Modified UAAP rule encumbers freedom of choice - Sen. Pia Cayetano

In a blog post entitled "My Open Letter to the UAAP Board," Senator Pia Cayetano hit out at the UAAP board's recent decision to amend the residency rule for high school graduates looking to enroll in a different UAAP university, saying that the increased sit-out period "encumbers their [students'] freedom of choice." [Related: Sen. Pia Cayetano - 'I think their two year residency rule sucks!'] Earlier this week, the league increased the number of residency years for UAAP high school graduates looking to enroll in a different, UAAP-member university, from one year to two years. In addition, said high schools will no longer be able to waive this residency period, which had been an option in the past. Sen. Cayetano, who represented the University of the Philippines in volleyball when she was a student, pointed out that in the US, the residency rule is designed for college athlete transfers, in order for them adjust to a new academic atmosphere. Also, said residency period only lasts one year, and does not apply to high school students entering college. "A student-athlete's choice of university is influenced not only by athletics, but also by academics, campus life, and personal situation, and the 2-year residency encumbers their freedom of choice," the senator wrote, citing a US NCAA FAQ. "It [the rule] goes against the Constitutional mandate to promote sports especially among our youth, and is an unreasonable limit on an athlete's freedom of choice as well as academic freedom to choose which college to enter into," she added, pointing to Section 19, Article 14, of the 1987 Constitution. "Athletes thrive on competition, that's what gets us going. That's what all the hard training is about. Its [sic] what makes it all worth while [sic]. To make an athlete sit out two seasons? That just kills the dream. "I am against any kind of residency rule for graduating high school students. For transferring college students, the 1-year residency rule will suffice. Anything more than that is injustice to an athlete." UAAP amendments committee head Em Fernandez had previously explained that the rule was designed to "protect their [UAAP members'] high school programs, which is technically geared for their college program." [Related: UAAP players react on Twitter to new high school residency rule] When the rule change was announced, many current UAAP players, particularly basketball players, criticized the new measure, creating the hashtag #NewUAAPRule in jest. - AMD, GMA News