Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

As promised, the following is my answer to the freshman student who wants to run for Student Council president.

Dear Mr. [name withheld],

Thank you for your interest in student government here at our school. We are sorry to say that we have to decline your request for leniency on the rules that have been set for qualification as Student Council President.

The reason behind requiring a minimum GPA (grade point average) for candidates is that an above average academic standing is one of the benchmarks by which we can quantitatively determine a student’s ability to attain agreed upon goals – such as campaign promises and planned projects. Another indicator is a list of accomplishments in similar endeavors and rank from their previous schools.

A lot of students have vision, but there are measurable ways of determining achievement and success in translating that vision to reality.

Having a more elevated Student Council position equates to more responsibility, and thus the equivalent GPA increases.

But the criterion is not so “high” and discriminating such that only those in the Dean’s List can run.

One more reason for the limit is that it acts as a buffer zone should the elected official be unable to balance his or her duties with studies and the grades drop. It would not do well for the school’s reputation to have student representatives who have consistent failures.

I would also like to comment on the issue of “seniority”, or restricting the candidacy of president to students who will be starting their third year in school when they step into office. Decades of the same policy being in effect in the other colleges and universities in the system have not caused discomposure.

We laud your ambition and determination. We just ask for your application of those qualities in the avenue where it is best suited at the moment, which is either in ensuring the continued accreditation of the student organization you helped found, or to run for batch or course representative of your peers in the election for the same at the start of next school year.

[Signed]

Sir Ronnie the Director of Student Activities and the Dean both signed that they had noted this letter.

Next time I’ll talk about the rest of the sessions (Advanced Mathematics and mechanics lecture) for the sixth week of classes, and the start of the seventh week in Electromagnetic Theory. There is also the change of schedules of some activities because of the declared non-working holiday next week. For now, class dismissed.