Calls for Dropout of Sexual Harassment Perpetrator at UI Law Faculty: Psychologist's View

JAKARTA - Clinical psychologist and University of Indonesia graduate Kasandra Putranto assesses that the alleged case of verbal sexual violence involving a student from the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Law (UI) could occur through digital communication. Regarding sanctions such as dropout (DO), she believes it can serve as a firm enforcement of discipline. However, sanctions alone are not enough to create a long-term deterrent effect if not accompanied by cultural change and education. An approach that only punishes without prevention risks similar cases recurring in other environments. “In the alleged verbal sexual violence case at UI, there must certainly be a proper examination and handling process before sanctions can truly be imposed,” Kasandra said when contacted in Jakarta on Wednesday (15/4/2026). This is because sexual violence cases are like an iceberg phenomenon that still faces many difficulties in law enforcement, both in disclosure, proof, and judicial processes. “Nevertheless, the case occurring in the student environment does not mean that all universities in Indonesia can be generalised as being in a dire state of understanding harassment,” she stated. Therefore, the involved campus is urged to take comprehensive steps, not just reactive ones. In addition to enforcing sanctions through applicable mechanisms, the campus needs to strengthen education on consent and communication ethics, optimise the role of the PPKS Task Force, provide safe and victim-oriented reporting channels, and build a campus culture that does not tolerate harassment in any form. Sexual violence needs to be understood in the context of manifestations of power relations that degrade individual dignity. This phenomenon also cannot be separated from the social culture that normalises sexual jokes. “Liz Kelly (1988) through the concept of the continuum of Sexual Violence explains that actions considered minor, such as verbal comments, are actually part of a broader spectrum of sexual violence. In the digital era, innovative forms are becoming increasingly complex,” she said.