Yogyakarta, Sunday, November 10th 2024. The Suar Asa organization of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM) held a Psychological First Aid Workshop and Peer Training, as well as the inauguration of new SUAR ASA members. Mental health is an important aspect of human life, as important as physical health. Mental health of students, especially in the UGM campus, is currently a serious problem. According to mental health data from the UGM Academic Hospital (RSA) presented at the Mental Health Competency Improvement for Ambassadors of Health Promoting University (HPU) at RSA UGM, from 2022 to 2023, there was an increase in the number of cases of student hospitalization with mental health problems, namely 21 and 51 cases respectively. In 2022, the gender percentage of mental health cases was most often found in female students compared to male students at 9.4% and females at 90.6%.

The Psychological First Aida and Peer Training was opened by the Head of the Administrative Office, Erika Purnawati, S.Kom., M.Cs. who in this case represented the Chairperson of FIB UGM, in her remarks Erika said that the mental health problems of students at FIB UGM face various challenges, both academic and social that can affect students’ mental well-being. Transition from high school to university, high academic pressure, and personal problems often trigger stress and anxiety among students. Mental health issues at FIB UGM have become a serious concern. Mental health problems experienced by students are usually caused by personal and family problems.

In various mental health situations faced by FIB students, there is the Suar Asa organization which is a forum for students who play a direct role in supporting mental health services for FIB UGM students. Suar Asa is a student organization that focuses on mental health issues and prevention of sexual violence in FIB. In carrying out its function as an organization that deals with mental health issues, Suar Asa has a Teman Cerita program. Teman Cerita is a service opened by Suar Asa for FIB students who want to talk about their lives or to express what they are feeling. This service also collaborates with peer counselors in FIB as facilitators in this service who provide story sessions for FIB students. This service also collaborates with HPU FIB where reports on mental health cases and their follow-up also involve HPU FIB.

The Teman cerita program that has previously been implemented will be developed into a service that focuses on emotional support, namely through the Teman Sehat and Berbudaya (Peer Friends) mental health service. Teman Sebaya offers services as a story friend for students who want to share their problems. Suar Asa is undergoing regeneration of new members, so mental health services at FIB are not yet optimal. Therefore, Peer Friend training is needed to improve their knowledge and skills, in order to optimize the promotion, prevention, and mental health services of FIB UGM through Suar Asa. The participation of various parties is needed to prevent and treat mental health problems.

Yogyakarta, Thursday, October 31, 2024. The Indonesian Literature Student Family (KMSI) of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM organized the annual UGM Bulan Bahasa (Language Month) event held at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The event, held at Soegondo Courtyard, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, is open to the public and presents various activities such as Unjuk Kebolehan, food bazaar, language exhibition, Serap Book, Suar Memoar, music band performances, and others. Of the various activities, one of the activities that attracted the attention of visitors because of its uniqueness was a board with pasted paper containing writings of hope called, Suar Memoar.

The Suar Memoar board is displayed in the hallway and front yard of the Soegondo Building, with the aim of attracting the attention of general visitors. On the Suar Memoar, students and visitors can write their hopes and stories by writing on sticky notes which are then attached to the board. A number of papers containing hopes, dreams, complaints, and motivational messages, written by students and visitors. This is unique, because the Suar Memoar board does not only contain papers on one board, but also on several other boards, so that Suar Memoar becomes one of the favorite objects during Language Month.

Yogyakarta, Saturday, 2nd of November 2024. The Korean Language Student Association organised an event entitled, ‘Women’s Film Festival: The Voices from South Korea and Indonesia’ as one of the 19th Korean Day series on 2 November and 3 November. This activity aims to explore the issue of women’s careers through films directed by women from both countries. Both Indonesia and South Korea share many similarities on this issue, including women’s opportunities to access education, employment, and politics. Typical cultural challenges still pose barriers, such as the normalisation of double burden, discrimination, and the threat of violence. The event was held at Soegondo Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and was divided into two sessions on the first day, starting in the morning and afternoon.

In the morning, the event started with the screening of Kim Ji-Yong’s film: Born 1982, which is an adaptation of the novel by Cho Nam-joo, following the life of Kim Ji-young, an ordinary South Korean woman who faces the pressures and gender biases that permeate a patriarchal society. The story delves into the sensitive issue of Ji-young’s gradual struggle with societal expectations placed on women, especially in terms of career, family, and identity. Participants watched Cho Nam-joo’s adaptation of the novel, at the two-hour film screening. After the film screening session, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions guided by a moderator and presented by film director Kim Ji-Yong: Born 1982, Kim Do Young, via Zoom.

In the Q&A session, various participants asked director Kim Do Young a number of questions, such as the challenges and difficulties in making the film, the film’s contribution to feminism, criticism that arose, and others. The participants then ended the Q&A session with a group photo with Kim Do Young.

Yogyakarta, Friday, 1st of November 2024. The English Literature Department Student Association (IMAJI) held English Days 2024. This event is an annual event that has a series of activities to enliven the 78th Dies Natalies of the English Literature study programme. One of the series of English Days 2024 activities is a theatre performance held on 1 November 2024 at Soegondo Auditorium, Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, from 18.00 WIB to 21.30 WIB.

Before going to the the main performance, the event began with a speech from Florinesya Zahwa Raihania, as the Chairperson of the English Days 2024 Committee. On this occasion, Flori expressed her gratitude to the audience and those involved in supporting the success of English Days 2024. The speech was then continued by English Literature Lecturer, Hasyim Kurniawan, S.S., M.App.Ling.. Mr Hasyim conveyed the importance of student organisation events as a great source and learning experience. He said experiences in organisational activities train skills and leadership and problem solving and will help every aspect of students’ future.

After the speeches ended, the theatre performance titled, ‘The Front Stage Facade’ began, telling the story of the dark side of the entertainment industry. The show began with a dance music performance which would then accompany certain moments during the show. The reveal of the main players in this theatre is the character Jackie (Rizqi) as, ‘Starboy’ who plays the role of an American entertainment industry figure who is famous abroad, followed by Avery (Dewi) playing the role of the main manager of the theatre talent from the French owner of a company engaged in the entertainment industry, Jacques (Aimar). In addition, there are major characters who appear after the first part of the show which further increases the tension and excitement of the theatre with the appearance of Rita (Tyaz) and Pamela (Vari). Meanwhile, supporting characters such as Boy 1 (Nida), Boy 2 (Ipeh), Girl 1 (Felice), Girl 2 (Zahwa), Girl 3 (Nia), and Girl 4 (Chu), liven up the atmosphere of the theatre performance with various unique moments.

The English Days 2024: A Step Into the Centre Stage theatre performance was one of the amazing theatre performances in early November. It was a closing event that was well attended by the general public and students. Congratulations on the event success!

University campuses serve as ideal spaces to explore knowledge beyond the classroom. Discussion forums can be created as a response to pressing issues, such as inequality in Indonesia. These discussions can be sparked through various media, including music and film, which is exactly what the Anthropology Students Association (KEMANT) has done through its event, Rembukant #2, a program initiated by KEMANT’s academic division. This second edition of Rembukant invited participants to watch a film and explore the creative process behind the music currently trending in Papua Highlands.

The event took place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, in Room 521+522 of Soegondo Hall, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. With the theme “Celebrating Identity Through Music: Technology, Tradition, and Globalization in Wisisi Nit Meke,” KEMANT encouraged participants not just to watch but also to engage in a discussion with the filmmaker. The event featured Wok The Rock as the film’s producer, Asep Nayak as the musician and main actor, and Cania, a 2020 UGM Cultural Anthropology alumna and current film researcher. The event was moderated by Puspita Nindya Sari, a 2023 Cultural Anthropology student.

The event began with a film screening, followed by a discussion with the speakers, and concluded with a Q&A session and a flashmob of the Aster dance, led by Asep Nayak. Aster dance is a popular dance in Papua today, performed to the beat of wisisi music created by Asep Nayak.

The second speaker, Asep Nayak, shared his journey as a wisisi musician and film actor. He explained how his passion for music led him to learn FL Studio software on his own via YouTube. Through his storytelling, Asep highlighted the significance of wisisi music and its collaboration with Aster dance in the context of Papuan society.

The final speaker, Cania, provided an anthropological analysis of the film. She shared her perspective on how the film reflects the intersection of technology, tradition, globalization, and identity.

The discussion was engaging and interactive, with the film Wisisi Nit Meke offering new insights into how wisisi music and Aster dance have become part of the identity of the indigenous Papuan community. The internet, as a result of technological progress, has made global information more accessible, including tutorials for using FL Studio, which has become a tool for creative expression. Rembukant #2 concluded with a flashmob of the Aster dance, accompanied by wisisi music led by its creator.

[FIB UGM Public Relation, Writer: Puspita Nindya Sari, Editor: Aldiza, Translator: Aldiza, Photos: Afkar Alhamid]