Disclaimer: This petition is solely initiated by the lead petitioner, Clarence Cedric Lee, former LYCESGO President (2014-2015) and is no way affiliated with the campus newspaper, the LPU Independent Sentinel.

We, the undersigned, vehemently oppose the plan of the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Manila administration to remove or “revamp” the 32-year-old campus newspaper, the LPU Independent Sentinel.

According to the campus newspaper, the Dean of Student of Affairs (SAO) Jayson Barlan justified the plan by initially giving two (2) main points: 1. That the campus newspaper is not fully recognized outside Intramuros and has not won any awards and accolades in comparison to other LPU campus papers; and 2. That the campus newspaper is not submitting documents on time.

Allow us to debunk the points raised:

1. That the campus newspaper is not fully recognized outside Intramuros and has not won any awards and accolades in comparison to other LPU campus papers

Over the LPU Independent Sentinel’s rich 32-year history, the campus newspaper and its members has won numerous awards and accolades including from the Catholic Mass Media Awards and Gawad Inkstitution. The campus newspaper is also an active member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), an organization of student journalists and student publications advocating for press freedom and is considered the largest and oldest existing organization of its kind in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region.

Assuming the campus newspaper is not fully recognized outside Intramuros and has not won any accolades and awards, still, we believe these are invalid justifications because: 1. There are no rules governing the campus newspaper which require it to garner awards and accolades to be recognized inside our University; and 2. The administration is applying double standards since the requirement of awards and accolades are not applied to other student organizations under the SAO but only to the campus newspaper. Awards and accolades should not be the bases of the SAO in accepting student organizations and publications but instead their capability of serving the students in line with the University's goals and values.

2. That the publication is not submitting documents on time

According to the campus newspaper, Editor-in-Chief Jessica Jane I. Sy have passed over requirements and other documents to the SAO, excluding the annual report due to the absence of its technical advisers to sign the paper.

Assuming the campus newspaper failed to submit documents on time, still, we believe this is also an invalid justification because: 1. The SAO's hasty response of removing or revamping the campus newspaper is extreme and not an equal penalty for failing to submit the said documents on time due to the absence of technical advisers to sign them—a valid mitigating factor for consideration instead of suddenly sidelining the campus newspaper; and 2. Removing or revamping the campus newspaper by stripping off its independence will not correct the problem of late submissions but rather focus on punishing the campus newspaper and its staffers.

The campus newspaper matters because of its role of holding the administration and student government to account, and providing safe spaces for freedom of expression and educating, inspiring and informing its readers by giving balanced and fresh perspectives. A free campus press plays a vital role in enlightening students to problems happening around them, whether campus or national level, in the hope of gaining a better understanding and finding worthwhile solutions.

Mr. President, we sincerely ask you to follow our former University President Sotero H. Laurel’s direction of allowing a free and independent press in our beloved University and respect the right of students to information, expression and establishment of independent publications following the tenets of responsible and ethical journalism that is free from censorship.

Thank you.