The course of history has never been changed by those who place self-interest above the welfare of others. The student leaders whose names last beyond the elections and their term in office are not remembered for their academic standing, however spectacular — rather, they stand out for the sacrifices they made to uphold and defend our rights.
Such sacrifices are necessary, for experience shows that pro-student and pro-people stances are often met with stringent opposition from majority blocs in the UP administration and the national government. Today, however, the unity of students is further challenged by certain factions within our own ranks.
The crises we face are daunting. In UP, we feel firsthand the effects of the more blatant blunders of the Aquino administration: rising tuition due to budget cuts for state colleges and universities; the imposition of new fees [such as the impending PE fee] due to the commercialization of education; and now, the rising costs of our daily commute [the minimum fare is now more expensive by P1] due to the privatization and deregulation of the transport sector.
Yet there are still those who would prefer to focus instead on the grades of student leaders who have fought fiercely against repression. Worse, there are those who pretend that they played a part in rousing the youth during the historic student strikes of November 2010, when in truth, they only took an interest in an issue after everyone else did.
Their selfish populism is contemptible. Indeed, thepolitical capital to be gained from claiming leadershipin such a popular issue probably explains why these factions are determined to detract from the victory of incumbent USC chairperson Rain Sindayen of STAND-UP, whose role during the strike was undeniable.
Still, the divisive factions in UP cannot be blamed for trying now to claim a victory that isn’t theirs. After all, while letters and lobbying are a vital part of the political process, these limited measures were not what secured additional funds for UP and the rest of the education sector. We are confronted with an administration that has proven remarkably insensitive regarding the welfare of its citizens — in the end, the deciding factor was the show of force by the youth. Without massive rallies thousands of people strong, without collective action to fight for our rights, there would have been no impetus for the government to respond.
So to those who say that the choice this February is between “dogma” and a “new brand” of leadership, we assert otherwise. There is so much more than petty politics at stake.
The choice is between empty rhetoric and concrete action, between those who have actually fought for our rights, and those who only claim they have. The choice is between those who think that “honor and excellence” is a matter of academic performance, and those who genuinely embody the honor of being an iskolar ng bayan, the excellence of striving and succeeding in putting forward the interests of UP students and the Filipino people.
And amidst the debates, the politicking, and the bickering that characterize the UP election season, one thing is indisputable: in all the major issues of the past year, from the national elections to the education budget cuts, STAND-UP never hesitated to take the lead. In so doing — staying true to the militant tradition of its 14-year existence — STAND-UP empowers students to make their own informed decisions, and take a collective stand.
We know that no one can ever repress the power of collective action, or suppress the force behind thousands of united voices demanding to be heard. This unquenchable solidarity is the defining characteristic of STAND-UP.
Within and outside the student council, it is STAND-UP which has ever been a driving force for change. The vacillating brand of "activism" touted by others pale in comparison to the genuine activism of militant action backed by progressive principles.
We urge UP students to choose student leaders who present a concrete vision of a changed society, who will be fearless in fighting to make this vision a reality. We urge the UP student body to look past the deceptions of other political factions in the university. Let us build upon the foundations of the success we gained through collective action in 2010, and pave the way for further victories in the struggle for societal change.
— Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights in UP (STAND-UP)
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