EARIST says all students can enroll regardless of gender, hairstyle

Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) on Friday maintained that all of its students are allowed to enroll regardless of their gender and appearance.

“All students were, and are allowed to enroll for the second semester… regardless of gender and particularly of how they wear/manage their hair, provided that those with long hair have them properly fixed or tied,” the EARIST Office of the President said in a statement.

EARIST made the statement following a viral video of a transgender student allegedly being forced to cut her hair before she was allowed to enroll. 

The video, which was posted by LGBT group Bahaghari, drew criticism from netizens.

EARIST, however, said that the videos regarding the haircut “are unverified.”

Students and members of the LGBTQIA+ community also held a rally in front of the university on Friday, according to Sam Nielsen’s report on Super Radyo dzBB.

The students said such a policy is repressive, while Bahaghari said the policy is a clear violation of their rights. 

Mga miyembro ng LGBT community sa Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) sa Maynila, nagprotesta laban sa mandatory haircut na ipinatutupad ng paaralan. | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/0hCEB6QLUh

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 15, 2024

EARIST said the Vice President for Academic Affairs, with the concerned directors and college deans, met with the Bahaghari EARIST chapter president and representatives on March 12.

“The same meeting ended with the agreement that the parties shall convene again to discuss the possibility of a new set of implementing rules and regulations concerning the enrollment,” it said.

Meanwhile, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Popoy De Vera said the incident is now being investigated. 

“Ang patakaran kasi tungkol sa students, yung kanilang hair cut, uniform, etc., ‘yan ay ginagawa ng indibidwal na mga pamantasan. Walang kwan diyan, walang CHED rules, kasi bahagi yan ng kanilang exercise of their kwan, administration of higher education,” he said.

(The rules on students, their haircuts, and uniforms are up to each university. There are no CHED rules on that issue because that is part of their exercise of their right to the administration of higher education.)

Despite universities having the prerogative to set their rules, De Vera urged them to be “sensitive.”

“Pagaralan ang compliance nila sa mga batas na naipasa tulad ng mga batas na pinagbabawal ang diskriminasyon, batas sa space safes. Kailangan ang kanilang mga patakaran sa mga pamantasan ay angkop o consistent doon sa mga batas na kailangan i-implement ng lahat,” De Vera said.

(They should look at their compliance with the laws passed, such as those against discrimination and safe spaces. The rules of the university should be consistent with the law and be implemented by all.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News