Unveiling the facade of Ateneo

Unresolved red-tagging incidents, student leaders capitalizing positions for personal gains, and evident inequalities—these issues provoke confusion among critical students scrutinizing Ateneo's current state. For obvious reasons, college is an imperative stage in education where meaningful principles and values ought to be instilled in students in ways that foster authenticity and empathy before fully integrating into the immediate society. Throughout history, Ateneo prides itself on its formation. Yet, recent times depict that these so-called core values seem to be shallowly instilled, bordering on performative—which leads us to ponder; Is Ateneo truly striving for excellence, or has its fulfillment of its ideals fallen short?

The onus of authentically grasping and embodying Ateneo's core values rests equally on the institution and its students. These values should be deeply ingrained in the entire community, not treated as mere superficial branding or idealistic rhetoric. The genuine inculcation of these values hinges on a firm commitment to prioritizing its community, particularly the student body, by upholding their rights and holistic well-being. Yet, within the campus, social justice frequently remains elusive and unmet, with both the administration and student leaders offering only a little more than lip service. Definitely, it is hypocritical to brand the institution with these values especially if we fail to live by them genuinely.

One of the predominant flaws hindering progress in this quandary and erecting irony from these exhortations is the unceasing apathy among students. Amid society being rife with social issues and injustices that demand attention, the prevailing culture fails to inculcate authentic compassionate service. This is reinforced no less by the system that conditions the studentry to prioritize academic achievement over broader societal engagement, leaving them ill-prepared for a world where self-centeredness is deplorable. In spite of students being encouraged to join organizations and student government, these entities often seem facile and event-driven, leading students to perceive them as such. 

Consequently, with students focusing more on personal accomplishments than on meaningful contributions to the student body, performative leadership arises. It is unacceptable to think, much less to bear, that some students exploit their positions in the name of credentials, personal gain, or clout. However, we cannot dismiss the institution's flawed system that incentivizes, and thus perpetuates, such behavior. Students are driven to participate in these organizations by the promise of materialistic and unsubstantial rewards, which become vain if the awardees lack genuine commitment or fail to serve their intended purpose.

Hence, the concept of "cura personalis" remains absent, mobilizing a monotonous cycle in which the system blinds and feeds students with empty achievements and engagements, rendering a lack of meaningful output in its activities. Students, in turn, capitalize on these opportunities, perpetuating the cycle further. In truth, social engagements should extend beyond repetitive outreach activities that appear performative. The marginalized are not confined solely to the economically disadvantaged; the university must recognize and address the broader spectrum of marginalized groups—labor sector, LGBTQIA+ members, and PWDs, included.

This brings us to the oft-repeated mantra, "men and women for and with others." We cannot represent these values if we do not truly immerse ourselves in the masses. Ateneo, at times, projects an image of elitism, a perception that is hard to refute. As much as we do not want to generalize, it is undeniable that everyone possesses some degree of privilege, and elitist remarks and behaviors occasionally surface. The core issue is the inherent conflict that transpires– suggesting that we selectively apply these values, setting standards for whom we choose to serve.

A recurring example is how students approach immersion experiences. Many exhibit such finickiness—in other words, “high-maintenance attitude”—that it defeats the essence of community engagement. The most troubling aspect is the romanticization of these activities, with reflections often centering on self-gratitude for their own privileges—missing the main point of the experience. Do these reflections genuinely endure among students, or do they merely serve to facilitate post-activity conversations and reinforce their current sense of comfort? The responsibility falls on the administration to evaluate whether these reflections align with the intended educational outcomes and ensure that students can meaningfully apply these insights in their daily lives.

Not to mention, another issue misrepresenting the “men and women for others” branding comes with the broader problem of neglecting democratic practices on campus, particularly in terms of student participation. The reluctance to run for significant positions, such as those in the Liderato kan Nueva Atenista (formerly known as AdNU-SSG), shows a concerning disengagement from the student body. The Ateneo community surely advocates for democracy and youth participation only to be met with an ironic response because our current engagement in student elections is low and students’ practicing voting rights have stunted since the pandemic. 

For the last two academic years, there is only one party that runs for the student councils’ positions at AdNU; The 2023 student elections garnered 1,709 voters turnout which was an improvement from the 2022 student elections that tallied 580 voters turnout only. But, the recent turnout is still too low for a university with an estimated 5000 enrollees. Also recently, an amendment and the plebiscite were conducted just this year wherein it only gained 362 votes which is another apparent fluctuation of participation. Suffice it to say that; In the name of outliving the aforesaid mantra, Ateneans must recognize their responsibilities not only beyond the campus but within it as well.

Participating in campus-wide elections, or even at the departmental and college levels, is no less significant than participating in national elections. Although school-based, these elections are just as crucial. They grant elected individuals the autonomy to wield their power and platforms as they see fit. To genuinely be "with others," one must actively participate and exercise their rights; to be "for others," one must possess a thorough understanding of how the system operates to effectively determine what services are needed and how to deliver them efficiently.

Returning to the ongoing discourse, the persistent misconceptions surrounding "Magis" remain unchallenged. Students often misinterpret it to simply mean doing more, when in reality, the emphasis should be on quality over quantity. It is not about expending excessive effort, but rather about discerning one's true calling and doing so with genuineness. 

This issue is very much evident in the awarding system implemented by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) during Student Organizations Awarding Rites (SOAR). The point-based system rewards organizations for the sheer number of events they hold, rather than for their genuine contributions to the community. This framework incentivizes students to prioritize, yet again, quantity over quality, neglecting to assess whether these activities have any meaningful impact on themselves or the Ateneo community. As Atty. Leni Robredo remarked on the theme of the recently concluded SOAR, "Bako sanáng sa kalangkawan, kundi sa rarom kan kamawutan," she emphasized that leaders must not only possess good intentions but also convert their desire to into tangible actions for it to yield service. 

While lapses and irregularities are inevitable, resolution from the administration and student leaders necessitates progressive and proactive measures. Until such time that the institution tweaks its system of putting medals on somebody else’s pedestals, heavyweights will always be put more on amassing acclaim rather than exercising the values of awareness and empathy. Unfortunately, without either of which, one cannot truly thrive in the professional terrain, hence, the culture may as well render students only half-baked for the full plate there is in the landscape beyond. With this, it is these things as superficial output and performative intent that run as an unstoppable lifeline that sets the institution’s facade breathing, but with the cease of quality standing as the expense to all these quantities, glitz, and glory. 

Circling back, as we do recognize that one of Ateneo's goals is to produce qualified and competent graduates that efficiently fulfill their roles in the corporate set-up, it is also equally important to call out the Ateneo administration and student leaders for truly aiding the student body to be more participative in a variety of humanitarian services, to join and engage in different progressive mass organizations, and to be socially aware and responsible in helping the mass to be heard and be empowered. 

These outcries must not be set aside but rather should be amplified. If Ateneo has taught us something through these core values, we can be excellent in the professional field and community empowerment—and with that, we can achieve the true essence of an Ignatian that are people who are truly “for and with others."