Haze me not

To belong with fellow men for life is a great reward, but aspirants pay too high a price. Blood forges the bonds, and blood is drawn before a friend becomes family. We question the paradox: it is an act of love to own a friend like a brother, and some grant love when they inflict pain.

Let us draw the line at physical violence, and not defile the name of our university. Brothers are not merely men branded by the same pain. They are men united for a purpose. Let them be remembered for this, and not for the bloody histories of some groups. The university is a place to nurture hope. Let us not present it to the world as a place to breed terror.

The anti-hazing law was approved in 1995, but it was unable to prevent the deaths that occurred after its inception. It cannot tell us what should be enough. It cannot tell neophytes when it will be too much. We ask that it be reviewed, and that it be implemented with greater vigilance. We further ask the UP administration to introduce stricter measures to pinpoint and stamp out brutality, because the anti-hazing law cannot survey all the groups that fall under it.

We all demand respect for the constitutions of our groups, and it is not anyone’s place to dictate how to treat those hoping to be one of us. This must be why the anti-hazing law merely regulates initiation rites. To forewarn neophytes of the possibility of death is not enough. As such, we appeal to all fraternities, sororities and organizations to know their limits. We also appeal to the alumni of these groups, to use the authority in their hands. We ask that they be the ones to restrain violence in their groups.

We condemn the violence that has seized the life of UP student Cris Mendez and the lives of the long line of others before him. However, condemnation only takes us so far. Many a time has a man died undeservedly, and many a time have we condemned brutality. We air outrage when brotherhood kills, but let violence fester unnoticed when nobody dies.

Condemnation is not all that we have the power to do. The government, the UP admin, the student body, and the organizations themselves can all work together, instead of just finding people to punish, so that justice can supposedly be served. We cannot simply avenge deaths. We must take steps so that no death will happen again.

We are UP Economics Towards Consciousness, and we ask you to be one with us in our desire to eradicate a culture of violence.

The dormer is not a pig

We commend the administration’s efforts to introduce an improved admission policy, which leaves little room for favoritism and favor currying. We commend efforts to ensure that the basis of the assignment of such a privilege as staying in a UP dormitory is standardized, and we further commend efforts to relocate those who have been displaced during the process, given the very limited housing supply in the University.

However, even the best of intentions cannot overshadow the slew of events that has deprived many dormers of the dormitory slots that they so rightfully deserve.

Students lament the late notice of the new policy, and further lament the delay of the release of dormitory assignments, while questioning the worthiness of those already admitted. Why students from as far as Davao were not admitted over those from as near as Malate has been attributed to the lack of time for thorough evaluation by the Dorm Admission Committee. Some students who were still awaiting their results even after classes had started to turn to more expensive boarding houses. Furthermore, the closing of Narra Residence Hall only exacerbated the inadequacy of housing that was made more evident after the sudden introduction of the new admission policy.

As the primary stakeholders in this issue, the students should have been informed of the new process as early as possible, so that they may have enough time to produce the new requirements needed for admission. Their time is as valuable as anyone else’s, and it should have been considered that they have provinces to return to, and that it would be inconvenient and even impractical to many to satisfy the new admission requirements after classes have ended, and on so short a notice.

True, the implementation of the admission policy has exposed flaws, flaws that may now be addressed for greater efficiency. However, let us remember that the administration must not make students bear with any unforeseen difficulties which may arise from an untested policy. The dormitory issue has affected real students, with very real lives and very real concerns. The UP dormer is not a subject for experimentation, and does not have to shoulder consequences of acts carried out with undue haste.

We Condemn Proclamation 1017!

Here's our stand on the Proclamation 1017. Published this last year but it might be nice to keep it in our archives.
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Proclamation 1017 did nothing to solve the country's national security problems but worsened the sense of instability and uncertainty among the people. The only thing it accomplished was to provide additional fodder to those who already suspect the administration of laying the ground works of martial law.

Is the administration contemplating authoritarian rule? The raid on the editorial offices of the Daily Tribune and the warrantless arrests of some opposition leaders are reminiscent of the horrors of the Marcos era. The President may mean well in proclaiming an emergency situation, which on its surface is valid and justified but the possibility of abuse at lower levels casts questionable light on its constitutionality especially because it is indefinite and broadly defined.

The public and dramatic declaration of the state of national emergency exposes how unsure the administration is of its grounds.

Proclamation 1017 merely declared the existence of an emergency situation and did not give the President special powers. Without such official proclamation the President as Commander-in-Chief has powers to call out the armed forces to prevent and suppress restiveness in the military and restrict the movements of destabilizing forces. A government confident of being duly constituted would just exercise its powers decisively without causing undue fear to its people.

The President may have reliable information not available to public. Thus, we may never be sure how serious the threat to the government was during the EDSA anniversary weekend but the period has passed with the people needed to recreate the EDSA I moment opting either to stay home or watch a wrestling event at the Araneta Center. The President herself admitted the threat has subsided but her continued refusal to lift the unnecessary proclamation can be construed that the administration is headed to realize our worst fear...