The one with HI UNPAR…
As some of you might have noticed the ongoing debates here and here about our department, this post is intended to provide you a more objective view on some of the facts and also my personal view on the subject.
Just a few days ago some of my friend gave me this link over an offline YM message along with an urgent-like words, “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS…!!”.
Well, eventually, I ended up reading the post and I can tell you that my reaction was similar to what the writer of the post wrote on her second paragraph…maybe I can even use her EXACT words to describe my reaction to her post.
Here it is: “I swear I cannot muster up a proper reaction for about a milisecond, and then I felt this huge surge of disgust. Sure, it was probably made just for laughs and the person who set it up in the first place probably didn’t mean anything ill just to ‘nyiram unpar dan seluruh penghuninya pake air dingin biar pada bangun and see the reality’, but I can’t shrug off the feeling that I HATE the idea way she delivered it.
I must recall the comment from my dear friend, Ben, who had been so passionate to make his point on this issue, that coming from a people who we thought were old enough to see which words are fit to be written and what are not, I think the writer had failed in delivering her good intention, which is I believe to make HI UNPAR better. *right, teph?*
The problem is not JUST the semantic, like you wrote on your comment, Teph, but what I felt when I read your post, there’s just too much hatred in it rather than a constructive criticism..! And about the facts you mentioned, there are some of them which need to be clarified.
Here they are:
1. On PRAKDIP and the new-kid-on-the-block. Yes they observe ours and yes they’re trying to catch us up. I’m one of the few who helped them to create their own version of PRAKDIP, along with mas Bonggas. I even stand in front of their class to explain the protocols, matters and how to organize the events. Mas Bonggas invited me there so those new-kids-on-the-block will have the opportunity to have student-to-student discussion about PRAKDIP. And I think this is an honor for me, as well as for HI UNPAR, to share our knowledge and to help other universities. And with all due respect, ours is still better, Teph.
2. Have we visited their events and humbly learn from them? Yes we did. You can ask details about this to this year’s HIMPUNAN who has been working very hard to create good networking with others HI in Indonesia.
3. On Euro-trip.As far as I know, this Euro-trip was fully funded by the government of Germany who invited our lecturers. I knew this ‘little piece of information and not-so-important-to-your-delivered points’ because I was one of the committee who hosted our Germany guests when they were here to attend the first Summer Course of HI UNPAR and Giessen University *which btw was also fully funded by them*. I think the trips and the summer courses had served well for the students.
4. On the ‘lavish’ NY trip. Hey, I’m part of it now..16 students of UNPAR, including me, will attend the event on the next Feb. You may called it as lavish, and as extravagant as it sounds, I can tell you that we’re trying very hard to catch-up to the standards. This is one of the thing of your “menyayangkan sikap dari beberapa orang yang memandang ke bawah dan bukan keatas“. We’re not looking down, Teph. We’re looking up. We’re looking at Yale, Georgetown, Harvard and other top-notch universities. And we’re not day-dreaming I can tell you. Our proudness of HI UNPAR will become our main fuel, our catalyst to get closer to those big-guys…
I do get your points from your rants. You simply wants HI UNPAR to “get off our high horse, and whip ourself back into shape” *and btw, that sentence is the one and only sentence I love from your post*. Couldn’t be more agree on that. But please, oh please, before you gets all Dlisted to all your juniors and your own alma mater, do checks on the facts, put your abundant knowledge about the ‘real-world’ and your criticism in a humble way like you put in the sidebar of your blog. Viva HI UNPAR!
The image used is the courtesy of Ben Citto Laksana
another response towards tephy’s blog.
while i read those responses, i knew that we as the students or alumns of HI Unpar are still have a big attention to our almamater.
Edna Tarigan
5 Dec 08 at 10:55 am
eeeh sumpah loe bakal ikut ke HNMUN? mwahahaha, *ngiri*
Calvin Michel Sidjaja
5 Dec 08 at 11:03 am
Makasih Bebek buat bikin posting yang bahas issue-issue yang gw lempar.
First of all, yes. “disgust” is a strong word. Feel free to use it to describe your feelings towards my opinion of that group. I think this is the fifteenth time I said this, my disgust lies not on Rean as the founder, but the poor attempt at a joke. Why do some people find it shocking when such joke was apparently not bullet-proof to harsh criticism and strong words? It’s like someone burns FISIP’s building and when confronted about it, they think they can get away with, “take a chill pill people! it’s just a joke!!!”
Btw, that’s my final say on the matter.
Now since this is not my blog, I’ll try to minimize as much dissing as possible (so help me God). Bek, apparently you and basically 3/4 of the people who visited my blog take issue in how I choose to convey my message. Yes, of course I could use formal language and throw a bit of sweetness in it, but I don’t think it would have generated as much discussion as it did now. I am waiting for someone like you to address the issues I wrote down, instead of debating about semantics, speculating what happened to me that caused me to be so bitter and harsh, and so on and so on.
I knew the price of publishing something so harsh. Oooh, just see my comments and furthermore, your blog. And btw, please ya. I never once dissed on the juniors. As harsh the comments that came in, initially I really didn’t want to tamper with them because I feel like I would restrict their rights to say their piece which would be hypocritical. Yes he/she/sheman was dissing Ryan big time, but apparently some commenter took me GUILTY for it by association.
Sebaliknya, justru gw sangat sangat kasian melihat kalian udah mulai dipepet sama universitas-universitas yang gw sebut itu dalam soal PENGALAMAN KERJA. Bek, Re, please deh, I know your qualities gitu. It’s a shame to see all of those get wasted just because you lacked “professional experience.” Oh, and trust me, all of those achievements and organizational thingy that we are so committed with in campus doesn’t seem to them as real “accomplishment.” Again, disini gw sama sekali gak “bermain politik” karena really guys, what do you think I will get by posting this beside a string of hate comments and apparently, anti-fans?
OK, I get your point about the issues you addressed. But again, I have to agree with one of the harsh commenter in my blog, bahwa HI itu bukan cuma main sidang-sidangan di dalam ruangan. Satu hal yang gw sayangkan dan ini juga sekalian meng-counter opinion lu tentang your upcoming US trip, adalah you guys are “failing to see the elephant in your eyes, but focusing on the flea across the ocean.” (heh, that doesn’t sound right! but you get the gist)
Kenapa? Karena para employer-to-be (NGOs dkk) kalian, assuming you are searching for work in Indonesia, doesn’t care about how much knowledge you have in the conflict in Kazakhstan or the gender movement in Afghanistan. They will drill you about Indonesia. Apparently, all politics are really local. Jadinya, to me those trips to the US Ivy League is a pork-barrel spending. Except of course, if you are planning to emigrate to US and get your further IR education there, by all means: GO FOR IT.
It’s good to find that you are keeping a close contact with them. Dari jaman gw masih kuliah disana, kita juga begitu kok. My point is this: mereka udah “nyontek” (harsh word? perlu footnote?) gebrakan-gebrakan kita, kapan ya we pay the deed dan tunjukin kalo kita juga bisa bikin gebrakan mereka? Mungkin disini yang patut gw kasih two thumbs wigglies are their PR skills. Kalo soal kuliah tamu sih, kita juga banyak. Tapi pernah gak kita kepikiran buat masang itu di koran, ngundang pembicara yang beneran big-time, hanya untuk kuliah terbuka? Kita masang iklan buat seminar2 aja udah pontang-panting. And btw, kalo bukan dari blog2 kalian gw gak akan tau kalo kmarin ada univ jerman yg bikin seminar di Bandung. Hence, again we failed to capture the opportunity to increase Unpar’s game.
Soal Euro-trip, ini kalian yang bisa menilai seberapa besar pertambahan nilai yang dosen-dosen tersebut bisa berikan ke kalian. Coba gunakan indikator kurikulum mereka dari semester-semester sebelumnya. Kalo ternyata kelihatan kalau ada tangible improvement, then great. I’ll keep my peace forever. Soalnya gimana ya Bek, gw sih pesimis karena gw tau banget kualitas sebagian kecil dari dosen kita. Gw masih trauma dengan kejadian ketika satu dosen didebat sama mahasiswanya sampe bener-bener gak bisa counter argumen lagi, ybs bilang “yaudah deh kalo gitu kita gak usah bahas topik ini. lanjut ke topik selanjutnya…” Btw, true story 100%, and that lecturer wasn’t kidding or throwing a faux-hissy fit.
Anyhoo, sorry if I made you splort your food on your keyboard when you first reading my comments. I appreciate the time you has invested di tengah perjuangan lu bikin skripsi? seminar? buat sumbang iler di masalah ini. My work is done. I have generated discussion, and thank Ronald McDonald for people like you who chose to focus on issues instead of personal thingy. Well, not exactly since you punched me below the belt a few times (thank God I don’t have a certain thingy), and if it makes you or your readership feel better: it stings a little. Hihihi, I am not that bionic after all.
Tephy
5 Dec 08 at 12:07 pm
Dear Andhika,
Thank you for giving your opinion accurately and more based on data. Tephy juga ada betulnya dan aku yakin 100% dia lakukan itu karena cintanya dengan HI Unpar. Hanya memang cara pengungkapannya yang sedikit berbeda dari yang lainnya, mudah-mudahan ini bukan karakter sebenarnya, karena Tephy yang saya kenal tidak seperti itu.
Dan saya suka dengan penjelasan yang percaya diri tanpa harus menjatuhkan universitas kompetitor kita atau bahkan melebih-lebihkannya. Semua institusi punya kelemahan, tapi memang betul bahwa kita harus terus memperbaiki diri, belajar dari yang terbaik dan selalu mencoba sesuatu yang baru.
Seperti yang coba saya lakukan dalam Diplomat’s Club, sebetulnya ini muncul dari keprihatinan bahwa tidak banyak mahasiswa HI Unpar yang bisa menembus Deplu (walaupun pernah ada statement dari petinggi Deplu bahwa Unpar adalah Universitas swasta yang paling banyak menyumbangkan mahasiswanya ke Deplu). Niat ini tulus untuk menempa mereka yang serius untuk masuk Deplu, menjadi lebih siap lagi. I really have big dream that someday klub ini akan menghasilkan lebih banyak alumni yang masuk Deplu dan lebih jauh lagi klub ini akan menghasilkan diplomat-diplomat terbaik Indonesia.
Usaha ini adalah usaha kecil yang mudah-mudahan berkontribusi terhadap Jurusan yang kita cintai bersama.
All the best
bonggas
5 Dec 08 at 1:00 pm
Hello Andhika,
I just want to say that Hi Unpar is very lucky to have you, and Calvin and Tephy as well. I’m a graduate from HI Unpar, btw. I was in Class ‘97.
All the best for you!
Arya nasoetion
5 Dec 08 at 3:32 pm
I personally think that one shall not bite the hand that feeds him. Or in other words (if ever anyone feels that they can outsmart the mentioned idiom), kicking someone especially when (you think) he is already down… just shows your class =]
Anyone can say anything, off course, in the internet. I second you for emphasizing on how to deliver it, especially when you are talking about a subject that many holds close to their hearts.
I enjoy reading all posts on this matter, and I thank you for writing something based on data. You wouldn’t want to be lost in such an unpleasant emotional state after reading something, would you?
Happy blogging to all! *spreading some hippie luvin*
dramaqueeningrum
5 Dec 08 at 9:03 pm
Yes, Teph, ‘disgust’ is a very harsh word to use. Honestly sorry for that but I just wanted you to know the idea of using ‘disgust’ as a very strong gesture of ours.
What I wrote in my post are several points which need to be clarified. Why is this so important anyway? Because on certain point, you heavily relied your argument and your vicious criticism on some of this issues–which proved to be false. So I think I need to straighten-up a few things before everyone get confused with all the biased-data.
You know what, I never set my mind to the idea of that HI-UNPAR-is-the-best-whatsoever thingy. I really don’t. Just re-read my post and you won’t find any of this idea of HI-UNPAR-is-number-one thingy. I got the first piece of this ‘consicousness’ from my first PNMHII. I think that is my first turning-point. Rean and Anggun will tell you the same story about how we were so eager to attend mas Nur’s class after PNMHII just because we were so jealous with HI UI and their theoritical understanding. Really!
I think on the work experience thingy, we really need to work this up. Having you mentioned it here *in a much more humble way* is a bless for HI UNPAR so that we could come up with some programs to overcome this problem.
On the elephant-flea thingy (hehe), yes we will keep our eyes on them (the elephant in front of our eyes) and try to do our best to not be overlapped by those elephants.
On the US trip, yes Teph, its quite a spending, that is why I’m taking this trip very seriously. I even plan to find some available internship for future arrangement. I have to make this trip served well for my future, otherwise, that millions will get wasted anyway. So, yes, I got the message. Thanks for pointing that out anyway…
The thing with the ‘gebrakan-gebrakan’ is something that I think needs to be encourage by HI UNPAR. Paramadina can invite Mahbubani and post it’s ad in KOMPAS for as big as half-a-page! Gosh..That is something that UNPAR needs to work on. Maybe this is also something the lecturer should pay attention, to encourage international seminars to be echoed around the country….*mas Bonggas, u still reading my blog, right? hehehe…*
Thank you for reminding us about the real world, to keep on do the hard-work and humidity. I think the one that you wrote about the Indonesia-focused thingy is similar to Evan’s ‘menara gading’ criticism in my FB, and yes it is the one that we have to put our focus on. Yes it is our weaknesses and yes we have to start looking at our own problem instead of talking about those big stuffs out there.
Sorry if I punched you a few times on the line, I didn’t mean to put any counter-attack on your post *but apparently I did*. The UNPARIANS are not bionic too anyway. Hehe…
So, lets get off our high horse and whip ourselves!! Thx Teph for generating this very heated discussion!! Hopefully the discussion will served well for HI UNPAR!!
Andika
6 Dec 08 at 7:43 am
Mas Bonggas, thx for your time to write comment on my blog.
Saya rasa memang tidak sepantasnya kita menjatuhkan universitas lain ataupun menyanjung mereka tanpa alasan yang cukup kuat. Satu hal yang saya pelajari dari ‘debat’ beberapa hari ini adalah kita memang harus terlalu berlari dan sama sekali tidak boleh terlena dengan segala achievement yang kita raih.
Dan satu hal yang Tephy ungkapkan di komentarnya juga mungkin patut jadi perhatian para dosen mas, tentang gebrakan2 yang seharusnya bisa kita lebih manfaatkan. You can read my previous comment on Tephy, mas..
And for your effort, mudah-mudahan Diplomats Club yang mas bentuk bisa jadi satu langkah awal dan sebagai satu penanda dimulainya ‘renaissance’ bagi HI UNPAR menuju arah yang lebih baik lagi.
*and wait for my application, mas…hehe..*
Andika
6 Dec 08 at 7:48 am
@ Mas/Bang Arya
Makasih untuk apresiasinya mas! Ternyata para alumni pun ga kalah semangatnya kalo udah ngomongin tentang alma mater kita tercinta! hehe…
@dramaqueeningrum
Hey youuu….you..! yes…you the hippie one!! Yes..we should spread some hippie luvin after all this debate anyway..! Lets shower HI UNPAR with some hippie-dippie luvin!!
Andika
6 Dec 08 at 7:52 am
Basically, I do get all of the points that Tephy want to address (which elaborated more by you, Calvin and others). It’s all about how HI Unpar should step out of their comfort zone etc.
Nevertheless, she puts that kinds of thought vis-à-vis people who indirectly disturbed by that kind of comments. Well, it’s not a good thing also. Hmmm, showing hatred and harsh comments did not give any solutions that she wants to addressed. Two wrongs won’t make it right.
on the other hand, as big as her effort to be the next Michael K or whatsoever which also added by her saying “I never once dissed on the juniors”: Newsflash, the damage has been done.
Furthermore, I would not second-guessing about what our almamater could give us in the future: the way of thinking, networking and others. The world out there is harsh: yes it is. But by all means: at least we have the opportunity to be this good major! Which is enhanced our quality of thinking or whatsoever.
If we are only focusing on our weakness and forgetting our advantages, we will never had enough. It sounds cliche, but my last sentence is: be thankful for what we have, and we will end up having more.
mahel
7 Dec 08 at 4:12 am
al actually did give a nice quote regarding this drama and the usage of foul words (which supposed to be not debated):
“You are now because what you were in past”
That simple sentence explains everything
Calvin
7 Dec 08 at 1:46 pm
Nice quote, Calvin..I love positive quotes and I believe it…jadi kalau disambung kemudian menjadi “What you will be in the future is depending on what you are doing now”.
bonggas
10 Dec 08 at 8:29 am
Thanks to God, I am not really sure with what was happening, i just believe, saya enggak akan menyesal menetapkan HI UNPAR sebagai jembatan saya ke dunia nyata. the nu life has just begun, semoga kami bisa menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik lagi di HI UNPAR dan dapat mengharumkan HI UNPAR seperti kakak2 ini…. I’m stunned.
pyashafira
24 Aug 09 at 5:37 am