i've been a BUeño for almost six semesters now or three academic years. since the first year of my stay in BU, i've been exposed to a lot of things, both good and bad, admirable and disgusting things about the regarded premier state university in the Bicol Region. good thing such as the drive of the administration, staffs and students to make things better for BU despite its limited resources and bad things such as the mentality to only fix and beautify things when there is accreditation or a visiting VIP and the lack of facilities that still hounds the university in fully attaining its vision as an excellent academic institution.
i can say that in my case, i don't have anything to say about the kind of education my department is giving me and all the social work students. though the funds for books acquisition which is needed to update sources for social work courses is not being given by the administration, the department was able to find ways to do such things. plus, i believe that most of my professors are utmost competent in teaching the courses which is the very reason why the BUCSSP Social Work Department is one of the top social work school in the country today with the Mindanao State University as its prime competitor. anyway, my satisfaction about my department is not in anyway related to this post because this post is about some of my ideas that are not really odd which i can say might help BU and the BUeños in some little or perhaps big way. however, most of it are extra-curricular related. let me start!
first, if there is one part that BU continuously failing, i think it will be the part where BU inculcate to its students the love for their university. for instance, i find it very disgusting that during the four year stay of BUeños in the university, 90% - 95% is ignorant about the hymn of the university. worst, i find it very very disgusting that even some of the staff (both teaching and non-teaching) are also ignorant about the university hymn. i don't know, but i guess it's more than the VMGO that matters which i think is just included in the curriculum for accreditation matters. i mean, unlike other student from other universities, if they can, they will shout to the bottom of their lungs that they are from their university and that is not happening in BU. students are being apathetic and they do not develop the love for the university. is it the attitude of the students alone or it is also the system to blame? the system where the students (though we are supposedly being regarded as the most important part of the university) cannot feel that they are an important piece of the university puzzle. i dream of the day that BU and BUeños will do the things that the students of UP, ADMU, other Manila universities and even ADNU does when their school emerge victorious from competitions, that is to shout and sing their school hymn or march while raising their right hands. i dream of the day when BUeños would shout in chorus Go BU! Go BU! Go BU! i dream of the day when BUeños will be very proud wearing their school shirts or shirts inspired by being a BUeño. and here my first idea enters, why not create a 3 or 2 unit course, Know your University during first year where students will be taught with the VMGO (instead of having it every start of the semester), hymn and all other BU things that can help the students get more understanding about their university. i know it will not develop the student's love for their university 100% but somehow, i know something might be changed. (This idea was inspired by UNC's Know your University course given to their freshmen students)
second, i suggested informally to a USC officer whom i know personally about an event which can be called BUnyag which is very much the same with UST Freshmen Walk wherein their freshmen students will pass through the Arch of the Centuries on the start of their UST and college life. well, BU doesn't have an Arch of the Centuries but BU now have its four pillars. why not create an event that will serve as a ceremonial baptism to all the freshmen students of Bicol University through passing under the four pillars. Its one way of welcoming aside from the usual welcome party for freshmen. (picture below taken from the official website of the university)
third, NCF is Tigers, STI is Olympians, ADNU is Golden Knights, AUL is Phoenix, DWCL is Falcons, BC is Maroons, ICCA is Cardinals, Sorsogon State College (SSC) is Whale sharks (if i am right) and BU is unidentified. though having a team nickname or moniker is not in anyway a requirement for a university, it doesn't mean that BU cannot adopt such. my idea is that BU to adopt a team moniker because in one way it can engender the team or school spirit that BU obviously lacks. i think for originality and rareness sake, why not adopt BU Volcanoes (though it is the name of the PH Rugby National Team) inspired by the presence of the majestic Mt. Mayon.
fourth, Fun Run for Social Work Department which i am preparing to make things happen. naisip ko lang idagdag. anyway, perhaps the better idea is that conduct activities that will promote the university more. :)
fifth, since it Christmas, this one is Christmas related. hmm. Christmas in BU is simple but is also a color-filled one because of the different Christmas decorations of the different colleges in Bicol University. however, i think why not BU make a Christmas related activity aimed at promoting the advocacy and expertise of the different departments or colleges in the university. however, this suggestion is for the BU Daraga Campus only where my college is located. hm. why not conduct a Paskuhan sa BUDC which will be filled with inter-college Christmas activities highlighted by Christmas displays to be located in the vacant land in stretching from the front of Arcilla Hall up to CBEM which can be seen from Rizal St. and can bear the different departmental advocacy and expertise just like what i mentioned awhile ago. plus, maximizing the vacant lots and an opportunity for IGP for the two colleges, it would be better if booths selling different merchandise and foods as well will be put in place along with the Christmas displays.
sixth, etong last ang isa sa sinuggest ko talaga while i am a csc representative last academic year at tinawanan ako ng mga kasama ko. sabi ko, bakit hindi tayo gumawa ng Dr. Ricardo Arcilla Student Excellence Award to be given to the top student of the college at tinawanan nga nila. anyway, ang iniisip ko lang naman ay since one of the very few things that the CSSP is known is the Arcilla Hall, why not name an award or recognition after the first BU President. After all, it's during his term that the roots of CSSP was started through BUCAS. one way din yun ng pag-encourage ng students to aspire in coveting the award.
well, yan lang naman po ang naiisip ko for now. i believe there is nothing wrong with sharing ideas. sayang naman kung mananatili lang sa utak ko. after all, i am a BUeño and in my own little way, i want to help BU become a better university. :)
