Sofian Effendi elected new Gadjah Mada rector

Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Sofian Effendi, a former head of the State Personnel Administration Body (BAKN) during B.J. Habibie's presidency, won the election for Gadjah Mada University (UGM) rector on Saturday.

Sofian garnered 21 votes from the total of 32 votes cast by 22 members of the university's board of trustees, defeating the other two candidates -- outgoing rector Ichlasul Amal, who got nine votes, and head of the university senate Boma Wikan Tyasa, who came away with two votes.

Usually, there are 25 people on the board of trustees: the outgoing rector, lecturers, the minister of national education, community leaders, and university students.

In this instance, however, two student representatives refused to take part, while the outgoing rector was not allowed to vote, according to regulations.

The minister of national education, as a government representative, controlled 35 percent of the total number of votes, or 11 votes in the election.

"I will do my best to improve the university's financial resources," pledged Sofian, who is also director of UGM's post- graduate program in public administration.

The Sultan of Yogyakarta Palace, Hamengku Buwono X, who is also Yogyakarta Governor, also participated in the election as member of the board who represents community leaders.

Under government decree No. 153, 2001, UGM, along with the University of Indonesia in Jakarta; the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB); the Bogor Agriculture University (IPB), and the Surabaya-based Airlangga University, have been named by the government as autonomous public universities.

Consequently, the universities must raise their own finances to their academic operations, as the government only subsidizes a portion of their budgets.

Private parties, including industry, Sofian said, would be sources of income, as the yearly budget from the government would not meet UGM's entire needs.

He is only the nation's second rector to be elected by his own university, other than Kusmayanto Kardiman, who was named as the new rector for ITB on Oct. 29 last year.

Previously, heads of state-run universities were appointed by the minister of education with the endorsement of the president.

The outgoing rector, Ichlasul Amal, whose four-year-term expires later this month, suggested that Sofian continue the efforts he had begun to raise money, which included establishing a business company, PT Gama Multi Usaha.

He also expressed his approval of Sofian's election, saying that his former rival was his sparring-partner. "It is good that he succeeds me as UGM rector."

The election process was almost interrupted by hundreds of student protesters who forced their way into the university's central office where the elections took place.

"We reject autonomy if it a means a more expensive education!" one student shouted.