STAND UP retains seats in CMC student council

Article by J.S.

The Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND UP) swept 11 seats in the College of Mass Communication (CMC) Student Council, without an opposing party in the student council elections this year.

344, or 44.10% of the college’s 780 enrolled students cast their vote in the university’s second remote student council elections. This is lower than the 53.18% turnout in 2021.

Incumbent University Student Council (USC) councilor Sean Kriby Latorre was elected chairperson after garnering 316 votes. Latorre currently co-heads the USC Committee on Organizations, Fraternities and Sororities.

Latorre’s running mate Enrico Miguel Pilapil won as vice chairperson with 321 votes. Pilapil was previously elected as Communication Research (CommRes) representative in the CMC Freshie, Shiftee and Transferee (FST), the counterpart student government for the college’s new students.

Then CMC FST Council Secretary Kiara Gorrospe will be taking a seat as CMC representative to the USC after garnering 328 votes.

Incumbent FST Council Chairperson Daphnee Gail Ferrer will be secretary, winning with 310 votes. Before chairing the FST Council, Ferrer briefly served as CommRes representative in the CMC Student Council, but resigned from the post after shifting to the college’s Film program.

Kristine Anne Malonzo is treasurer-elect after garnering 307 votes. Malonzo was also treasurer in the CMC FST Council.

Here is the breakdown of votes for the newly-elected CMCSC leaders:

The red party’s slate remained unopposed for this election cycle as UP CMC Interdependent Student-Centered Activism (ISA) did not field candidates for the third consecutive year.

STAND UP CMC rallied calls for #LigtasNaBalikEskwela and intensified defense for press and academic freedom amid a looming administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., leads initial results of the 2022 presidential elections.

Latorre stressed, at an Apr. 30 forum for CMCSC candidates, that the council will be “fair and inclusive” despite members belonging to one party.

Nandito ang pagsulong ng unified at consolidated na kolehiyo para patuloy na ipagtambol ang ating mga kampanya, at patuloy na makiisa sa administrasyon natin [laban] sa atake ng estado para ipagtanggol ang press freedom sa’ting bansa,” Latorre said.