Balanced. Aware. Free..

Home » Post Item » LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM KARL CASTRO (former editor of UP ’s Philippine Collegian)

LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM KARL CASTRO (former editor of UP ’s Philippine Collegian)

July 21, 2008

Hi LH people,
I’m Karl Castro, a member of the CEGP and former editor of UP’s Philippine Collegian. I’m not a Lorma student, but I do share your view that the administration’s move to halt the distribution of your paper is repressive. This is a common campus press freedom violation.

The administration’s action shows that they do not respect the students’ views in general, and the Highlights as a publication in particular. If they find an article to be objectionable, the correct action would be to put their complaint in writing, and address it to the publication’s editors. In an academic environment, this exchange of ideas is only proper. Repressive moves like the halting of the publication’s distribution is tantamount to prior restraint, which the press is constitutionally free from. A landmark example in American jurisprudence is Near v. Minnesota, which says:

Public officers, whose character and  conduct remain open to debate and free discussion in the press, find their remedies for false accusations in actions under libel laws providing for redress and punishment, and not in proceedings to restrain the publication of newspapers and periodicals.

That the administration resorted to such a move shows that they do not respect LH enough to discuss their contentions in a civil and academic manner, and that they belittle the student body’s capability to discern truth from lies.

All the best for your campaign,
Karl


Posted by lormahighlights at 1:46 pm | permalink

Previous Comments

GUILTY SILA.. thats all.. thank you..

Posted by demonic angel at July 21, 2008, 4:01 pm

that is the point of press freedom. there is no prefect institution that is why the press is there to point it out. the students have the right to voice their opinion to all medium possible that includes the student press. Many students are hurting because of the policy of the school. The students have the right to vice that out and the administration should hear them and address them properly. what they did is shoot the messenger. what they did is childish and academically unprofessional. as officials of the school they should be ready for criticisms. they should not cry out when somebody points their mistakes to them. the issues raised in the issue are just valid. the administration does not have the monopoly of what is right. the students also know what is right for them. the admin are selfish in protecting their own names without regarding what the students think is right. dumudugo na nga yung paa eh sa mga sapatos na pinagbili nila. WALANG DEMOCRACY SA LORMA. MAS NAKAKAHIYA KASI HINDI MARUNONG MAG-REACT PROFESSIONALLY AND ADMIN. they should not be in an academic community if that is how they think and act. they should be teaching in pre-school where they can dictate everything. everyone in an academic institution should freely interact and voice their opinion that includes the students.

Posted by gail at July 22, 2008, 10:46 am

guilty losers. CEGP help them!

Posted by concerned officer at July 22, 2008, 6:03 pm

Ang pagpipipigil sa saloobin at opinyon ng isang estudyante hinggil sa anumang isyu na bumabagabag at umaapekto sa kanyang pagaaral …na may kaakibat na epekto sa kanyang pamumuhay at estado sa buhay at lalong lalo na sa kanyang pamilya ay pagkikitil na rin sa pangunahing karapatan niya bilang isang mamamayan na siyang dapat prinoprotektahan at pinangangalagaan.
Ito sa palagay ko ang punto na dapat makita at maintindihan nating bawat estudyante. Hindi sapat na tayo’y magkibit balikat, o manahimik sa mga importanteng isyu at suliranin na tayo at ng ating mga magulang ang naapektuhan at nakakaramdam.
Sa kasalukuyan, may sensitibong isyu ukol sa pagpipigil ng admistrasyon ng Lorma sa pagpapamudmod ng skul paper ngayon ang panahon upang tayo’y umaksyon at magkaisa upang maipahiwatig ang ating hainaing, nang sagayon, maaksyunan at maprotektahan ang ating karapatan bilang mga studyante ng Lorma. ang pagpigil sa pagpapamudmod, solusyon ba sa problema? o, pagpapakita ng kawalan ng respeto sa karapatan ng bawat estudyante?

Posted by zyra at July 22, 2008, 8:10 pm

LH peeps!

I am Karen Michelle Calacal, former editor. In high school we were repressed (LI/Usbong)… in College we pressed and were pressed… While we had our own issues before that we feel Campus Press Freedom was violated, more to say it’s more than Repression per se but we have suffered almost all forms (from ignorant and angry teachers, etc.) yet I cannot imagine the “self-control” that we have to condition and impose on ourselves- perhaps because of the idea of fear, prioritizing first our Education/graduating, and some other or personal reasons, etc. Though we have our own share and differences in opinions, I am one with the Lorma Highlights for a variety of reasons; that LH is the only organization that is brave enough to do moral and social responsibility as the YOUTH exercising their DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM in an Academic Environment - that should serve as a breeding ground for the purpose of exercising such RIGHTS.

The role of the student paper does not have to reflect a distorted element of what is really happening to the Environment. This is just one manifestation of our Nation’s current status, a picture of a derailed Nation suffering from major crises in the face of weakened leadership and spiritual dilemma. When the questioning mind begins to untangle human constriction, it is inevitable to stop it; for it is human nature to search for answers, to infer and discern TRUTH. We cannot further question when such ideas are more than visible to the naked eye and what a BLIND man can see nor feel with his breath. A man will die but not his ideas.

Though it is undeniable that the publication fee is the lifeline of the paper; SUPPRESSING its distribution is more than a GESTURE of authoritarian power- a kind of leadership that could kill human spirit and hope; ironic to the mission and vision of LC as an institution where it boasts its humble beginnings from a quiet peaceful barrio. The Administration’s reaction is a pre-empted damage control.

We cannot deny the fact that CHANGE is inevitable and perfect TIMING is very important and crucial. This is a NEW WAVE of student Idealism taking its FORM. Anyway, there is more to this after College. The real world is not in Lorma and it is true that despite we see forms of injustices and sense of discontentment fired at us, we have to be reminded that this is not a PERFECT world… but at least they could have LISTENED. They should have listened using all their senses because we also CARE and there is a felt need for us to take action and work together. The article published is a clear picture of a desire to walk in a direction, a path to alleviate this sense of emptiness that the Educators and authorities have failed to fill-in because they too are in their own crises situations. The Student-Administration Dialogue is not enough to fill into the gaps; for democracy has no boundaries no matter theories have come out to define it. Lormanians are not IGNORANT and deserve to be respected. If the Academe is still in the DENIAL stage, let the STUDENTS move forward and take their step. Fight and stand up for TRUTH you believe in!

Why SUPPRESSION? Because Knowledge is Power so distort it. That’s the idea. Whether it could be rationalized as some other way… the TRUTH IS OUT THERE.

Posted by Karen Michelle Calacal at July 23, 2008, 11:42 am