THE Central Student Council (CSC) has called on UST and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) to change academic policies following the death of BS Physical Therapy senior Junver Toledo, an incident it said reflected the University’s “overwhelming” pressures.
In a letter addressed to UST administrators, the CSC called for a review of existing policies to ensure they reflect not just commitment and competence but most especially compassion — the “3Cs” that serve as the University’s core values.
“The untimely passing of our brother Thomasian, Junver, has revealed to us a truth we can no longer leave unspoken,” read the letter posted by the CSC on social media on May 29. “We mourn the loss of Junver as one of our own, and we urge the administration to take concrete action.”
The letter was addressed to UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Cheryl Peralta, Secretary General Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., and CRS Dean Anne Marie Aseron.
“UST, show us that competence, compassion, and commitment are not just mere mottos but an actual manifesto of the University,” it read. “We await your response through real policies, meaningful actions, and genuine compassion.”
Toledo, 22, jumped to his death on May 17 shortly after learning from his professor that he had failed the fourth-year Clinical Correlation and Team Approach course for the second time, the Varsitarian has learned. He had missed the passing mark by just 1.5%.
According to the CSC, Toledo’s death revealed an “imbalance” in UST’s priorities for its students, which it said should be more “comprehensive.”
“[We believe] that academic greatness should never be achieved through the sacrifice of our students’ emotional and mental well-being,” it said. “[G]reatness is not epitomized by sleepless nights, constant deadlines, or glorification of pain.”
CSC also called on the CRS administration to be transparent in addressing Toledo’s death.
It urged the college to do a “systemic recalibration” of its academic policies, calling for mandatory mental health seminars for UST employees, institutionalized remedial exam options, and enhanced transparency between students and administrators.
“It is time to revisit and reform the university’s practices with the well-being of students as the center of its values,” CSC said.
UST has addressed Toledo’s death in public once, expressing in a May 22 statement its condolences to his family and affirming its commitment to providing in-house mental health services for Thomasians.
Junver’s family had described the statement as “premature and insufficient,” citing its lack of a proactive stance in preventing similar tragedies.
Aseron has yet to reply to the Varsitarian’s May 23 letter about the college’s plans to strengthen its mental health policies and revisit course failure protocols following Toledo’s death.
The CSC said Junver’s story would be remembered and “remain part of the call for academic change.”
“The University must uphold its identity by caring for the people who carry its name and legacy forward,” it said. “It must remember that it exists through its students. Without them, there would be no institution to be proud of.”
A group of students gathered on May 29 outside the San Martin de Porres Building — which houses CRS — for a candlelighting and prayer ceremony demanding justice for Toledo.
