Facebook and Twitter now seem to be flooded with posts regarding the proposed SAMAHAN constitution.

The proposed SAMAHAN constitution garnered a significant number of criticisms as well as support in social media.

You could read posts saying that it would turn SAMAHAN into a bureaucratic and complicated government where everything would have to go through long and tedious processes before they can act on something. These posts are also telling you that this would make SAMAHAN, with the new constitution, if approved, into a slow-moving and slow-acting SAMAHAN.

PIGLASAPAT for one, through its Facebook page – AdDU Piglasapat, aired its decision of saying no to the ratification of the said proposed constitution by posting an image containing the message “PIGLASAPAT WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE MAJORITY OF ITS MEMBERS, SAYS NO TO THE RATIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED SAMAHAN CONSTITUTION”. They have also posted the same image in Twitter with the caption “Position of officers don’t matter, what matters is that what they do and how they act. #NOtoSAMAHANConsti2014”.

And in response to these criticisms, other posts would tell you that this is a better structure for SAMAHAN for it would achieve transparency. That it would produce a SAMAHAN that is more representative of the students.

SAMAHAN President Regel Asuero commented on a post in AdDU Confession dated November 18, 2014, that the new constitution would eliminate “rooms of possibilities of hiding and manipulating agenda”.

Confused? Well, before you vote or better yet – before election officials reach your room and collect your vote, ask yourself these questions: “What do I know about the proposed constitution?”, “What would be the possible repercussions of the proposed constitution if it will be approved?”, “What benefits, or would it even produce benefits for me and for the next generation of Ateneans?” and “Would it make SAMAHAN effective and efficient in carrying out its function?”.

Be it yes or no, have a strong-grounded reason why. Don’t go with the flow. You’re very capable of knowing and judging for yourself whether SAMAHAN needs a new constitution or it is best to stick with the current one.

Section 6, Article XIII of the 2014 SAMAHAN Constitution states: “Amendments may only be introduced three academic years after the ratification of this Constitution,” so if you say yes to this constitution and it would be approved, it would take three academic years before anyone can amend any of its provisions. It would take three academic years before anyone can rectify the possible flaws that would result from this constitution, and it would be three academic years that the SAMAHAN would operate under this constitution before improvements can be introduced.

Amidst these posts and debates, what should you do? Well, the best thing you can do is – don’t just say yes or no. Read it, know and judge for yourself whether this would be the best thing for SAMAHAN, for you and for future Ateneans. Don’t just say yes just because they’re telling you to say yes or don’t just say no because they’re telling you to.