STILL tired from work, Yzzamayra Villarica Navacilla, 19, a political science student, went straight to the University of Mindanao-Main Campus to attend her classes. But little did she know that it would be a traumatic day for her.
While entering the campus, she was called out for wearing cropped long sleeves by a university guard.
“Your belly is so big. You should be embarrassed. Put your top down,” the guard said.
Despite Navacilla’s apology for not subscribing to the proper university dress code and explanation that she came from work, the guard continued to body-shame her.
“Sir, kindly confiscate my ID. But please take back what you said for humiliating me,” she said.
In an interview with Sunstar Davao, Navacilla said the incident was traumatic.
“I'm doing my best to cope with the trauma that left me after the incident. I was really shocked by the statement of the guard without any warning. His tone sounded like he’s really disgusted with my belly,” she said.
She reminded universities and the public to stop body-shaming others as it will affect one’s self-esteem and confidence.
Although Navacilla did not receive any notification from the university, UM’s official page released a statement condemning the guard’s behavior.
“The University of Mindanao does not condone body-shaming against anyone by anybody. This is against the university's core values as it adheres to safe spaces conducive to learning environment. Effective immediately, we just dismissed the Security Guard who was the subject of a body-shaming complaint by a student,” the statement said.
The post generated multiple responses from other university students.
Riri Montebon shared an instance when the guard did not allow her to enter the school’s premises for wearing a dress with a length above her knees but allowed female students with white complexion who wore clothes that seemed to violate the dress code.
“The guards are not only body-shamers but they also have problems with colorism,” she commented.
Another commenter, Jamalien Anton Alejado Babao, said UM’s statement is futile because the university does not allow students who cross-dress to enter the campus. JDC