Ending Campus Violence

ANTO COMETA

Official statement released by the Student Council of the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations with reference to a recent incident concerning an undergraduate student who died due to a fraternity related occurrence.

LET US PUT AN END TO CAMPUS VIOLENCE

The UP SOLAIR studentry sympathizes with the bereaved family and friends of Chris Mendez, an NCPAG senior who died last week due to a fraternity hazing incident. We also extend our prayers for the speedy delivery of justice to Chris and to the many others who have become victims of these fraternity-related incidents.

This issue awakens us to the fact that putting an end to campus brutality may remain an elusive goal for the members of the UP community. Fateful incidents such as these tarnish the much-celebrated academic and social reputation of our University. Many forms of physical abuse occurring everywhere in our campus counter the premises of academic freedom which we have selflessly fought for and sustained throughout the years.

We in UP SOLAIR condemn all forms of campus violence. We recognize this issue as an organizational malady that needs to be acted upon. While student councils, student organizations, fraternities and sororities continue to provide a staunch support in promoting the University's academic and social thrusts, we are, at the same time, endowed with the responsibility of ensuring the rights and welfare of the students.

We therefore urge the administration to address the need for institutional reforms to break the traditional inhumane practices employed by some organizations and to safeguard the students' rights to a safe and student-friendly campus.

Every member of the UP community is asked to remain vigilant. Collective effort should be observed in order to systematically eradicate violent incidents in our campus. It is about time that we set our self-gaining interests aside and promote solidarity and respect for one another.

For in the end, we will never be judged by our individual contributions but by our conscience.

Let us help make campus violence a history. . . NOW!!!!!

UP SOLAIR Student Council
University of the Philippines - Diliman
September 4, 2007