YEARENDER: Suicide, plagiarism issues hound UP (First of two parts)

MANILA, Philippines - The University of the Philippines (UP) was dragged into the headlines in 2013 following the suicide of a freshman student over alleged tuition woes and the plagiarism committed by a graduate student in a photo competition.

On March 16, 16-year-old UP Manila behavioral science student Kristel Tejada committed suicide by drinking silver cleaner at their home in Tondo, Manila. She was declared dead on arrival at the Metropolitan Medical Center.

The alleged reason: she was forced to take a leave of absence because her family could not pay their P10,000 outstanding balance to the university.

In a report, Tony Leachon – director of UP Manila’s information, publications and public affairs office – said it is unfair to put the blame on the university since Tejada’s death “was reportedly triggered by a confluence of issues.”

Leachon said the student could have other reasons for taking her own life other than tuition issue.

In her supposed suicide note, Tejada expressed her love for her family and sought forgiveness for taking her own life. She did not say the reason for her action.

UP amends code, tuition scheme

Months following the suicide, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) – the university’s highest policy making body – approved the amendments to the university code to remove policies that barred students from registering from classes if they fail to settle their balances.

The revision noted that “in no instance shall a student who has unpaid loan obligations due to financial incapacity… be barred from registering for, and attending, his (or) her classes.”

The BOR also approved the implementation of the new Socialized Tuition System (STS) starting 2014, replacing the old Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) established in 1989.

The systems set the tuition that UP students would pay based on their socio-economic condition.

In a statement, UP president Alfredo Pascual said the changes in the tuition scheme are part of his administration’s “commitment to make sure that no qualified student will be denied a UP education on account of financial need.”

Among the changes was the upward adjustment of income ranges by 30 percent “to address the drift towards upper brackets as income rises due to inflation.”

The new system also increase from the current P2,400 to P3,500 the stipend given to those classified in the Bracket E2.

The new system also reduces the 14-page application form used in the previous STFAP into two pages in a bid to simplify the basis for bracket assignment. The STS also seeks to streamline the application and appeals process.

“We should be able to give out their bracket before the start of the semester,” said UP vice president for public affairs Prospero De Vera.

De Vera said UP will lose some P300 million in reduced tuition income and additional stipend payments once the new system is implemented.

Graduate student steals photo

Meanwhile, the university had to conduct an investigation after graduate student Mark Joseph Solis of the National College for Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) was accused of stealing photos and submitting it in a competition.

UP Diliman chancellor Caesar Saloma said the executive committee of the Diliman campus has approved the filing of a case against Solis before the university’s Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).

He said that the basis for the filing of the case was the 1999 Rules and Regulations on Student Conduct and Discipline.

The issue stemmed from the Smiles for the World competition organized by the embassy of Chile, in which Solis won $1,000 and round-trip air fare and accommodations to Chile and Brazil.

Following the awarding at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Sept. 18, Brazil-based social entrepreneur Gregory John Smith claimed that he was the person who shot the photo used by Solis.

Smith said the photo of the smiling boy was taken in Brazil in 2006, and not in Zamboanga as claimed by Solis.

In his apology, Solis said he “was driven by (his) youth, lack of experience, and the inability to see the repercussions of (his) actions.”

“It was a regrettable lapse on my judgment, and no words can express how sorry I am for taking your photo as mine,” he told Smith.

“I take full responsibility for a disgraceful action and a grave moral lapse on my part. This recent turn of events has taught me to become humble, to have foresight, to be sensitive for the works of others, and ultimately, to take responsibility for my action,” he added.

The embassy of Chile has since revoked the award and announced the new set of winners in the competition.

More photos plagiarized

The case was filed before the SDT after Saloma received the results of the fact-finding investigation of the UP-NCPAG. The chancellor said that the decision-making will undergo due process to allow Solis to present his side.

In the report submitted by the fact-finding committee, it was found that he submitted plagiarized photos in at least seven competitions.

The report said Solis submitted plagiarized photos in the Smiles for the World Competition (2013), the Mulat Maninipat Photojournalism contest of the Union of Journalists of the Philippines-UP (2012), VinylPlus Sustainable Thinking Platform photo contest (2010-2011), and the Water and Life photo contest of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (2013).

The report said Solis also submitted plagiarized photos and won in the competitions organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the Papworth Trust in 2011.

An addendum was also attached to the report saying Solis submitted a plagiarized photo in the competition sponsored by the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration in 2012.

Basis for punishment

Pascual earlier said he shares the outrage felt by everyone over the issue involving Solis.

Section one of the university’s student code of conduct said “students shall at all times observe the laws of the land and the rules and regulations of the University.” The report said it could be a basis for disciplinary measure on the issue.

The report also cited section 2(m), which states that “any other form of misconduct” is prohibited in the university. Penalty ranges from expression of apology to expulsion, depending on the gravity of the act.

The current rule prohibits intellectual dishonesty, which is defined as â€œany form of cheating in examinations or any act of dishonesty in relation to his studies.”

Only the Mulat Maninipat competition was limited to UP students. Solis did not win in the competition.

The university is currently on the process of revising its rules.

The draft code of student conduct noted that “engaging in any other form of misconduct, whether within or outside University premises, which affects the good order and welfare and/or good name of the university” is prohibited.

Intellectual dishonesty in the draft code was also not limited in relation to the students’ studies. It was defined as “any fraudulent act performed by a student to achieve academic advantage or gain for oneself or others.”