Take a stand against hazing.

This was the challenge posed by representatives of higher educational institutions or HEIs present during an online forum titled “Anti-Hazing: Philippine HEIs Perspectives, Challenges and Opportunities” on Thursday

Organized by the Commission on Higher Education through Commissioner Jo Mark Libre, the online forum aims to address issues concerning hazing and school violence in HEIs, which was resurfaced with the reported deaths of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig and University of Cebu student Ronnel Baguio recently.

Libre urged HEIs to combat hazing, which he described as an “outdated and barbaric tradition” that should be addressed by schools.

“We must create, and I challenge all the HEIs to have a safe environment with our learning places. We must create a safe and supportive environment for our students to come forward and to report incidents of hazing without fear or appraisal,” he said.

He also proposed before HEIs the intensified implementation of Republic Act Number 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995, campaign alternative activities on team building and values formation, and promote positivity and inclusivity in such activities that could bring bond to students.

Featured during the forum is Assistant Solicitor General James Lee Cundangan who offered primarily legal discussions on hazing and actions that could be done in combating violent activities in schools.