UI holds public campaign for rectoral election<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
For the first time in its history, the University of Indonesia
\n(UI) staged a hustings on Thursday for candidates in its
\nrectorial election.<\/p>\n
The event, open to the public, was attended by more than 1,000
\nvisitors, including lecturers, students and employees.<\/p>\n
There were also booths providing fliers, posters, T-shirts and
\ncaps to visitors to provide information about each candidate.<\/p>\n
The public campaign was part of the process to elect a new UI
\nrector for the term 2002 through 2007.<\/p>\n
During the one-day event, seven candidates offered their
\nvision and mission, each with their own way of attracting the
\npublic's attention.<\/p>\n
The candidates include Jimly Assidiqie (Professor of State
\nAdministrative Law), Usman Chatib Warsa (UI acting rector and
\nProfessor of Medicine), Martani Huseini (Dean, School of Social
\nand Political Science) and Harkristuti Harkrisnowo (head of the
\ncriminal dept., School of Law).<\/p>\n
Harkristuti, the only woman in the race, for example, sang a
\nsong, along with other lecturers and students, while another
\ncandidate, Jimly Assidiqie read a poem on the 21 characteristics
\nof an ideal rector.<\/p>\n
Acting rector Usman Chatib Warsa even introduced members of
\nhis family to the audience before starting his presentation.<\/p>\n
Many lecturers, students and employees wore T-shirts or caps
\nbearing slogans indicating their support for particular
\ncandidates, such as "I Support HH" (HH standing for Harkristuti)
\nand "Usman Yes". Some sat in groups to give support to their
\ncandidates by shouting or singing songs.<\/p>\n
Besides delivering presentations, the candidates also
\nparticipated in a question-and-answer session with the public.<\/p>\n
However, aside from this colorful campaign, many students gave
\na cold shoulder to the candidates' enthusiastic presentations,
\nslamming them as a "fix".<\/p>\n
Lusi, a student at UI's public health school, expressed
\nskepticism about the fairness of the rectorial election.<\/p>\n
"All of this fanfare is just for show, as I believe the choice
\n(of rector) has already been made. The person's name is already
\nwith the Board of Trustees (MWA)," said Lusi.<\/p>\n
She added that whoever the newly elected rector might be, he
\nor she ought to take the students' side, especially in committing
\nnot to raise tuition fees.<\/p>\n
The hottest issue rising to the surface during the campaign
\nwas future implications for the university, given its new status
\nas a state-owned incorporated entity (BHMN).<\/p>\n
This requires the university, among other things, to seek new
\nfunding sources for its academic and research activities, as the
\ngovernment will reduce its subsidy.<\/p>\n
Many students worried that the university's costs could be
\npassed on to them in the form of increased tuition fees.<\/p>\n
"The important thing for the newly elected rector is that he
\nor she must not "extort" students in order to cover the
\nuniversity's costs," said Lusi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Neim, a security guard at the school of
\nengineering, who has been employed there since 1987, stated that
\nthe new rector must embrace all sectors of the university
\ncommunity regardless of their level or role there.<\/p>\n
"We don't need a brilliant person. We need someone who can
\ncope with and form a bridge between top officials and lower-level
\nstaff like me," he said.<\/p>\n
After the hustings, the MWA will carry out an assessment of
\nthe candidates on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 to shortlist them to four. On
\nAug. 12, it will choose two candidates who will run in the final
\nelection on Aug.14.<\/p>\n
MWA members consist of 21 people drawn from university
\nstakeholders, including lecturers, students, businesspeople, the
\npublic and minister of education.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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