UNY Vice-Rector Explains Why He Debated Students Over Viral Criticism Banner

Wakil Rektor Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) Bidang SDM dan Hukum, Siswanto, has gone viral on social media after being filmed debating with students over a banner. Siswanto explained the reasons behind his reaction seen in the video. In the footage uploaded to the Instagram account @gardabiru.uny, Siswanto can be heard calling the students’ protest banner ‘rubbish’. Siswanto explained that his reaction was partly because the students’ theatrical action in the rectorate building was held without a permit. ‘Yesterday, some students wanted to perform a theatrical action in the Rectorate Hall without permission, even though the hall was full of students and parents after a graduation ceremony,’ Siswanto said on Friday (26/6/2026). He also took issue with the substance of the criticism, where students questioned UNY’s move to open a Nutrition Service Fulfilment Unit (SPPG), or a free nutritious meal kitchen. He claimed the students accused the campus of already having an SPPG, which he said does not yet exist. ‘The theatrical material dirtied the floor and contained inappropriate writing. They accused UNY of having an SPPG, even though to this day it does not exist,’ he explained.

Meanwhile, student representative Andri from the UNY Student Alliance stated the incident occurred on Wednesday (24/6). He said they deliberately used the graduation ceremony momentum to hold the action so their message could reach more people. ‘The banner was large, about 2x2 metres. It read: “Rector of Education, you don’t know education, the campus is a place to cook minds, not a place to cook MBG, we UNY students reject SPPG.” Those were the only three sentences we wrote on the banner,’ Andri said. He explained that the plan was to briefly install the banner on the rectorate stairs for a photo opportunity before removing it, as they were aware a prolonged action would disrupt the graduation ceremony. After photographing the banner, they intended to focus their main oration at the university’s main gate. ‘But before we could enter the stair area, we were blocked in the corridor by many security guards and by Mr. Vice-Rector. We tried to push through,’ Andri explained, recounting how security told them entry was prohibited without giving a clear reason. A scuffle ensued, culminating in the debate with Siswanto. ‘Then the argument started. Mr. Vice-Rector said things like, “You can’t do this here, this is dirty, this is rubbish,” as seen in the viral video,’ Andri said. ‘We were shocked. Why would he use such language? We rarely encounter words like “rubbish” and “dirty” in our activism. I was so shocked I was speechless.’ Following the incident, the students moved their protest to the main gate, still carrying the banner. ‘At first, we were not allowed to display it there either, and our banner was rolled up, but we persisted and eventually, we were allowed,’ Andri concluded.