Riri Rahayu, Yogyakarta – The Alliance of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Students staged a protest on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, against what they described as the chaotic handling of sexual violence cases and the growing presence of militarism on campus.
As part of the demonstration, the student alliance plans to set up a protest camp in front of the rectorate building, citing the shrinking of safe spaces for students to voice their concerns.
A representative of the alliance, Halimah (not her real name), said the protest involved students from various faculties who are urging the rectorate to take a firm stance in support of students and the public by rejecting militarism and declaring no confidence in state institutions.
"The political situation on campus stems from the policies of the central government and the cases of sexual harassment that have become the focus of the protest," Halimah said when contacted on Wednesday.
The group has requested that members' identities remain confidential due to fears of pressure from university officials and surveillance by police intelligence.
In addition to addressing sexual violence, the alliance is also protesting the central government's reallocation of education funds. They are demanding that the university administration foster a more inclusive space for students of all backgrounds.
The current tent protest marks their second such action. The previous one took place a year ago, also in May, to oppose the institutional development fee (IPI) or admission fee.
Halimah criticized the university's handling of sexual violence cases, saying the response has lacked transparency and failed to protect victims' rights. She also noted that victims have limited access to external assistance and proper trauma recovery support.
UGM data shows 13 sexual violence cases were recorded between January and March 2025. In 2024, the university handled 52 cases, and 79 were reported between 2020 and 2023, of which only 30 have been resolved.
The latest case involves dozens of students from the Faculty of Pharmacy who reported being sexually assaulted by a professor, Edy Meiyanto. Although he has been dismissed from his post, he has not yet been reported to the police.
Two other professors are also implicated in similar cases.