FEU students stage silent demo to protest new policy on uniforms

Student activist simulates a freeze action infront of gate 4 of Far Eastern University (FEU) on Friday to call on the President and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to implement a freeze order on tuition fee increase. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—To protest a new policy regarding school attire, student and youth groups at Far Eastern University staged a “freeze mob” or silent demonstration in front of the university campus in Manila on Friday.

For five minutes, about 20 FEU students holding placards stood still amid hundreds of students through the university’s Gate 4 on Morayta Street in Sampaloc.

The silent demonstration, according to the students, was to protest “aggravating campus repression” by the university administration in the form of prohibiting hair color, tattoos, piercing, and the wearing of rubber shoes.  Some of the demonstrators had tattoos and came in rubber shoes and at least one girl sported pink hair.

The student group Rise for Education Alliance told the media that students were being sanctioned for violating that policy.

“We cry foul over violations of our right and freedom of self-expression inside the campus,” the student group said in a statement.

The university administration, however, denied it was implementing such a policy, saying no memorandum had been issued on the matter.

A school security officer who declined to be identified said students were allowed to enter the campus even if they sported colored hair or were in rubber shoes.

However, the protesting students said they were allowed on campus but were being asked to “key in their student numbers and are held liable for violating the uniform policy.” They also said that the sanction for not following the supposedly prescribed “grooming guidelines” was longer hours in community service.

“Giving the FEU administration the benefit of the doubt that there was no such policy, we demand for an official written memorandum stating that they are not prohibiting hair colors, tattoo, piercing and nonleather shoes among students,” Rise for Education Alliance spokesperson Vincent Sudaria said.

He also said that student group was seeking an immediate dialogue with the FEU administration to discuss the issue.

“Being inked and pierced is not a crime,” read a sign held by one demonstrator, who said a student’s ability was not measured by the way he or she dressed.

Aside from the campus repression cry, the students also called on President Aquino and the Commission on Higher Education to implement a freeze order on tuition and other fee increases in all colleges and universities in the country. The group said that around 400 schools were  set to increase tuition by 10 to 15 percent next school year.