Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Water fountain @ ITB



For those who have not visited ITB recently, you'll be surprised with the new addition of water fountain found all over ITB. I was surprised myself. Here's a picture of a water fountain closed to the EE department.
 Posted by Hello

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Trash and students

Remember my earlier messange about trash piling up in the South West part of ITB? I have just received the following news:


Baksos Tambang 2004: Peduli Sampah Bonbin
Senin, 11 - April - 2005, 12:54:48

Kemarin, Minggu, 10 April 2005, mahasiswa Teknik Pertambangan angkatan 2004 mengadakan bakti sosial membereskan sampah yang menumpuk di depan Kebun Binatang, Jalan Taman Sari. Dari beberapa proposal yang diusulkan, terpilihlah bakti sosial membereskan sampah, karena dinilai lebih urgen, membutuhkan penanganan yang segera. Bakti sosial ini masih dalam kerangka Orientasi Pengenalan Kampus (OSPEK) yang diadakan Himpunan Mahasiswa Tambang, bagi kader-kader himpunannya.


It's a good news to me. Now, that's what I call creative and useful. Salut to the students.

Monday, April 04, 2005

English or Bahasa Indonesia?

A while ago I posted a question, whether we should use English or Bahasa Indonesia in this blog. I never got a convincing answer. I kept using English, just for reaching out to wider audience (readers). Our formal web site is already in Bahasa Indonesia.

Well, now pak Harsono Taroepratjeka posted a message in a local mailing list asking why we use English in many things around campus. He gave a short history about our university:

During the 60s and 70s, many Indonesians (ITB lecturers) just got back from studying abroad. So, English was used quite extensive. There was "Ganesha Open Air,"
"Opening Ceremony," "Closing Ceremony," "Student Center," "Student Government," and so on.

Gradually, things were changed. Bahasa Indonesia was used. We had "Ruang Serba Guna" as oppose of "Multipurpose Room." Then, there were "Gedung Serba Guna," "Upacara Pembukaan," "Penutupan," and so on.

Now, since late 90s, things are back in English. New buildings were named in English; "Basic Science building," "Career Development Center," and so on. What's with us? Why don't we use Bahasa Indonesia? Any specific reason(s)?