UST, FEU mount protest against corruption, ‘anti-student’ policies

Braving heavy rain, thousands of students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) flooded the streets of Manila to initiate a walkout protest on September 29 to call for an end to the corruption in government and slam flaws in the university’s system.

Organized by student councils and progressive youth-led organizations, FEU students participated in the “Tamaraws, Unite! Walkout For Our Rights!” protest along Nicanor Reyes Street in Manila to denounce the repressive policies of the school’s administration.

“We, the undersigned University Student Organizations (USO) of the University of Santo Tomas, stand united with the greater Thomasian community in the Thomasian Student Walkout Against Corruption. As students and leaders of our organizations, we answer the call to oppose corruption in all its forms and to demand accountability from those entrusted with power,” the USO’s noted.

Students combated the rain with umbrellas, banners, and chants as the protest started as early as 11:54 a.m., with the crowd creating a formation in front of FEU Gate 4.

Protesters decried persistent learning inequalities within the university despite its ‘student-centered’ branding, singling out the FEU’s current blended learning setups, which they say remain inaccessible for students and inconsistent for many students.

FEU students also condemned the rising cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees and pushed for transparency in the university’s financial policies.

Thomasians also gathered at UST Plaza Mayor on September 29 as part of their campus-wide walkout protest against corruption.

The march began at the Roque Ruaño Building, then passed through the UST Carpark, Main Building, and Beato Angelico Building, before gathering at the Plaza Mayor for the main program.

Beyond campus issues, the protest also pressed for accountability and justice over corruption issues in the flood control projects.

In a statement, UST’s University Student Organization opposed corruption and demanded that those who are in power to come clean and take action.

Some classes were suspended or left unattended as faculty members allowed students to participate.

The protest remained peaceful as student marshals coordinated with security personnel to maintain order.