SPEAK YOUR MIND: What are your reactions to the article published in the Varsitarian?

[Nakura]

An article was posted in The Varsitarian (UST's student publication) website that drew mixed reactions around the internet.

For this Speak Your Mind, we ask you...



What are your reactions to the article "RH Bill, Ateneo and La Salle: Of lemons and cowards" ?

You can read and discuss the article in this thread: http://bit.ly/RKUUnq

For this thread, post your biggest and boldest reactions because your opinion counts!

Click here for details on Speak Your Mind Monday

[hydrangea]

As an Atenean, I felt somewhat insulted that the Varsitarian had the nerve to call our professors intellectual interlopers. Like the professors in UST, they have their own credentials and opinions to formulate their own conclusion, regardless if it goes for or against the institution they represent. Furthermore, I understand the University's choice to be anti-RH. It is after all the Catholic University of the Philippines. What leaves a bad taste in the mouth is the need to drag both ADMU and DLSU into this, since both are independent from UST, albeit they are also being run by religious orders.

That being said, mukhang magkakampi ang ADMU and DLSU against UST on Thursday.

[starczamora]

Re-posting

This is NOT the Varsitarian I know.

Back in the day, this paper worked independently from the University and the Catholic Church. It was the dedication of the reporters from this paper that made ROTC no longer mandatory among male college students. Sure, the incident involved the school's ROTC program, but it decided to expose the wrongdoings of its own students and officers instead of hiding them under the robes of priests and within the confines of its Central Seminary.

Gone are the days when students anticipated the annual Vuisitarian, the parody publication that poked fun on the follies of the University and the Catholic Church.

There are allegations that this opinion piece, without a byline no less, was written by a priest. I mean, it's way too long to be considered an editorial piece. But I digress...

While it is totally wrong for the pro-RH advocates to call the Catholic Church (and the non-religious people who are against this bill) names, those who remain firm in depriving poor women of their reproductive rights should not do the same. Whatever happened to Luke 6:29?

[_Bahay_Kubo_]

an alumnus of La Salle and of UP here.

that was one hell of a cheap shot coming from what was supposed to be among the most esteemed student publications in the Philippines. it is fine for The Varsitarian, the Dominicans and their allies at the Vatican to reiterate their stand against the RH Bill but to brand academicians from Ateneo and La Salle in such fashion was totally uncalled for. this action by the people behind The Varsitarian, obviously with the approval of the Dominicans, was proof of how wrongly educated, poorly raised and bred, hypocritical, and stuck in the Dark Ages they really are.

[strandedstranger]

You never mess with Father Dacs.

[flipmartz]

But alas, it seems intellectual honesty and moral conviction are in such short supply in Katipunan, Quezon City and Taft Avenue, Manila.

Be as it may, intellectual honesty and moral conviction at that side of Espanya were carried away by flood waters, or was sucked dry by a dark black hole akin to the medieval and dark ages they are stuck in. JK.

In any case, nagiging effective na propaganda vehicle ng anti-RH ang Varsi. The traffic for that article is something that Kule or The Guidon can only dream of for their online portals.

The name-calling was just so below the belt and uncalled for, or being unchristian to some extent.

[TheSimplist]

Indeed, the “heroes” we have become so addicted to celebrating — Jose Rizal and the popular presidential dad — all, as legend goes, submitted their lives at the altar of the ideas they stood for.

For the professors of the UST and other Catholic institutions such as “the” Ateneo de Manila University and, sniff, De La Salle University, their self-imposed aspiration to take a stand for the ideas they are passionate about exacts a far far smaller price: their continued employment.

Read the full article here!!

[coydeleon]

Still say it read like it was written by a priest

[despisePappus]

Conspiracy theories.

Anyway, I'd say next time, use lesser harsh words. The intention of the editorial has somehow been pushed aside, now bashers focus on the way you delivered the message.

But I salute you all for being brave to go against popular opinion. Yes, in this side of the world wherein cafeteria catholics surely abound, your words have somehow deflated their ego.

[mocotillard]

Using harsh words is an effective tool to get noticed. Kudos to that. However, it was not effective enough to convince pro-RH advocates to change their minds and it has not mitigated the current impasse going on in this country. Reading the whole Varsitarian article was too burdensome as the credibility of the writer was already diminished as soon as he lashed out insulting words at ADMU and DLSU. Bigotry and hypocrisy are words enough to describe the article. And worse, the its intention backfired. People now have less respect for that school paper. Perhaps, inviting school wars is such a terrible idea after all.

[QT II]

As a Thomasian and a former active member of The Varsitarian during my college years, I am disappointed that the present editorial board would stoop to troll-esque levels of bigotry in trying to get its message across.

[Objection]