The Price of Silence - BIGKIS-UPM

The Price of Silence

A little over a year has passed since Cris Mendez’ brutal death in alleged initiation rites, the University once again finds itself victim to another senseless act of fraternity violence. BIGKIS-UPM unequivocally condemns the blatant atrocities that occurred between the Tao Omega Mu (ΤΩΜ) and Sigma Kappa Pi (ΣΚΠ) fraternities at the College of Arts and Sciences.

We condemn this act, especially the assault on duly-elected student leader Jigs Tenorio (CAS-SC Chair), and the injury to innocent bystanders. The level of indiscriminate brutality from fraternity conflict is palpable: the hostility has not spared the highest representation of the CAS students and has even spilled over to include innocents in the conflict.

We call for the end of the propaganda war. The circulation of fliers is counterproductive to any peaceable resolution of conflict. It is petty and small-minded to resort to this proxy war. If there is cause to be found, justice is to be found with the appropriate authorities, not with the court of public opinion.

The flyers of ΣΚΠ are particularly disturbing. They claim that they “have been pushed too far”, and they “have to draw the line somewhere.” Violence cannot be justified by any reason. We challenge their claim to remain “committed to the primacy of peaceful settlement of disputes”. To prove their word, we demand that they turn over the perpetrators and masterminds to the authorities to face the consequences of their actions. If ΣΚΠ is as honorable as they claim, they must prove it by not coddling those who committed such criminal acts. Likewise, ΤΩΜ must refrain from escalating the violence by engaging in a peaceful resolution of conflict and refusing to retaliate.

Violence of any kind has no place with iskolars para sa bayan. Fraternities and sororities exist for the development of the responsible leadership in the community, the nation and the world. Such acts do not befit honorable fraternities: they belong to gangs and hoodlums, not in the university of the people. It is they who are the barbarians.

This cycle has persisted because of our tolerance. We, the students of UP Manila, should not condone this culture of violence, but instead condemn it. The student body cannot afford to be silent on this issue. The university should not be a warzone where the students’ academic progress is placed at risk.

The UP administration must provide swift justice and punish those involved. The university must never tolerate such blatant acts of violence. The administration must demonstrate its political will in ensuring justice is served. We call on Prof. Doroteo Abaya of the Office of Student Services, founder of ΣΚΠ,, to demonstrate impartiality in handling the case. Such barefaced disregard for the rules of the university should not remain unpunished.

We call on both ΤΩΜ and ΣΚΠ to cease their mindless conflict. The cycle of aggression will not end unless both parties are willing to place the true ideals of brotherhood and service above those of a misguided sense of pride and brotherhood. We challenge the student leaders from both sides, CAS-SC Chair Jigs Tenorio from ΤΩΜ and USC Councilor Ian Manalang from ΣΚΠ, to place the mandate of their office and the students’ trust and rise above a misguided sense of fraternity loyalty.

We invite the other fraternities to prove their moral ascendancy and sign a pact disavowing all forms of fraternity violence on campus. Together, they must provide the lead in ridding the university of rumbles, hazing and coercive recruitment.

We call on the students to join our voices in the condemnation of this act, and be constantly vigilant against further violence. It is in our silence and our tolerance of a mindless culture of brutality that such atrocities have thrived. UP Manila must demand that fraternities stay true to the university ideals of leadership, service and excellence.

How many more neophytes have to die, and how many more must be injured before we say enough is enough? We must remain silent no longer. Let the voices of the iskolars para sa bayan be heard.

END THE VIOLENCE NOW!

Bigkis ng mga Iskolar para sa Bayan tungo sa Makabuluhang Pagbabago