BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – The celebration of welcoming new students (inauguration) is a much-awaited moment. It allows new students to chit-chat with each other and build intimacy, so that they can together enjoy various performance presented.
Unfortunately, the outbreak of Covid-19 has forced all activities in the campus to be switched to virtual rooms, such as the inauguration initiated by Division of Entertainment from Adhikari Student Community of Communication Studies (Himpunan Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi, Himakom), Faculty of Social and Political Science (FISIP) Universitas Pasundan, which holds the inauguration virtually.
Even though it is virtually held, the inauguration activity entitled ‘Inauguration of Sundanese Culture’ did not reduce the creativity, excitement, and enthusiasm of new students from the class of 2021 Communication Studies Department FISIP Unpas.
The series of inauguration consisted of 5 events, namely the welcoming celebration of class-of-2021 students, the launching of Himakom Adhikari, cultural talk show with a theme “Ngamumule Budaya Sunda di Jaman Kiwari”, Sundanese culture festival; a performance of Tari Jaipong and pencak Silat, as well as art-creation performance from each class.
Division Head of Entertainment of Himakom Adhikari, Rendy Asharila Munajat said the welcoming celebration of new students is also held together with the declaration of Head of Communication Studies for class-of-2021 students and the election of 2021 Mojang Jajaka (Moka) of this department. The inauguration also presents special performance by Annisa Aprilia and The Kons (band).
“The election of 2021 Moka for Department of Communication Studies is a breakthrough which have never been held before. Even more, Moka is a symbol of Sundanese culture as well as the changing patron for men and women,” he said.
A Place for Doing Campaign of Sundanese Culture
The focus on Sundanese culture in the inauguration is certainly not without reasons. Sundanese culture is tightly associated to Unpas and Paguyuban Pasundan as its ‘mother’. The attached term of ‘Pasundan’ strengthens students’ awareness to also take contribution on doing the campaign and preservation of the culture richness.
Rendy also said that the class-of-2021 student of Communication Studies Department was mostly dominated by students from outside Sundanese region; therefore, it is important to introduce the culture itself. He thinks the introduction of Sundanese culture is not quite enough to be taught in the compulsory/ regular subject, but also it needs the role of forum from Himakom Adhikari.
“We are prepared to facilitate and carry out the vision of nyunda, nyantri, nyakola. We take effort to wrap the subject on Sundanese culture by using recent updated method, such as by doing art performance and talk show about culture,” he continued.
Although it was held online, new students’ enthusiasm is quite good. Among 430 students, there are approximately 60-70% of them join the inauguration until the final session.
“We stressed that, although we are faced by pandemic condition, we cannot let them [students] be a weak generation; since a great leader often comes and rises from hard times. The pandemic is neither a reason nor obstacle to limit or reduce the spirit and communication/ silaturahmi,” he confirmed.
Launching of Himakom Adhikari, Spirit of Organization in the Pandemic Era
Himakom Adhikari has arranged few focuses of program which will be actualized during the period of 2021-2022. This official launching of Himakom Adhikari is expected to be able to spread the spirit of optimism, actualize the changing movement and awareness.
Governor (term to describe a high position in the organization) of Himakom Adhikari, Aldi Gunawan stated that he along with other administrators want to form and prepare Communication Studies student to be a leader, empower its members’ intellectual and hold a program which is able to provide positive impact for the society.
“We hope Himakom Adhikari could provide a discussion forum for students, collect their interest and talent, as well as keep their spirit. For the class-of-2021 student, stay strong and innovative so that you can create a breakthrough in a both work field, business and organization,” he concluded. (Reta)*
