The Crusader February Broadsheet 2017

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CSG explains delayed release of Intramurals medals By Harmony Kristel D. Balino and Jett Joseph C. Gumaling

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ive months have elapsed since the conclusion of The Xavier Cup 2016, yet there seems to be no sign of the release of the Intramurals medals anytime soon. Not only that, but there was much talk surrounding the use of old medals from the University Athletics Office (UAO) as props for the awarding ceremony of the Intramurals. These medals, although awarded to the winning athletes during the ceremony, were only for show and were later returned to the organizers after the event. Discontinuing the funding for the medals was one of the cost-cutting efforts of the University. Two years prior to this incident, the CSG provided an alternative in the form of certificates. According to UAO Director Vincent Padilla, regardless of it being a medal or a certificate, there will still be costs incurred in the purchase of these. He explained that the budget for this year’s awarding ceremony was only enough to

run the program but not provide the victors – more so the placers – medals. Padilla said that every college council’s Department of Physical Education (DOPE) has been informed of these changes, yet no official memorandum was issued to officially document the change. Despite UAO’s decision not to give out medals for the Intramurals, CSG made efforts to provide medals for the champions of all team and individual sports. United Arts and Sciences Students (UNITASS) council sports committee head Kattleya Alombro explained that it has already been agreed upon that only each sport’s champions will be awarded a medal. This was discussed in a series of preparatory meetings held by the Central Student Government (CSG) and the UAO to prepare for the college Intramurals. Through a sponsorship opportunity offered by one of the city’s department stores (the identity

of which the CSG chooses not to disclose), the CSG was able to pattern out an agreement for the sponsor to provide medals to the champions of every team and individual sport. There was no written agreement to formalize the arrangement, which was later taken advantage of by the said “sponsor” to escape their duties, despite already having set up a booth on campus and its logo printed on The Xavier Cup promotional tarpaulins. The unforeseen problem led to the utilization of a ‘contingency plan’ to use varsity-earned Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletic Association (COSAA) medals to be displayed as ‘show medals’ in the awarding ceremonies of this year’s intramurals. “It was really a bad experience for [a] sponsorship [deal],” stated a disappointed Kathleen Suarez, Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Budget and Finance under

CSG, highlighting the case that the said “sponsor” was able to impose their presence in the event. Still with the unresolved sponsorship issue hanging on the line, CSG is currently working to shoulder the ‘agreement’ that was made between the CSG and the college councils to give out medals for this school year’s intramurals. *** On the significance of medals, Alombro explained that “[A medal] gives each athlete a sense of accomplishment that they could hold on to, brag about. It also brings [sic] a sentimental value to [an athlete’s] achievement.” Though diverse opinions have been shared on the importance of intramural medals, it’s empowering to know that we can boast of Atenean athletes to continue to display sportsmanship, camaraderie, and Magis in court — with or without medals.C

Step Down to Step Up By Samantha Isabelle H. Bagayas & Justin John Nagac

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ith the running Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in this year’s CSG elections holding top positions in their respective student councils, there was much confusion surrounding the need to resign from their current positions in their councils to comply with the requirements of the Electoral Commission (ELECOM). Although a long-standing rule in Article 10 Section 2 of the XU Central Student Government (XU CSG) Constitution, the provision only states that “upon assumption of office, he/she must not hold any position in other student councils or organizations.” Considering the current situation, candidates holding positions in their student councils were required to submit a resignation letter to their council beforehand as preparation for the assumption of office to the CSG. While the rule explicitly states

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that one must not hold any position in other student councils or organizations, questions surrounding the semantics of the rule were raised. Specifically, whether membership to extracurricular or cocurricular organizations, regardless of one’s position in these, are covered by the rule. While the guidelines listed under the CSG Constitution are vague, Article V Section 6 of the Omnibus Election Code—a list of rules that govern the conduct of the elections—states that “any person holding an appointive position or elective office in the CSG Executive or Directorate or in the Council who is seeking for re/election or higher level office, shall submit resignation letter to the authorized person upon application for candidacy.” ELECOM head Ronne Joshua Ambulo clarified some misconceptions on the process of submission of the certificates of candidacy

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as stated in the Omnibus Election Code. One of which is that incumbent officials who wish to run or bid for re-election for positions in College councils and CSG shall resign in any position under the jurisdiction of ELECOM which covers co-curricular organizations. “Ang pag resign kay part ra siya sa code so gi-follow ra namo then nakita namo during sa pag check namo sa mga [candidates] nga naa’y wala nag follow. […] Naay uban kay ang gibutang sa guidelines kay co-curricular but ang gibutang nila kay ang mga extra-curricular so dili siya nga among responsibility,” he said. On the other hand, Ambulo clarified that the ELECOM does not require candidates to resign from their affiliations with extracurricular organizations. “If under siya sa AECO [Assembly of Extra-Curricular Organizations] kay dili na sya

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within sa jurisdiction sa CSG […] Sa councils, CSG ug mga co-currs kay directly under sa CSG so under gyud siya sa amo,”he added. *** While there is no explicit explanation behind the need of the resignation from the council, CSG, or Directorate, within the text of the Omnibus Election Code and the CSG Constitution, the ELECOM has shared that it is one way to avoid the candidates from influencing the decisions of the members of those organizations. However, it’s important to note that requiring candidates to resign does not cut personal ties, and thus candidates are still capable of influencing their council members’ decisions. Still, if rules can be misconstrued, it’s just as important for the ELECOM to properly disseminate and communicate these properly.C

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