Six Unesa Students Suspended Over WhatsApp Group Sexually Harassing Lecturers and Students

Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa) has suspended six vocational students who are suspects in an alleged sexual harassment case involving a WhatsApp group containing unethical conversations that objectified a number of female students and lecturers.

The Head of Unesa’s Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Violence (Satgas PPK), Iman Pasu Marganda Hadiarto Purba, said the six suspects have been suspended from all academic activities and campus events to ensure the examination process runs smoothly.

Iman said the case began with a complaint about a history of unethical conversations in a WhatsApp communication group involving the six vocational students. The conversations then circulated widely and were swiftly responded to following an official report to Satgas PPK.

“The case involves verbal violence in the form of a group chat by the students in question, containing unethical messages about their friends and also several of their lecturers,” said Iman on Sunday (19/7).

Based on preliminary examination, evidence and witness testimonies indicate that at least 26 people have become victims, comprising 22 female students and four lecturers.

Iman said Satgas PPK is handling the case in accordance with the procedures set out in Ministerial Regulation of Education and Higher Education Number 55 of 2024 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education Institutions, adopting a victim-centred approach while upholding the principles of justice, confidentiality and prudence.

“In handling this case, a strict mechanism has been applied, starting from receiving the report, reviewing the case, gathering evidence, examining the suspects and witnesses, providing victim support, summoning parents, drawing up conclusions and recommendations, and imposing sanctions by the rector,” he said.

Iman stressed that the suspension of the six suspects is not a final sanction, but rather part of administrative procedure to ensure the examination proceeds independently while upholding the presumption of innocence.

“The suspects have been deactivated from all academic activities, except for matters relating to the examination of this case. This is not a final sanction, but part of the handling procedure,” he asserted.

He added that Satgas PPK is continuing an intensive in-depth investigation to determine the level of violence that occurred and to mitigate the possibility of other parties being involved or affected.

“We are still conducting a thorough investigation, examining witnesses and gathering additional evidence from the very long and extensive chat history to map out this case comprehensively, objectively and fairly,” said Iman.

He emphasised that, consistent with the leadership’s commitment and the institution’s stance, Unesa’s position is clear: all forms of violence must be handled and dealt with firmly, fairly and proportionally in order to create a safe, welcoming and healthy campus environment free from all forms of violence.

Satgas PPK has ensured that its handling approach is oriented towards victim protection and recovery, providing ongoing psychological support, legal assistance and academic support. Unesa also guarantees the confidentiality of the identities of all victims, reporters and witnesses.

“Beyond focusing on handling the case, victim support is our priority. The task force team provides psychological accompaniment, ensures the continuity of their academic support, and prepares legal assistance if needed,” he added.

Satgas PPK Unesa urged all members of the academic community and other parties not to hesitate or be afraid to report any form of violence they encounter or experience. Reports can be made offline at the Satgas PPK Office/Directorate for the Prevention and Handling of Strategic Issues (PPIS), Unesa Rectorate Building, Campus II Lidah Wetan, Surabaya, or online via WhatsApp at +62 812-3005-5244, Instagram @satgasppk_unesa, or by email to [email protected].

“In view of the ongoing handling process, Unesa urges all parties to act wisely by not spreading screenshots, victims’ identities, or unverified information on social media, in order to protect the victims from various potential psychological, social and digital impacts in the future,” he concluded.

Previously, the General Chair of the Student Representative Council of Unesa’s Vocational Faculty, Tegar Eka Pambudi El Akhsan, said in an official statement that there are at least six suspects in the case: RY, HA, AD, RE, JO and DO.

The group chat itself is known to have consisted of the six students. The group was originally created to discuss competition activities, but the channel was later used for unethical conversations amounting to alleged sexual harassment.

Tegar also revealed the forms of harassment that took place in the group, with the methods including verbal harassment, objectification of a fantasy nature, and the creation of unethical content using artificial intelligence (AI).

“The forms of alleged harassment that occurred in the conversation group were not only verbal harassment and objectification of a fantasy nature or for personal gratification, but also included the use of artificial intelligence technology to produce unethical content targeting one of the victims,” said Tegar.