UI holds public campaign for rectoral election

UI holds public campaign for rectoral election

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For the first time in its history, the University of Indonesia
(UI) staged a hustings on Thursday for candidates in its
rectorial election.

The event, open to the public, was attended by more than 1,000
visitors, including lecturers, students and employees.

There were also booths providing fliers, posters, T-shirts and
caps to visitors to provide information about each candidate.

The public campaign was part of the process to elect a new UI
rector for the term 2002 through 2007.

During the one-day event, seven candidates offered their
vision and mission, each with their own way of attracting the
public's attention.

The candidates include Jimly Assidiqie (Professor of State
Administrative Law), Usman Chatib Warsa (UI acting rector and
Professor of Medicine), Martani Huseini (Dean, School of Social
and Political Science) and Harkristuti Harkrisnowo (head of the
criminal dept., School of Law).

Harkristuti, the only woman in the race, for example, sang a
song, along with other lecturers and students, while another
candidate, Jimly Assidiqie read a poem on the 21 characteristics
of an ideal rector.

Acting rector Usman Chatib Warsa even introduced members of
his family to the audience before starting his presentation.

Many lecturers, students and employees wore T-shirts or caps
bearing slogans indicating their support for particular
candidates, such as "I Support HH" (HH standing for Harkristuti)
and "Usman Yes". Some sat in groups to give support to their
candidates by shouting or singing songs.

Besides delivering presentations, the candidates also
participated in a question-and-answer session with the public.

However, aside from this colorful campaign, many students gave
a cold shoulder to the candidates' enthusiastic presentations,
slamming them as a "fix".

Lusi, a student at UI's public health school, expressed
skepticism about the fairness of the rectorial election.

"All of this fanfare is just for show, as I believe the choice
(of rector) has already been made. The person's name is already
with the Board of Trustees (MWA)," said Lusi.

She added that whoever the newly elected rector might be, he
or she ought to take the students' side, especially in committing
not to raise tuition fees.

The hottest issue rising to the surface during the campaign
was future implications for the university, given its new status
as a state-owned incorporated entity (BHMN).

This requires the university, among other things, to seek new
funding sources for its academic and research activities, as the
government will reduce its subsidy.

Many students worried that the university's costs could be
passed on to them in the form of increased tuition fees.

"The important thing for the newly elected rector is that he
or she must not "extort" students in order to cover the
university's costs," said Lusi.

Meanwhile, Neim, a security guard at the school of
engineering, who has been employed there since 1987, stated that
the new rector must embrace all sectors of the university
community regardless of their level or role there.

"We don't need a brilliant person. We need someone who can
cope with and form a bridge between top officials and lower-level
staff like me," he said.

After the hustings, the MWA will carry out an assessment of
the candidates on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 to shortlist them to four. On
Aug. 12, it will choose two candidates who will run in the final
election on Aug.14.

MWA members consist of 21 people drawn from university
stakeholders, including lecturers, students, businesspeople, the
public and minister of education.