UP Los Baños Chancellor Wilfredo David’s intrusion in the UPLB Perspective editorial selection has become a malady of abuse in administrative power. This is only one manifestation of his deliberate and relentless attempts to silence his constituents and suppress all forms of the freedom of expression. It is time to put an end to it.

Left with his first attempt, Chancellor David once again pounded an arm to the Perspective editor-in-chief selection as he did in 2002. For the second time, he bypassed the editor selection committee’s recommendation and appointed the second placer in the editorial exams, instead of first placer Niña Catherine Calleja.

This is a breach on the constitution of the Perspective, an independent institution that should be given due recognition and autonomy. It leaves the editor selection committee responsible in grading and evaluating the editorial exams. The chancellor has the power to appoint the editor-in-chief, only a ceremonial function, upon the recommendation of the selection committee.

Chancellor David’s actions bypassed and wasted the efforts of the selection committee. The five-man selection committee (composed of three faculty members and two student representatives) pondered on a grading system to be used and deliberated on the scores given to the examinees until dawn, right after the editorial exams. But Chancellor David sent a letter to the committee, claiming to have found biases in the scoring of student representative Bon Andrey Queaño, one of his administration’s staunch critics. Attached with the letter is a new grading system devised by David, which the committee immediately adopted, in the absence of Queaño. The rest of the committee did not inform the student representatives about the emergency meeting regarding Chancellor David’s complaints. Student representative Adeluisa Mae De Guzman was only able to attend the meeting when she accidentally saw the rest of the committee members, passing by the area where the meeting took place. Whereas, De Guzman said the committee did not deliberate on the new grading system suggested by the Chancellor, but merely signed the new recommendation to appoint second placer Katrina Ross Tan (who emerged first placer in the grading system devised by David).

For one, Queaño’s credibility as a student representative must be honored and respected. The way he graded the examinees is much the same as the other committee member’s, subjective but abiding to a personal faculty of knowledge, but which we believe is fair since the names of the examinees were undisclosed until the deliberation was completed.

It is sickening to hear the one who claims to prevent biases, is after all, biased. Chancellor David has abused his administrative power, eluding the initial decision and recommendation of the selection committee and arbitrarily appointing the one he personally thinks deserving, according to the new grading system he devised. It became a decision of one man over a five-man committee.

Chancellor David’s systematic suppression of his constituents must not deceive us any longer. Aside from the Perspective case, Chancellor David has been responsible for repressive actions to students and faculty members’ right to freedom of expression. Most controversial of his actions, a violent dispersal during a mass action against him and the dismissal of progressive teachers in UPLB.

Thus, we are calling on President Francisco Nemenzo for an immediate, steadfast decision regarding Chancellor David’s unceasing deception to justify his despotic actions. The calls are roaring. It is to time to put an end to this tyranny.

Condemn Chancellor David’s intervention to the Perspective E.I.C. selection!

Respect the selection committee decision!

Uphold campus press freedom!

Divina Nova Joy Dela Cruz

Chairperson

Solidaridad, UP Alliance of Student Publications and Writers’ Organizations