Allegedly Harassing Student During Thesis Guidance, Unesa Lecturer Deactivated

SURABAYA - The lecturer with the initial H at the State University of Surabaya (Unesa) has been disabled. The man who was the thesis supervisor was suspected of sexually harassing his student.

The Head of Public Relations UPT Surabaya State University (Unesa), Vinda Maya Setianingrum, confirmed that there were reports from female students who claimed to be victims of sexual violence by lecturers from the Law Department, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Unesa.

Regarding the case, Vinda said, his party has formed an investigation team from elements of the Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence, as well as elements from the Unesa Law Department.

"The team has also summoned and asked for information on the alleged perpetrators and suspected survivors," said Vinda, in a written statement, in Surabaya, Monday, January 10.

Vinda stated that in handling the sexual violence case, Unesa upholds the pro-victim principle. So based on a meeting between leaders led by the Unesa Chancellor, Nurhasan and the investigation team, it was decided that the alleged perpetrator was disabled.

"While the investigation process is ongoing for the sake of smooth examination of the alleged perpetrator, he will be disabled as of today, Monday, January 10, 2022," he said.

Vinda stated that her party really appreciates and is grateful for the survivors who voiced cases of sexual violence on campus. He also hopes that other survivors will have the courage to speak up and make complaints about the violence they have experienced, with guaranteed identity confidentiality, psychological assistance, and legal assistance.

"As a mitigation measure, the PPKS Task Force opens a submission service for all academics who have experienced sexual violence through the 082142815124 service," he said.

Previously, the alleged sexual harassment case was uploaded to the Instagram account @dear_unesacatcallers. In some of its uploads, the account describes how a student became a victim of sexual harassment by the lecturer.

"The lecturer with the initials H is the culprit," following a sentence in one of the posts from the @dear_unesacatcallers account.

The chronology of sexual harassment that occurred was called the account during thesis guidance, in a room on the 2nd floor of the K1 (ex postgraduate) building which at the beginning of 2020 was used as a law department building. Guidance runs as usual with discussions and questions and answers. But it seems H is taking advantage of the quiet classroom situation to launch his action.

H kisses A. Since that incident, A has always been afraid of thesis guidance, even though he had to finish the thesis revision before the last date of the SPK or graduation confirmation letter.