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Freshman orientation program claims 3 students in Yogyakarta
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Syafii (left), father of Ilham Nurpadmi Listiadi, a victim of alleged bullying during a freshman orientation program held by the Indonesia Islamic University in Yogyakarta, talks to the UII rector Harsoyo (wearing batik shirt) at the Bethesda Hospital in Yogyakarta on Jan 24. (JP/Bambang Muryanto)
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third student of the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) in Yogyakarta has died, allegedly a victim of the endemic culture of violence associated with the freshman orientation program.
The third victim, identified as Ilham Nurpadmi Listiadi, died on Monday. Fellow students Syaits Asyam and Muhammad Fadli died after enduring alleged bullying during the orientation program held by the UII’s mountain climbing club (Mapala Unisi) on Mount Lawu in Karanganyar regency, Central Java.
Syaits died on Saturday while Muhammad succumbed a day earlier.
“Our preliminary investigation indicates violent acts [by seniors],” UII rector Harsoyo told reporters while waiting for Ilham’s body at the Bethesda Hospital in Yogyakarta.
Harsoyo said that if found guilty of breaching the university’s regulations, the orientation program organizer would be held responsible.
Harsoyo also welcomed any decision taken by the victims’ families. “We welcome it if they take legal action.”
Ilham’s father, Syafii, who came from Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, said he deplored the bullying, adding that bruising was visible on his son’s body.
Syafii said he would report the case to Karanganyar Police. “I hope the UII will solve the case. I sent my son to study at the UII with the expectation that he would become a pious person, but [it turned out] he became a victim of violence.”
