REBEL KULÊ
4
30 NOBYEMBRE 2018 BIYERNES
NEWS
THE LONG FORTNIGHT
Fraternity-related violence, controversy wrack UP Diliman The UP community demands accountability of the Alpha Phi Beta and Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternities, which for the past two weeks have been embroiled in multiple controversies involving violence on campus. It would later be followed up by the online leak of offensive conversations purportedly involving members of Upsilon that similarly met condemnation by students and faculty alike. In the aftermath of both incidents, the USC filed on November 26 complaints against the two fraternities with the Office of AntiSexual Harassment and the Student Disciplinary Council. It also promised to draw up contracts, with the two fraternities included as parties, for a commitment to prohibit future incidents of FRV. On the other hand, Upsilon Sigma Phi member and USC Chairperson Yael Toribio announced his resignation from his post during the USC’s November 23 emergency general assembly, supposedly in order to give way to an impartial USC investigation. Alpha Phi Beta member and USC councilor Rein Gallardo, for his part, has not yet issued a statement on his resignation as of press time, citing a need to settle pending deliverables for the USC, he told Rebel Kulê. In light of Toribio’s resignation, elected USC vice-chairperson Kisha Beringuela assumes the vacated post, while a new vice-chairperson will be elected by the council, according to Article VI, Section 4a of the USC’s constitution. The vacancy
NOVEMBER 21
in the councilor post, however, will be assumed by the 14th ranked councilor during this year’s elections instead of the 13th USC councilor, Ivy Taroma, who currently serves as the UP Student Regent. Meanwhile, USC councilor Ian Serrano remains on-board the council after earlier announcing his “resignation” from Upsilon in an online statement dated November 22. He remains, however, preventively suspended for another week pending a requirement to submit validated proof of his resignation from Upsilon and an accounting of the fraternity’s members that were involved in the fighting. Serrano will also coordinate with the USC’s fact-finding team in filing complaints against these members. In addition, an expulsion case on the grounds of misconduct and gross neglect of duty has been filed against USC Councilor Jeremiah Tomas, another Upsilon member, who missed the November 23 assembly. His case will hence be heard in the USC’s upcoming emergency assembly, the date of which has yet to be set as of
#LonsiLeaks @100Upsilon
Leaks of a group conversation allegedly involving members of Upsilon Sigma Phi made their rounds on social media. The malicious and highly offensive content of the chats were widely condemned.
press time. For the part of the university administration, UP President Danilo Concepcion, a member himself of Upsilon, promised in a November 26 statement that the offenses will be dealt with to the full extent of available remedies, adding that UPD Chancellor Michael Tan has also been instructed to expedite the investigation on the incidents. While a probe into the FRV is underway, Tan noted that the university is looking to consult a computer forensics service to help identify those part of the online chats, which he believed are available only as screenshots. He also appealed for Upsilon to take initiative in revealing the identity of the offenders in light of the lack of legal options. On the matter of emerging calls to abolish fraternities, the Chancellor expressed a need to “live with fraternities” instead. “If you abolish them, magiging underground lang sila at magiging mas mahirap nang i-regulate... dapat talagang magbago na sila,” Tan said.
NOVEMBER 15 UPD Chancellor Tan issued a statement condemning the violence, but highlights the fraternities’ contributions to the UP Men’s Basketball Team and the illegal nature of the footage on the November 13 clash. The lukewarm response is met with criticism by the university community.
NOVEMBER 23 Tan released his response to the leaks and to the recent reports of abduction. Tan expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from both fraternities in the investigation of the events.
UPD chairperson Yael Toribio, a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi, and USC Councilor Rein Gallardo, an Alpha Phi Beta member, tendered their resignations. USC Councilor Ian Serrano opted to remain in the council, but promised to use his position to confront the emergent issues after earlier cutting ties with Upsilon.
As of press time, the next emergency general assembly of the USC has yet to be scheduled, while the progress and findings of the UP administration-initiated probe remain undisclosed.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
/ JUAN GREGORIO LINA
NOVEMBER 13 Members of the Alpha Phi Beta and Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternities clashed at Palma Hall. Footage of the incident was later leaked to mainstream news networks.
A. Roces Magsaysay
NOVEMBER 14 Multiple incidents of violence wracked UP Dilimanan attack on a vehicle along A. Roces Street and a confrontation on Magsaysay Avenue, near the GT-Toyota Complex. In the latter encounter, conflicting reports emerged whether a gun had been used on the scene. The police report and a November 15 statement from UP Vice President for Publicity Jose Dalisay said that a car chase had taken place, not a shooting, while eyewitnesses and a statement from UPD Chancellor Michael Tan claimed the contrary, according to the USC’s later findings. The names of those involved and the exact number of injured, on the other hand, remain unclear. Other administration officials Rebel Kulê had contacted also declined to comment on the matter. Later that day, councilors with affiliations to the warring fraternities were preventively suspended. The USC constituted a fact-finding committee and began its investigation into the matter.
NOVEMBER 22
@iskolarpeaks
Reports began to circulate online of the abduction of a Twitter user known only by his username, @iskolarspeaks, who had been vocal of his condemnation of Upsilon online. The user was reportedly with his girlfriend on campus when he was taken by still-unidentified assailants, according to a brief account on his Twitter page. Around midnight of November 23, @iskolarspeaks announced his safety, but added that he had suffered from injuries including a busted lip and a bruised eye. The user also expressed his reluctance to speak with authorities, saying that he found it difficult to trust them.
/ INFOGRAPHIC BY KARLA FAITH SANTAMARIA