STUDENTS of the Technological University of the Philippines launched an online petition against what they described as an ‘anti-poor’ and ‘anti-student’ memorandum issued by the university’s administration, which refers to proper haircut.

The petition, pushed by students’ group called ‘Step Up TUP,’ was aimed at calling the attention of the TUP community, administration, especially its President Dr. Jesus Rodrigo Torres, to revise the memo released after classes resumed on September 7, 2020.

The memo was regarded as anti-poor and anti-student since it mandates students to comply with the hair and dress code policy. It also requires students to never turn off their web cameras during classes which results in the consumption of more data or internet.

“This is to urge the TUP Admin to revise the TUP Memorandum No. 40 s. 2020 that is insensitive to the students and their families’ situation and having guidelines for online classes that are nonsense in a time of pandemic,” Step Up TUP said in its petition.

The petition also noted that the guidelines for ‘proper haircut’ is nonsensical or stupid since only people 21 years old and above are allowed to go out as per government guidelines.

“This petition urges the TUP admin to rethink and revise the controversial memo, especially in a time when families are jobless, money is scarce and security and safety must be the top priority,” the Step Up TUP added.

Other student groups in the university also filed a petition against the implementation of the memo.