UTAR Decided Activities’ Agenda, SRC is Puppet Body
“SRC does not have the chance to join in the process of activity planning, we only conduct activities according to the agenda and objectives that had been finalised by the university,” he told J-on during an exclusive interview session last week.
He said that the fundamental objective of SRC is to provide a channel for students to voice out their needs and to fight for their welfare.
SRC chairman, Edward Chin Yik Shearn.
“My main purpose for running as chairman last year is to help the students in terms of getting a better study environment and better facilities. However, my role as SRC chairman is just like a doll or puppet which is controlled by the management.
“In the duration of being SRC chairman, I realised that the power of a student in making complaints and expressing dissatisfaction is greater than SRC chairman. Students at least have more freedom,” he said.
Edward added that the UTAR constitution limits the SRC rights to question about management policies and financial issues.
“SRC is not able to do anything on tuition fees increasing and car stickers’ price due to the limitations stated in the constitution. However, we are trying to fight for it even when we were rejected by management previously,” he said.
“In fact, the UTAR constitution had centralized all the decision power under the president,” he added.
Edward in an exclusive interview session conducted by J-on reporters.
However, Edward said the management did provide him with strong evidences to support their claims on certain issues.
“The management had very well planning. For example, tuition fees issue, the management did calculate on utilising the money in a reasonable way, and it allows the university to grow,” he said.
Edward told the reporters that he will not defend his post as chairman as well as run candidacy for other post in the coming SRC election.
As his term of office is going to end, Edward expressed his dissatisfaction on his own performance after self-reviewing.
“I do not think that I can strive for more welfare opportunity on behalf of the students. For example, I had tried to fight for waiving the gym room charges, somehow it met with failure,” he said.
He said the ultimate power of SRC is from the students, thus he hoped UTAR students should be more supportive in SRC activities.
