STARTING JANUARY 2019, the yearly Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) results will no longer be made available for public viewing at the Blue Eagle Gym (BEG). This discontinuation in tradition was induced in order to “prevent embarrassment” to those who did not pass the exam, as well as maintain a certain level of privacy among applicants.
The results will now only be accessible online, which requires applicants to input their complete names in the appropriate fields in order to display the results.
A halt in tradition
According to Office of Admission and Aid (OAA) Director Jose Maria Tirol, PhD, the tradition of posting ACET results outside BEG has been around for the past 15 years.
However, months before the 2018 ACET, the Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches gave specific instructions to discontinue the public tradition. This decision was concurred by the Loyola Schools (LS) deans.
Tirol maintained that the tradition of posting ACET results outside the BEG was not only unnecessary, but was also a concern on the welfare of applicants to the Ateneo. With this tradition being more “symbolic than anything else,” he claimed that it was in the best interests of the community to move on from it.
“In the past, it was never really thought of. If it’s tradition, we follow. But just because it’s tradition does not mean it always has to be followed. And [this tradition of publicly posting ACET results] no longer applies. A new tradition can be set,” he said.
According to Tirol, the basis of the decision was mainly to prevent embarrassment and humiliation of those who did not pass the ACET.
“I’d rather not [have the applicants] get the trauma [of going all the way to Ateneo] just for bad news. Not out there where your emotions are exposed for everyone to see. It’s not pleasant, and not everybody passes,” he said.
“Keep in mind that it’s a minority that passes the ACET. You struggle to come here for nothing [just] to get the bad news? And go back to a long drive in traffic?”
Addressing rumors
One assumption made on social media as to why the ACET result were kept online this year was that it was done to adhere to the University Data Privacy Policies.
Formally established in 2017, the University Data Protection Office (UDPO) ensures the compliance of the provisions of the Republic Act No. 10173, also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA), within the university, including its various units and offices.
However, UDPO Director Jamael Jacob said he has a “vague recollection” of being consulted on the matter. This is due to the fact that the discontinuation of tradition has not been halted because of data privacy concerns.
“We try not to make judgments [on] the wisdom behind the measures of [what] they implement. What we are required to do is to make sure that whatever they do, they do it in a legal manner, specifically that’s consistent with the DPA,” he said.
According to Jacob, as long as the consent form explicitly states that information will be disclosed by taking the exam, it’s effectively consent.
“If it’s a privacy policy, its only objective is to inform you. You have no choice to disagree with it if you want to continue transacting with it,” he said.
Comments have also been made on social media that this decision was done in order for Ateneo to keep its “exclusive image anchored on selectivity and low acceptance rates.” Tirol clarified that it had “nothing to do with elitism.”
“This is not a ‘hide the numbers’ thing. We still pass a minority, we still maintain our standards. I don’t understand why people would suspect anything else,” he said.
“The decision to keep the results online was done for the best of intentions with the emotions of the students being the driving force. We care about our students, even those who don’t make it,” he added.
‘Logistical nightmare’
When it comes to the possible threats that the public release of results might entail, Jacob said it is hard to speculate.
“It just shows who passed the exam, not those who enrolled in the University. So for now, wala akong maisip na way it will be used in some sinister or nefarious feat (It just shows who passed the exam, not those who enrolled in the University. So for now, I can’t think of a way it will be used in some sinister or nefarious feat),” he said.
Either way, Jacob deemed the possibility of a threat almost far-fetched: “Masyadong OA naman ‘yun. Ano magagawa mo doon kung pinost mo? Even if sabihin mo [the ACET results are posted] sa loob ng campus, sino ba dapat supposedly ang makakakita? Those who took [the ACET]? Paano mo malalaman kung sino yung nagtake ng exam? Paano mo pipigilan ‘yung mga gustong kumuha ng picture?”
(That’s overreacting. What can you do when you post it? Even if you say that the ACET results are posted inside the campus, who are the ones supposedly allowed to view it? Those who took the exam? How would you know who took the exam? How can you stop those who want to take a photo?)
He expressed it would be a “logistical nightmare” to even attempt to police who has access viewing the ACET results when posted in the BEG.
As for Tirol, he preferred a “certain minimum privacy,” stating that despite the applicants waiving the right, he doesn’t want “any random stranger looking for your results.”
However, the conflicts in the release of ACET results do not lie exclusively in the discontinuation of posting the results publicly outside the Blue Eagle Gym.
Tirol explained that there are a few minor conflicts that may arise in the online release of ACET results, particularly the possible inaccuracies that may arise because one “may have miscoded it,” but this is a normal lapse to occur in the release of results.
As for the ACET itself, Tirol noted that the measures in which they use to deliberate on applicants remain unchanged.
