UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M. Eng., Ph.D., on Friday (8/10), officially opened the series of UGM's 61st anniversary celebrations. The opening ceremony was marked by the release of 61 trotokan birds and finches by the Rector in the terrace of UGM Hall. According to the Chairman of the Committee for the Anniversary, Dr. Ir. Witjaksono, M.Sc., trotokan and finches are Indonesia’s distinctive chirping birds. "Hopefully, people of UGM can emulate the behavior of these birds to be always making groups and networks everywhere," Witjaksono said.
The the number of birds released was 61 to mark UGM's age. In addition, the chirping of the birds will complement the existing animals at UGM. "I hope the hunters do not hunt birds here," he hoped.
After the ceremony, the entire academic community together performed aerobic exercises and jogging to visit the faculties of agro-cluster, covering the Faculty of Agriculture, Animal Science, Veterinary, Agricultural Technology, and Forestry. The agro cluster this time implements the anniversary celebrations based on the theme Through the Food security and Safety, UGM Participates for a Healthy and Dignified Nation.
In accordance with that theme, the Committee plans to hold an international seminar "Food Safety and Food Security'. In addition, there are entertainment activities such as ketoprak, wayang kulit, the Gelanggang Expo exhibition, orchids exhibition, and exhibitions organized by foreign students. "We're also going to open a clinic of agriculture cluster and health services to give a free eye examination and provision of wheelchairs for the disabled," he added.
UGM Rector in his speech said that with the 61th Anniversary, members of UGM academic community are expected to be more productive at work. "UGM's academic community should work with their best performance to help the public, industry and government," he said.
In addition to work more productively, they are encouraged to spend some time to perform regular exercise and keep their diet. "We'd better work with healthier body while keeping ourselves happy and prosperous," he said.
To make that happen, UGM in the near future will manage and oversee food menu in the cafeteria of UGM in order to be cleaner and healthier. "UGM is doing the planning so that the food could be healthier, more beneficial, and cheaper. Canteens will be arranged and will be given a subsidy." he explained.
On that occasion, the rector also mentioned that starting in 2011, new students are prohibited from using vehicles to campus. This call was made to create a healthier and greener campus environment. "New students are not allowed to use vehicles to campus. They are recommended to use Transjogja thus transportation in Yogyakarta can be utilized," he said.