USC Candidates using Cars? How selfish!
A lot of students are already frustrated because of rising transportation costs, the continuing oil crisis, and the daily struggle of simply getting around campus and Metro Manila. Some students literally have to walk long distances, skip meals to afford commute expenses, or wait endlessly for rides just to get to class.
That’s why some people are questioning the optics of USC candidates casually using private cars for personal campaigning around campus. At a time when accessibility and transportation are major student concerns, it can come across as disconnected from the realities many Iskos and Iskas face every day.
This isn’t about saying candidates can never use cars. But student leaders asking for the trust of the community should be more conscious of the message their actions send — especially when so many students are directly affected by transportation insecurity and rising fuel prices.
Leadership is not just about platforms and speeches. Sometimes it’s also about whether candidates are willing to practice the values of solidarity, sustainability, and sensitivity to student struggles even in small everyday choices.
The UP community deserves leaders who understand what students are going through — not just in statements, but in lifestyle and action as well.