THE FACULTY of Arts and Letters Student Council has asked for a review of an alleged policy by the College of Education that “empowers” security guards to cut the hair of students.
The policy was brought to the attention of the student government in a grievance complaint filed by an AB-BSE student who said that the guard posted at the Albertus Magnus Building last July 5 did not allow him and his classmates to enter the building unless they cut their hair. In order to get to their classes, they said they subjected themselves to a haircut by the guard.
“The students would want the case to be noted and we would want the policy be reviewed by your good office,” wrote ABSC president John Christian Valeroso to Education Dean Clotilde Arcangel. The AB-BSE program is under both Arlets and Education.
But Joey Lecaros, the security guard on duty, denied he cut the hair of the students.
“They (the students) borrowed two pairs of scissors and cut their own hair,” Lecaros said.
“We do not allow or authorize any guard to do that, assuming that such an incident did happen,” said Edilberto Bunquin, coordinator of the College of Education’s Student Welfare and Development Board.
Arcangel reminded students to comply with the school’s grooming policy.
“Each student signs a form upon enrollment, the PPS1027 Code of Conduct and Discipline, which comes from the Office of Student Affairs,” Arcangel said.
“It says in the form that good grooming, includes the wearing of the prescribed college uniform, the authorized shoes, the ID, the male haircut and other considerations similar to these.”
“The guard did not cut the students’ hair. That act is not allowed anywhere,” Education Regent Fr. Roy Rodriguez said.
But can students be barred from entering the building by the guard because of perceived violations of the grooming policy?
“Is it lawful for the school to bar students from entering buildings because of “grooming” reasons when they have paid their tuition and matriculation and should have access to the school facilities they have paid for?” a student leader who spoke in condition of anonymity asked.
“Shouldn’t the policy be enforced by student ‘welfare’ officers themselves who are paid to do just that in order to avoid student run-ins with security guards who are paid to maintain security and check criminality, not enforce ‘grooming’ rules?” the sudent leader added.
“I verified with the guard and according to him, he had warned them (the students) several times,” Bunquin said. “Maybe as an admission of guilt, they borrowed the scissors from the guard and cut their own hair outside the building.”
Meanwhile, Valeroso called for a “review” for “proper implementation” of the grooming policy.
