CMC-based organizations which keeps organizations from having conducive spaces for their activities.
“Pinakamalapit sa bituka ng mga estudyante—‘yung org recognition process. Bagamat hindi na siya ‘yung FSRC [Faculty-Student Relations Committee] manual, marami pa ring provisions hindering the students to organize, which is a democratic right,” she explained.
Related: Medyo mapagpalaya: A “lesson” on hypocrisy and assertion
Nazal believes Maskom needs an administration that supports its constituents beyond the college’s tagline amid shrinking academic spaces across the UP system and attacks faced by media workers and campus publications.
“Gusto natin ng CMC admin na may pangil, na handang tumindig kasama natin. It is not enough that the college carries the thrust na ‘midyang malaya at mapagpalaya’ kung wala sila sa mga pagkilos kasama ng mga estudyante,” said Nazal.
To ensure CMC’s continued operations amid vacancy in the dean’s office, outgoing Associate Dean Ma. Aurora Lolita Liwag-Lomibao said former Maskom leadership had identified the names of the incoming department chairs as early as February to ensure a smooth transition to the next CMC administration.
“This was to facilitate their appointments as OICs [Officer-in-Charge] or the extension of their administrative appointments, until such time as a new Dean is appointed, to ensure that there is no leadership vacuum,” said Liwag-Lomibao.
She will lead the college’s “Interim administration” as the OIC until April 30 of this year or until the next dean sits in office, overseeing the college’s daily operations.
“I am sitting as College OIC, and College Secretary Ivy Claudio will closely work with me with regards to all student concerns. At the same, we will prepare for a new administration by supporting the activities that the search committee will conduct, mostly, especially in ensuring that the voices of all CMC constituents are heard,” Liwag-Lomibao said via email correspondence with TNP.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Jose de Pano will lead the search committee. Other named members of the committee include College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Dean Dr. Ruth Lusterio-Rico and College of Music Dean Dr. Ma. Patricia Silvestre.
Meanwhile, representatives of the UP President, All-UP Academic Union, and All-UP Workers’ Union, comprising the last three positions of the committee have yet to be determined, according to the Office of the Chancellor.
The official list of CMC dean nominees is expected to be released in the first week of March 2025. The timeline for the dean selection process, including public forums and interviews with the nominees, has yet to be finalized by the search committee appointed by the UPD Chancellor Edgardo Vistan.
