VICE Mayor Alvin Fernandez of Dagupan City, asked two university officials to at least first submit data and suggestions to justify any enactment of ordinance by the sangguniang panlungsod for the regulation of activities of fraternities citywide, not just within school campus, as sought by the two school heads.

Fernandez’ move came on the heels of criticisms from Lyceum University President Gonzalo T. Duque and Student Affairs Head Dominador ‘Boy’ Rayos of the University of Pangasinan who said they feared students will shy away from their schools if fraternity related violence is not checked. Both strongly sought sanggunian intervention.

Mustering equanimity in the face of acidic comments from the university officials since last week over his initial refusal to have the city legislature drawn into a violation of people’s “basic right to form lawful associations or societies as clearly enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution”, the vice mayor offered to give due course to the request for an ordinance to regulate the activities of fraternities in Dagupan schools, provided the local universities concerned submit complete and relevant data needed for “an enlightened discussion on the floor (of the city council).”

Among such data requested from the universities concerned, Fernandez said, are a list of the fraternities in their campuses, the activities of these fraternities, their members and measures proposed by the university to “track each frat member within their campus as (they) are recommending the city to do.”

Fernandez also asked the universities to inform the city legislature of their respective policies on school organizations and whether disciplinary measures in these policies are clearly spelled out and being implemented to include a frank assessment of the university’s internal security policies indicating lapses, if any.

The vice mayor finally asked from the university officials inputs on how they plan to assess the character of a student who shall be accredited as a frat member “as they recommend the city to do.”

Noting that “there are rarely or no reports published or announced as to this (frat wars) effect” other than the allegations of the two universities about such troubles, he asked media support by being alert and report of any frat wars in schools within the city.

In trying to calm the agitated state of Duque and Rayos, the vice mayor, on behalf of the city council said: “The Sangguniang Panlungsod is sensitive to the needs of the people. At the same time, it is also responsive in ensuring that obligations and rights of entities are enforced.”

He said the city legislature is open to a draft ordinance (to) be endorsed by both Duque and Rayos even as he stressed that such draft ordinance must spell out the role of the university in the regulation of fraternities in their campus “and why there is a need for the city to intervene in their student affairs.”