Author name: Ghina Nafsiya

Jatinangor, 9 September, 2024 – The Postgraduate Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran collaborated with the Postgraduate Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada in hosting a seminar entitled “Academic Student Networking” (ASN) with the theme Dynamic Space: The Evolution of Literature and Popular Culture. The seminar, held offline, was conducted on Monday (9/9/2024) at the Hall of the Center for Japanese Studies (PSBJ). In this seminar, lecturers from both study programs were present. In addition, the seminar was also attended by post-graduate students of Unpad and UGM Literary Studies. This activity took place dynamically and interactively by involving students to deliver presentations of their scientific work. The sessions at the seminar were divided into three with different presenters and moderators in each session. Session 1 Presenter: Moderator: Sira Kamila (Unpad student) Session 2 Presenters : Moderator: Zalifa Nuri (UGM student) Session 3 Presenters: Moderator: Aditya Martin Muhammad (UGM student) Not only were presentations delivered in the seminar, the event that brought together the two universities was also enlivened by art performances, sharing, and networking sessions. By hosting this joint activity, it is hoped that universities in Indonesia can mutually exchange knowledge that is useful for the advancement of the nation’s educational development. Writer: Maria Imanuella Dewi SekartajiTranslator: Dhia Anaulva Putri

Jatinangor — Education not only provides academic aspects but also social values. This is done as an effort to create human resources who are sensitive to issues occurring around them.  In line with this, the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (BEM Gama FIB) always strives to provide education to the FIB academic community regarding the values ​​of diversity, equity, inclusion, human rights, honesty, respect, and fairness through every activity held. One form of the BEM Gama FIB program related to Human Rights (HAM) issues is Black September. This activity, which is carried out and supported by the Department of Strategic Studies and Action, provides education as a reminder of the dark history that has occurred in Indonesia through actions and uploading articles on social media pages.  Several articles have been uploaded on FIB social media, namely the Tragedy of the Murder of Munir Said Thalib, the Tanjung Priok Massacre, the Shooting of Pastor Yeremia, and the Semanggi Tragedy. In addition, this year, BEM Gama FIB also organized a theater arts event that raised the issue of human rights violations, both national and international, entitled “Kenang Gray”. These programs are carried out by BEM Gama FIB as a form of education for the FIB community to awaken memories of the dark events that have not yet ended. Apart from that, through this program, BEM Gama FIB also invites the community to always voice human rights issues because they are a shared responsibility. Writer: Maria Imanuella Dewi SekartajiTranslator: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah

On 28 August 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (“Fakultas Ilmu Budaya” or FIB), working together with Dr. Kohki Watabe, Associate Professor from the University of Tsukuba, held an event about East Asian Culture for the public to participate in. The dean of FIB, Prof. Aquarini Priyatna, lecturers of FIB, and postgraduate students have previously met and discussed with Dr. Kohki Watabe as well as Prof. Noriko Hiraishi and her team as other collaborators in the project about “Consumption of Japanese and East Asian Culture” in Indonesia.  The event was opened by the chairperson of the Masters Program of Literary Studies, Dr. Muhammad Adji, and then continued with a welcoming remark by the dean of FIB, Prof. Aquarini Priyatna. Then, for the seminar session, Dr. Kohki Watabe introduced himself as the Associate Professor in the International and Advanced Japanese Studies Program at the University of Tsukuba, as well as his joint research project with Prof. Noriko Hiraishi and Dr. Natasue Hieda.  In the lecture, Dr. Kohki Watabe gave various examples of cultural texts, such as Madonna’s music video, to show show audiences have their own desires and agency when they are consuming popular culture. Other topics and examples were also discussed, such as the usage of slash fiction by writers to make their own sexual or romantic plots of certain characters in popular culture, as well as DIY cultures to appropriate capitalists’ contents in the topic “Feminism and Civic Engagement.”  Afterward, participants were invited to continue the discussion in the workshop session. They were divided into four groups, “Japanese ‘idol culture’ in Indonesia”, “Korean culture in Indonesia”, “Cosplay in Indonesia”, and “Girl culture and Japanese texts.” Each group was led by the visiting lecturers, including Dr. Kohki Watabe, Prof. Noriko Hiraishi, and Dr. Natasue Hieda. This workshop allowed participants to engage more intensely about the specific topics they are interested in. Ultimately, the interactive event allowed FIB lecturers, students, as well as the general public to share their cultural experiences and knowledge through the art and personal hobbies they are accustomed to in their everyday lives. Writer: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah

On 22 August 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (“Fakultas Ilmu Budaya” or FIB) at Universitas Padjadjaran hosted a guest lecture entitled  “Asian-African Anti-Colonialism and the Arab World.” The lecture was given by Dr. Anaheed Al-Hardan,  associate professor of  sociology at Howard University as a part of collaborative research with FIB’s Center for Literary, Cultural, and Historical Studies. The event was opened by FIB Dean Aquarini Priyatna, and moderated by the Director of FIB’s Center for Literary, Cultural, and Historical Studies, Dr. Ida Farida Sachmadi. The Chair of English Studies, Dr. Ari Adipurwawidjana, as well as other FIB lecturers were also present in this well-attended, engaging, and relevant lecture on colonialism and anticolonialism in the Arab world.   It was notable that, despite the early morning lecture, many FIB students, ranging from first-year undergraduates to second-year postgraduates, attended and participated in the conversation about colonialism and anticolonialism in the present.   Dr. Al-Hardan began her lecture by discussing her research on historical anti-colonial actors that were connected to the larger context of the Asian-African collective struggle that began in the Asian-African Conference in Bandung in 1955. The historical event was the result of at the preceding half a century of anticolonial and antiimperialist organizing, Dr. Al-Hardan argued. More specifically, she centered the role of Cairo in this struggle after the watershed meeting in Bandung. This research focus is relevant to many capstone projects and research focus of both students and lecturers at  FIB who attended the lecture.  “The question of Palestine existed alongside other important anti-colonial struggles in the African-Asian world,” Dr. Al-Hardan said. The contemporary struggle for Palestinian national liberation became the most popular topic of students’ engagement with the Visiting Scholar and the lecture. Among their questions and comments, students asked about the daily hardships Palestinians faced and how they could engage others in the conversation about colonialism and anticolonialism in the world. . Although decolonization is far from complete in the Arab world, Dr. Al-Hardan ends the lecture on a hopeful note . She argued that today, we are living in the midst of unprecedented developments in Palestine that are leading to a global generational change in how people see colonial powers and the unfinished business of decolonization in the Arab world. In line with FIB’s aspirations for a better world, she concluded by stating that “we have to fight for the world we want, free from colonialism, free from colonial domination–where people can have human dignity and live as equal human beings.” Writer: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah

Jatinangor, West Java – Employing high quality food sources is one of the keys to food production for producers. Not only the freshness of the ingredients, quality food sources also contribute to the taste and nutritional content of the food or beverage produced. One of the bread and cake companies from Japan, Chateraise visited Universitas Padjadjaran on August 12-13, 2024. The visit was held at Bale Tatanen Greenhouse Unpad Jatinangor Campus. This activity is intended as a form of partnership between Chateraise Co., Ltd. and Bale Tatanen Unpad. The collaboration between the Japanese bread and pastry company is conducted by the usage of strawberries harvested by Unpad in the food products they produce. Bale Tatanen Unpad has continuously been cultivating premium strawberries since 2023 as a result of collaboration with Japan Premium Vegetable (JPV) and Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). Representative of PT Chateraise Gobel Indonesia, Nobu Hirai expressed his company’s interest in strawberries cultivated by Universitas Padjadjaran, considering Chateraise’s need for quality strawberries. Nobu also added that Chateraise is making efforts to attract the Indonesian market. “Our main mission is to make Indonesians fully satisfied and content with our products. Here, we not only import products, but also produce our products. Therefore, we need to obtain high quality ingredients too, which is why we think it is very important to acquire quality strawberries,” Nobu explains. The coordinator of the Plant Factory Ichigo manager of Universitas Padjadjaran, Prof. Dr. Reginawanti Hindersah, M.P. also explained how strawberries cultivated by Bale Tatanen Unpad can attract foreign producers, such as the bread and cake company Chateraise with 1000 branches worldwide and 45 branches in Indonesia. “Chateraise’s appeal is that the fruit is fragrant and sweet. Even the most sour piece in the cultivars grown here is somehow still sweet compared to local cultivars, so it still falls into the range of the sweetness they are looking for,” she explains. On the other hand, she also explains that the partnership with Chateraise contributes to the collaboration that has been established between Unpad and JPV. This is considered a very commendable point, considering that Bale Tatanen is the spearhead in international interactions carried out by Unpad with businesses and private institutions in various related fields. “I hope that in the future, this greenhouse will continue to be sustained with the support of Unpad’s Faculty of Agriculture and research support from DRPM,” expresses Prof. Regina. In addition to representatives from PT Chateraise Gobel Indonesia, the visit to Bale Tatanen Unpad was also attended by JPV CEO, Kenji Edo along with Chateraise Procurement Strategy Office Manager, Eiji Hayashi and General Manager Purchasing Department, Ryoichi Inoue. Writer: Maria Imanuella Dewi SekartajiTranslator: Dhia Anaulva Putri

Jatinangor, West Java – Corruption is a threat that often occurs anywhere. Not only related to government, corruption can also occur in the educational environment. The perpetrators also vary from various groups and backgrounds. In efforts to prevent and eradicate corruption, students are one of the important agents. This begins with instilling anti-corruption values by starting to always comply with the law individually.  Deputy for Education and Community Participation of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) RI, Wawan Wardiana said that a culture of corruption is born from corrupt practices. “This (culture of corruption) can occur because behaviors that are corrupt are considered normal. If it is considered normal, then what happens is a criminal act of corruption, “said Wawan in the KPK Bus Roadshow Public Lecture with the theme ‘The Role of Higher Education in Corruption Prevention in Indonesia’. This activity was held at Bale Sawala Unpad Jatinangor on Thursday (8/8/2024).  Wawan explained that there are at least seven types of corruption. These are related to state losses, embezzlement in office, fraudulent acts, bribery, extortion, gratification, and conflict of interest. In addition, parties who do not commit corruption, but do things related to it can also be reported. In relation to these seven matters, Wawan explained that the KPK applies three approaches in carrying out its duties. These approaches include prosecution, prevention or efforts to improve the system with digitalization, and an approach with education as a means of instilling anti-corruption values to students as the younger generation. “This approach cannot be successfully carried out by the KPK alone. So another approach is public participation. If the community does not contribute, does not participate, it will be difficult,” he explained.  Efforts that can be made by students in this eradication, namely to always obey the applicable law. In addition, other efforts can be made, namely by reminding people around, conducting research and applying science, and creating anti-corruption movements or communities. Wawan added that instilling anti-corruption values in educational institutions is not only done by providing education. Another thing that is no less important is to improve the ecosystem of the educational environment. It is also necessary to voice the anti-corruption movement through the implementation of the tridharma of higher education. “We must all get used to what is right and not justify what is usual when it is wrong,” Wawan urged.  The anti-corruption movement is something that needs to be echoed by all parties because awareness of these values must grow from within each individual. Thus, the eradication of corruption is not only the responsibility of the government alone but together with the community.  Writer: Maria Imanuella Dewi SekartajiTranslator: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah

Sustainable living is one of the aims of the moment. One of the attempts to accomplish this is by preserving the marine ecosystem.  HIMAIKA Unpad, a student association from the Marine Science Study Program, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science Universitas Padjadjaran, organized a community service activity that targeted the issue of preserving the marine environment. This activity was undertaken in Mundupesisir Village, Mundu District, Cirebon Regency, on Saturday (8/3/2024) and Sunday (8/4).  This activity gained support from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) and other Unpad faculties.  As the head of HIMAIKA Unpad, Agam Rachmat, said, mangrove area conservation is the event’s primary goal due to the village’s high mangrove potential. “Mundupesisir Village is one of the villages that its mangrove area is potential to be optimized in as a tourist area and attract many visitors. Thus, HIMAIKA Unpad is here to help grow the area,” he said. This community service is programmed by the Community Service Department HIMAIKA Unpad. The task of this department is to design and implement various forms of community service activities. This is one way that HIMAIKA is able to show a real contribution to the public through social activities. “I expect this activity to be carried out in a continuous annual basis so that Mundupesisir Village as a HIMAIKA Assisted Village can preserve its environment and evolve to be a developing marine tourism village,” said the Head of the Community Service Department of HIMAIKA Unpad, Dhan Dhan. The service activities consist of various activities, including a program named “HIMAIKA Teaching” on the first day. The theme raised in this program is “Growing Together with the Sea: Environmental Education and Creativity for Coastal Children”. In this program, HIMAIKA Unpad gives educational lessons to SDN 3 Mundupesisir students about the importance of maintaining cleanliness, as well as fostering environmental awareness among children on the coast so that they always maintain the sustainability of their environment. On the second day, the “Rangkul Desa” mangrove planting program was held, entitled “Mangrove Selamatkan Masa Depan” (“Mangroves Save the Future”). This activity aims to support the potential of the mangrove forest owned by Mundupesisir Village with substantial actions to plant 300 mangrove seedlings. Through this program, it is hoped that the potential can be developed more optimally while providing ecological benefits as a natural fortress for the local community. With this service activity, HIMAIKA FPIK Unpad hopes to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability as well as empowering people living on the coast. On the other hand, they also hope that this activity will become a basis for the community to be more aware and responsible towards their environment. Writer: Maria Imanuella Dewi SekartajiTranslator: Firda Khoirunnisa

Jatinangor, August 10, 2024 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Padjadjaran pays full attention to issues of hegemony, gender inequality and its resistance in the context of culture, literature, and media. This is reflected in the seminar on gender, sexuality, and cultural hegemony held on July 3, 2024 in the PSBJ Hall. This seminar is the final semester exam project of the Gender, Sexuality, and Cultural Hegemony course designed by Master of Arts students, Faculty of Cultural Sciences Unpad. As well as the 67th Anniversary of Universitas Padjadjaran, the seminar on gender, sexuality, and cultural hegemony is open not only to the academic community but can be attended by the public.  Starting the presentation in this seminar, Dr. Ari Jogaiswara Adipurwawidjana as the keynote speaker presented a material entitled “Elipsis as a Space for Women to Speak Out.” The activity was continued by 19 presenters consisting of postgraduate students Literary Studies specializing in Contemporary Literature and Cultural Studies who presented various materials. The topics ranged from body, power, and gender performativity to femininity, masculinity, and heteronormativity.  Each material presented by the presenters will be given feedback by the lecturers of the course, namely Prof. Aquarini Priyatna, Dr. Rasus Budhyono, and Dr. Mega Subekti, who are experts in their fields. This seminar aims to prepare Master of Arts students as researchers and get used to presenting the research that has been done. Writer: Lusiana Dewi SaefudinTranslator: Jauza Maryam Mumtazah