Academic freedom on campuses

Academic freedom on campuses

According to a recently issued regulation, university rectors
have the authority to either permit or ban academic activities,
whether they be seminars, discussions, symposiums or any other
activity. This refreshing regulation will enable campus autonomy
to be established.

However, the events surrounding a discussion at the Surabaya
Institute of Technology (ITS) between Aug.21 and 23 to
commemorate the 50th anniversary of independence gives reason for
concern. The hope that the rector's new authority would allow
academic activities more leeway did not materialized.

If the ITS case was the indicator of whether relaxation of
controls could be expected, the question now is: What difference
is there between a rector's authority and the authority of
parties outside campus?

The ITS case is worth observing because two equally
unambiguous attitudes were displayed. The rector, using his
authority issued a ban; the students, using their intellectual
conscience, proceeded with the activity despite the ban.

What will the consequences be? We hope everything will be
resolved on by only scholarly arguments. It may be true that some
of the speakers invited were controversial, in particular Dr. Sri
Bintang Pamungkas who at present is encountering many
difficulties.

However, if his presence was the reason for banning the
discussion, a clear explanation should have been given as to why
Sri Bintang was considered unfit to speak at a respected center
of learning. If he said something disagreeable, his statement
could have been scientifically refuted, allowing Sri Bintang's or
any other speaker's ideas to be accepted or rejected in a
transparent manner.

-- Surabaya Pos