Although the voter turn-out was very low, the University of the Philippines Open University (OU) still ratified the Codified Rules for Student Regent Selection, or CRSRS, in an online polling booth opened from January 26 to 31, 2009.

The OU conducted the referendum using the Online Voting Booth. The Booth is an online poll developed for collecting votes via Internet for voters' approval or disapproval of the CRSRS as rules and qualifications for the selection of the Student Regent.

Information Drive

The Information campaign for Open U was a powerful manifestation on the use of the internet and Short Messaging System. Ronald Cardema, an Open University student affiliated with STAND UP and who has volunteered for the info drive, said that the USC has taken �every steps� to ensure the �widest dissemination� on the upcoming referendum. �We had organized online websites and text brigades in order to reach out to the students�, Ronald said. �Ironically, students from other UP systems (Diliman, Los Banos, Manila, etc) had the maximum participation in these (info) campaigns�, he adds.

Low voter turn-out in Open U

The Open University had the lowest voter turn-out.

Although students from the Open U can vote online, total voter turn-out was 4 percent. Out of the 1,916 currently enrolled in the Open University, only 84 had cast their votes. 54 students, or 64 percent of those who voted, voted yes, while 18 students voted no.

Ronald said that the low voter turn-out is caused by the nature of the Open U itself. �Many students seldom check their accounts�, he said. �They may have just read the announcements (about the referendum).�

But, nonetheless, the overall campaign was successful.

According to the Office of the SR, 55 percent, or 26, 118 of the total 47,365 students in the whole UP System cast their votes in the referendum.

Student Regent Nomination

The Student Regent (SR) is the lone student representative in the Board of Regents (BOR), the highest policy-making body of UP.

The nominations for candidates for the next SR is now scheduled following the ratification of the 13-year old CRSRS.