UST brass belie ‘Varsi’ report

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) belied reports from the school’s student publication and assured its athletes would remain scholars this year.

UST’S Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) said in a statement on Wednesday that the Tigers and Tigresses across all sports would not be affected by the school’s cost-cutting measures wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

IPEA Director Rev. Fr. Jannel Novino Abogado, O.P., made the confirmation that quashed reports by The Varsitarian on Tuesday that some 30 student athletes would lose their scholarships because of the lockdown.

“In line with the statement made by UST’S Rector Magnificus Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., in his letter to all stakeholders of the university dated May 26, 2020, which guarantees that there will be a ‘continuation of the university scholarships granted during the second term of the Academic Year 2019-2020 until December 2020,’ all scholarships conferred by IPEA to its athletes during the second term of the academic year 2019-2020 shall be carried on until December 2020,” the statement said.

“Therefore there shall be no athlete who will be released from scholarship this coming first term of Academic Year 2020-2021,” the statement added.

The Varsitarian article also stated that some of UST’S athletes would be relegated the training pool and would be entitled to 50 percent discounts on tuition.

UST is the most successful team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines with 43 seniors and 20 juniors overall championships.