Image courtesy of Facebook: Ateneo de Manila University
Over the part few weeks, Ateneo De Manila has been under fire from various sectors on the way the administration has been handling alleged incidents of sexual harassment of professors on students.
Social media sites have various testimonies coming from alleged victims of certain professors from over a year ago. While some of these stories have not translated into cases, other students have filed their complaints. Despite the Data Privacy Act, a student recently revealed his alleged experience and frustration at the outcome of the case he filed. The post, which was already deleted, elicited various responses from fellow students, alumni network, and professors. More importantly, other victims came forward with their own stories that supported such claims and several names of professors were disclosed.
Such reactions prompted the students to organize a protest to remind the community that sexual harassment will not be tolerated and the fight continues.
The ADMU administration, meanwhile, has released official statements on the cases and stressed the due process has to be followed. No less than the ADMU President, Fr. Jett Villarin, apologized for the handling of the said cases and the pain inflicted on the Atenean community at the height of the controversy. After meeting with the ADMU Sanggunian (student council), Fr. Villarin has revealed the creation of the Office for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, which will be under the Office of the President. Meanwhile, faculty members have released a statement and an open letter in support of certain accused professors and encouraging critical discourse on addressing the shortcomings of dealing with such cases, respectively.
