When a leader speaks, the followers listen-and follow. Especially in an academic institution where there is a relatively high level of compliance as this is part of one's conformity to a legitimate and moral order from an authority. This is the case when University President Dr. Divinia C. Chavez of the Cavite State University in Indang, Cavite issued a memorandum requiring all 3rd and 4th year college students to attend a student assembly on Monday, August 3, 2015. However such assembly turned out to be the "True" State of the Nation Address (TSONA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
It is in the spirit of academic freedom for students for assembly, to choose what venue to express their views and opinions. At the same time it is also something out of their volition to attend or participate in activities that they think would enhance their critical thinking. However requiring, or say, obliging them to attend a forum is contrary to this spirit as their attendance shall be checked by the student officers.
The university president when asked to explain such requirement for students to attend, she said she was unaware of the vice president's presence in the student assembly. This is such a lame explanation. As a university president, such presence of the second highest official of the land is such a big thing to be overlooked. This is evident as she failed to mention the name of the vice president in her memo.
Since President Aquino and Vice President Binay, whose political relationship has been pulled poles apart, it is expected that the latter would say anything against the former. And though the election is far from us yet the minds of our politicians are already into it.
The opposing forces are pretty obvious as early as of this time. So it is not a wise decision for an academic institution to have a personality whose political color is clear. This is so as an academic institution should remain nonpartisan. This is so much more for a state university that is supposed to uphold the ideals of the government and its people, aligning its major thrusts with the national agenda.
For obvious reason, the vice president could have delivered his version of TSONA not so miles away but opted for a vote-rich province and a bulwark of the opposition, Cavite, the place of his known ally, Governor Jonvic Remulla. The way I see it he wanted to appear his SONA to have a wide listening audience in a place that he believes can attain this objective.
But I also doubt if it wasn't a requirement for the students to attend such attendance could not have been reached. The students' presence is not something that they truly support and believe in. Contrary to their own volition but it is out of a requirement, coming from an order of the highest school official. This is something that I believe some students, a majority perhaps, feels that they are being led to believe that they are attending a regular student assembly that concerns their own welfare but it turned out to be a political campaign, attacking what the present administration under PNoy has not done.
On a general note, however, academic freedom allows us to pursue the truth where it leads them, whether in support of - or as a corrective to - current orthodoxies, and to proclaim that truth. It is also important to the larger community because it gives assurance that academics in all areas of expertise are expected to challenge what we think we know and to push the boundaries of what is known. Governments, churches, university administrations - none of these should be allowed to control the development and dissemination of knowledge - even if it makes us uncomfortable.
But in this case, it is a clear demonstration of pursuing one's political agenda. Because for the past weeks, it has become a common knowledge already what the vice president would want to say-and that is to criticize the present leadership, which ironically includes him, has done. The same question that people want him to answer.
The assembly is a thing in the past. My hope-students have found the truth, and the lies.