The Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Independent Sentinel, official student publication of the university, and the school administration represented by the Student Affairs Office (SAO) Dean Jayson Barlan finally met on October 4, a month since the former exposed the issue of latter’s plans for the revamp and rebranding of the paper as acts that undermine their independence. Despite most issues laid down that still needed to be met with clear-cut resolutions, a date for the application examinations for the new staff was set for October 17.
On October 6, after holding a Black Friday protest in front of the school, the student paper posted in its Facebook account that the security office has prohibited the Sentinel staffers from accessing their office under orders from the management. Security guards also prevented students who are wearing black ribbons or black shirts from entering the campus premises.
The LPU Sentinel was sent in disarray after a series of administrative actions that impeded their normal functioning and release of regular prints. The school administration talked to staffers last year suggesting a revamp and reorganization that was not detailed to the students. The school administration then removed the publication funds that is usually placed in the editorial board’s control and also delayed the transition process with the application exams having been indefinitely postponed since April this year. The school admin also called for its own student paper staff qualifying examinations on October 4 that did not say it was for the LPU Independent Sentinel and did not consult the current staffers.
The student paper used to publish issues quarterly. It has yet to release an issue this year.
The student paper published a list of demands on its Facebook page.
On revamp and reorganization
Barlan said he has no further knowledge about the administration’s plans and mechanics for ‘reorganizing’ the Sentinel, emphasizing that he is only following instructions from the senior members of the administration. The reason for the reform, Barlan said, is because of the quality of the newspaper. He also denied that he was the one who proposed the idea of a ‘reorganization’. Independent observers in the dialogue raised questions on why the SAO Dean is unaware of the school admin’s plans that directly concern the students, the stakeholders of his office.
According to the student paper’s report on the dialogue, the dean allayed fears that the school admin is suppressing campus press freedom and said that the school is willing to support the student paper in any manner possible.
On publication fees
The publication fee of the student paper was removed and has prevented the paper from coming out with its regular issues. Barlan said he informed Sentinel Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Jessica Jane Sy about the said plan. Sy clarified that she was only told in a meeting with the SAO last year that the publication fees collected from the students would be reduced not removed and that she replied to Barlan that she would ask the paper’s advisers about this. Barlan said the advisers knew, still Sy parried that the studentry was not consulted about the move. Sy also said Barlan said the school would subsidize the deficit from the collection and the paper’s actual expenses.
Barlan said that they have already passed a budget statement for the school year to the Commission on Higher Education in February that did not include the publication fees. Because of this, the school may not be able to collect publication fees for the next semester, but Barlan said the school is willing to fund the publication directly.
“The admin funding the Sentinel would compromise many things and I am very worried about that. Yes, it’s a good thing that we can still publish without the pub fees being collected but it’s alarming,” said outgoing Sentinel EIC Sy in an interview with Manila Today.
Sy said since there is yet no clear cut arrangement on the number of issues to be released or how much they would be getting from the school for the paper’s expenses. Barlan only told them that this would depend on the school’s budget.
During her term, the paper published quarterly issues, one sports magazine, one literary folio, one election issue, one lampoon issue, one year-ender magazine and a special issue.
On paper name change
In the dialogue, Barlan also suggested that once the paper has its new editorial board, the editors can suggest names to replace Sentinel or decide if they would prefer to retain it. But Barlan also said that it is up to the school administration to approve the name change.
As to the motivation of the name change, Sy said that the SAO Dean explained it is part of the reorganization.
“But I can’t see the relevance of changing the pub’s name for the reorganization. According to our dean [Barlan], the admin wants to reorganize the Sentinel to improve the quality of our work. Then what does changing of the pub’s name have to do with that,” countered Sy.
The paper’s name goes as far back as its birth in 1985. An independent student paper was lobbied by student leaders, secured through a referendum by the students and came to fruition after a series of pickets and walkout protests that paralyzed classes in the university.
Sy said changing the name of the publication could raise some technicalities like invalidating the paper’s charter or requiring a new referendum. Sy said that these possibilities could play right into the plans of the school admin to have its way with the student paper like their plans of initiating a revamp and further undermine its independence.
“We are going to pass a resolution that states our rights and what the Sentinel deserve and should receive in line with its independence,” said Sy.
