In a statement, Alamares emphasized that the request was not for a class suspension, but merely a simple academic adjustment to aid students returning from their hometowns.
โTo be honest, I feel disappointed, sad, and frustrated with the decision of the administration. First of all, we were not asking for a suspension, we were asking for a 1-day synchronous or asynchronous classes in order to give the students ample time to travel back especially โyung mga umuwi dahil kailangan nilang bumoto,โ Alamares said.
Camille Licup, a BU student from Masbate, expressed her frustration on the lack of consideration for students like her who still have to travel far just to go back to their respective boarding houses in Albay.
โKung sa struggles lang grabe as in, lalo na talaga kami na taga-isla tsaka ako na sa barangay pa na medyo malayo sa Masbate ng mga one hour ganyan,โ she said.
โSo, pag may announcement na may biyahe na, kami ng kapatid ko ang ginagawa nakikiusap sa mga nasa city para bilhan kami ng ticket kasi ubusan talaga lalo na kanina jusko ubos na agad kaya nananawagan kami sa itaas na sana naman tingnan yung sitwasyon ng mga estudyante na nasa malayo lalo na kami na dadaan pa sa dagat,โ Licup added.
Alamares pointed out that although the institution gave students time to go home and cast their votes, it did not extend the same consideration when they returned.
โUnang-una sa lahat, they were given a time to travel para makauwi so why canโt we give them time as well na makabalik kahit isang araw lang. For example, there is a student who need to take a final exam tomorrow, I am already speaking because students reached out to me telling that there are some of them who will have their finals tomorrow pero dahil sa malalayo sila, mapag-iiwanan sila. they will feel that theyโre left behind.โ
She urged the administration to consider the realities students face, especially those from distant areas like Catanduanes and Masbate.
โItโs not their fault na umuwi sila because it was their right to go home in order to vote and seeing the situation of the students na pahirapan ang pagbili ng ticket, pahirapan ang pila dahil sa sobrang dami, hindi naman kasi BU students ang uuwi eh,โ she expressed.
Alamares said that other universities in the region, such as Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) and Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges (CSPC), offered comparable academic leniencies, thus he questioned why BU was unable to do the same.
On May 11, the petition was turned in, having been signed by over 500 students and supported by numerous student governments and groups. It demanded academic flexibility on May 13 in order to guarantee that no student will be excluded and left behind.
โWe sincerely appreciate the consideration given to students who needed time to travel home. If you can see in the memo, consideration will be given to students but the point kasi while the number of students who will be returning may seem smaller or a minority, it is disheartening to see them potentially left behind simply because they chose their right to vote,โ she added.
Alamares also shared that she reached out directly to BU President Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III, but her efforts were left unanswered.
โI believe it is the right of the students na mapakinggan tayo kasi tayo ang nakakaranas ng paghihirap at ang magagawa na lamang ng admin ay makinig at i-grant ang request na alam nating makakabenefit talaga sa estudyante,โ she concluded.
As of this time, the BU administration has not issued any further statement in response to the petition.
via James Edward Tambobong, Unibรช EIC
Photo: BU Student Forum & John Hope Frontuna
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