The influence of academic climate toward students collective violence at universitas Negeri Gorontalo

Pages:546-550
Sukma Nurilawati Botutihe (Faculty of Psychology, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia)

University violence has become a growing concern for educators, parents, and researchers. This study investigates the influence of academic climate in relation to student’s collective violence at Universitas Negeri Gorontalo. The design employed in the study is survey using structured interviews as the instrument for data collection on a sample of students. Additional data was obtained from a team that was instituted by the university to investigate why students at University often engage in violent behaviors and these included security personnel and several teaching staff members. Results from interviews with students were transcribed and revealed: a) fanaticism and superiority of one’s faculty compared to outer group regarded as being inferior, b) week response and reaction from university administration that is considered infective in responding to students’ violence, c) absence of effective communication and interaction between university administration, teaching staff and students, while data from the Fact Finding Team /or commission of inquiry revealed the following: a) less conducive campus environment, b) limited learning facilities, c) the existence of places of residence in the university, d) low standards in the selection of new students which results into quality being compromised by quantity, e) indoctrination during orientation period of new students which introduce students to ideologies of fanaticism and superiority. These findings reveal that the academic climate at the University is still less favorable in directing students toward creative thinking and positive academic activities.