Unsri Forms Adhoc Team To Investigate Allegations Of Student Harassment

Sriwijaya University Chancellor Anis Saggaf opened an online introduction to campus life for new students (ANTARA/M Riezko Bima Elko P/21)

PALEMBANG - The Chancellor of Sriwijaya University (Unsri), Palembang, South Sumatra, formed an ad hoc committee team to investigate cases of alleged female students being victims of sexual harassment by unscrupulous lecturers.

Sriwijaya University Chancellor Anis Saggaf said the adhoc team consisted of Vice Chancellors 1 and 2 as well as deans of each faculty. They were specifically ordered to investigate the alleged abuse case internally.

"Actually, this team has been formed since two months ago (for the first time the news of harassment emerged). This team is the one who investigates the allegations of harassment proportionally, "he said, quoted by Antara, Friday, November 19.

According to him, it is quite difficult for his party to trace the identity of those who claim to be victims of harassment. Because the reports received so far are still anonymous, it was also carried out through social media accounts.

Anis Saggaf ensured that the formation of an ad hoc team, Unsri as a higher education institution would thoroughly investigate the alleged case. So that the good name of the alma mater is not tarnished because of this, considering that the alleged sexual harassment is still considered one-sided.

"Unsri's academic rules are firm, there are ethics that must be adhered to and obeyed, so no one is above the law, we will process it. In the near future there will be results," he said.

Anis did not question the initiative movement of the Unsri Student Family Student Executive Board (BEM) which facilitates alleged victims of harassment to get justice. So that this alleged harassment has been widely circulated in the last few days.

"What they do is normal. However, for further processing of the case is the authority of the campus as the highest institution. Unsri must be clean from acts outside of ethics, including free from interests," he said.

Previously, the Head of BEM KM Universitas Sriwijaya (Unsri) Dwiky Sandy said the initiative began with an anonymous complaint from a student on social media Instagram Unsrifess on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

He explained that they responded to the complaint and managed to get the identity of the student.

His party provided assistance to the student on September 30, 2021, as a result, the dean of the faculty responded to the incident experienced by the victim.

"The victim's case has reached the faculty. There have been several summons, he came accompanied by the victim's mother and received assistance from the head of the jury," he said.

Then his party received two new reports of cases of alleged female students being molested by unscrupulous lecturers on November 6, 2021 from different faculties. The complaint has been submitted to the Unsri Rectorate.

"We consider that the alleged new case is very serious, because several people have alleged victims and on 16 November we sent another letter related to this alleged harassment to the Rectorate," he said.