Brave academics rare due to lure of money

SEMARANG (JP): Financial and political pressures are common hurdles for intellectuals, according to a seminar here yesterday.

Rector of Semarang-based Diponegoro University, Muladi, said that while fulfilling their mission to reveal truth and uphold justice, intellectuals might miss out on monetary rewards for their efforts.

"Those serious burdens have made it difficult for us to generate intellectuals, even in universities," Muladi told a one- day seminar on academic culture.

He said university graduates were not automatically intellectuals because the latter had both scientific tradition and the courage to criticize the government's policies.

"Intellectuals must tell the truth without being afraid of possible consequences. They have to offer alternatives to solve problems in an objective way," said Muladi, who is also a member of the National Commission on Human Rights.

He said intellectuals were not raised only in universities but in society as well. There were also some self-taught intellectuals.

Also speaking at the seminar were cultural observer Darmanto Jatman, architect Eko Budihardjo and Nurdin H.K., all from Diponegoro University, and Liek Wilardjo of Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java.

Wilardjo and Darmanto agreed with Muladi, saying that academics had often been "lured by money and positions" at the expense of their intellectual responsibilities.

Darmanto said intellectuals should make morals, ethics and conscience their top priorities in addition to common sense.

"Obviously, intellectuals must have the guts to apply the norms, not just discuss them," he said. "I'm afraid intellectuals with brave hearts have become rare here. (har/amd)