The Ateneo community is home to a multiplicity of opinions from students, faculty, staff and administration officials. Nevertheless, such a plurality has not stopped the university from releasing institutional stands in the past on different issues.

2000

Five Ateneo schools called for the resignation of then President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

The Ateneo de Manila University joined the Ateneo de Davao University, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Ateneo de Naga University and Xavier University in a unified statement calling for Estrada’s resignation, following suspicion of plunder and a gambling scandal.

Students participated in “anti-Erap rallies” which took place within the same month as the release of the statement. The rallies preceded EDSA II by more than a month.

2007

The university opposed a bill which sought to repeal the National Service Training Progam (NSTP) in favor of mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC.

NSTP was first signed into law in 2002, only five years before the proposed repeal.

The rationale behind the university’s stance was to “support the freedom of the youth to choose the way they want to serve.”

2008

Then University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ released the Ateneo’s official statement on the RH Bill, following an earlier position paper by Ateneo faculty members entitled “Catholics Can Support the RH Bill in Good Conscience.”

The statement made clear that the Ateneo did not officially agree with the present state of the bill, and “stands with Church leaders in raising questions about and objections to RH Bill 5043.” However, Nebres’ statement supported continuing studies and discussions of the bill.

Another statement on the RH Bill issue was released in 2011 in reaction to a more recent revision of the bill. The statement said that the university’s position remained the same.

2012

University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ called for a moratorium on mining projects in the country until guidelines addressing the economic, environmental and cultural concerns raised by mining are put in place.

The Ateneo also supported Malacañang’s planned presidential order to promote responsible mining, with Villarin stating that such is a time for “strengthening governance to be necessary and wise in view of the long-term impact of mining on our future.”