USJ-R students resume wearing own uniforms

Students of the University of San Jose-Recolletos (USJ-R) resumed wearing their uniform with a mixture of pride and gratitude days after a sex video scandal involving one of their own went viral in the Web.

“Ganahan sad mi mo wear sa among uniform, proud baya mi as Josenian. Proud ra kayo mi like without hesitation kay di jud mi dapat maulaw. Dapat, wear our uniform with pride (We’re very much eager to wear our uniform, we’re proud of being Josenian. We’re proud, like without hesitation because there’s nothing for us to be ashamed of. We should wear our uniforms with pride,” said a group of USJ-R students.

These students requested anonymity since they said they’re still afraid of being heckled outside their school.

University officials announced that students can resume wearing their uniforms in a press conference broadcast live in campus last week.

The school officials also said they will allow the student embroiled in the sex video scandal to graduate this year.

Among the schools who showed support for USJ-R’s decision was the University of Cebu.

One poster plastered at the university’s main entrance showed a message of support from UC Chancellor Candice Gotianuy.

Wear with pride

Beside it hung a streamer with a cartoon showing female USJ-R students clad in their uniform and a message on top stating “UC says wear your uniform with pride! UC  supports you!”

The posters were there since last Saturday.  One poster bore the words “Uphold RESPECT… STOP BULLYING” highlighted in bold red color.

While some students favored the posters and streamer not all agreed.

“We won’t support because it’s the student’s fault anyway,” said one female student who requested anonymity.

Gotianuy’s statement called on UC students to respect USJ-R students and stop and/or report any heckling or bullying done by their own to them.

Help desks were set up by UC in the second floor of Elizabeth Mall for USJ-R students.

“No bullying, no heckling, no snide remarks online or on the streets. Don’t make them feel uncomfortable. And if you see someone bullying them, step in and stop it.”

Emerson Subong, UC Director of Student Affairs, said the help desks send a message that the school won’t tolerate abuse done by or against their students.

Lessons

He said they also came up with the idea of distributing pins with words “UC respects USJ-R” to students and teachers.

Subong said the help desk in E-Mall can serve as a venue where students of both universities can seek aid.

Subong said they distributed 5,000 pins which bore the message “I respect USJ-R” to the 12,000 students in their main campus.

“In order to curb the harassment in our school,” he said. The help desks will run until Friday, Subong said.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma supported the decision of USJ-R administration officials to allow the female student to graduate this year.

“Certainly, nobody would endorse the wrong action done. But as a dispense of something which is completely beyond the power (of USJ-R), in the sense that there are many angles involved, I support the university stance,” Palma said.

He told reporters after he celebrated Mass in celebration of the World Day of the Sick at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral that each person should learn something from the incident.

“As a Christian community, in our individual discernment, we have learned lessons and it’s for us to make something good out of it this unfortunate situation,” he said.

The 62-year-old prelate also advised young people to practice chastity and purity in dealing with their partners. /Christine Emily L. Pantaleon, Correspondent  with Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol