TAGAYTAY CITY – Commission on Higher Education chairman J. Prospero De Vera urged members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity, especially those occupying top positions in the government, to speak and act on the controversial online conversation hit for its misogynist, sexist, and violent messages.
“The trouble is this happened on their (Upsilon’s) 100th (founding) year. Instead of glorifying the fraternity, this came out. Some of the things they said there are really, totally unacceptable,” de Vera said Saturday.
The thread that apparently leaked from the fraternity’s chat group was circulated on social media last week, prompting University of the Philippines president and Upsilon member Danilo Concepcion to issue a statement denouncing the conversation and vow an investigation.
The messages of random topics reeked of misogyny, sexism, and racism, as some appeared to support genocide and violence.
Some student leaders who are Upsilon members have announced their resignation from the fraternity as various student councils, gender groups, and netizens expressed rage over the leaked conversation.
In an interview on the sidelines of the 2nd National Student Regents and Trustees Summit here, de Vera urged the fraternity leaders, some elected to top government posts like the Senate and the Congress, to act more “decisively.”
“I hope the other leaders of Upsilon will act on it and not just hope it will fade away,” he said.
He also said the controversy presents an opportunity for Upsilon as well as other fraternities to do a “soul searching.”
“What values do they really teach and what should their members exemplify?”
“I hope we can hear from the national leaders especially those who occupy high positions in the government—in the Senate, in the House.. (to) speak very clearly (and) impose their leadership on the rest of the members of the fraternity,” de Vera said.