Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual harassment, violence, and misconduct.
THE SANGGUNIAN Commission on Anti-Sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV) has recorded a higher number of sexual harassment cases in the Loyola Schools (LS) this AY 2022–2023 compared to previous years. From June up until October 2022 alone, a rough estimate of around 30 to 35 students have approached the commission to raise their concerns.
These concerns include those initially expressed on ADMU Freedom Wall, as well as those raised directly to CASMV through Facebook private messages and in-person inquiries.
CASMV Co-Commissioner Gabby Taruc clarified, “We do not use the word verified when discussing these cases within CASMV. […] We are not an authority deciding whether these cases are true, as it takes away from our survivor-centric mandate.”
In response to the rising number of cases in the onsite setup, CASMV released an open call to individuals who wish to come forward with complaints. In particular, the commission hopes to look into the anonymous Freedom Wall accounts about students receiving catcalls and inappropriate glances from workers and guards along Gate 3.5’s construction site, Gonzaga Cafeteria, and car parks.
Office of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs (OADSA) Student Concerns and Compliance Head Cholo Mallillin has forwarded CASMV’s compiled reports to the Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO). The CSMO immediately brought these up with the project manager and the intern in charge of the construction site.
The CSMO further instructed the involved workers not to congregate under the footbridge that the reports cite as the venue of inappropriate behavior and to avoid any contact with students. Since CSMO’s intervention, Mallillin said that his office has no longer received any more reports of harassment.
Addressing recent cases
In AY 2020–2021, during the University’s first year in the online setting, Taruc reported that 26 students sought peer-level support for sexual- and gender-based misconduct through inquiries made to CASMV. Meanwhile, CASMV’s Final Year End Report for the entire AY 2021–2022 stated that 38 students came forward to CASMV with accounts of sexual harassment and misconduct.
However, Taruc recalled that by the first week of September this AY 2022–2023, as students fully returned to onsite classes, “a lot” of posts were made on ADMU Freedom Wall regarding inappropriate behavior from workers and guards. Students like Britney Coteok (3 BS HS) shared that hearing about these incidents created a sense of discomfort and uneasiness in her every time she passes through the area.
CASMV, together with the LS Gender Hub, then began working on a report that was submitted to the employment agencies of the workers.
With the reports, CASMV included a list of suggestions to the agencies on how campus safety could be improved. In particular, they recommended mandated gender sensitivity training, clauses and contracts stipulating proper behavior and outlined penalties, and a clear grievance raising process.
Bridging concerns to agencies
In recent months, CASMV has also offered the affected students assistance in escalating their reports and filing formal complaints to the University. Contrary to formal complaints, these reports are submitted to CASMV without the “intention of pursuing a formal case.”
“The [Freedom] Walls are not credible. […] We don’t know much about like what time did it happen, who was on shift. […] Because it is an anonymous post, we cannot move forward with filing,” Taruc further explained.
However, pursuant to the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), the University Gender and Development Office (UGDO) only processes formal complaints. Thus, CASMV is calling for survivors to come forward and file formal ones themselves.
To further strengthen this call, CASMV released an open letter addressed to the survivors, inviting them to step forward, share their stories, and file a case about their experience. The letter also stated that there is “no space for any form of abuse in this [the Ateneo] community.”
Mallillin also emphasized, “We just need for these complaints to be substantiated more so kailangan talaga [that] people have to be willing to come forward and give us their formal statements.”
In response to the recent complaints against third-party workers, OADSA then bridged the complainants to relevant offices such as the CSMO for further investigation since these incidents involve workers from outside agencies.
Even prior to the investigation process, the OADSA has the authority to issue No Contact Agreements (NCAs) to prevent the escalation of conflict between parties. According to the LS Undergraduate Student Handbook, NCAs serve as a pre-disciplinary tool to maintain distance between the parties. Moreover, the OADSA can enforce No Contact Orders (NCOs) as a disciplinary tool during the filing of the case.
As per CSMO protocol, if the alleged perpetrator is part of the non-teaching staff and is found guilty by the CODI, the CSMO will then coordinate with the relevant third-party agencies in dealing with them.
CASMV and University support
In response to such concerns regarding inappropriate behavior on campus, CASMV Co-Commissioner Yuki Abion explained that the commission has been acting as a “help desk.” Thus, once concerns are raised to them, CASMV deploys their “first responders” to support students who come forward with their accounts of sexual and gender-based violence.
Moreover, CASMV’s responders connect students to services from offices within and outside the LS. These services include mental healthcare, legal aid, shelter, and reproductive health.
For University services, CASMV works together with the University Gender Hub and the UGDO.
The Hub provides case-responsive services such as one-on-one processing sessions, companionship and assistance throughout the process of filing a case, safety services for requesting NCAs, and referrals for mental health and other health concerns. Meanwhile, the UGDO works alongside other gender hubs and offices in monitoring and evaluating University-wide gender-related concerns such as sexual harassment or misconduct.
Guarding safe spaces
In light of such inappropriate behavior on campus, CASMV and the Sanggunian Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) posted a series of infographics about how students should respond to sexual harassment incidents on campus.
Aside from these posts, the CASMV will continue offering their core services of providing peer-level support and connecting students to the necessary resources.
Mallillin also reiterated the CASMV’s calls for the anonymous posters to file a complaint or to reach out to their offices. He explained that when these students would come forward, the school would provide support and protection of their welfare.
Moreover, Mallillin assured that compared to previous years, the Ateneo’s policies and processes have improved as new offices with specific functions and university-wide gender hubs have been established.
If ever a student wishes to reach out regarding their experience, they can connect with the OADSA through their Facebook page, or email them at studentconcerns.ls@ateneo.edu or ls.one@ateneo.edu. Alternatively, they could also visit their office onsite at Xavier Hall.
