VOLUME XCV / NO. 11 · MARCH 20, 2024 · THE OFFICIAL STUDENT PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS · Manila, Philippines
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HOUSE PROBE INTO STUDENTS’ RIGHTS IN UST SOUGHT LAWMAKERS from the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution asking the House of Representatives to probe the censorship of UST online media organization TomasinoWeb and “other violations of students’ rights” in the University. Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel on March 11 filed House Resolution 1633, which seeks to investigate the “repressive actions” by the UST Office for Student Affairs (OSA) and “hold accountable” its Director Maria Cecilia Tio Cuison and Assistant Director Maria Regina Arriero. The resolution was co-authored by Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro. “The reported media censorship and violations of democratic rights of student councils, organizations and individuals inside the University of Santo Tomas demands urgent investigation and action as it compromises the life and security of students,” the resolution read. Apart from the OSA’s censorship of TomasinoWeb, the resolution noted several instances where the Student Welfare and Development Committee (SWDC) issued show-cause notices to students for involvement in organizations unrecognized by the University. The UST Senior High School (SHS) SWDC summoned Grade 12 student Allen Ballesteros in September 2023 for supposedly joining an organization not recognized by UST and using the Uni-
Napoleon Sipalay, O.P. officially takes over as Alaminos bishop ► PAGE 6
NEWS ► PAGE 8
► UST students join Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel (second from left) in filing House Resolution 1633, which
seeks an investigation into the alleged ‘violations of students’ rights’ in UST, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, March 11.—PHOTO BY HANNAH JOYCE V. ANDAYA
versity seal in unauthorized activities. Ballesteros was chairperson of the progressive group Anakbayan UST. Coinciding with the TomasinoWeb censorship controversy, the OSA in February issued a show-cause notice to Panday Sining UST chairperson Raven Racelis, who was a philosophy student at UST, for violating the same provisions of the UST Student Handbook. “The UST administration has also weaponized the issuance of show
cause orders to students in progressive organizations,” the resolution read. “It also appears that the rights to autonomy, the right to organize, and the right to press freedom are placed in jeopardy,” it continued. Makabayan bloc lawmakers also underscored the “intimidation” and “gagging” of student leaders belonging to the UST Central Student Council and UST Artlets Student Council in House Resolution 1633.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Manuel said consultations were made with Thomasians who experienced repression from OSA and before filing the resolution. “We saw through our consultations not just with UST students but also with other stakeholders in other universities that this kind of thing is happening in our educational PROBE PAGE 3
THE Tiger Media Network (TMN), the University’s official broadcasting arm, reaped five awards at the 84th Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) College Media Conference on Saturday, March 2, in New York City. Tiger Radio, one of the two divisions of TMN, was the Best Streaming/Online Only Radio Station. It went against various university-based stations in the United States, including those of Chapman
#3
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PH RANKING
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES DILIMAN
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY MANILA
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES SYSTEM
856th
1657th
1914th
Global ranking
Global ranking
By Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
THE UNIVERSITY kept its spot as the fifth highest-ranking higher education institution (HEI) in the country based on the January 2024 edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. While maintaining its rank, UST dropped to the 2,620th spot among 11,989 institutions globally from the 2,523rd spot it held in July 2023.
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PH RANKING
PH RANKING
ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
2177th
2620th
Global ranking
It ranked highest in the openness indicator after claiming the 2,284th spot globally, while placing 3,214th in the excellence criterion and 3,859th in the impact indicator. The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman was still the top Philippine university despite slipping seven spots to No. 856. Rounding off the top five HEIs in the Philippines were De La Salle University Manila (1,657th), UP
Global ranking
THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has requested UST’s assistance in joining its information campaign ahead of the two elections set for 2025.
University, Simmons University, Rider University, and Landmark College. Reaping individual awards were communication seniors Paolo Alejandrino and Angela Lamsen, who won the Best Promotions Director and Best Social Media Director awards, respectively. Marketing senior Cherie Mendoza was named Best Business Director for Television in the 84th IBS. The network’s social media TMN PAGE 3
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Global ranking
System (1,914th), and Ateneo de Manila University (2,177th). Harvard University, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology retained their spots as the top three universities in the world. The Webometrics ranking methodology is based on three indicators: visibility (web content impact), transparency (top-cited researchers), and excellence (top-cited papers).
ART BY JAN KRISTOPHER T. ESGUERRA
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PH RANKING
Comelec seeks UST’s help for info campaign ahead of 2025 polls
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By Mabel Anne B. Cardinez
JANUARY 2024 WEBOMETRICS RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES
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NEWS ► PAGE 9
Tiger Media Network wins 5 awards in US campus media conference
UST still 5th among PH universities in Webometrics rankings
PH RANKING
UST student affairs head goes on medical leave
► Tiger Media Network volunteers, together with their adviser Asst.
Prof. Faye Abugan (rightmost), receive their awards during the 84th Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) College Media Conference on Saturday, March 2, in New York City.—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO