Every year, students are determined to come up with innovative ideas and platforms that can benefit the Thomasian community. However, they are hampered by the numerous bureaucratic requirements and restrictions imposed upon them and are even reduced to mere event organizers. This prevents them from focusing on what the student body truly needs – progress and reform.

The issue at present goes way beyond the removal of an innocuous photograph – this was a blatant display of the administration overstepping its boundaries. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and it certainly will not be the last unless we, student leaders, take action and call for accountability.

Student repression has been a cancer for the longest time in the University and affects more than just one organization. Too many aspirations for the student body were ignored. Too many issues that needed to be addressed were swept aside. Too many students were silenced.

How much longer must we endure this mistreatment before we demand better service?

We demand accountability. We demand policy reforms. We demand an end to the long-standing campus repression.

Thomasians, it’s time for us to assert our right to organize and to express ourselves freely. We deserve an administration that acknowledges and fosters our progressive growth and development.

With this, we, students, demand accountability from these Student Affairs officials by relieving them from their positions, demanding an apology from them, and demanding the expediency of passing pro-student policy reforms to end this once and for all.

Thirty-eight years ago, students, along with people from all walks of life, ended the Marcos dictatorship. We will not allow those dark days to return—not on our campus, and not in our country.