UST draws flak for censoring photo

A lawmaker and various groups criticized the University of Santo Tomas, particularly UST’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA), for its move to censor the school’s online campus media organization over a photo that went viral on social media. 

- SHEILA CRISOSTOMO and MARK ERNEST VILLEZA

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel described the move as “oppressive,” adding that they are closely “monitoring the issue and coordinating with our chapter in UST to ensure that UST-OSA will rectify its repressive actions.”

“We strongly appeal to UST- OSA to do away with its ridiculously stringent and bureaucratic rules that hamper free expression of its students,” he said in a text message.

Manuel posted on his account on X, formerly Twitter, that the Kabataan party-list is ‘’in solidarity with everyone in UST community who stand versus campus repression.”

Takedown

The controversy arose after TomasinoWeb posted a Facebook album on Feb. 15 featuring Thomasians wearing Type B uniforms, which was in line with an institutional policy on student attire for the upcoming summer season.