Unhas Expels Student for Harassing Freshers in WhatsApp Group

Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has expelled a Forestry Faculty student, WL, after he allegedly committed verbal sexual harassment against a number of prospective new students in a WhatsApp group. “Yes, that is correct. Based on the Unhas Rector’s decree, the Forestry Faculty student was expelled as of 7 August,” said Ishaq Rahman, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Public Relations and Documentation at the Unhas Rector’s Communication Directorate, on Saturday (15/8). The case first came to light on Monday (22/6), when WL claimed to be the Chair of the Unhas Campus Life Introduction Committee for New Students (PKKMB). Using this identity, WL communicated via WhatsApp with several prospective Unhas students and sent messages containing verbal sexual harassment. WL was also involved in several WhatsApp channels or groups that spread false information to prospective new students. “Several groups that originally contained adult content were also said to have been altered to appear as if they were official Unhas prospective new student groups,” he revealed. The faculty responded to the case after it went viral on social media by summoning WL for clarification, attended directly by his family. “WL admitted his actions and expressed regret as well as a willingness to accept sanctions in accordance with applicable regulations. WL even stated he was willing to resign as a Unhas student,” he said. After the clarification, the Dean of the Forestry Faculty issued an assignment letter to convene a faculty-level Student Code of Ethics Assembly (MKEM) hearing. The hearing was held on the evening of 23 June 2026. “The results of the ethics process at the faculty level serve as the basis for the faculty leadership to forward a recommendation to the Unhas Rector,” he explained. Ishaq explained that normatively, the actions attributed to WL carry serious consequences under the Unhas student ethics system, in the form of a severe sanction of dishonourable dismissal as a student. “This means that the dishonourable dismissal in this case is grounded in Unhas’s internal ethics system, not merely a decision taken because the case went viral,” said Ishaq.