The incident involving the university's Office for Student Affairs (OSA) ordering TomasinoWeb to delete a photo depicting College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) students entering the 7-Eleven store within the university's premises...

...causing 'public ridicule' is deeply concerning. The removal of this light-hearted post and its unclear justifications for censorship actions clearly highlights a cycle promoting repression within academic institutions.

It exposes an alarming disregard for the rights of journalists and student leaders and undermines the integrity of student journalism. It reflects a dysfunctional system that draws a line on its stakeholders as it prioritizes control over academic freedom.

This issue goes beyond a single post. It speaks to more extensive struggles on upholding institutional standards where students are constrained in their freedom to voice concerns and grievances in exchange of protecting the institution's image.

The notion that it is deemed harmful to the university exposes the institution's elitist stance. Associating students' uniforms with those of the employees of a convenience store should not be interpreted as a ridicule.

This reflects a narrow-minded view that fails to recognize the innocent intent behind the post and the freedom of expression that should be owed to students and journalists.

This stance exhibits an ironic take on how the university has been vocal about its 3 Core Values – Competence, Commitment, and Compassion. It defies its definition of competency in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

It draws a line on its commitment to showcase social responsibility in preparing students to become compassionate members of the society.

As student leaders, LAKASDIWA AMV calls for increased dialogue between students, faculty, and administration on press freedom and academic freedom.

We ask the administration to cease all forms of censorship, refrain from instilling fear among students, and listen to the concerns of students as we create a campus culture that values open discourse, critical inquiry, and freedom of expression.

#AMVCOMELEC2324 #BoLDerAndStronger
#HoldTheLineTW