UST Cracks Down on
Student Leaders
Students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) had another taste of
repression. This did not result in the murder of another student, as what
happened to Mark Chua, the student who exposed the corruption in the
Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). But this involved the death of
the students’ democratic rights.
BY
ZOFIA LEAL
Bulatlat
Students from the University of Santo
Tomas (UST) had another taste of repression. This did not result in the
murder of another student, as what happened to Mark Chua, the student who
exposed the corruption in the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC). But
this involved the death of the students’ democratic rights.
Last January 19, 2007 students from
the University held an indoor mobilization for the immediate refund of
their tuition fee and to oppose the supposed tuition and other fee
increases for the school year 2007-2008.
By January 21, three students who have
joined the mobilization received a letter from the Office of Student
Affairs (OSA) inquiring about the incident. The three students were JC
Valleroso, a third year AB-BSE (Bachelor of Arts- Bachelor in Secondary
Education) Major in Social Science and then Vice-President for Internal
Affairs of the College of Arts and Letters Student Council, Rommel Gerali,
a fourth year Economics student and Lucan Villanueva, second year
Economics student.
Villanueva sought the assistance of a
lawyer from Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights).
The three students were summoned
together with their parents on January 23. The OSA explained that they
were called because the university administration wanted to know the
reasons for the students’ protest action.
Another indoor mobilization was held
on January 25 to protest the increase in tuition and other fees and to
question the letters sent to the students.
In response, the
OSA issued another letter to the three students. The second letter
charged Villanueva with violating PPS 1027 (h) that states that students
are not allowed to join illegal boycotts or assemblies that tend to create
unnecessary noise, and the good grooming policy that indicates that the
hair of male students must not touch the collar of their uniforms. The
hair of Villanueva is in dread locks.
Gerali and
Valleroso were also charged with violating the PPS 1027 (h).
They attended the
February 14 hearing set by the administration. But they were not allowed
to explain their side, “sinermonan lang nila kame,” (They just
scolded us.) Villanueva said.
The investigation
panel formed by the administration was composed by professors who are also
practicing lawyers, the guard on duty during the mobilization, and the OSA.
After the hearing,
the students received another letter on March 9, two weeks before the
final examinations, informing them of the resolutions of the investigation
panel. Valleroso was placed on a 100-day probation starting June of 2007.
He was also required to attend a psycho-trauma clinic, Gerali was also
placed on probation until his graduation. Villanueva was suspended for
five days, required to attend a psycho trauma clinic, and prohibited from
entering the school building until he cut his hair. The OSA also warned
Villanueva that they still have three more security journals which could
serve as basis for more cases that can be filed against him.
The OSA did not explain the basis for
the resolutions but they were given the opportunity to appeal their
cases.
When Villanueva asked about the
appeal, the OSA said that if they wanted to appeal, they should address
their appeal to the rector. All three students have filed an appeal last
March 20 through the party organization ACT-Now! (Alliance of Concerned
Thomasians). Villanueva filed another appeal last March 22. As of March
23, there has been no response yet from the rector.
Villanueva said that he is saddened by
the fact that they were not accorded due process. “There is something
wrong with the manner the cases against us were filed and decided upon.
The OSA was the complainant, the investigator, and the judge, “Villanueva
said.
Villanueva’s mother fears that he
might be expelled. His suspension had affected his academic standing. Two
of his professors gave him a grade of Failure Due to Absences for getting
low scores in his examination and missing the quizzes that were given
during the time of his suspension.
Villanueva said that he did try to
review during the time he was suspended but he still had difficulties
because he did not have the benefit of classroom discussions and the
opportunity to ask his professors about lessons which were not clear to
him.
While Villanueva is still waiting for
the response of the rector, he is firm in saying that the cases filed
against them are threats from the administration to stop the students from
questioning their policies. He added, “The administration only wants to
pacify the students and warn them that if you join these activities, this
will happen to you.”
“Hindi kayang harangan ng papel ang
pag question ng estudyante. Ang isang magandang eskwelehan ang nagtuturo
kung paano magiging kritikal mag isip at magtanong sa established order,
kung wala nun walang karapatan magturo ang isang paaralan.”
(A piece of paper cannot stop the students from questioning. A good
school teaches the students to be critical and to question the established
order, if the school does not encourage that, then they have no right to
teach.), Villanueva said.
He said that, “What I did was in line
with the Thomasian ideals of constant pursuit of truth and justice. They
wanted to stop us from questioning by scaring us. They think that the
students’ resolve will weaken once they learned of the cases filed against
us. But these did not even cause me to falter from what I am fighting
for. Every tuition fee increase forces more and more students to quit
school. It is, therefore, in my conscience to continue the fight.”
Bulatlat
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