No 2

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Towards A Progressive Campus Press | vol. LXXXVii No. 2 | WEDNESDAY, 15 JULY 2015

PAINT AND FOAM. Sillimanians raise their hands up to the music as the foam and paint soak them during the All-University Acquiantance Party last July 10 along Hibbard Avenue . PHOTO BY Siegfred Vince Teves

Two Sillimanians harassed inside campus By Andrea Dawn E. Boycillo and Andrea D. Lim TWO FEMALE SILLIMANIANS reported harassment by unidentified men inside the campus to the Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Committee. In an interview, STRAW Committee Chairperson Mykaela Maxino narrated the incidents to the Weekly Sillimanian. The first incident happened to Jessa (not her real name) on a Sunday afternoon last school year near the Silliman University (SU) library. While walking, an unidentified man approached and asked her to take a picture of him for a project. Jessa accepted and took his phone, but the man started unbuttoning his pants and exposed himself. She immediately threw the phone and ran away. The second incident happened to Elle (not her real name) last summer at the Science Complex female restroom. She was inside a cubicle when she heard the main door being opened and locked. When she looked underneath the cubicle, she saw an unidentified man standing and waiting for her. Elle slammed the door open and ran towards the main door. She saw the

SG reps question invitation process on assembly

man, but was not sure if he was a student or a worker. However, she is “60 percent sure” that he was a construction worker, since the construction of the second floor of the Nutrition and Dietetics Building was ongoing at that time. “Both incidents happened during daytime. According to one of the victims, she did not report the incident immediately because she wanted to forget about it but make sure it wouldn’t happen again,” Maxino said. Campus security STRAW Committee had already given a report to Engr. Edgar Ygnalaga, OIC of the Public Assistance and Security Office (PASO). He said that they [PASO] have pictures of the construction workers in their computers and that the second female may go to their office privately to see if the male who harassed her is one of the workers. However, Ygnalaga told chairperson of STRAW Committee Mykaela Maxino that he would still meet the guards regarding the issue, and that they should be strict with the wearing of IDs. “We suggested that if ever there will be a construction going on in the university, the guards will have to be strict. The workers have to present a pass from the firm they are working for so

that we can verify that they are really from there,” Maxino said. PASO Security Supervisor Fernando Alaban Sr. said that they will respond if there are calls from the guards because it is their job to investigate. Report immediately “Students lack assertiveness to stand for their rights. They should report if these things happen to them,” said OIC Dean of Student Services Edna Gladys Calingacion. Calingacion also added that it is the students’ responsibility to take care of themselves, especially at night. Maxino said that “it’s quite sad knowing that it is already unsafe even inside Silliman.” She added that the STRAW Committee is doing its best to reach out to the students. “We uphold the student rights and responsibilities, and we see to it that the students are well-protected inside and outside the university,” Maxino said. Maxino reminded the students to be careful with meeting and trusting people because non-students can also enter the campus. “We already informed the administration about it, so they’re also doing their best,” Maxino added.~

By Andrea D. Lim

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT Government (SUSG) representatives questioned the Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW) committee’s letter of invitation to the Weekly Sillimanian (tWS) during the assembly last July 5 at Oriental Hall. STRAW Committee sent a letter of invitation to tWS, requesting the staff members to cover assemblies. “How many tWS staffers are you going to invite? Are you going to tell us who will be here?” Rep. Kimberly Flores asked STRAW Committee Chairperson Mykaela Maxino. “They will be invited, not required to join. tWS can write a letter to the assembly to inform that they are going to write something,” Maxino said. Maxino also said that tWS is just observing, not engaging on assembly discussions. It is up to the tWS editors as to how many staff members they will send for coverage. On the other hand, some representatives questioned the need for a letter of permission. “What is the point of the assembly being open if we ask for letters?” Rep. continue to page 4...

DANCING QUEENS. The MEV dance crew entertains the audience with ballets, tap & jazz, and Hawaiian dances in “Enchanté” last July 11 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium. PHOTO BY Babe Jocelie B. Isaga

Kahayag represents PH, wins grand prize

By Nerra Bonf S. Caong

DUMAGUETE CITY’S KAHAYAG Dance Company won the grand prize at the International Youth Fellowship World Cultural Dance Festival last July 3 in Jeonju, South Korea. The community-based dance group represented the Philippines at the said competition and won $5,000 with their performance of the song “Tag-Araw.” Most of the members are students, faculty, and staff members from Silliman University.

Dylzaree Recentes, one of the dancers, shared about the difficulty they faced to win the top prize. “Every rehearsal was always a challenge. Each time we rehearsed, there was always the challenge of the dancers to perform better than their previous rehearsal,” Recentes said. Managing their time with the rehearsals was more challenging, because the dancers had other responsibilities. “Apart from being present and adequately-conditioned for our nightly continue to page 4...

Hibalag set for 11 days

By Andrea Dawn E. Boycillo

FROM THE USUAL 9-10 Founders Week celebration, this year’s Hibalag is set for 11 days. Traditionally, Hibalag starts on the third Wednesday of August and would end on the 28th. Kirk Philip Emperado, the Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) president, proposed for the same schedule, but was advised to include the 29th. “If we’ll follow the school calendar, there is no class on the 29th. There is no difference if there would still be events on the 29th or not. So, why not use the date instead?”Emperado said. Emperado said that events are usually squeezed because of time constraint. Some events take a whole night, which may be unfair to other organizations who want to organize events. “The advantage [of a longer celebration] is that more organizations may host more events,” Emperado said. “We are not just giving more time for events, but for new events as well. We’re expecting new events this year from them.” Emperado also said that this is an advantage for the alumni since most alumni find the Hibalag celebration “bitin.” “Mura daw silag mabitin because [on the] 28th is Tipon. Then the following

night, mingaw na,” said Emperado. However, Emperado admitted that the 11-day event may have disadvantages because it is “more costly” due to another budget needed for the last day. “Sound system, electricity… we’re paying for those. But another advantage besides having no classes is more of the experience in Hibalag,” he said. The administration and faculty members do not see the change as a problem. “It is not an issue and a big deal. It won’t exactly affect my teaching schedule. An 11-day Hibalag celebration seems fine as long as everyone gets their midterm exams done and their requirements complied first before they wander off the booths,” Asst. Professor Victor Emanuel Enario said. Mark Raygan Garcia, Office of Information and Publications director and Founders Day Committee (FD Com) member, said that they already discussed the schedule change with the SUSG Executive Committee. He also emphasized that the students should not leave their studies behind. “All the activities that the SG would have lined up for everyone should be secondary in terms of the student’s priority for academics. All students should be encouraged to participate in these activities without compromising their studies,” said Garcia.~

Admin increases party budget to Php90

By Leslie J. Batallones

FOLLOWING THE CHANGES in prices of basic goods and menu offerings of the Silliman University (SU) cafeteria, the SU administration issued a memorandum stating the increase of the party budget to Php90. The Php90 already includes the packaging fee of Php15. For setting up chairs and tables, the budget is Php100. The memorandum, released last June 30, is a revision of the previous memorandum released last June 27, 2014, which stated that the contribution on food for each student during

campus parties should not exceed Php50. Vice President for Finance and Administration Cleonico Y. Fontelo said that the administration reviewed the old memorandum and asked for a feedback from the university cafeteria. The administration, however, explained that the change is caused by the constantly increasing prices of basic goods and commodities, and not because of the students. “We have observed that the prices of basic commodities, especially food, have gone up. So, we think that the Php50 may not be sufficient anymore. continue to page 4...


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