ST. RAYMUND’S BLDG, AB, UST, MANILA, PH- Recently, Artlets had a peculiar eye for looking at the ceilings of their classrooms for the past few weeks. The administration of the Faculty of Arts and Letters along with its collaborators, have installed Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems on every classroom of the said college; reasons for the said installments are still unclear, but the installation of the CCTVs was meant to “provide ‘security and assurance’” for the well-being of students’ academic lives.
Mixed reactions are aired out by students in every single social networking site like Facebook and Twitter; some are negative while others see the uncanny change as something good, majority of the sentiments though favor the former.
Quite frankly, some students are downright appalled for the installment of these CCTVs; saying that the need for the administration is not only to provide security for students but also to discipline and improve the facilities needed by the students for academic purposes. "Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. If they're thinking for the betterment of AB rooms naman, sana inuna muna yung chairs, aircons, windows, paint job etc. If hindi natin ma-maintain yung mga malilit na bagay, how much more yung mga CCTV's sa bawat classroom? “ Matthews Jubilado, a student of 2CA4 implies. These recording devices violate the very atmosphere of student life, for one cannot observe the every movement of students’ every day lives inside the classroom without interfering with the academic activity of the students themselves. How can one improve in his academic engagements if the facilities are insufficient and unsatisfactory? One of the school’s obligation is the safety of the students but it should not be limited only to that. Some say that the money used to purchase such equipment would have been better off if some of the major problems current within the Faculty was addressed first. The administration should have focused in improving the smaller elements that will make a student motivated to engage themselves in academic activities. How about prioritizing broken chairs, virus-infected computers, malfunctioning LCDs and air-conditioners, broken toilets and other facilities?
But the real problem lies not on these things, in fact, a bit closer to us; the real problem is the discipline of the AB students themselves. The problem with most of Artlets is that we feel a bit “liberated” apart from the other colleges in the university. Vandalism is a serious issue not only because it violates and destoys school property, but it is a complete reflection of how we interact and respect our school environment; this is the real problem. We are in our age wherein we already have the capability to judge and perceive the things and disambiguate the wrong from the right, including our very actions; vandalism is a complete reflection of “who” we are and how we are probably raised . “It is how we treat the things provided to us by our school that matters, not just by receiving them just because we paid for them, and doing whatever we want with them whenever and wherever. What we do to these things we express who we are. “We should be wiser that these things are also for our well-being and that we have no reason to reject this generosity. I am PRO for the CCTV cameras, but that depends on the discretion of the ones who are administering these surveillance devices; hopefully they won’t violate our privacy!” Alfredo N. Mendoza V , a student from 2CA3 exclaims
From the academic perspective, it is uncomfortable for most students; one cannot study surrounded by a thought that a certain “big brother” sees his/her every movement and can suddenly call him/her for a “false” or mistaken move made inside the room. The bottom line is, these things should be taken care of, not broken nor rejected, because probably, one day it will help us in something. But whatever plan the administration of our college makes, half of the realization of these plans always require the cooperation, discipline and actions of students; a group is always wrong unless the group works together to prove it is correct. Discipline always comes first, not only that it makes the ‘cooperation’ part of our college administrators, but it also reflects on how we feel and interact with our surroundings. We must always take care of what others give to us.
Seen from the part of other university offices and administrations, the installation of these CCTVs are an opportunity for future projects of surveillance systems and student protection for other colleges. Some students feel protected when there is presence of a CCTV camera; though their perception for CCTVs as a protection device is only on that basis. “Magagamit lang yan naman pag may nanakawan sa classroom at hinahanap ang salarin eh; other than that, wala na akong maisip na function para sa mga CCTVs na yan.” Angelo Palpal-Latoc, a student of 2CA3 says.
“I’m actually in favor; it’s a great way of monitoring not only the students but also the Professors... ” wrote Madox Sto. Tomas on CASA’s official Facebook page - Communication Arts Students' Association 2011-2012. Although it is true that the discipline of the students would be easier to monitor this way, it is also true and interesting to think that it is not just the students who are monitored but also the professors as well. It gives some sort of equality by how the University would weigh in its own employees, specifically its faculty members. Aside from this, is also the fact that it gives additional security as what Reigno Jose Dilao posted: “CCTV cameras can be helpful. You can say na OA ako pero just think about some unwanted events na di lang naman nagaganap sa labas ng room...”
Whether what function you think the CCTVs are for, we should always be responsible to take care of these things, we must be wiser to support the resolve of our own University for the welfare of student life instead of clamoring and complaining just because it violates or interferes some of our activities that are probably short-termed compared to what the University has. It may be small, or even controversial, but it still is a step towards a better learning environment.
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