In an emergency online convention on Wednesday, Dec. 7, the General Assembly of Student Councils (eGASC) endorsed UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo for UP President.
Nemenzo is one of the six nominees vying to be the university’s next chief officer to serve a six-year term beginning in 2023. His vision paper outlines plans for an “agile, smart and high-impact UP.”
READ: 6 in the running to be next UP President
With 44 out of 56 student councils in attendance, the eGASC approved a resolution to support Nemenzo’s bid for the university presidency.
The resolution cited Nemenzo’s UPD chancellorship and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also recalled Nemenzo’s support for students with additional needs, stakeholders’ safety and security, and the further integration of gender and development into the university among others.
The eGASC’s endorsement is among the latest statements of support for Nemenzo, following similar resolutions from the on Nov. 30 and the UPD League of College Councils on Dec. 5.
The UPD College of Science Student Council (CSSC) also endorsed Nemenzo on Monday, Dec. 5. Nemenzo served as the college’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2012 to 2014.
“Naniniwala kami sa pro-student and pro-UP member community dahil sa stances niya against sa contractualization ng workers, commercialization ng UP at iba pa,” the CSSC said at the eGASC.
The UP College of Mass Communication Student Council likewise expressed its support for Nemenzo after the UPD Chancellor appeared in a media forum on Dec. 3 and vowed to promote the campus press across all constituent universities.
The official UPD student publication, the Philippine Collegian, endorsed Nemenzo on Dec. 1, saying that “unusual and precarious times call for a steadfast leader with a relevant and feasible mission for the university.”
‘No more chances’
The eGASC also adopted a resolution denouncing the candidacy of former UP Los Baños Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr.
The UPLB USC and eight of its local college councils penned the resolution, claiming Sanchez’s policies as Chancellor to be “anti-student.” They added that Sanchez was “silent” amid red-tagging attacks against constituents.
Sanchez’s plans of action, if elected UP President, center on the theme of “Synergy in Diversity.” He aims for the university to construct more communal spaces, collaborate further with local government units and other entities, and create more programs for capacity building among others.
Upon the announcement of Sanchez’s candidacy on Oct. 20, however, the UPLB USC issued a statement, recalling their campaign during his re-election bid for the chancellorship in 2020 with the No To Third Term Coalition (NT3C) questioning Sanchez’s integrity amid civil and administrative cases.
The UPLB Perspective reported in 2020 that, under Sanchez’s two terms, students faced difficulties with the implementation of the “inefficient” Student Academic Information System in 2016 and issues with maximum residency rule and readmission cases in 2018.
A Nov. 21 statement issued by Sanchez’s official Facebook page said, “Contrary to such allegations, [Chancellor Sanchez] took the initiative to grant concessions that are within the bounds set by existing policies and guidelines of the University.”
UPLB formations under the NT3C have since formed the No More Chances, Sanchez Coalition to urge the Board of Regents to choose a “pro-student and pro-people” UP President.
In passing the resolution at the eGASC, the UP Baguio USC said, “Klarong-klaro na sa atin na hindi niya mau-uphold ang mga kampanya na ating isinusulong, hindi lamang bilang estudyante ng UP kundi pati na rin bilang mamamayang Pilipino.”
On Dec. 9, the UP Board of Regents is set to elect the 22nd University President, whose term will see UP as it faces a full transition to face-to-face classes, threats and harassment against its stakeholders, and impending budget cuts.
