December 13, 2008
The University of the Philippines is an institution accountable to the Filipino people, not a clique accountable only to an exclusive membership.
The Department of Sociology’s decision not to grant tenure to Assistant Professor Sarah Raymundo therefore demands public explanation.
That Professor Raymundo is a competent teacher and researcher remains undisputed. That she met the department’s strict academic requirements and that she has the respect of her students and peers has not been challenged.
Absent alternative explanations, allegations that Ms Raymundo has been the victim of a political witch-hunt cannot but gain credence.
Denial of tenure based on one’s political beliefs instead of on one’s qualifications is not only a betrayal of the university’s ideals, it also weakens the university’s ability to perform its role of speaking truth to power.
UP being the people’s university, the public deserves to know why Professor Raymundo was deprived something which by all accounts she deserves. Should the reasons be unjustified, as is evident, the University should grant Professor Raymundo tenure.
Otherwise, the University turns into nothing more than a cabal whose members have turned their backs on those in whose name the university exists.
Herbert Docena
Research Associate, Focus on the Global South/
UP alumnus (BS Economics 2001)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment