FISIP UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta Holds National Defense Seminar Discussing Students' Role in Shaping Indonesia's Political Future

Yogyakarta, November 29, 2023 - In commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, FISIP organized a National Defense Seminar with the theme "The Role of Students in National Defense to Shape Indonesia's Political Future." The event took place on November 29, 2023, at the FISIP Seminar Room and was attended by 230 FISIP students.

The opening session began with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem, "Indonesia Raya," and the National Defense anthem, followed by a performance of the "Tarian Kinang Kilaras" from the Jakarta Student Family Association, which livened up the event. Unlike previous National Defense seminars, this one involved three external speakers who are experts in the field of politics.

Rahardian Satya Mandala Putra, an edu content creator, presented the theme "Ethics and Responsibilities of Students in Politics." Mandala emphasized that students play a central role in determining the direction and policies of society. He stressed the importance of providing checks and balances to the government through political understanding and offering constructive criticism.

The second speaker, Andovi Da Lopez, provided new insights into how the younger generation, especially students, can lead political reform in Indonesia. He cautioned seminar participants to be wary of misinformation and social media polarization, which could influence the 2024 General Election. Lopez emphasized that students with critical thinking skills should expand their political literacy and not merely follow the influence of parents or social media campaigns.

Rafly Rayhaan, as the third speaker, presented two rational approaches to viewing politics: opportunistic rationality and idealistic rationality. He observed that Indonesian youth are still not rational enough due to being influenced by trends on social media. Rafly highlighted the strategies of presidential and legislative candidates that capitalize on the psyche of society but do not always align with the community's needs for concrete ideas and programs.

As the event concluded, Rafly provided new insights for young people, especially those participating in the 2024 General Election for the first time. This insight was appreciated by Salma Nida, a student of the Public Relations Study Program, who stated that the seminar provided a good perspective on student organizations and hoped that such events would continue to be held.

This year's National Defense Seminar not only provided a deep understanding of politics but also stimulated critical thinking and preparedness among students to face political challenges in the future.