IHSN SC TANGLAWTALA

University Election is coming to an end.

This may come across as a strong opinion, but IHSN students—we must learn to be discerning and thoughtful in choosing our next student leaders.

Let’s consider the case of the Tanglawtala Presidential candidate. During his term in Nursoc, the main highlight of his term was the return of the Nursing Week—an initiative that, while appreciated, is considered the bare minimum. Unfortunately, pressing issues such as the long-standing concerns with the 3-year “666” departmentalized curriculum in the Nursing program remain unaddressed. There has been little to no initiative from the organization under his leadership to assess whether this structure is still feasible for students.

Further, under his term, the Nursing Society’s Talakasan event faced significant criticisms, with various student complaints being raised through OPC. However, these concerns were reportedly met with no to slow urgency or action from his leadership.

When asked by a MedTech students in the OPC about sustainable solutions for IHSN-wide issues, the same candidate allegedly responded with general statements, primarily basing his answer from his program (Nursing). This raises concerns about whether leadership can truly serve a diverse and multi-disciplinary student community with inclusive and research-based solutions or just a band-aid solution again.

In addition, the Tanglawtala Treasurer candidate has yet to publicly respond to lingering issues tied to her name. Her silence may be interpreted as an acceptance of these concerns, but in student leadership, transparency and accountability are non-negotiable. When running for public office, one must be ready to clarify—not just when it’s comfortable, but especially when it’s difficult. Leadership is not just presence—it’s response.

Historically, some members of Tanglawtala (formerly linked with Kadiwa) have been criticized for making unfulfilled promises to lower-year students, as shared by some alumni and upperclassmen. If these patterns persist, it raises legitimate concerns about whether the party’s approach genuinely empowers the student body—or merely persuades through promises.

To the IHSN student community: this is a call not to blindly follow, but to critically assess. Leadership requires vision, integrity, and the ability to act—not just promote.

Let’s choose wisely.