Where then is our Freedom?

The Student Publication should be independent of the Administration for it to fully fulfill its mission as a defender and voice of the students. The NORSUnian, is just one among the many student publication in the country and is one among the few [or many depending on which side you are in] whose budget is held by the Administration and not the publication itself.

Though ideally, the budget of the Publication should be with the Publication and not with the admin. The administration should not have the right to control or hold the budget of the publication because the money is not owned by the school but by the students. The admin may supervise the use of the money to ensure that it is used in the right way and not abused by those holding it but the finances of the Publication should not rely on the signatures of those people in the administration.

Though the university student publication is one among the freest in the Philippines, it is still unfortunate that we could not have the final say on one of the most important part of our existence; our printing.

It is not only important but imperative that we give the students their money's worth. Aside from the articles printed in the publication, the printing quality should be of highest caliber also. The students are paying for the publication and they should be given a publication which they would not regret looking into. Who won't be disappointed if you are paying for the right amount and you will be given something which is truly well below the standard?

Yes, it is understandable that as a public institution we will have to undergo a bidding process and we can only be served by the lowest bidder. However, part of that bidding process is a set of specifications that should be meet by the bidders in order for them to qualify.

The student publication has set a guideline specifying the expectations of the publication from the possible winner. These specifications should be met because quality is very important. We are serving the students and we want to serve them the best way we can.

Our pacing in the publication has already been greatly affected because of the bidding process. We have been delayed already and the students are already clamoring. What face could we possibly show them if, after an 8 weeks delay, we will only give them a copy that is very poor in quality?

Shouldn't we at least be given the right to award the printing of the paper to a more suitable bidder? Or do we have to contend ourselves with a low class, poor quality type of printing just because the law specifies that price is more important than the quality?

I wish I am a lawyer so I could argue with the legalities of this. I wish I understand the law more so I could somehow find a justification of this. But I am not. I am only a writer who wishes to serve the students who pay us to guard for their rights. I am only a student who does not know much about the technicalities and legalities of the bidding process. I am only a student journalist who wishes that we would be given the freedom to do it our way, serve the students while still abiding with the policies and laws. I am only a Filipino who has finally realized why public properties are substandard and easily damaged.

We are one of the freest student publication in the country and I wish we have enough voice to make those in power see reason. I wish our voices are enough to explain to the students that no matter how much we want to give them an excellent newspaper, we have no choice but to abide by the law and print with the bidder chosen by the Bids and Awards Committee and approved by the University President.

I just hope the students will understand.