Again, student brawls

Again, student brawls

Student fighting has once again broken out. It was reported
that on Tuesday fighting broke out among hundreds of students
from the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB). Six students were
reported injured and a number of lecture rooms and cars parked
nearby were damaged.

Studies are reported to have resumed on Thursday.
Nevertheless, we are still incredulous that IPB, which stands out
for its scientific achievements, has suddenly come into the news
in such a different light. Students of different faculties became
embroiled in the fighting because of an argument over a
basketball game -- an absurd reason.

We are sure that as soon as the dust has settled at IPB and
the students have gone back to their studies, they will all feel
shocked at what has occurred. We are also certain that although
hundreds of students were reportedly involved, this actually
represented only a small section of IPB students.

What we don't know is whether this means that the tendency
towards violence that exists in our society at present has made
its way into our university campuses. Campuses, after all, are
not immune to conditions, good or bad, that prevail in the
surrounding environments. Nevertheless, considering their
elevated position, it is reasonable to expect campuses to
effectively deflect negative influences.

Instead of settling differences through violence, a tradition
of dialog and reasoning should prevail, as student activists are
themselves only too fond of telling the authorities.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta