Student-Led Anti-Fraternity-Related-Violence Watch

UP STUDENT-LED ANTI-FRATERNITY-RELATED-VIOLENCE WATCH (UP SAWA)

University of the Philippines-Diliman

We in the University of the Philippines are proud of our enduing tradition of scholarly excellence. However, the grim reality is that this tradition is marred by its continuing culture of violence among fraternities, and the ongoing culture of tolerance among the student body towards it. The UP Student-Led Anti-Fraternity-Related-Violence Watch strives to lessen, if not eliminate altogether, this malevolence tarnishing our university.

Originally named UP Student-Led Anti-Hazing Watch, UP SAWA was formed in the wake of the untimely death of Cris Mendes, a graduating student of the National College of Public Administration and Governance who was allegedly killed in an initiation ritual by a greek-lettered fraternity of UP-Diliman. As a reaction to this despicable act, members from the Law Student Government, the NCPAG Student Council, and UP Alyansa, convened and resolved among themselves to initiate the crusade against these deadly rituals. Today, now composed of students from all around the campus, UP SAWA expanded its scope to handle all forms of fraternity-related violence: from hazing, to rumbles, to intimidation.

UP SAWA is not against fraternity per se. The watch alliance, especially because most of its members hail from Malcolm Hall, recognizes the right of the students to form organizations – and this includes congregating together as a fraternity. Our foe is the act of barbarities that these organizations commit, and this we plot to eliminate using a four-pronged strategy:

  1. from within – reason with the resident members of the fraternity themselves
  2. from outside – get support from the administration and media for our cause
  3. from above – talk with the alumni members of these fraternities and ask them to influence their members
  4. from below ­– deal with the students themselves especially those who are not members of fraternities

Join our quest. One need not be a member of UP SAWA nor unconnected to a fraternity to help our cause. For the fratmen: refuse to partake in activities involving violence. Influence your brods to shift to an initiation ritual not involving physical violence and not to join melees and rumbles, and talk with the non-fratmen about issues and problems revolving around frat-related violence. For the rest: always make an informed choice, talk to you friends and inform them of the dangers behind being intolerant about this evil, be vigilant and aware of what’s happening around you, or better yet, be an active member of UP SAWA.

You may contact us through our convenor, Michael Jobert Navallo at 09279704899 and jobertn@gmail.com.