by Ima Ariate
Original post appears here: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1022200286#!/notes/ima-ariate/fascist-minds-think-alike/415556853428
Whenever I pass by Eng’g steps, I remember one of the most significant conversations that Karen Empeno and I had. It was one cool and relaxing summer evening yet she was wrought with anxiety. She was talking about her worries, her family, and the papers that she had to submit to fulfill the academic requirements of the semester. She never mentioned Professor Sarah Raymundo. In fact, I can’t remember an instance wherein she talked at length about the embattled UP Diliman Sociology professor. Karen wasn't into theory. She was into progressive culture and histories of social movements.
I've been told that Professor Laura Samson, in an act of distasteful intervention in a University Faculty Meeting, disclosed the Department of Sociology's then secret reason for reversing their tenure recommendation. She implicitly linked Professor Sarah Raymundo to the disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two UP students who have allegedly joined the underground movement. I believe that Professor Laura Samson has no basis or any evidence to prove that uber-malicious allegation.
This leaves a bitter taste to my mouth (and this is an understatement). I was the one who recruited Karen Empeno to the League of Filipino Students (LFS). I never saw anything wrong with that. I am an activist. Well, I try to be one. It’s not easy.
For those who discourage me from what I’m doing, I just have one thing to ask, “What is wrong with advocating genuine social change?” I always get off-tangent answers. It’s an undertaking that takes a lot of compassion. For this reason, I totally understand Karen’s decision to go to the countryside and integrate with the basic masses. Professor Sarah Raymundo never figured in her purely personal decision.
As with the allegation that Karen Empeno was a member of the NPA, I find it mind-boggling for a social scientist like Professor Laura Samson to quickly conclude without any investigation and believe in the accusations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It’s just natural for Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan to be tagged as such. They wanted to contribute to the empowerment of the peasants in the countryside. This is something that runs against the interests of the ruling class - the same ruling class that makes up the large part of the country’s bureaucracy.
The AFP has been mandated to “strengthen the nation” but in actuality it does the opposite. It continues to undermine democracy as manifested by its long record of human rights violations – Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two UP students who have been disappeared, are among the victims. Moreover, this institution has been producing the likes of Retired General Jovito Palparan whose twisted logic serves as a directive and a continuing inspiration for the rank-and-file soldiers to kill indiscriminately and without any due process.
Now, I understand why Professor Sarah Raymundo was denied her tenure. The technicalities have been explained to me. The thing is, these technicalities just sugarcoat the red-baiting that has been going on. It’s sad. I remember clearly that “differing in the spirit of academic freedom” is encouraged in a University that is known for critical thinking. The message is clear. This rule is just on paper. In practice, you cannot differ. You cannot offer alternative or oppositional perspectives. If you do, then that makes you an NPA recruiter. You cannot struggle for the welfare of the members of the academe. That would entail the denial of your tenure at the very least. Why would Professor Clemen Aquino counter the recommendation of the majority for Professor Sarah Raymundo's tenure in March 2008? Why would other tenured faculty members of the Department block the grant of tenure when it has gone through the proper appeals process?
This skewed line of thinking sounds familiar. What is the difference now between Professor Laura Samson and Professor Clemen Aquino of the UP Diliman CSSP Sociology Department and Retired General Jovito Palparan? Not much, I guess.
I've been told that Professor Laura Samson, in an act of distasteful intervention in a University Faculty Meeting, disclosed the Department of Sociology's then secret reason for reversing their tenure recommendation. She implicitly linked Professor Sarah Raymundo to the disappearance of Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two UP students who have allegedly joined the underground movement. I believe that Professor Laura Samson has no basis or any evidence to prove that uber-malicious allegation.
This leaves a bitter taste to my mouth (and this is an understatement). I was the one who recruited Karen Empeno to the League of Filipino Students (LFS). I never saw anything wrong with that. I am an activist. Well, I try to be one. It’s not easy.
For those who discourage me from what I’m doing, I just have one thing to ask, “What is wrong with advocating genuine social change?” I always get off-tangent answers. It’s an undertaking that takes a lot of compassion. For this reason, I totally understand Karen’s decision to go to the countryside and integrate with the basic masses. Professor Sarah Raymundo never figured in her purely personal decision.
As with the allegation that Karen Empeno was a member of the NPA, I find it mind-boggling for a social scientist like Professor Laura Samson to quickly conclude without any investigation and believe in the accusations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). It’s just natural for Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan to be tagged as such. They wanted to contribute to the empowerment of the peasants in the countryside. This is something that runs against the interests of the ruling class - the same ruling class that makes up the large part of the country’s bureaucracy.
The AFP has been mandated to “strengthen the nation” but in actuality it does the opposite. It continues to undermine democracy as manifested by its long record of human rights violations – Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, two UP students who have been disappeared, are among the victims. Moreover, this institution has been producing the likes of Retired General Jovito Palparan whose twisted logic serves as a directive and a continuing inspiration for the rank-and-file soldiers to kill indiscriminately and without any due process.
Now, I understand why Professor Sarah Raymundo was denied her tenure. The technicalities have been explained to me. The thing is, these technicalities just sugarcoat the red-baiting that has been going on. It’s sad. I remember clearly that “differing in the spirit of academic freedom” is encouraged in a University that is known for critical thinking. The message is clear. This rule is just on paper. In practice, you cannot differ. You cannot offer alternative or oppositional perspectives. If you do, then that makes you an NPA recruiter. You cannot struggle for the welfare of the members of the academe. That would entail the denial of your tenure at the very least. Why would Professor Clemen Aquino counter the recommendation of the majority for Professor Sarah Raymundo's tenure in March 2008? Why would other tenured faculty members of the Department block the grant of tenure when it has gone through the proper appeals process?
This skewed line of thinking sounds familiar. What is the difference now between Professor Laura Samson and Professor Clemen Aquino of the UP Diliman CSSP Sociology Department and Retired General Jovito Palparan? Not much, I guess.
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