UP Students Call for the Granting of Tenure to Prof. Sarah Raymundo

We, students of the University of the Philippines (UP), join our professors in their call for the granting of tenure to one of our most brilliant and effective teachers, Prof. Sarah Raymundo.

Last November 6, the chair of the Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, UP Diliman verbally informed Prof. Sarah Raymundo that the tenured faculty of the department decided to deny her application for tenure. Further, she was told to refrain from meeting her classes until further notice.

Since her application for tenure in February 2008, and after nine long years of outstanding academic work, Prof. Sarah is bound to get nothing for her hard work and dedication to the University. Not even any clear and written explanation of her non-tenure.

Indeed, this is shocking news.

What puzzles us most - her former and present students - is that Prof. Raymundo has published articles in refereed journals, is an outstanding researcher, and has been invited to speak and participate in colloquia here and abroad. Her work as a scholar and educator actualizes both academic excellence and social responsibility - core missions of the University that is regarded as the premiere state university.

Given her outstanding academic and extension work, we are led to believe that her department's decision is a reaction to her engagements as the General Secretary of the Congress of Teachers / Educators for Nationalism and Democracy (CONTEND-UP), as an active member of the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) and National Treasurer of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), and as a researcher for the militant human rights organization KARAPATAN.

Thus this case is not only about Prof. Sarahвs solo fight for survival in the University. This can be the start of a crackdown directed toward progressive faculty and academic union members.

We are called to challenge the lack of transparency in the tenure process. Further, we are called to expose and resist all schemes of political repression and all attacks to our democratic rights.

Prof. Raymundo has served the University for almost a decade. Needless to say, she has served well the University and its constituents. We reiterate our call for the granting of tenure to Prof. Sarah Raymundo.