On the FRV Incident

      In the afternoon of June 18, 2015, Thursday, on the anniversary of UP’s foundation, two fraternity-related incidents were reported to have occurred in UP Diliman premises. As a result of both incidents, four students, identified as members of the Alpha Sigma Fraternity, suffered multiple injuries. Subsequently, five suspects, reportedly identified as members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity, were also apprehended.  Of the five suspects, four were identified to be students currently enrolled in the University, while the last one is an alumnus. The four students were placed under preventive suspension from the University by the UPD Administration. According to Chancellor Michael Tan, the penalty of expulsion will shall be imposed if the four are to be found guilty of the frat-related violence inside the campus.

      The UP School of Economics Student Council, the representative student body of UP School of Economics, condemns these acts of violence. UP Diliman is an academic institution that houses some of the brightest young minds of this country. It is a sanctuary where students can learn in a safe and secure environment; the incidents reported threatened this right, and more so, cast a deep sense of fear and unassurance in the UP Diliman community. In an institution that advocates diversity and free discourse, it is essential that disputes be settled in a civil manner, and with the proper avenue. There is absolutely no room for the heinous, tasteless, and barbaric acts reported, independent of reason and indifferent of the perpetrators. Such acts do nothing but further cultivate the culture of senseless violence that has been lurking in the University, tainting the sense of honor and excellence that it and its students should embody.

      We call on those involved in these incidents to own up to their involvement and to be held accountable. Furthermore, we call on the student leaders who are members of the fraternities involved to condemn the violence perpetrated and to step up to ensure the fair and impartial implementation of the investigation. Finally, we call on the UP and national administration to ensure speedy, transparent, and just proceedings.

END THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE.

References:
http://www.upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/jun15/articles/frat%20statement%203.pdf
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/06/20/15/5-students-charged-diliman-attacks
http://cnnphilippines.com/metro/2015/06/22/University-of-the-Philippines-fraternity-violence-National-Union-of-Students-of-the-Philippines.html
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/508278/news/metromanila/up-suspends-students-involved-in-frat-violence