On the Students' Magna Carta

Today, November 18, we celebrate International Students’ Day, an international observance of the student community. Originally, this was done to commemorate the 1939 Nazi storming of Czech universities, wherein 1,200 students were sent to concentration camps; and 9 students leaders and professors were executed. These actions were in response to the demonstration of students from those universities against the Nazi government, which inspired other student-led demonstrations all around the world. Now, this day also symbolizes our willingness to fight against forces that seek to do us injustice as students. This spirit of expression embodies the power of students to voice out their opinions and concerns on issues affecting their community and their country. It is a clear manifestation of students fighting for their rights and is a reminder that students should keep fighting for their rights not only as students but also human beings.

It is with this idea in mind that the UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta was created. It is a document that was created by students for the students. The drafters of the Magna Carta believe that every student enjoys rights that are specifically for them as students and identified the need to create a document that puts emphasis on these rights.The UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta is a document that outlines the rights of every student and specifies the procedures for the exercise and protection of those said rights. It is of extreme importance that we have adequate knowledge and understanding of our rights as students for it is only through this that we can fight and call for its exercise and protection.

The UP School of Economics Student Council strongly supports the call for the passage of the UP Diliman Students’ Magna Carta. Student rights are the minimum requirements that allow students to live with dignity, peace, justice, equality, and freedom. It insures that students are able to finish their education in an environment that is safe, secure, and conducive to learning and personal growth. We believe that the passage of the Magna Carta is the first step to not only the acknowledgement of these rights, but moreover, in its legitimate and just implementation in Diliman, and in time, the entire University.

This is why we call on every UP Diliman student to sign in favor of the Magna Carta document on January 12, 13, and 14, 2015. Turn your rights on! Say YES to the Magna Carta!