Banten – Students at the State Islamic Institute of Sultan Maulana Hasanudin (IAIN SMH) staged a rally Thursday at its Serang campus to demand improved education quality and the elimination of nepotism practices in its management.

They also rejected the election of Sybli Sardjaya and M. Amin as deputies to rector Tahami for a second term.

The protesting students gathered at the rectorate building, using chairs and desks to block the entrance. The rally brought campus activities to a halt, including end-of-semester examinations, which were scheduled to start Thursday.

They burned their college jackets, spray-painting their demands on the windshields of cars in the parking lot.

Student committee president Sabroni said the two deputy rectors had failed to improve the quality of education and to equip the institute with adequate facilities.

Since none of the rectorate representatives came out to meet the students, a number of students then entered the building in search of the rector and his four deputies. All the rooms were empty, however.

Most of the students were not worried about missing the exams. "We preferred to join the rally, because we all need this campus to change for the better," said Amalia Syahrani.

Zakaria Safe'i, one of the four deputy rectors, said the students had no right to intervene in the deputy rector election. "There needs to be open communications between the rectorate and the students," he said.