08 November 2023
Threesna Sharfina
The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on the Preparations for the Launch of the Anthropology Master's Program at FISIP USU, held on Tuesday, November 7, was a remarkable event. The discussion was graced by notable figures, including the North Sumatra Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Agung Setya Imam Effendi, the Dean of FISIP USU, Dr. Harta Ridho, Vice Chair of Commission A DPRD Langkat, Sandrak Lugo Manurung, as well as practitioners from government institutions, NGOs, social consultants, and media representatives.
In his role as one of the keynote speakers, Inspector General Agung shared his personal connection to anthropology. He recounted his experiences studying anthropology during his university years and serving as an assistant to Prof. Parsudi Suparlan, a renowned anthropology professor at Universitas Indonesia who also taught at the Police Science College. He expressed admiration for Parsudi’s anthropological approach, which, according to him, contributed significantly to reforming the police force and producing resilient officers.
Agung highlighted the practical application of cultural approaches, a hallmark of anthropology, through anecdotes. "During the national F1H2O event at Lake Toba, there were issues concerning land use. By engaging with the hula-hula (senior family members) and explaining the situation to the landowners, we were able to resolve what initially seemed like a complex problem," he explained.
He also shared urban phenomena he encountered, offering anthropological insights. "I walked along the sidewalk from the official residence to the Grand Mosque. The sidewalk had a large tree, but it was cluttered with various items that restricted pedestrian space. Later, the tree was pruned out of fear it might fall. Upon investigating, I found that the responsibility for tree maintenance did not lie with the Parks Department but with the Public Works Department," he said, illustrating the nuanced relationship between institutions and public spaces.
In his closing remarks, he applauded the plan to establish the Master's Program in Anthropology, emphasizing its role in promoting cultural approaches to problem-solving. "If every problem were solved strictly through legal means, prisons would overflow," he remarked, advising the program to adopt the guiding principle: ‘Start by humanizing humans.’ He illustrated this with a suggestion to shift the often negatively perceived tagline ‘Ini Medan, Bung!’ to a more positive and inspiring one, ‘Ini Baru Medan!’
Other participants provided testimonials about the value of anthropology in their professional work and the significant contributions of anthropology alumni in achieving institutional goals. They also offered valuable suggestions and hopes, serving as crucial input for the committee in realizing the establishment of the Master's Program in Anthropology and in formulating its vision and curriculum.
