The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) administration will launch a probe into an incident where a professor red-tagged and spewed death threats against CAL students on Feb. 13, after a formal complaint was lodged Tuesday.
A multisectoral committee has already been formed as per the advice of the All UP Academic Employees Union - Diliman and different lawyers.
CAL Dean Jimmuel Naval reasoned in an interview with the Collegian that while the admin intends to resolve the issue, it had to await a formal complaint, in compliance with proper procedures.
“We assure our students, faculty, and staff that we will consistently advocate for a culture of respect, inclusivity, and understanding, and we will take all necessary measures to protect the well-being of our community members at all times,” the CAL admin wrote in a statement.
For now, the professor has been advised to hold his classes online after a meeting with his department chair.
Only a preventive suspension, which first requires an investigation, can bar the professor from holding classes in the meantime. And while the formal complaint is a welcomed first step, CAL students remain worried due to the security risk imposed by the incident.
A Terrifying Incident
The professor was looking for parking space near the CAL New Building when he came across students and began a barrage of insults and intimidation through his car window, per the CAL Student Council. Out of anger and frustration, he stepped out of his vehicle and charged at the students even as they were already leaving.
The CAL student council tried to deescalate the situation with the help of staff and guards, but to no avail.
“[The professor] shouted at and harassed me by giving death threats, and red-tagged the students,” Francheska Reyes, chairperson of the CAL Student Council, said in an online interview with the Collegian.
The college administration has not met with the victims of this incident yet. Meanwhile, the student council will offer psychosocial support to the victims.
A Recurring Incident
The professor is notorious for shouting at students, with similar instances already documented by the college—the last one being an outburst inside Vargas Museum. Naval pointed at the professor’s mental health problems as the reason for these episodes.
CAL’s proposed solution was offering therapy sessions to the professor, but long queues in the understaffed UPD PsycServ remained a hindrance to the measure. Naval revealed that the professor was poised to undergo his first therapy session in UP this Friday.
The reason why it took so long for the university to provide him mental health support, even under private help, is still unknown.
Both the CAL administration and student council condemned the professor’s actions and forwarded that the college must serve as a safe space for every student. The college itself is currently fighting for proper space inside the campus.
The Collegian has reached out to the victims, but they declined to answer for legal reasons and in fear of the possibility of threats, as concretized by the professor during his outburst.
“We are deeply troubled by the severity of this incident and the conduct displayed by a faculty member toward students. This behavior is not only unacceptable but also potentially dangerous. As students and members of the university community, we deserve to feel safe and respected on campus grounds,” Reyes said. ●
