On #STCDOBETTER:
A Primer
The situation
June 24: Tweets about sexual harassment and abuse happening in Miriam College trended on Twitter, with around 10,000 tweets.
Inspired by students from Miriam speaking up about their experiences of abuse, current students and alumnae have started to tell their stories too. This is why #STCDOBETTER also caught the attention of the STC community and the general public.
The result
Mainstream media picked this up, including:
Interaksyon: ‘Let’s hear the students’: Sarah Elago urges Miriam College to probe reports on alleged student harassmen; ‘Miriam College will do better’: School responds to #MCHSDOBetter posts on sexual allegations
Rappler: After #MCHSDoBetter goes viral, other schools urged to act on sexual harassment
Candy Magazine: Miriam College To 'Form A Committee' To Address #MCHSDoBetter Sexual Harassment Accusations
Medium: #OPINION | Protect Your Students, Not Your Reputations
Goodtimes with Mo Podcast: S07E58; Ellie, S07E60; Sophia
The response
The following institutions have released statements about the issue: St. Theresa’s College, Q.C. itself through Sr. Jo Nebres, ICM, the Theresian Student Council, and the St. Theresa’s Alumnae Association.
Individual batches have also released their statements, including those from Batch 2014, Batch 2015, and the collective TASHA (Theresians Against Sexual Harrasment and Abuse), composed of Batches 2018 to 2020. The latter groups have expressed strong demands from the school, including the immediate investigations of these stories and proper accountability of responsible parties.
This issue has also sparked dialogue among batchmates, friends, and the STC community. Many more are coming forward with their stories or sharing them privately with a few trusted friends. Long-buried pain and trauma surfaced.
During these times, alumnae have also banded together to come up with solutions and aid in investigations. Batches have reached out to one another to come up with consolidated plans with concrete KPIs which will be presented to the STAA and the school.
Ate's story
In June 2020, Theresians came forward on social media and told their stories and experiences of sexual harassment and abuse from some of their teachers. A group of Theresian alumnae from different batches decided to work together to propose concrete steps to bring about systemic changes in the school. Thus, the Alliance of Theresians Ending (ATE) Harassment, Misconduct, Abuse, and Related Concerns (HMARC) was formed.
ATE utilizes its members' expertise and network to put forward the much-needed changes in the school, especially in coming up with better policies to protect students from HMARC.
ATE is not a group created by nor affiliated with STC. ATE is an independent group of alumnae and volunteers who are laying down anti-HMARC policies to the STC administration, with the pressure for the latter to implement them in school.
ATE believes that by working together with the STC administration, the school can be a safer space, and incidents of HMARC can be avoided in the future.
Ultimately, ATE's main goal is to help #STCDOBETTER.
Hindi ka pababayaan ni Ate.
STC Alumnae Batches: 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021