Bulacan State University’s Pacesetter

In August 2005, the school administration of Bulacan State University closed its 32-year-
old student publication, Pacesetter, after releasing a satiric article about the school
administration. But even before that, the student publication was already experiencing
suppression of their campus press freedom.
The university’s president, Dr Rosario Pimentel denied that what they did was killing
press freedom but just to stop the paper from publishing stories that will tarnish the institution
and its official’s image. Pimentel also ordered the staff members to surrender all the furniture,
equipment, supplies and materials to the university.
The Pacesetter’s April issue featured Pimentel and Rolando Gaspar, the vice president
for student affairs and services with the title, “Bad Boys II.” The back cover featured the officials
again with the title, “Impeachables.” CEGP national president, Jose Cosido condemned the
university officials for dismissing Pacesetter’s editorial staff and for closing the student
publication because it came after the paper exposed alleged anomalies in the university.
RA 07079 or the Campus Journalism Act of 1991 fails to address this issue. This is a
case wherein the Act which supposedly protects the editorial staff and the paper is lacking. The
Act does not say that the school administration cannot suspend the student publication because
of what has been written. Section 7 only states that students should not be suspended solely
because of what they have written but the student publication itself is not protected from
suspension.
Section 15 of the Campus Press Freedom Bill 2013 states, "The Commission on Higher
Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the Department of
Education,...shall impose administrative sanctions for these campus press freedom
violations,...stopping or suspending the operations of the school publication such as, but not
limited to, the outright closure of the publication, locking of the publication office,...refusal to
reopen closed student publications."

SOURCE:
Reyes, C., & Orejas, T. (2005, August 16). Bulacan State University shuts campus paper, sacks
writers. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A15.