NO to FRATERNITY VIOLENCE, YES to PEACE!
Our country is torn apart by injustice, prejudice, poverty, and war. In our university, violence among fraternities over several decades has caused suffering and death.
How long must we endure this? It is time to rise up and say, “No more.”
KAISA expresses support for the “Declaration of Peace and True Brotherhood” promulgated by the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity (APB). Although it is just a first step, we believe it is a step in the right direction.
KAISA commends the action of the APB to end the cycle of violence, to refuse to retaliate even in the face of unprovoked aggression. This action signifies the sincerity of the call for peace.
However, we will be vigilant and hold the APB to their commitment to peace. We demand that this policy applies not only under the current leadership, but also stands a foundation for their future actions.
Furthermore, KAISA urges all other fraternities to follow suit and renounce violence – publicly, and with due sincerity. We trust that peace-minded fratmen will steer their respective fraternities in this direction, for the common good.
KAISA calls on the University Student Council and all the local college councils to support this endeavor by facilitating constructive dialogue on mechanisms for nonviolent conflict resolution. Moreover, we call on the UP Administration to support this and similar efforts to stop violence and promote peace among fraternities.
Finally, KAISA challenges each Iskolar-Aktibista to support such initiatives. It is only through collective struggle – through strong public support and pressure – that fraternities will be encouraged and forced to turn their back on violence and embrace peace.
Our society is plagued with injustices and violence. Can the premier state university in the country be an example of how to render the cliché “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” obsolete?
We are all victims of fraternity violence, but we also have the power to stop it.
“Earth power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice”
– Portia’s Speech, William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice
KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan
READ ORIGINAL TEXT HERE: https://www.facebook.com/notes/kaisa-nagkakaisang-iskolar-para-sa-pamantasan-at-sambayanan/no-to-fraternity-violence-yes-to-peace/10150424639245479
READ APB’S STATEMENT HERE: https://www.facebook.com/notes/joseph-sixwillfix-lumanog/declaration-of-peace-and-true-brotherhood/10150346163988883