LOW VOTER turnouts have become a recurring theme in student governance across various Philippine Higher Education Institutions.
In 2024, Far Eastern University observed a significant drop in voter turnout from to , while the University of the Philippines Manila reported a
Although the Ateneo experienced an opposite shift with its highest turnout of 22.66% last year since the pandemic, its student participation still falls short of reaching a quarter of the undergraduate population. Likewise, the significance of the Sanggunian to the Ateneo community remains repeatedly over the years, especially in terms of its ability to address student concerns.
With these growing doubts and consistently low voter turnouts, the Sanggunian is continuously challenged to be more effective representatives of its constituents.
More than the title
At the core of every university lies its student government, a central and dynamic entity within the academic community. Far more than its bureaucratic function, the student government serves different purposes. Political Science Instructor Hansley Juliano, MA states that a student government is expected to bind the community and spearhead events for the student body.
Similarly, former Sanggunian President Tristan Joseph 鈥淭J鈥� Alcantara expounds that the student government鈥檚 role encompasses three main functions: representation, service, and politicization.
In terms of representation, student governments should be the students鈥� voice in student-administration dialogue, ensuring that their concerns are brought to the forefront of University decision-making.
Beyond attending University-scheduled discussions, Juliano adds that the responsibility of student governments also extends to actively seeking dialogue and asserting themselves in these conversations. 鈥淭he position, therefore, of the student government is [to] not stop asking until [the administration] answers it to our satisfaction,鈥� he emphasizes.
Aside from this, the second role of the student government is service. In the Ateneo, Alcantara expounds that the Sanggunian fulfills this mission through its commissions, which provide subsidies and support for student concerns鈥攔anging from , , and .
However, student governments do not stop only in providing service; they also function as platforms for political engagement. Alcantara highlights how they have the power to engage in nation-building and create spaces for politicization where differing political beliefs can coexist.
For instance, in 2019, the Sanggunian issued both to the Senate of the Philippines, urging them to reject the proposition to lower the minimum age for criminal responsibility. In 2022, they staged an to protest Ferdinand Marcos Jr.鈥檚 presidency, and last February 25, they commemorated the EDSA People Power Revolution with another .
Between presence and perception
Despite numerous efforts by the Sanggunian to engage students, many Ateneans continue to feel a disconnect between their concerns and the Sanggunian鈥檚 initiatives.
For second-year student Niki*, the support offered by the Sanggunian often fails to align with the student body鈥檚 actual needs, thus diluting their overall impact. She attributes this misalignment to the Sanggunian鈥檚 simultaneous implementation of projects without student feedback and limited follow-through.
Niki notes that, while the Sanggunian acknowledges student concerns, their responses remain surface-level鈥攐ften 鈥渟topping at position papers鈥� rather than actively negotiating solutions with administrators. Due to these concerns, Niki claims that participation in Sanggunian-led activities often feels optional rather than necessary.
However, these concerns about the Sanggunian鈥檚 effectiveness may also extend beyond the current officials鈥� actions. Also serving as the Partido Pandayan faculty moderator, Juliano argues that the disconnect stems from the lack of transition between Sanggunian terms, 鈥渃rippling鈥� the officials鈥� ability to understand the effectiveness of existing initiatives and build upon them.
On the other hand, former Sanggunian School of Humanities Representative Angelo Almodiel offers a different perspective. While advocacy-centered events like attract significant participation, he notes that other Sanggunian initiatives receive fewer participants due to students鈥� selective engagement.
He explains that while the Sanggunian is active and visible, students tend to engage with its initiatives only 鈥渨hen it matters to them,鈥� making the impact of such programs appear fleeting.
Meanwhile, Alcantara attributes this disengagement, as evidenced by persisting low voter turnouts, to a sense of complacency among students. He expounds that some Ateneans believe Sanggunian鈥檚 efforts鈥攕uch as constituency checks, academic subsidies, and other programs鈥攚ill continue regardless of election outcomes. Since they do not feel an urgent need for change, they are less inclined to participate in governance-related activities.
A challenged democracy
While dissatisfaction with the Sanggunian鈥檚 initiatives plays a role in disengagement, shifting student priorities and broader external factors also contribute to the declining participation.
Juliano claims that increasing academic workloads and a stronger focus on personal or family time may have contributed to the low voter turnout. 鈥淪tudents today see [the] University as work, not a community,鈥� he explains. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e here to study and go home, not to engage in campus life.鈥�
Alcantara elaborates on this aspect of personal interests, highlighting that engagement is often driven by individual values and priorities rather than governance efforts alone. 鈥淣o matter how much Sanggunian promotes the Martial Law rally, if students prefer to attend the cheer rally, you cannot simply say that it鈥檚 Sanggunian鈥檚 failure,鈥� he asserts.
Given these challenges, strengthening student governance requires more than just encouraging voter participation. Another key factor contributing to the lack of student participation is the growing preference for interest-based organizations over centralized student governance structures. 鈥淪tudents feel like they are already able to express or live out their advocacies through other organizations,鈥� Alcantara points out.
Recognizing this shift, he suggests that, in order to remain relevant and sustain impact, the Sanggunian should focus on collaborating and amplifying the efforts of other organized groups within the University. Meanwhile, Niki underscores the need for structural reforms and better communication channels to bridge the gap between governance and the student body.
In this regard, Juliano compares student governments鈥� areas for growth with the potential of democratic governance, emphasizing that they can reflect both the best and worst aspects of Philippine politics. 鈥淎 student government only holds up as long as the student body is on campus and is behind it,鈥� he underscores.
Ultimately, a functioning democracy鈥攅ven within a university鈥攄epends on the active participation of both students and their representatives. As students鈥� priorities and interests continue to evolve, governing bodies are challenged to adapt and remain relevant to truly serve the student body they represent.
*Editor鈥檚 Note: The name of the interviewee has been changed to protect their identity and privacy.
