Note: After the establishment of the Soli-Luzon, communication was immediately patched through the Visayas and Mindanao counterparts. A resolution was thus passed when members of the student publications and writers' organizations attended the 6th Systemwide Students' Congress in UP Diliman on February 2002. It paved the way further for the systemwide establishment of the Alliance, which was to follow in its founding Congress in May 2002.
RESOLUTION UPHOLDING CAMPUS PRESS FREEDOM IN UP AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOLIDARIDAD*
Whereas, student publications in UP have an active involvement in both local and nation issues. These publications play a vital role in raising social consciousness of the students and effecting change in mobilizing the students to advance their democratic rights and welfare, as well as those of the basic masses.
Whereas, UP student publications have established a tradition of militancy and advocacy journalism, which has been hindered by attacks on campus press freedom and the democratic rights of students. Throughout the Up System, publications experience violation against their right to free expression such as:
1) administration intervention in the release of articles and management of funds;
2) imposition of curfews on press office limiting the work efficiency of publications’ staffers; and
3) harassment of individual campus journalists who criticize administration policies and programs, and other groups and parties as well.
Whereas, besides such violations, other stringent violations further suppress campus press freedom in UP such as:
1) many publications do not have enough funds to finance regular release of issues
2) some publications do not have offices and facilities of their own; and
3) there are even some colleges without college publications.
Therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved that student publications and writers’ organizations in UP resolve to form the Solidaridad Alliance. Solidaridad shall resolve to support and initiate efforts to create or revive publications in all colleges, push for the publications’ total independence from the administration in the release of articles and management of funds, and campaign for the establishment of offices and allotment of adequate facilities for all publications.
Be it further resolved that the Solidaridad Alliance shall advance and uphold campus press freedom throughout the UP System.
Proponents:
Philippine Collegian (UP Diliman)
Manila Collegian (UP Manila)
Perspective (UP Los Bańos)
Outcrop (UP College Baguio)
Frontliner (UP Extension Program Pampanga)
UP Quill
Union of Journalists of the Philippines (UJP-UP)
UP Samahan sa Kultura para sa Ikauunlad ng Panitikang Pilipino (UP SKRIPP)
UP Ugnayan ng mga Manunulat (UP UGAT)
Scientia (UPD College of Science)
Engineering Logscript (UPD College of Engineering)
Oblation (UP Diliman University Student Council)
Lakbay (UPD Asian Institute of Tourism)
Kolektibo (UPD College of Social Work and Community Development)
Tinig ng Plaridel (UPD College of Mass Communication)
Kalasag (UPD College of Arts and Letters)
Our Key (UPD College of Architecture)
Medics (UPM College of Medicine)
Dental Edition (UPM College of Dentistry)
Public Herald (UPM College of Public Health)
Pharmakon (UPM College of Pharmacy)
Campus Fire (UPM College of Arts and Sciences)
Accounts (UPV College of Management)
Tug-ani (UPV College Cebu)
Vista (UPV College Tacloban)
Himati (UP Mindanao)
*6th UP Systemwide Students’ Congress, School of Labor and Industrial relations (SOLAIR) Auditorium, UP Diliman, February 11-13, 2002.
