Campus student organizations get greenlight for autonomy

Campus student organizations get greenlight for autonomy

JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of Education and Culture Juwono
Sudarsono has said student organizations will no longer have to
fall in line with the dictates of university rectors.

"Student organizations will be independent. They will no
longer depend on rectors but on the higher learning institution's
academic values," he said after the transfer of job ceremony from
his predecessor Wiranto Arismunandar here last Thursday.

He explained student organizations would be free of rectors'
interference in their activities, including elections of leaders.

But he advised students to "be gentlemen" and conduct fair,
sportsmanlike elections, including if they ended up on the losing
ticket.

"A student who loses an election should fairly recognize his
rival's victory and should not establish a counter organization."

He continued that students would be allowed to invite noted
figures, including government critics, as campus speakers.

"But those invited to speak on campus should abide by all
rulings prevailing there...," he said. "There is no such thing as
absolute freedom."

Freedom comes with its own set of responsibilities, he added.

"When I was recently invited to deliver my speech at the
University of Ohio in the United States, I also complied with the
country's laws. I could not say: 'Clinton must be killed'. The
freedom has its own limit."

He said exceptions might be made for those invited to a
limited forum attended by experts and intellectuals.

"This is a matter that is the same as the question of how to
treat a photo of a naked body. Among physicians, it is a
scientific photo, but to the public it is pornography."

Juwono's progressive remarks are a marked departure from the
stance of several of his predecessors, who rigidly defined the
limits of student activism and barred political speeches from
campuses.

In the past, student organizations were even prevented from
inviting political party representatives to address them on their
campuses.

Asked about democracy on campus, the minister said students
should realize they should strike a balance between academic
responsibilities and social activities.

He said he would forge cooperation with rectors of private and
state universities and institutes to reach a consensus on a code
of ethics on campus.

"A consensus is needed so that academic activities should not
be affected by social ones usually conducted outside of the
campuses," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

"If there is no consensus, the campus will certainly become an
arena for political parties and groups of ideologies to compete,
the way they did years ago."

He cited the opinion of German sociologist Max Weber, who
insisted that campus activities should be untainted by meddlings
of political parties.

Lessons could also be learned from campus turmoil of 30 years
ago.

"During the 1960s, political parties entered campuses and
student brawls became unavoidable. It was no longer a war of
thought but a war of fists. Campus independence should be upheld
and maintained." (rms)