UGM Diminta Terus Memupuk Rasa Kebangsaan Mahasiswa
UGM Diminta Terus Memupuk Rasa Kebangsaan Mahasiswa
UGM Diminta Terus Memupuk Rasa Kebangsaan Mahasiswa
KENDARI - Universitas Gadjah Mada is requested to continue to instill the spirit of nationhood among students, because UGM was born out of the spirit of struggle to gain independence and keep it alive. Even in the early days, founding fathers Bung Karno and Bung Hatta always sent this message to students when both had the chance to teach at UGM.
This was stated by chairman of UGM alumni association (Kagama) of Southeast Sulawesi province, Drs. Ibrahim Pallatje, M.Si., when meeting university leadership as well as lecturers and students during a reunion event at Grand Clarion Hotel in Kendari on Tuesday (6/10). Attending the event were Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. dr. Iwan Dwi Prahasto, M.Med.Sc., Ph.D., Dean of Faculty of Engineering UGM, Prof. Panut Mulyono, as well as executives of the local Kagama.
Ibrahim who graduated from UGM in 1967 said he often attended lectures given by President Soekarno. “I’m from class of ‘60, Bung Karno and Bung Hatta often gave lectures at UGM,” he said.
Ibrahim always remembers a message delivered by Bung Karno that UGM students need to sustain the spirit of nationhood despite their different ethnic backgrounds.
“At that time Bung Karno would say, ‘Hey, you Sulawesi people, Javanese people, Batak people, Bugis people, get united,’” Ibrahim quoted him as saying.
In Ibrahim’s view, UGM has not changed much today from its early mission and establishment to be a national university. He asked UGM to maintain the spirit of nationhood. “We are rolled over by the changing world. All social orders have shifted, friendship changed, but the spirit of nationhood instilled by Bung Karno and Bung Hatta should not perish,” he said.
Vice-Rector Prof. Iwan Dwi Prahasto, said UGM still instilled such spirit among students. UGM always accepts students from all regions of Indonesia to study at UGM. “Almost 47 percents of UGM students are from outside Yogyakarta and Java,” he said.
Iwan added UGM commitment to spread knowledge to contribute to resolve national problems.