Spirit of independence welcomes new students to UPH

Multa Fidrus ,  The Jakarta Post - discover ,  Tangerang   |  Mon, 09/15/2008 2:31 PM  |  Education

New and old university students as well as the public gather for five days of fun and academia during the UPH festival. (JP/Multa Fidrus)

UPH held no student orientation program, commonly known as Ospek.

Ospek have generally become notorious for the hazing of new students, a kind of “initiation rite” in which freshmen may face violence or humiliation from their seniors.

Kevin had feared that he might go through Ospek, like freshmen at many universities across the country.

He and Johana were among some 2,500 new students who had been admitted to UPH this year.

The freshmen were welcomed during the five-day festival, themed “Let Shine”, featuring live music as well as a series of seminars and contests that the university had organized as a welcome ceremony for new students.

UPH rector Jonathan L. Parapak said that it had been for two years since UPH held its first welcome ceremony for new students. This, the second such ceremony, was based on a festival concept and coincided with Independence Day.

“Therefore, we wanted to plant the spirit of independence in students, because only with the spirit of independence can we prepare the younger generation to face global competition, through education with a global curriculum,” said Jonathan.

Nadine, an industrial engineering freshman, said she was only obliged to wear a white uniform with a tie for the festival, during which she and other students gathered to listen to an orientation speech about studying at UPH.

“No violence or humiliation. All new students were just asked to wear white and a tie. It’s a bit funny, but it’s OK, and we really enjoyed all parts of the festival,” she said.

Hazing during Ospek has become an infamous tradition at other universities, which has often resulted in new students falling unconscious at their “initiation” by senior students. Past activities have included freshmen being made to stand in the searing sun for hours, as well as physical abuse in which they are kicked and slapped by their seniors.

In the worst cases, freshmen have died during Ospek.

The tradition has sparked much controversy, with the public demanding that an end be brought to the hazing. Many criticized the “tradition” as counterproductive, and pointed out that Ospek had turned into a forum where seniors demonstrated their power over new students.

UPH thus transformed its Ospek into a festival, in order that new students could enjoy and obtain useful information about their campus life from legitimate orientation programs.

UPH students perform the Saman Dance during the five day festival to welcome newly admitted students. (JP/Multa Fidrus)

“We would like to see everyone happy and smiling, because I have seen that many people are unhappy and have lost their smiles of late. We hope that the festival, including the gospel performance we present, will be useful for all,” Antonius Sugeng, the festival’s music director, said at the opening of the live Music Corner concert.

From the opening till the closing of the festival, the Music Corner was a smash hit. It featured 37 bands of young musicians and singers such as Nugie, Sherina, Lea Sumanjuntak, Clarisa Tamara, Eka Deli and Nikita. Aside from entertaining new students and the thousands of visitors who attended the festival, the live performance also delivered important messages through song.

In academia, UPH also organized a series of seminars featuring a number of noted speakers who presenting pertinent topics in their respective fields.

Yogyakarta’s Sultan Hamengkubuwono X spoke on “Culture in global education” while University of Indonesia rector Dr. Gumilar presented a discussion on “Global strategy for quality education” on the third day (Aug. 18) of the festival.

On the same day, Eka Wahyoe Pramono, a noted brain surgeon, talked about “The brain and its role in globalization”.

The following day, Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo talked about “Jakarta in the global perspective” while Sports and Youth Minister Adhyaksa Dault urged all to pursue achievements in national sports and renowned lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution discussed “Global perspective on the Indonesian legal system”.

The fifth day saw three key speakers: presidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng talked about “Communicating in the global arena”, leading conductor Adie M.S. with “Indonesian music from the global perspective” and Betty Ali Syahbana on “The New World of ICT”.

Former transportation minister Agum Gumelar was present to discuss “Nationality in the global perspective”, and incumbent minister R. Jusman Syafeii presented “Winning the global race” at the closing of the seminars on the fifth day.

The festival also ran a series of contests for high school students, such as Click & Build (on blogging) and other contests including those on economics and the travel and tourism industry. Fun contests included speech, school newsletter and the Ayo dance competitions.

UPH recorded 140,000 visitors to the first welcome festival, and this year’s festival drew more then 150,000 visitors because it was open to the public. Each day of the festival ran from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

“To build and strengthen a sense of togetherness and creative collaboration among old and new students, we also conducted the hula-hop, Beatles dance and futsal activities, as well as (the traditional) fish cracker and spicy noodle eating contests on Aug. 17,” said UPH deputy rector Sudomo.

Sudomo added that the festival was a masterpiece built upon the effort of all academic staff and students of UPH, which operates on the motto, “Bring the world to Indonesia”.

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