The University Student Supreme Court is a proposed co-equal branch of the University Student Council in the student government of the University of the Philippines-Diliman. The USSC will serve as the institutional watchdog of the students in matters related to the ongoings of the student council. It will (1) monitor campaign promises of all political parties and candidates; (2) perform audits in t
he performance and program expenses of elected officials in the USC; and (3) serve as final arbiter of impeachment cases against USC officials, with the help of a jury composed by non-elected UP Diliman students. Specific Programs and Initiatives of the USSC:
• Election-related
- Recording of campaign promises of political parties and candidates
- Release report about what promises are fulfilled by the political parties and candidates based on the previous elections’ campaign period
• During the USC term
- Performance audits of each USC Committee and each USC official per semester
- Performance audit of the whole USC per semester
- Financial audit of the whole USC per semester
- Creation of semestral audit reports for student consumption
• Impeachment cases
- Handle creation of a jury for impeachment cases, composed of non-elected, unaffiliated students
- Moderate oral arguments between defendant and prosecution
- Ensure fairness and just trial
The USSC, the students, and other UP Diliman sectors
The USSC will also house a division that will help students get legal assistance and advice. In essence, the USSC will absorb the function of the existing Student Legal Aid and Assistance Committee of the USC. Speaking truth to power
The creation of USSC finds its meaning in the idea of speaking truth to power – fearless in the pursuit of justice, bold in speaking valid criticisms to elected officials, and being continuously vigilant members of the community. The USSC, as the institutional watchdog of the students in the student government, will hopefully empower students to be more participative in the activities of the student movement in the campus. A student government that gets its power from the massive voice of the studentry it serves will always focus in delivering results and solving problems, not mudslinging and partisan politicking.
