During PBAK 2024, Women Activists Encourage Academic Involvement and Student Organization Participation

Main Auditorium, UIN News Online - Introduction to Academic and Student Culture (PBAK) session two in Harun Nasution Auditorium, Wednesday (28/8/2024) was attended by Women Activist and Lecturer of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Neng Dara Affiah.

In the event, Teh Neng, her nickname, became a guest speaker at a talk show entitled 'UIN Jakarta's Tradition of Thinking'. The event was moderated by Ziyad Hubbillah and attended by new students from Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKES) and Faculty of Ushuluddin. The talk show aims to introduce the tradition of intellectual struggle that occurs within UIN Jakarta which continues to be passed down from generation to generation to this day.

In addition, Teh Neng in opening her speech said that students who are accepted at UIN Jakarta are lucky people because they have defeated thousands of other prospective students. “UIN Jakarta is a leading PTKIN on a national scale. You will meet friends from various provinces in Indonesia,” she said while asking students from the farthest islands to raise their hands.

He motivated new students to optimize the lecture period as best as possible. Through an in-depth search for their preferred interests and talents. “Aspire to anything according to your passion. Live with a vision because it is the vision that will take you to fly as high as possible,” said the author of the book Portrait of Progressive Muslim Women in Indonesia. 

In addition, the author of the book Islam, Women's Leadership, and Sexuality also reviewed one of the leading rectors who was very influential in driving significant changes on this campus. “Prof. Dr. Harun Nasution is the most phenomenal rector in the history of UIN Jakarta,” she said. Through his fresh ideas outlined in the book can enlighten the thinking that was previously rigid and conservative. “If you want to move forward, change your way of thinking. If you want to progress, the way of thinking must progress. Progress will never be achieved, if you do not train yourself continuously day by day, week by week, month by month to keep updating knowledge,” said Neng who is also the author of the book Muslimah Feminis: An Exploration of Multiple Identities

She reminded that the main purpose of students from outside the region to UIN Jakarta is to learn. In other words, activities that are counterproductive to the initial goal must be minimized and even avoided. “It's very lame if you become an activist, but don't succeed in academia,” said the feminist activist, author of Indonesian Islamic Movement after the New Order: Exploring the New Dimension of Islam.

The former Ciputat Student Forum activist gave a sharp view of student life. According to her, the balance between academic involvement and participation in extra-campus organizations is the key to success. However, he reminded students not to get caught up in organizational fanaticism. “Feel free to join any organization, but avoid fostering hatred towards other parties,” she said.

Furthermore, Neng Dara advised new students not to worry too much about the future. She emphasized that the main focus should be on studying hard and building a wide network. “I almost never look for a job; jobs come to me,” she concluded, emphasizing that opportunities often arise as a result of effort and relationships built during college.

Ciputat is indeed synonymous with critical traditions and study forums are the soul of its intellectual dynamics. The author of the book Feminist Muslimah: Exploring Multiple Identities, describes how academic life in Ciputat at that time was filled with energy and enthusiasm. Study forums mushroomed like mushrooms in the rainy season, each with a valuable contribution in honing thought and discourse.

While some forums such as the Indonesian Studies and Advocation Center (ISAC), Pyramid Circle, and Manba'ul Afkar (MAKAR) may have faded from memory, the Ciputat Student Forum (FORMACI) stood strong, continuing the tradition. From here emerged a wave of young thinkers, who not only focused on Islamic studies, but also explored various disciplines such as sociology, literature, political science, philosophy, economics, and psychology. Ciputat, with all its dynamics, remains a fertile ground for ideas and thoughts that continue to grow.

“The intellectual climate in Ciputat does not only come from study forums, but also from student mass organizations such as the Islamic Student Association (HMI), the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII), the Indonesian Muslim Student Action Union (KAMMI), the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM), and the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI),” explained the lecturer at Nahdlatul Ulama University of Indonesia. He continued that the existence of extra organizations presents a wave of widespread scientific studies, making a significant contribution to the intellectual dynamics on campus.

After the collapse of New Order power in 1998, Ciputat became the center of the revival of the student movement with the birth of various movement organizations such as Forum Kota (FORKOT), Lingkar Studi Aksi Demokrasi Indonesia (LS-ADI), and the Student Action Front for Reform and Democracy (FAMRED). The movement became more colorful with the joining of mass and arts organizations such as HMI, the Islamic Student Association of the Organizational Rescue Council (HMI MPO), IMM, PMII, Lembaga Dakwah Kampus (LDK), and Pelajar Islam Indonesia (PII). Together, they created a vibrant movement climate, combining scholarly studies with a deep passion for change.

(Aji Pangestu/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa Kilmi Firdausi/Photo: Melva Evangelyn, M. Fahri Afrizal, Hermanudin)