Naoime Gregielle C.

Hernandez
1LIT – WOSOCU
Submitted to: Ma’am Josephine Placido

Reflection Paper

TomasinoWeb via Julius Estolano / Facebook

On the 15th of February 2024, TomasinoWeb, a campus media organization, posted

a photo of students of the College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS) in
a convenience store, 7-Eleven, wearing their type B uniform. In addition, the type B
uniform of CICS students resembles the color and the design of the uniforms of the
employees in the convenience store, which is the reason why it gained many
reactions on Facebook. But it was taken down the next day, later on that day, the
organization issued a statement that it had to be removed because some of the
members of the administration – Office for Student Affairs or OSA raised concerns
and it has caused public ridicule because of the “supposed association” of the CICS
Type B uniform with 7Eleven employee’s uniform. TomasinoWeb apologizes for the
online stir that they have caused and said that they did not intend to do any harm.
This incident enraged many Thomasians and many netizens online saying that OSA
is obstructing press freedom and committing media censorship. This issue caused
Leo Laparan, the organization’s adviser, to resign last February 19, 2024, because of
what he called a “glaring illustration of censorship”. In his interview with The Flame, a
publication in UST, they wanted to keep the photo, but the university officials forced
them not to. Laparan said that he’d rather leave to preserve himself, “Natapakan
‘yung pagka-journalist ko rito” he said. Another interview of The Flame with the
president of TomasinoWeb, Jan Carlo Zamora, revealed that OSA warned them that
they could face non-accreditation if they didn’t comply to take the photo down. It
caused Thomasian student activists to protest outside the P. Noval Court against
what they said was “media censorship” by the Office for Student Affairs or OSA..

In this issue, applying a Sociological Perspective, Conflict Theory can be used to

analyze the dynamics between TomasinoWeb, the Office for Student Affairs (OSA),
and the broader public perception. Conflict theory posits that society is characterized
by conflicts over scarce resources, which can manifest in various forms such as
class struggle, power differentials, and social inequalities. The conflict in this
scenario stems from the differing perspectives and interests of the involved parties.
TomasinoWeb, as a campus media organization, likely sees itself as exercising its
right to freedom of the press and expression by capturing and sharing images that it
deems relevant or interesting to its audience.

In this case, the organization may have seen the similarity between the uniforms of
CICS students and those of 7Eleven employees as a noteworthy observation or
perhaps even a lighthearted commentary on campus life during Type B season. On
the other hand, the OSA interprets the publication of the photograph as an act of
public ridicule or degradation. From their perspective, the image may be seen as
undermining the dignity or reputation of the students depicted, as well as potentially
reflecting poorly on the university as a whole. As a result, they take action to have
the photograph removed, perceiving it as necessary to maintain order and protect
the interests of the student body.

From the standpoint of Conflict Theory, this conflict can be understood as a

manifestation of the broader power struggle within the university community.
TomasinoWeb, representing the media and potentially the student body's voice,
seeks to exercise its freedom of expression, while the OSA, acting on behalf of the
university administration, aims to assert its authority and maintain control over the
campus narrative. The public response further highlights the conflicting perspectives
at play. Some view the OSA's actions as an infringement on press freedom and an
example of media censorship, aligning with TomasinoWeb's stance. Others may see
the photograph as harmless or even humorous, questioning the OSA's decision to
intervene and perceiving it as an elitist overreaction.
The sociological perspective helps us understand how society shapes our lives and
behaviors, revealing patterns and structures that influence our interactions and
opportunities. It allows us to see beyond individual experiences, offering insight into
larger societal issues and promoting empathy and critical thinking about social
dynamics. Ultimately, the conflict between TomasinoWeb and the OSA reflects
deeper tensions within the university community regarding power, control, and the
boundaries of expression. While differing opinions on the matter abound, the
resolution of this conflict will likely require negotiation, compromise, and a
recognition of the legitimate concerns and interests of all parties involved.
References:

Estolano, J. [TomasinoWeb]. (2024, February 19). Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=7718913354786704&set=a.39223000745511
2

The Flame. (2024, February 22). TomWeb photo of CICS students entering 7-Eleven

taken down after drawing ‘concerns’ from UST officials.

https://abtheflame.net/news/2024/02/tomweb-photo-of-cics-students-entering-

7-eleven-taken-down-after-drawing-concerns-from-ust-officials/

Garcia, N. (2024, February 20). What you need to know about the UST OSA,

TomasinoWeb, and 7-Eleven photo issue. Philstar Life.

https://philstarlife.com/news-and-views/794940-what-you-need-to-know-ust-

osa-tomasinoweb-7-eleven-photo?page=2

TomasinoWeb.(2024, February 16). OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Photograph of CICS

students wearing their Type B Uniform. TomasinoWeb.

https://tomasinoweb.org/post/1708086073928-8dbc98fa-official-statement-

photograph-of-cics-students-wearing-their-type-b-uniform

Andaya, HJ and Orozco, M. (2024, February 23). Harmless or offensive? What 7-

Eleven employees think of the CICS uniform issue. The Varsitarian.

https://varsitarian.net/news/20240223/harmless-or-offensive-what-7-eleven-

employees-think-of-the-cics-uniform-issue