Students and some faculty members picketed the Ateneo de Davao University last week in protest of the restrictions imposed on them in going online on social networking site Facebook within campus.
Students complained that they were required to pay more than P1,300 as “information technology fee" each semester.
But the administration of Ateneo de Davao clarified that Facebook is “not totally banned" in their university, but rather the restrictions prohibit students from going to the popular site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. only.
School officials said that the sheer number of people who go on Facebook on campus heavily overburdens the university’s internet service bandwidth, such that it negatively impacts on the university’s other online services.
“Most of our books are not really physically in the library. It’s online, they [students] can read these books while they are inside the campus," Assistant to the President of Ateneo de Davao University Jeremy Eliab told GMA News.
“Now, if Facebook is eating the bandwidth, it’s impossible to download the whole book," he explained.
“We want our personnel to focus more on – not on social networking – but on their necessary work, basically educational work," he added.
Eliab also said the ban was also a disciplinary measure to prohibit students from accessing Facebook during their classes.
Faculty statements
After the official announcement of the ban, an open letter was issued stating: “The College Faculty Union of Ateneo de Davao University (CFU) vehemently protests the blocking of social networking sites such as Facebook and Friendster, including other sites. The blocking is initiated by the Technical Service Office (TSO) of the university, as the internet site claims to be [sic]. This infringes on the freedom of information and of expression which requires thorough discussion beforehand to determine what constitutes a violation or not. The CFU will file grievance as initial and LEGAL response directed to the head of TSO."
On his blog, Ateneo de Davao professor Dominique Cimafranca noted that the picketers held up placards with Facebook’s blue-and-white “f" logo and the statement “Stop Facebook Ban."
“They do know what an ‘F’ means academically, right?" he wrote wryly that he had quipped to his fellow faculty member.
Also last week, another university in Mindanao, state-run University of Southern Mindanao prohibited school personnel from going on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites during office hours. (report from Marlon Anthony Tonson/VS, GMA News)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
DepEd opposes Ateneo de Davao Facebook ban
The Department of Education (DepEd) opposes the partial ban on Facebook in Ateneo de Davao University, the morning newscast “Dobol B sa News TV" reported Tuesday.
DepEd communications head Kenneth Tirado said that the school should instead teach students to use social networking sites like Facebook responsibly, according to the newscast. A good alternative would be the prohibition of the use of social networking sites while in class, Tirado reportedly added.
Last week, some students and faculty members of the Ateneo de Davao staged a picket to protest the Facebook restriction, considering that students were required to pay over P1,300 as “information technology fee" each semester.
But the Ateneo de Davao administration clarified that Facebook is “not totally banned" in the university as the restriction only covers 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In an interview aired on GMA News’ “Saksi" newscast Monday, Ateneo de Davao assistant to the president Jeremy Eliab explained that Facebook eats into the bandwidth of the university’s Internet connection, making it difficult to use some online services.
“Most of our books are not really physically in the library. It’s online. They can read these books while they are inside the campus. Now if Facebook is eating the bandwith, it’s impossible to download the whole book," Eliab said.
“We want our personnel to focus more on not on social networking, but on their necessary work, basically educational work," he added. (report from Paterno Esmaquel II/TJD, GMA News)
DepEd communications head Kenneth Tirado said that the school should instead teach students to use social networking sites like Facebook responsibly, according to the newscast. A good alternative would be the prohibition of the use of social networking sites while in class, Tirado reportedly added.
Last week, some students and faculty members of the Ateneo de Davao staged a picket to protest the Facebook restriction, considering that students were required to pay over P1,300 as “information technology fee" each semester.
But the Ateneo de Davao administration clarified that Facebook is “not totally banned" in the university as the restriction only covers 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In an interview aired on GMA News’ “Saksi" newscast Monday, Ateneo de Davao assistant to the president Jeremy Eliab explained that Facebook eats into the bandwidth of the university’s Internet connection, making it difficult to use some online services.
“Most of our books are not really physically in the library. It’s online. They can read these books while they are inside the campus. Now if Facebook is eating the bandwith, it’s impossible to download the whole book," Eliab said.
“We want our personnel to focus more on not on social networking, but on their necessary work, basically educational work," he added. (report from Paterno Esmaquel II/TJD, GMA News)
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