Backlash: Cancel Culture as a double-edged sword

Part Two

BY BLISS DE CASTRO

When duty calls: Taking Accountability, Authority and Action

DLSU Alumni Nathan Driz and Lance Dela Cruz share their perspectives regarding the case against a former faculty member who was fired due to a misdeed.

A part-time teacher from De La Salle’s University Manila’s Ramon V. Del Rosario College of Business (RVRCOB) was fired due to misogynistic remarks that he shared through a Facebook post. The said post circulated in a Facebook group called, “A group where we all pretend to be in Taft” on the night of June 14, 2020. The post made by the faculty member insinuated that Senator Risa Hontiveros should be sexually harassed by inmates of the New Bilibid Prison.

The post was made by Mr. Claro Ganac, who was reacting to Sen. Hontiveros’ statement on rape culture. In the aforementioned statement, the senator criticized the idea that women need to wear “decent clothing” to not be harassed since this belief perpetuates victim-blaming, misogyny, and overall harmful behavior. In response to this, the University Student Government (USG) released a statement that condemned the teacher and his behavior.

Ganac then deleted his post but the Lasallian community demanded action. Their fellow students Nathan Driz and Lance Dela Cruz heeded their call.

Driz was the RVRCOB college president at the time. When people contacted him regarding the post, he wrote an email addressed to their college’s dean and the chair department regarding the matter.

All eyes on you

The department took action. Driz received a reply within thirty minutes that Ganac’s contract would no longer be renewed for the following term.

At the time, Driz was with Dela Cruz, fellow student leader, and University Student Government (USG) President.

With Dela Cruz’s help, Driz was able to push for an investigation. At the same time, to reassure the students that action was being done, an announcement was made to inform the students that the part-time teacher has been removed from the faculty.

Although both students were commended for their immediate response and thanked for their work, they were also heavily criticized.

“If you’re silent about the things where people are being oppressed, you have decided to side with the oppressor,” states Driz.

After the incident, the USG encouraged students not to remain silent about “discriminatory and misogynistic acts.” They also pushed for the Safe Spaces Initiative, and Dela Cruz is happy to note that the university now holds Gender Sensitivity Training, has put up a Gender Office, and an LGBTQIA+ organization—the results of the movement they made.

“Actions speak louder than words. Speaking up or saying something can only bring you to a certain point… we should also do our part in ensuring that the issue that we have on hand is resolved and [properly] addressed,” Driz emphasizes.

Driz knows that not everyone would agree with everything he does or says; for him, it is about doing the right thing as a student leader.

People have labeled Driz as someone who promoted cancel culture, even going as far as he was in favor of the online behavior. However, he believes that what he did does not perpetuate cancel culture. Driz thinks he simply did his job by holding Ganac accountable.

He also believes that there is a difference between calling someone out, therefore, holding them accountable, and outright canceling someone.

Driz touched up on this and said that he thinks people today have a different mindset or awareness that allows them to address things that should not be tolerated. In line with this, people have become more vocal about their opinions, especially online.

“I received death threats,” Driz said when asked about the backlash that he got. “Because he (Ganac) was under Duterte’s support system, and I publicly [called him out].”

Velaso, who has researched on cancel culture, believes otherwise. Though social media has cultivated an extreme polarization of views among its users. It is either you are in support of a certain group or not; neutrality is unacceptable.

Such polarization can be seen in Driz’s statement.

“The reason why [the prof] got kicked out was because of pressure,” Dela Cruz echoed. “We didn’t demand [for that to happen].”

Driz sees that calling someone out may have its perks but knows this action alone does not solve the entire problem. He emphasized that all problems must be properly addressed, down to their roots.

Driz continued by saying that he believes that there are different means and ways to address certain issues. Dela Cruz on the other hand empathizes with people and sees why they resort to canceling someone as a way to seek justice and accountability.

“People get frustrated, that’s why they resort to [cancel culture]. But, more than anything I think it’s closer to revenge than it is to justice,” Dela Cruz claims.

Indeed, with great power comes great responsibility and we have the power to call out those who are abusing the said power that was entrusted to them. We all owe it to one another to correct wrongdoings, speak up about injustices, and call out intolerable behaviors.

“It’s important for us to [make a stand]. But we should also do our part [to ensure] that the issue we have on hand is resolved and addressed,” Driz points out.

But while there is a voice that cuts through the noise, there is one that is being drowned out or silenced.

Despite the positive outcomes that Driz and Dela Cruz have experienced, they believe that cancel culture is not the end all be all.

Cancel culture is a sign of the times.

The right thing

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Nathan Driz on being silent about social issues.

Dr. Joseph Velasco on the extreme polarization of ideas in social media.

Nathan Dela Cruz shares his thoughts on cancel culture
and its effect on someone’s reputation.

Lance Dela Cruz differentiates cancel culture from
calling someone out for their misbehavior.

Lance Dela Cruz talks about his role in the removal of the part-time teacher.