United for welfare

WRITTEN BY BILLIE ASUNCION

WHILE MOST may associate the Ateneo community with a general sense of elitism and a disconnected outlook towards the Philippines’ social, economic, and political issues, Batch 2022 has put in the work to break this notion. During their stay in the Ateneo, the Batch faced various controversies, tackling issues including sexual harassment and the need for academic ease head on.

In the ongoing fight for student welfare, Ateneans continue to champion their values despite any hurdles they may face. Through on-campus mobilizations and academic strikes, Batch 2022 has proven that meaningful change is possible, paving the way for more change in the years to come.

FIGHTING FOR SAFE SPACES

Since the on-campus protest against sexual misconduct and impunity in 2019, students have worked closely with the Loyola Schools (LS) administration to improve the policies safeguarding against sexual harassment.

Following the protest, the Sanggunian met with members of the then-newly formed Time’s Up Ateneo (TUA) to assist the administration in writing the Code of Decorum and Administrative Rules on Sexual Harassment, Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct, and Inappropriate Behavior (Code and Rules).

At the time, the Code and Rules was meant to replace the University’s previous Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy. This gave the system a much needed update, considering that the previous policy was based on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995. With the updated Code and Rules, the definition of sexual harassment has been expanded to include gender-based and peer-to-peer harassment, along with other forms of sexual misconduct.

The Sanggunian’s Commission on Anti-Sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV) continues to collaborate with TUA, coordinating to not only forward the need for change towards the administration, but also to offer students a safe space in the LS. With this, they also work closely with the LS Gender Hub, opening their doors to students who may need counsel and aid in processing any cases.

However, working with the administration has not stopped TUA from calling out University complicity when it deems fit. On its second anniversary in October 2021, TUA put out a statement outrightly pointing out the University’s “disappointing” inaction towards fighting sexual violence. Through these, TUA remains fearless in the face of the administration’s negligence, acknowledging the progress made so far while still pushing for it to do better.

UNITY THROUGH DISCOURSE

TUA is not alone in its fight for student welfare. After Typhoon Ulysses ravaged the country in 2020, Elise Ofilada (4 BFA CW), along with Bernardine de Belen (4 BFA CW), Patricia Fermin (4 BFA ID), Maria Larga (4 BFA CW), and Angela Cole (4 BFA CW) from Batch 2022 led the Ateneo community in a mass student strike to call out not only the LS administration but also the national government for their “criminal” negligence in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the petition amassed over 500 signatories from members of the LS community, the Sanggunian held two emergency meetings to organize their list of demands to send to the administration. With this, the petitioners came to be known as One Big Strike (OBS).

OBS, through their petition, ignited critical discourse amongst the student body. The Central Assembly was split on whether to endorse the petition or not, with certain members finding the wording too vague to properly endorse it, while others agreed with its call for action. Regardless, each member still communicated that above all, there was an urgent need to push for student welfare in the time of crisis.

Once these needs were communicated to the LS administration, the Vice President of the Loyola Schools responded by granting the students a one-week class suspension to allow them the time to rest and recover from the effects of the typhoon and the pandemic.

RECOGNIZED PRAXIS

While OBS may no longer be active, its effects can still be felt today. Since the strike, academic breaks have become a regular occurrence, to the point where they are now accounted for in the academic calendar.

Likewise, TUA’s influence on the LS’ policies have made a lasting impact, along with their calls for the administration to do even better. The organization remains unwavering in their fight for safer spaces in the University and the end to complicity in handling issues surrounding sexual harassment.

These events, at the time, shook the LS community to its core, calling on students to unite to demand better from the administration. With this, the Batch has proven that through discourse and action, real change can be made.

Beyond these student-led actions, Batch 2022 has remained grounded in the country’s issues, constantly fighting for the better treatment of Ateneo students. It challenges the administration to never falter in its policymaking and take responsibility for its mistakes, assuring that no student gets left behind.