UNAIR NEWS – The series of activities for the Introduction to Campus Life for New Students (PKKMB) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) reached its final day. UNAIR Rector, Prof. Dr. Nasih, officially closed the PKKMB program on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at the Airlangga Convention Center (ACC) on the MERR-C Campus of Universitas Airlangga.
Addressing 8,732 new students, Prof. Nasih emphasized the crucial role students play in preserving Indonesia’s unity. He highlighted that UNAIR’s new students, or Young Airlangga Knights, are agents of change for a better Indonesia.
“Let us safeguard Indonesia’s unity and peace by collectively adhering to our constitution. We are all united in this country. Despite our diverse ethnicities, languages, and cultures, we are bound together by the unity of Indonesia. This diversity must come together to ensure a peaceful Indonesia, grounded in our constitution,” said Prof. Nasih.
Showcasing creativity through pantun
Prof. Nasih also encouraged the new students to showcase their creativity by composing and reciting pantun (quatrains with ABAB rhyme scheme) on stage. These quatrains were to focus on the positive development of Indonesia, avoiding any content targeting specific individuals or sensitive issues like race, religion, or ethnicity.
The new students eagerly demonstrated their creativity, confidently reciting their quatrains before thousands of their peers. This display of courage and creativity is a direct result of UNAIR’s PKKMB program, which aims to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and innovation among its students.
Call to protect the environment
After listening to the students’ aspirations expressed through their quatrains, Prof. Nasih also urged them to collectively protect UNAIR environment by following the established rules.
One of the key rules highlighted was the restriction on vehicle use to reduce harmful emissions on campus. Prof. Nasih stressed that all students who bring vehicles should park in designated areas to help maintain UNAIR’s green and pollution-free environment.
“All new students must comply with the rules, park in the designated areas, and those using ride-hailing services should also follow the regulations, avoiding random stops. This is to maintain UNAIR’s environment and ensure mutual comfort, allowing UNAIR to continue being a green campus and contributing to the beauty of our surroundings,” he advised.
Author: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah
Editor : Edwin Fatahuddin
