Government considers ban on hazing
JAKARTA (JP): Following reports of alleged abuse and an escalating number of fatalities, the government is now considering banning student initiation programs on university campuses, an official said on Monday.
"We're thoroughly evaluating the implementation of the initiation programs, and we'll likely ban the programs," the director general of higher studies, Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, said.
He said a team at the Ministry of Education and Culture was now evaluating the benefits and weaknesses of the initiation programs, their effects on students and how universities conduct the programs.
Satryo said the government would still wait for input from all universities nationwide before banning the programs from campus tradition.
"We do not want to make any hasty decisions," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 15th anniversary celebration of Universitas Terbuka (Open University) in Pondok Cabe, South Jakarta.
He said, however, that it would be inappropriate to continue the programs.
"Student initiation programs are a tradition which dates back to the colonial days," he said.
The rector of Universitas Terbuka, Bambang Sujiatmono, shared Satryo's opinion on the agenda.
"Initiation programs hold no benefit for the students at all. And I think students need to evaluate what they've actually been trying to achieve through such activities," he said.
He said the initiation programs would only serve as an example for new students to follow authorities' repressive action against people, which is what they have been fighting against so far.
He said the programs should be replaced with more constructive activities that would introduce new students to campus life.
"They (new students) should be taught how to learn independently or how to follow campus regulations," the rector said.
He said parents were now worried about sending their children to college. "It's foolish to have students die because of the programs."
The student initiation programs have been in hot water following reports of excessive violence by committee members of the programs.
Last month, Suryowati Hagus Daryanto, a freshman at the National Institute of Science and Technology (ISTN), died after joining the first day of the campus' scheduled three-day initiation program. The program was terminated on the second day following Suryowati's death.
Also in August, the Atma Jaya Catholic University in Central Jakarta conducted an investigation into alleged abuse following reports of sexual harassment during the program. (03)