UP Diliman faculty protest revised academic calendar

Garbed in the “sablay” or the university’s official academic costume, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman faculty members protested Monday the plan to change the opening of classes from June to August, describing the move as “lacking in consultation and in-depth discussion.”

The shift in the academic calendar has already been approved for implementation in other UP campuses, except for Diliman.

The faculty members staged a protest as the administration held a three-day referendum to let teachers say whether or not they were in favor of the move.

Those opposed to the changes in the academic calendar included Dr. Emmanuel de Dios of the School of Economics, Dr. Eduardo Tadem of the Asian Center, Dr. Victor Paz of the Archaeological Studies Program, Dr. Ramon Guillermo of the College of Arts and Letters, Dr. Gerry Lanuza of the College of Social Science and Philosophy, and professor Marivic Raquiza of the National Center for Public Administration and Governance.

On Feb. 6, the UP Board of Regents voted to implement the revised schedule effective at the beginning of the 2014 academic year.