Students want NORSU head replaced

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — With placards and streamers, students of the Negros Oriental State Universtiy (NORSU) assembled at the Freedom Park, in front of the main campus here, to demand for the replacement of the university president, Dr. Don Vicente Real.

The students held the protest action, a first in NORSU's history, to air their grievances against Real and four other university officials for alleged violations of their rights as students and as individuals.

They also called for an investigation into the abuses allegedly committed by Real's executive secretary Niño Zamora, college dean Ben Villagonzalo, the director of NORSU's Income Generating Project (IGP), human resource officer Dr. Jim Villahermosa and newly appointed Student Affairs Office head Robert Poculan.

Led by NORSU regent Norilyn Talorete, a graduating nursing student, and Harold Pelaez, incoming student government federated president, the protesting students criticized Real's actuations of putting them down and told the school top executive: "Speak without offending; we are more than what you think."

There must be an accounting also of the P1,000 laboratory fee paid by each of the estimated 7,000 NORSU students, totaling P14 million, said the protesters who further demanded for an investigation into the involvement of some deans who reportedly warned their students not to join the protest lest their summer enrolment may be hampered.

The students told The Freeman that they sought the help of President Benigno Aquino III and Commissioner Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education for a replacement of Real with "one who is decent and competent and who upholds students' rights and welfare."

Pelaez, for his part, said he will be filing, via his lawyer Alan Gel Cordova, a libel complaint against Real tomorrow (Monday), accusing the NORSU president of violating his rights as a student and a person by humiliating him in public.

Pelaez said that, during the Donors Day and the ROTC tactical inspection, Real, while delivering an inspiration message, read publicly his letter that was supposed to be confidential. The letter contained Pelaez's admission of using some college money for personal use, but with the promise to repay and liquidate this in time.

The contents of the letter were spread around the university causing harm and injury to his person, said Pelaez, adding that it was also posted on the bulletin board without his knowledge.

Real, as of press time, was unavailable for comment on the matter, as many attempts to contact him failed. Other officials who were sought for comment refused to issue any, saying that only Real had the authority to give public comments on the issues at hand.  (FREEMAN)