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North Sumatra University breaks up student forum on LGBT literature
Suara USU chief editor Widya Hastuti has said that North Sumatra University's student press was disbanded by the rector due to the publication of a short story. She bemoaned the university's ban on the discussion of LGBT literature, saying that it infringed on students' right to free speech.
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The chief editor of a student press organization has bemoaned North Sumatra University's ban on the discussion of LGBT literature, saying that it infringed on students' right to free speech. (Shutterstock/File)
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hortly after disbanding its student press, Suara USU, for publishing an LGBT-themed short story, North Sumatra University (USU) has barred former members of the now-defunct press organization from holding discussions on LGBT issues.
Officials from the USU rectorate made the decision on Tuesday to break up a forum organized by Suara USU to discuss a literary piece titled Semua Menolak Kehadiran Diriku di Dekatnya (Everyone Refuses My Presence Near Her).
The piece, which describes the discrimination faced by homosexuals in the country, was written and posted by Yael Stefany Siaga on the Suara USU website.
The forum, which was attended by literature experts and members of the press, was already well under way when members of the rectorate insisted that the discussion be shut down immediately.
The incident faced resistance from students and shows how the university's growing intolerance of the LGBT community is now threatening academic freedom.
USU student welfare division head Efendi Manurung said the student press could no longer organize public discussions on campus since Suara USU was disbanded by the university rector last week.
"They're not allowed to organize discussions anymore. If they still want to hold such events, then they should do so outside the campus," Efendi said, while dispersing discussion participants at the Suara Usu secretariat.
