Several student councils and human rights groups urged the University administration on Sunday, Jan. 24, to uphold democratic rights after dismissing three students due to alleged involvement in “unrecognized organizations.”
“While it is understandable that we need to abide by the existing guidelines and policies as much as possible, it is to take not that the 1987 Constitution […] shall remain the highest form of constitution by nature,” UST–Senior High School (SHS) Student Council representative Ruth Dizon said in a press conference organized by the League of Filipino Students.
According to Dizon, the UST administration should revise its policies suppressing student activism in the University.
“Nanawagan kami sa administrasyon na isaalang-alang muli hindi lamang ang mga paglabag ng mag-aaral, pati na rin ang mga patakaran ng Unibersidad na nagbibigay daan sa pagpapatahimik sa mga mag-aaral,” she said.
‘Critical mindset’
Human rights groups stressed the importance of having a critical mindset due to the country’s current political situation.
“[K]inakailangan ang pagiging kritikal at makabayan na kaisipan. Kinakailangan ang pagpuna sa mapaniil na administrasyon dahil kung walang pupuna, sino?” Kabataan Partylist (KPL) –Katipunan Chairman Marco Mañaol said.
Manaol also urged the University to overturn its decision on SHS student Shoti Ampatuan’s case.
KPL–UST is expecting that the administration will continue to issue show cause notices to some students in the following days.
“We hope the administration sees the fear and intimidation that they cause and stop issuing show cause orders,” KPL–UST said.
In a span of two days, the UST–SHS administration barred a student from enrolling next academic year, while two more students were given show cause notices for allegedly joining unrecognized groups.
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