UGDO Bulletin: October-December 2021

October - December 2021

Onboarding and GST for SCODIs, UCODI and LS Student Moderators

Onboarding and GST is an important component of engaging the University Community in matters related to Anti Sexual Harassment and Gender and Development in Ateneo de Manila. In past months, several sectoral and committee-based onboarding and GST activities have been held virtually in coordination with the University Gender and Development Office, the University Office of Decorum and Investigation and the University Gender Hub.

Specific requests for onboarding can be sent to genderdev@ateneo.edu and requests for Gender Sensitivity Training (GST) can be sent to genderhub@ateneo.edu.

APS holds Onboarding and GST for SCODI Members

The Ateneo Professional schools held their Onboarding and GST for their SCODI members last 20 October 2021.  Presentations were made by Atty. Alma Pavia, Director of the University Office of Decorum and Investigation, on the Code and Rules and Dr. Mira Ofreneo on the Gender Hub Guidelines for Handling Cases with Sensitivity and Care. Also present were Dr. Maria Elissa J. Lao for the University Gender and Development Office and Ms. Carolyn Pile Natividad, the Director of the LS Office of Student Discipline.

The SCODI session was organized by Dr. Guia Tan, Chair of the APS SCODI Committee and Ms. Carolyn Cabardo, of the Office of the Vice President for the Ateneo Professional Schools.

LS holds Onboarding and GST for SCODI Members

The onboarding of the LS CODI was held last 16 January 2021 with the rest of the Unit based SCODIs. The presentations included “Understanding what constitutes SGBV and the effects of SGBV” by Angelique Villasanta of the Gender Hub, “Overview of Code and Rules and Related Laws” by Atty. Patty Arroyo “UCODI/SCODI Structures and Processes” by Atty. Alma Pavia and “Guidelines for handling cases of sexual violations” by Mira Ofreneo.  This was followed up by a GST run by the Gender Hub on 25 September 2021 that was facilitated by Ryan Camacho of the Gender Hub. A continuing education model is key for the onboarding of new members of the unit based SCODIs and re tooling for current members of the SCODIs.

UCODI onboarding and GST for New Members

New Members of the UODI were onboarded via a two-hour online session last 18 November 2021.  Presenting were: Dr. Melissa Lao, UGDO (on the University Decorum and Investigation System), Atty. Alma Pavia (on the Code and Rules) and Dr. Mira Ofreneo (on Care and conduct during investigation and hearing). Chairing the meeting were UCODI co-chairs Ms. Christine Natividad and Dr. Lourdes Rallonza. This onboarding and GST sessions are to ensure that Part XIV Rule I Section II of CHED MEMO 1 2015 is implemented along with other requirements by CHED NCR.

OSCARS 2: Onboarding and GST for LS Organization Moderators

The onboarding and GST for Organizations (or, the Onboarding Session on the Code And Rules for Student Organizations or the OSCARS 1) was held on 17 September 2021 for leaders of School Organizations.  Post-event, a second OSCARS for moderators was conceptualized to ensure that there was a good understanding by student organization leaders and mentors.  OSCARs 2 was held online, via zoom, on 26 November 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  The OSCARS 2 were hosted by Dr. Maria Elissa Lao of UGDO and Mr. Gino Flores of OSA.  The speakers included: Dr Leland dela Cruz, Associate Dean for Formation, Mr. Tats Quiblat, Director of the Office of Student Activities, Atty. Alma Pavia of the University Office of Decorum and Investigation and Mr. Ryan Camacho of the University Gender.

Calendared Campaigns for Gender and Development 2021

Three campaigns marked the year for Gender and Development: Women’s Month in March, Pride Month (Celebrated in June and October) and the 16 Day Campaign against Gender Based Violence (from November to December).   Each campaign featured a theme, a University wide campaign and participation from the different units of the University from Basic Education to the Professional Schools.  Due to the pandemic, all activities were held online for the schoolyear.

Mission and Leadership: Women of Magis (8 – 31 March 2021)

The concept note for the year promoted “Women in Leadership in consonance with the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day 2021: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” as the University and the rest of the world find itself in this challenging mid-pandemic space. The University wide celebration highlights the leadership and innovation by a remarkable set of women in their areas of expertise and opens the space for discussion on the role that gender plays in undertaking crucial roles during uncertain times and their hopes for a more equal and inclusive future. The University has changed and will continue to change under the leadership of these women.  We invite the University Community to join the conversation.”

The conversation for this year included women in University Leadership, Women in Student Leadership, Women in Science, Women in Sports, Women in Medicine and Law and Women in Governance and Development.

Move with Love: In Celebration and Solidarity (7 – 16 July 2021 and 4 – 15 October)

Two months marked pride for this year: once in July with activities under the “Collaborative Practices,” “Socio-Political Action” and “Safe Spaces” and One Big Pride event in October.  In the concept note, it is stressed that Ateneo de Manila “strives to “uphold the human dignity of each person. We strive to cultivate a strong culture of respect for others in accordance with the Ignatian principles of conscience, compassion, competence, and commitment. We promote justice and equality that is rooted in genuine empathy and understanding of the struggle and suffering of others.”  (adopted from the Loyola Schools Gender Policy, 2018). The month-long program honors these ideals with a call for the University Community to move with love through a series of collaborative conversations, performances and activities that promote a just, humane, and equal world where we embrace “the call for gender equality and gender justice” and “reject and confront all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination based on one’s gender or sexuality.”

The campaign featured messages of support from the different units and sectors of the University including students, faculty, staff and professionals.

Strengthening Safe Spaces: 16 Day Campaign Against Gender Based Violence (25 November to 10 December 2021)

In the last campaign for the year, the Ateneo de Manila University stakeholder further envisioned how it could “be a safe space for all community members.  In promoting this goal, a whole of university approach is needed to ensure that concerned offices, student organizations and trained individuals frontline University efforts against gender-based violence, including bullying and other forms of harassment and misconduct.  This is reiterated in the recently released Ateneo de Manila University Policy Statement on University Health and Well-Being: “The University endeavors to provide a social environment that nurtures positive relationships and interaction that foster personal, professional, intellectual, and spiritual growth. It seeks to afford members of the community a social space, both physical and online, that promotes peace and harmony and freedom from random and systemic acts of bullying, sexual and other forms of harassment, discrimination, violence, and abuse.”

The campaign championed frontliners and provides venues to learn more about the important work that they do to make the Ateneo de Manila University a safe space for all.  A series of conversations were held in late November and early December that included the following: A University Frontliners Forum last November 25 featuring SHS’s Lakambini and Mayari and LS’ CASMV and CGE ALS’s URDUJA and the University Gender Hub.  This was followed by a Frontliners and Implementors learning session on the 27th of November with all frontline SODI offices as well.  Finally, on December 4, the first GAD learning session was held with the  UGDO and the University and Unit GAD Committees.