Reinventing college orientation programs

Ardimas Sasdi, Jakarta

With the start of a new academic year less than a week away, colleges and universities are bracing themselves for freshman orientation. Campuses are replete with decorations, pamphlets, bunting and banners to welcome new students.

For their part, student boards have laid out plans for the great annual event, which usually lasts a week. But monitoring by the writer at two Jakarta universities indicated no improvement in organizers' preparations. Written, standard procedures, which should be followed by the participants, were conspicuously absent and the basic approach of the organizers to the orientation remained unchanged.

The lack of written rules of conduct poses a risk following sad experiences in the past, where poor planning was blamed as the main cause of negative excesses during orientation. In the last three years alone four freshmen have died during orientation.

They included (in 2002) Suryowati Hagus Darayanto, 21, a student at Jakarta-based Institute of Science and Technology (ISTN), and Cecilia Puji Rahardjo, from Semarang-based Diponegoro University (UNDIP). The worst case occurred in 2003, when two students from the State Administration College (STPDN) in Bandung, West Java, died during orientation. The four were proven to have been killed by their seniors, who mentally and physically harassed them for violating the orientation rules. Nationwide, the actual figure is believed to be much higher, as many cases go unreported.

What should be done? The incidence of the death of the four is a stern warning to organizing colleges and universities and a strong reason for change or reinvention of the program.

The orientation, which is also known as a "welcoming week" and aimed primarily at helping freshmen make the transition to a new university life, should not only be a useful but also a happy moment for all participants, as in foreign colleges and universities.

Recent experience of the writer as a visiting scholar to the University of California at Berkeley, proved that the orientation or convocation day can become a meaningful event. It was useful to help students and scholars to get acclimatized to university life quickly. Age gaps and differing nationalities did not really matter at the university, known for the diversity of its students. The convocation, which began with a speech from the rector, was full of fun, and food was served. Participants sang songs, played games, exchanged greetings and sat together for food and drinks in a friendly atmosphere.

But in a country like Indonesia where the emotion of the people is high and people fight with fists rather than arguments, the annual event, if not well-planned, has the potential to turn into a stressful occasion and even a nightmare for weak or unorganized participants -- freshmen.

The media have often reported that senior students slapped and beat freshmen for trivial violations. These incidents occurred because senior students still regarded the orientation as hazing and an opportunity for revenge for the unpleasant things they experienced a year or two before.

The situation is getting from bad to worse due to poor control by colleges and universities, although the orientation was useful for these institutions.

Many experts still have a favorable view on freshmen orientation, but underline a need for reinvention of the program. Strict requirements must be met so that the program can achieve its real goal.

First, the orientation must be a well-planned program and fully supported by all parties at colleges or universities, from the rector down to directors and deans. The event is too big to be entrusted to only an assistant rector or dean for student affairs, as was the case in many campuses.

Second, reduce programs that involve physical activities and direct exposure to sunshine, which can easily make participants tired and lose their self-control. Senior students must organize the orientation responsibly and forget that hazing should be like it is at a military academy.

Instead, organize more programs like visits to libraries, laboratories or sports facilities, and speeches on academic matters. Tell freshmen about academic expectations of them -- how to manage time, take notes, read course materials effectively and then integrate the information.

Third, the orientation should be made as stimulating as possible. Hold discussions on topical issues like alcohol and drug abuse, the dangers of rape by acquaintances, diversity, campus safety, how to get along with a roommate or cope with stress.

Fourth, organize the programs in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to allow free interaction between participants by organizing games, anecdotes and food. The other vital key to the success of the event is the willingness of senior students and lecturers to reach out and adopt egalitarian attitudes in dealing with freshmen.

Last -- and possibly most crucial -- is that senior students must learn to treat freshmen with respect and dignity. The five steps demand fundamental changes in the orientation concept and model, as well as the conduct of organizers.

The author is a staff writer for The Jakarta Post and can be reached at ajambak@berkeley.edu