Harimurti takes over as new Atma Jaya rector

Harimurti takes over as new Atma Jaya rector

JAKARTA (JP): Harimurti Kridalaksana, a professor in
Indonesian linguistics and literature at the University of
Indonesia, was inaugurated on Tuesday as the new rector of Atma
Jaya University until 2003, replacing Thomas Suyatno.

The inauguration ceremony at the Jl. Sudirman campus in South
Jakarta was led by Djokopranoto, chairman of the Atma Jaya
Foundation that runs the university.

Harimurti, a fellow of several domestic and international
professional associations, was selected from three candidates for
the position by a panel of foundation executives recently.

In his speech, the new Atma Jaya rector planned to develop
more postgraduate programs at the university during his four-year
tenure.

"I have several programs to develop the university during my
term as rector. Setting Atma Jaya as a postgraduate university is
one of them," he said.

The need to open more postgraduate programs, he said, was due
to the fact that many students had bought postgraduates degrees
from untrustworthy institutions.

"There is a tendency that the prices are getting lower to
obtain a master's or a PhD degree," he said.

"Such degrees should have been obtained after years of hard
work and thorough studies, not just by paying like that,"
Harimurti said.

He also planned to establish a faculty of biotechnology at the
university which he said would be the first of its kind in
Indonesia.

His predecessor, Thomas Suyatno, a prominent banking analyst,
wanted Harimurti to continue his programs, including the
tradition of the university helping protect protesters in its
compound and maintaining cooperation with other universities.

"Our campus had always been the target of military operations,
particularly during student demonstrations. I hope the tradition
to protect people chased by the military can be carried on by the
new rector," he stated. (05)