Disciplinary Office of De La Salle University
Letter of Complaint
July 4, 2012
I, a student of De La Salle University, want to complain about the promulgation of new policies of the university. I understand ignorance is not an excuse for violation. Currently, my third minor offense is being processed, two of which due to ignorance.
This is a trouble of mine, and I assume for many others. On behalf of all those who have gotten offenses because ignorance, I send this complaint, a gateway for better—and more effective, policy implementation.
The university has issues with the students, and the students issues with the university. According to the disciplinary officer who caught me earlier today, the university has an issue with smokers around the university perimeter. This term, the road from Agno to the Enrique Razon Sports Complex, is officially a non-smoking area. Noncompliance, and the student gets a minor offense. I said I was unaware of this new policy. He got my I.D. number and said it was announced on the website. Unfortunately, I—like many others—do not religiously check the DLSU website. Does the university presume each student has internet access? Do they presume students read all the emails they send? This is more convenient for the arbiters than the students themselves.
The D.O. said he had been warning people from the beginning of the term. This reached a small demographic—just like those caught for their violations. Therefore, I propose a more explicit manner of reaching all students of De La Salle University: SIGNS.
I have been a victim of the absence of signs twice. To support my proposal, two personal instances:
1) Last academic year (2011-2012), I was caught drinking coffee on the ground floor of SJ (diagonal to the Disciplinary Office). I occupied one of the desks, while two students had their lunch on the parallel table to mine. This area is not air-conditioned and there are no signs that say it is a study area. When the D.O. took my I.D., I asked why there were no signs to signify the place as a study area. There are “No Smoking” signs around the campus. Why? Everyone knows students cannot smoke INSIDE the campus. Why are these signs present? Why are there no “No Eating/ Drinking” signs in these areas?
When I filed my case, D.O.’s were distributing cookies among each other, some eating them. With all due respect, for someone penalized for drinking coffee in a non-air-conditioned place to see this happening in the air-conditioned office, I had a right to feel a sense of injustice. I did not complain about this before, but now that I have been accused of ignorance, I feel the need 1) for “No Eating/ Drinking” signs in these designated areas; 2) for D.O.’s to practice what they preach.
2) Earlier today, July 4, 2012 (approx. 12:50), the D.O. took my I.D. for smoking in front of Nomi. This area is where people have moved since Agno—not the university—declared their area a non-smoking area. Students and professors respected that and smoked elsewhere. My friend was smoking right in front me and the D.O. stood beside her. I did not know anything wrong was going on because this where we typically smoke anyway. Right in front of me, he told my friend to go to the place where she could smoke without taking her I.D., and got my I.D. instead. Why did he let her go? I asked about the cigarette butts on the road; he said he did not see them so he could not catch them. Right when the officer left, others came by and smoked exactly where he caught me. Why? No signs. Not everybody knows about this policy and I propose they make it explicit if they expect cooperation. Perhaps some know of the policy but insist on smoking in this area because no D.O. is present. Must this attitude be permitted? No. The website is not enough. Warning a couple of students is not enough.
Check out how the government works. They are all about signs. If the road does not say it is a one way road, a driver can go without violating the “counter-flow” policy. No jay-walking signs? Walk across the road. Policies are not as commonsensical as arbiters might think. Not everybody reads the entire constitution, not everybody reads the declaration of human rights, not everyone checks the DLSU website. New policies must scatter as fast as the declaration of class suspension, or must be explicit to assure the cooperation of all those affected by such policies.
The university must promote awareness and integrity. Offices in the university must work for the betterment of the students—in record and development.
With concern and respect,
Monica Jose N. Kaluag