Heated Debate Erupts Between Students and UNY Vice-Rector Over Banner
A video of a heated debate between Siswanto, Vice-Rector for Human Resources and Legal Affairs at Yogyakarta State University (UNY), and students has gone viral on social media. The confrontation was triggered by a protest banner.
The moment, uploaded by the Instagram account @gardabiru.uny, captured Siswanto allegedly calling the students’ critical banner ‘rubbish’. The incident took place as students were preparing to hold a demonstration on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, which coincided with the university’s graduation ceremony.
Vice-Rector Siswanto stated that the recorded debate was sparked because the student action lacked a permit. He also claimed the banner contained inappropriate writing. ‘Yesterday, several students wanted to perform a theatrical act in the Rectorate Hall without permission, even though the hall was full of students and parents after the graduation,’ Siswanto said when contacted on Friday (26/6/2026). He also criticised the banner’s material, which he described as erroneous, noting that UNY does not yet have a Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) kitchen. ‘The theatrical material dirtied the floor and there was inappropriate writing. They accused UNY of having an SPPG, even though to date there is none,’ he remarked.
Meanwhile, the students explained that the theatrical action was intended to display a banner containing criticism. The banner’s message rejected the campus becoming a free nutritious meal kitchen. ‘The banner was large, about 2x2 metres. It read: “rector of education, does not know education, campus is a place to cook minds, not a place to cook MBG, we UNY students reject SPPG”. Those were the only three sentences we wrote on the banner,’ said Andri, a representative of the UNY Student Alliance.
Andri revealed that the large banner was to be installed on the rectorate stairs. After being photographed, the plan was to immediately remove it so as not to disrupt the graduation proceedings. ‘But before entering the rectorate stair area, we were intercepted in the rectorate corridor by many security guards and one of them was Mr. WR. We tried to break through,’ Andri explained. A shoving match ensued. After being pushed out of the rectorate, a dispute broke out between the students and the vice-rector, as recorded in the viral video. ‘Then the argument started. Mr. WR also said, “oh, this can’t be here, this is dirty, this is rubbish,” just like in the video circulating on social media,’ Andri stated.
Andri admitted he was shocked by the vice-rector’s statement. The group was momentarily stunned into silence. ‘We were quite shocked, why would he use language like that, because we rarely encounter words like “rubbish” or “this is dirty” during our actions. We also didn’t realise at the time that he was the WR. We were just shocked. That’s why we, especially myself, were in shock and silent, unable to say anything,’ he said. Following the incident, the protest was relocated to the front of UNY’s main gate, where the banner was eventually unfurled despite initial prohibitions.