16 February 2023
Threesna Sharfina
FISIP USU – A collaborative event between the Public Relations Division of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Sumut), Radio Kardopa 99.4 FM, and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) USU was successfully held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. This event featured a public discussion involving university students and radio listeners from Medan and its surrounding areas. The discussion focused on how to build an innovative, courteous, and critical young generation in preparation for the 2024 election.
The event invited expert speakers in their respective fields to provide insights and guidance on the topic. The panelists included H. Hendra Cipta, S.E., representing DPRD North Sumatra, and Dr. Warjio, Ph.D., representing the academic community of FISIP USU.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Hatta Ridho, S.Sos., MSP, Dean of FISIP USU, emphasized the importance of shaping young voters who are critical, intelligent, careful, and courteous in the upcoming 2024 election. He further urged students to exercise their voting rights, as "every vote determines the nation's future."
As a speaker, H. Hendra Cipta, S.E., highlighted that every generation faces different election challenges. For the younger generation, the growing sense of individualism in society poses a significant challenge, potentially leading to the loss of politeness in expressing opinions. He also addressed the dominance of older politicians, which often hinders young politicians from emerging, as oligarchies have infiltrated various sectors of Indonesia’s electoral system. Therefore, young people and students must be politically aware and engaged. He concluded by stating that young people must care more about politics and elections in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Dr. Warjio, Ph.D., emphasized that young voters must embody three key traits: intelligence, courtesy, and critical thinking. He discussed the importance of public participation and transparency in a well-functioning democracy. He also compared Indonesia’s election system to Malaysia’s, noting that Malaysia has made more progress in recruiting young generations into politics and party leadership. He stressed that the involvement of young people is crucial for the regeneration of political parties and the nation's advancement.
During the Q&A session, students raised several questions, including how to prevent and manage conflicts among voters and how young voters can avoid falling for hoaxes on social media.
In response, Dr. Warjio, Ph. D., and H. Hendra Cipta, S. E., explained that conflicts in elections are inevitable, but they can be minimized if young people are aware and willing to improve their literacy skills. They emphasized that good literacy skills will create well-informed and quality voters.
As the event concluded, Dr. Warjio encouraged young people to participate actively in political parties, stating there is nothing wrong with doing so and that young generations must be willing and politically literate to help advance Indonesian politics.
