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• SocSci building to undergo face-lift
• Sanggu, students analyze Satinitigan ouster
• Theology teachers recognized for research
• UAAP ref caught taking videos of players in shower
• Pets go to school for a day
• Nobel laureate talks about economics, peace
• Students vote for one course rep per batch
• Comm Dept. dissects media and politics
• Gabay holds 1st Scholars' Congress
• Ateneans abroad: Proudly Atenean, Proudly Pinoy
• Euro Studies majors unite in summit
• ASLA promotes everyday leadership
• SOSS challenges Ateneans to be new heroes
• SOSE Week goes Sesame Street
• Talks, exhibits, and parade mark Humanities festival
• AJMA holds marketing seminar
• Atenean Voice: What are your views on the change in the House Speakership?
• On the Record

Sanggu, students analyze Satinitigan ouster

AFTER THE strong reactions triggered by the ouster of Karl Satinitigan as Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral president, the Sanggu and students have explained their views on the matter. Sanggu officers said that they acknowledge Satinit­igan’s contribution to the Sanggu. Yet they also said that he made wrong deci­sions, such as failing to tell them about not being a student. According to the ruling of the Student Judicial Court (SJC) dated February 7, Sati­nitigan can no longer serve as Sanggu president because he is not a regular student of the Ateneo. Satinitigan was not able to pay the tuition fee after los­ing his scholarship because of 2 W letter grades in the first semester. The SJC declared then Sanggu Vice President Cabrei Cabreira (IV AB IS) as the new Sanggu president. The GUIDON tried to contact Satinitigan for an interview but he has not yet responded as of press time.

“Not turning backs”

The Sanggu officers said that they view Satinitigan’s situation in two aspects: Satinitigan as a friend and Satinitigan as a leader. “As a friend, we would all have wanted to be there for him to be able to help him,” Cabreira said. “But then, for being president of the Sang­gunian, I think he could have done a better job.” JGSOM Chair Sabz Bibit (IV BS ME) agreed, “It is not that Sanggu is turning their backs on Karl. It is just that it would have been better if Karl was open to us about his problems, so we could have helped him.”

“Interdependence”

Cabreira, who released a statement on February 8, clarified what she meant when she said in the statement, “The events that lead to my assumption of [the presidency] are undoubtedly unacceptable and unfair.” “I think it was unfair that he didn’t inform us as, at least me and [Finance Officer] Westin [Contreras], being the members of the Top 4, about his status. It is unfair … because even though he had personal problems, I think the presidency is [a] big position to be left just like that.” Contreras (III BSM AMF) said that prior to the SJC in­vestigation, the Sanggu had no idea that Satinitigan was no longer a student. “You don’t have room to doubt that he was not enrolled because he gave [his] class schedule and he’s discharging his function as the Sanggunian president.” SOH Sophomore Central Board Representative Gio Tingson (II AB Philo) said that the problem was that Satinitigan handled the situation on his own. “[Karl] was thinking that the issue will not get big. Instead of asking help to solve this early on, he carried the problem on his own; thus, making a deeper impact to Sanggu,” Tingson said in a mix of English and Filipino. Bibit, however, stressed that the Sanggu leadership should not be president-de­pendent. “Interdependence, not co-dependence, is a better term to reflect this culture of shared leader­ship.”

“He’s okay”

Tingson, also the ex­ecutive director of Ang IBIG Agila, said that Satinitigan is now okay. Ang IBIG Agila was Satinitigan’s party. “He’s getting better. He has consulted with the [As­sociate Dean for Academic Affairs] as to what he can do [about] his situation and he talked with [Office of Student Activities Director] Pia [Acevedo].” “He has actions on how he’s coping with his prob­lems,” said Tingson. Satinitigan was also seen participating in the rally for NBN-ZTE whistle-blower Jun Lozada at Gate 2.5 on Febru­ary 14.

“Good visionary”

The Sanggu officers recog­nized Satinitigan’s contribu­tions to the Sanggu. “I have no doubt [about] his competency to lead the Sanggunian. Karl does well in having individual consulta­tions with each officer and in supporting them,” said Bibit. Contreras also said that Satinitigan was “pretty good” in terms of his involvement in socio-political activities like the campaign for the Sumilao farmers. “He’s a very good vision­ary,” said Tingson. “But the problem is really implementa­tion and doing the work.”

Shock, disappointment, pity

Students have different views on Satinitigan's ouster. Jose Ma. Lorenzo Fernandez (II AB Hi) said that he was shocked and disappointed with the situation. “I was shocked that Sati­nitigan did not become honest to the student body. He did a good job before, but now he is not a good example to the stu­dent body,” Fernandez said. Celina Cruz (IV AB DS) said, “I pity him … From the e-mail that I read, everything was made public and then … he [was not] given a chance to say anything.” Julius Alfie Barcelona (II BS HSc), meanwhile, said that he does not care too much about what hap­pened. “I’m not sure if I felt the Sanggu’s effect … Maybe it’s for the better, maybe it’s for the worse. Let’s just wait [for] what happens after the elections.”

Proposed guidelines

In the students’ forum held on February 11, the Sanggu presented guidelines to avoid the incident from happening again. The proposal stated that Comelec shall set stricter qualifications for Sanggu can­didates based on academics, co-curricular activities, and disciplinary actions. It also stated that the SJC shall monitor academic, dis­ciplinary, and co-curricular performance of Sanggu offi­cials and release a quarterly performance record. The proposal also asked students to be vigilant in the check and balance system of Sanggu through the SJC.

with reports from Duey T. Guison and Joan Therese C. Medalla