Earlier this November, student Alexis Claire Venzon shared her experiences of sexual harassment in the Ateneo Senior High School through a Twitter thread, with the ubiquitous #MeToo hashtag. This marks the second year of a co-educational Ateneo Senior High School, where both students and faculty have yet to fully adjust to the presence of female students on campus.
Venzon recalled how her male schoolmates sexually harassed her almost everyday for a full academic year, and, more disappointingly, recalled how her former strand coordinator did nothing to protect and defend her. As of writing, the SHS administration has released a statement on the matter, simply stating that the school takes sexual harassment “very seriously,” and that there are protocols in place for such cases which are handled by a particular office.
Meanwhile, in the Loyola Schools, there is a fair share of unwritten cases, many of which are left to gossip and grudges among those involved. Victims refrain from speaking out because of fear or shame, and perpetrators prepare their alibis. Some students have turned to outlets such as Rantbox to anonymously share their experiences of sexual misconduct within the university. The Sanggunian—which is already doing its part in addressing the issue—can only do so much to reach out and help, as reporting cases is still entirely up to the victims.
This prompts us to ask: Are students aware of the university’s protocols for cases of sexual harassment, and how exactly does the administration handle such cases? More importantly, how does the University practice accountability in the midst of these incidents?
The Office for Student Services has informed The GUIDON of its efforts towards research on gender and development in the university. Additionally, Vice President of the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches stated in a May 31 memo that cases of sexual harassment are to be filed in her office.
If the case falls under the prescriptions of Republic Act (RA) 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, the VPLS then forwards it to the University’s Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI), which is mandated by law through Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1, series of 2015.
Those not deemed “sexual harassment” under RA 7877—and are thus called cases of misconduct—are then forwarded to the discipline body that covers the sector of the respondent for investigation and possible prosecution.
However, if one were to ask a student where they would go right after they were sexually harassed, there is no guarantee they would know the answer right away.
Part XIV, Part 2 of the CMO indicates that the CODI has the responsibility to recommend decisions to the disciplining authority, but there is no indication of measurable punishment for proven cases. Similarly, Vilches’ memo does not disclose how perpetrators are dealt with in the Ateneo. It also remains to be seen how cases deemed as “misconduct” are dealt with—if they are addressed at all.
If Ateneo advocates mens sana in corpore sano and cura personalis, then the administration should ensure that perpetrators of sexual misconduct are held accountable for their actions, and that victims can forward these concerns to the right people who will help and guide them along the way.
As an institution, the University should be serious in investigating and seeking justice for those who have experienced abuse.
The #MeToo trend, as well as the anonymous posts on Rantbox, is in itself a sign of the lack of accountability in our institutions. Since victims do not know where to run, they turn to the only platform they can control: Social media. Some have expressed fears that the trend has become a “witchhunt” based on unverified complaints, which can damage the reputation of those unduly accused.
This trend, therefore, emphasizes the urgency for institutions like the Ateneo to strengthen protocols that will assure both the accuser and accused—no matter the position or stature—of due process, accountability, and justice.
As for existing cases, the administration should see to it that these are addressed properly, promptly, and decisively, encouraging more victims to go through the process.
The administration should also be more transparent and engaging regarding its sexual harassment procedures, by acknowledging what they have already done, recognizing their shortcomings, and committing themselves to change.
We commend the Philosophy Department for acknowledging and speaking out about the allegations. Some faculty members even went on Rantbox to encourage victims to file a case against their perpetrators. The department has also issued new oral examination protocols a week after the Rantbox submissions sparked controversy on social media.
Students can and must do their own part: Demand accountability and changes. Keep themselves aware, not just of the processes of filing cases, but on the subject of sexual harassment itself. Organizations can start setting up their own gender sensitivity programs. Creating an environment that does not tolerate sexual misconduct entails difficult changes in mindset and practice from all members of the community.
Institutions in the United States—from politics, journalism, and even Hollywood—are already facing their own reckoning regarding sexual misconduct. The Ateneo must be prepared to face its own reckoning by acknowledging, and not shirking, its responsibilities.
