UB Rector Questions Status of "Terrorist Campus"

Malang, East Java (Antaranews Jatim) - Newly elected rector of Malang's University of Brawijaya (UB) in East Java Prof. Nuhfil Hanani has questioned the National Counterterrorism Agency's (BNPT's) recent move to name UB as a "Terrorist Campus."

The BNPT had noted earlier in its release that seven university campuses had been exposed to radicalism: the University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Diponegoro University, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology Surabaya, University of Airlangga, and University of Brawijaya.

"We should question the assumption to identify UB as a terrorist campus since until now, this university still stands firm and continues to strive for the values that become its character," Hanani remarked here on Wednesday.

In fact, Hanani did not deny the existence of illegal activities that influence the academic community to take up the movement of radicalism, and it can occur in various places, including in the UB campus.

"However, we must have accurate data on what causes the radicalism movement on campus, how it spreads, and how to cope with the movement," Hanani noted.

He further underlined that UB is one of the key campuses in Indonesia, with a distinctive character, which is clearly stipulated in Article 5, paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of UB Regulation No. 1 of 2017 on Quality Standard.

UB's quality standard is a balanced and harmonious blend between divine values, Indonesianism, and diversity, so with this unique character, UB upholds the spirit of nationalism.

The unique character held firmly by UB provides a fundamental understanding that science derived from divine values and nationality will be directed to provide the greatest benefits to the nation and the state of Indonesia.

UB has made an observation and early detection on the issue of radicalism, and in its efforts to stem the idea, UB is cooperating with intelligence officials.

The intelligence assistance was sought to supervise the movement of students, especially those from outside the campus and looking to create anxiety.

It is impossible for the rectorate's internal party to supervise the activities of every student in detail, as their number reaches more than 60 thousand. Hence, intelligence officials were involved in supervising the movements of students, including other campus organizations, the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Union, and the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement.

The Student Activity Unit is suspected to be one of the entry points for the ideals of radicalism that spread stealthily, especially those that are not organized or move individually, so it is difficult to be monitored by the rectorate.

In addition to cooperating with intelligence officials, the university has taken an internal step to strengthen the moral character of students at the campus mosque.

To stem radical ideology, the UB has designed a course by incorporating the points of Character Building Based on Religion (PKBR).

PKBR is a religion-based form of personality development, though the implementation is not always related to divinity, but it also helps students develop a professional personality that is well-mapped.(*)