Arief Budiman to resign from Satya Wacana

Arief Budiman to resign from Satya Wacana

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Outspoken academic Arief Budiman is determined to quit the Satya Wacana Christian University even if he wins his legal battle against the college management over his dismissal.

"I will quit Satya Wacana because the present situation is no longer conducive to promoting democracy and conduct academic activities," Arief said yesterday.

He told The Jakarta Post, after attending the hearing of his lawsuit at the Semarang State Administrative Court, that the situation was so bad he had to quit even though he loves teaching at the university.

He denied allegations that his decision to leave Satya Wacana was because of the possibility that he would lose the case.

"I filed the lawsuit not to seek victory but, rather, to reveal that the foundation's decision to expel me from the university was wrong," he said.

"There will be no problem if the court's decision is not what I expect," he added.

The conflict between Arief and the university started with the appointment of John JOI Ihalauw as the new rector in May last year. Arief and several senior lecturers claimed that the election process was undemocratic and manipulated by the foundation in Ihalauw's favor.

Arief, an ardent critic of the university's rector, was dishonorably dismissed in October last year, after a prolonged conflict with the university's foundation.

Arief said that he was considering an offer to teach at Perth University and Canberra University if he does quit Satya Wacana. (har/imn)