ITB Fair 2010 Talk Show: "Don't Become an Activist Because of Academic Failures"

Oleh prita

Editor prita

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - As many as 160 students from various universities in Indonesia attended this talk show, which was one of the events of ITB Fair 2010, Saturday (06/02/2010). Fifty universities took part in the event that was designed to be a nationwide student conference, located in the Communal Lecture Building of ITB.
Present as speakers for this event were Darmaningtyas as the owner of the Student Park, Sugeng Prawoto as the editor-in-chief of Metro TV, and young entrepreneur, Anindya Noverdia Bakrie. Each speaker shared their experience and knowledge to the participants of the talk show under the theme of "The Momentum of Collaboration towards an Independent Indonesian Society".

Darmaningtyas, for example, shared her organizational experience when she was in university. She also had a message for the students of this generation to not lose their enthusiasm in reading. "Go back to reading books; forget about texting (SMS). Don't let yourself spend more on phone credits than books," she said.

She also expressed her opinion on expensive education that is based on money. According to her, if the education process begins with money, in the end the participants or students will be focused at gaining a return for the financial investment they first put in, which makes them forget about the essence of education.

As the second speaker, Sugeng Prawoto re-emphasized the statements of Darmaningtyas. He then continued the discussion by talking about the power of the media. He stressed that students should always liven up the student press. "This nation will be dry if the element of writing disappears," he argued.
Sugeng further explained that writing is a form of intellectual responsibility of the highest order. Writing down knowledge and opinions are better than verbal expressions.

The third speaker, Anindya Bakrie, arrived in the middle of the talk show. Despite her lateness, the enthusiasm of participants did not diminish at all, as they listened closely to every word that the President Director of Bakrie Telecom, Ltd. and ANTV had to say. Anindya elaborated the various potentials that Indonesia has, that would enable Indonesia to compete on a global scale.

"There are so many things that we can do in the coming years, and you all live in an era full of challenges," she said.

Several arguments were also expressed by the participants of this talk show, which was hosted by Iwa Kartiwa. A participant from Surabaya claimed that the challenge of a student activist now is the academic aspect itself, with the many rules involved.

"There should be an assurance for activists to receive an A in class," he asserted, which was immediately supported by all participants.

Sugeng Prawoto then softly rectified that statement, "Don't become an activist because of academic failures," which the participants instantly responded with laughter.

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