Wardiman defends 'initiation week'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro refused yesterday to abolish the "initiation week" at
\nstate universities, after one student died while undergoing one
\nof the introductions to campus life this month.<\/p>\n
Wardiman described the death as an "accident" and said it
\nshould not be used to abolish a system which, he said, was still
\nthe best way of introducing first year students to the realities
\nof college life.<\/p>\n
"The system is already regulated but the implementation may
\nnot be adequate. This means we should improve the implementation
\nbut not abolish the system," he was quoted by Antara as telling
\nreporters in his office.<\/p>\n
Zaki Tiffany Lazuardian, 18 years old, a first year physics
\nstudent at the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology, died
\non Jan. 8 after taking part in a rigorous 12-day initiation
\nperiod organized by the college's Department of Physics. He was
\nhospitalized on his return on Jan. 7 and died in the hospital's
\nintensive care unit.<\/p>\n
At least two other students also had to be hospitalized and
\nITB's polyclinic reported that 176 first year students sought
\nmedical treatment during the week after taking part in the
\ninitiation week.<\/p>\n
Wardiman said those who felt they have been victimized in
\norientation week or felt that the organizers had overstepped
\ntheir bounds, could start legal action against the organizers.<\/p>\n
He cited one rule of the "initiation week" which states that
\nall activities must end at 22.00. "If something happens to the
\nstudents after that, the organizers are responsible," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the university administrators could also punish the
\norganizers for violating the rules.<\/p>\n
Several parents of the students who were hurt have called on
\nthe Ministry of Education and Culture to review the policy
\nregarding initiation weeks at state colleges, with some saying
\nthat the program was used by senior students to avenge the
\nsimilar treatment they had to suffer when they were "freshers".<\/p>\n
ITB administrators have launched an internal investigation
\ninto the death, and the report that more than 100 first year
\nstudents sought medical treatment. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/wardiman-defends-initiation-week-1447893297",
"image": ""
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