1.

BACKGROUND
1.1 PROBLEM
President University is an English-speaking university located in Jababeka
Education Park, Cikarang, West Java, Indonesia. Following the rise of high school
students who will continue their study to university, President University
accommodates this by providing an international method of learning, dormitory area
with mixed student from diverse culture, background and religions, and providing
religion clubs which first introduced at Moving In, an event to welcome new
students of President University before the orientation. Based on 5 official religions
that already decided by the government of Indonesia, President University also have 5
religion clubs, in which those clubs were managed by President University Student
Union (PUSU); a legal organization that serves President University students in nonacademic field, such as event, concert, etc. All those 5 religion clubs are under
Society division of Student Activity Ministry.
Those 5 religion clubs are Zahirul Maala (Islam), PUCatSo (Catholic), COOL
(Christian), KMB Asokavardhana (Buddha), and KMHD (Hindu).

Having same

vision to facilitate each students religious activities during their life in President
University, those clubs conducted their own events, seminars, regeneration, etc, based
on their beliefs as their mission to embrace all students in President University. The
clubs also ever conducting a mass religious event to pray together with the members,
like praying Subuh (pray before the sun rises) for Moslems, go to church every Sunda
for Catholic and Christian, pray at Pura in several religious celebrations for Hindu
students, and reading some Buddhism prayer words, mainly every Tuesday for
Buddha students.
This paper will primarily concerns on how these 5 religion clubs could embrace
and emphasizes the beauty of having diverse culture in President University students
life, and how these clubs overcome the cultural barrier. If President University
students could appreciate each others cultural diversity, they can tolerate the
difference between religions and minimizing cultural conflict in President University.
1.2 DESCRIPTION
Before we work on the main problem, lets know the brief explanation of each
religion clubs in President University for all students. There are five clubs, named;

1.2.1 Zahirul Maala (Islamic Youth Club in President University)

Logo of Zahirul Maala

Zahirul Maala is an Islamic Youth Club in President University, led by

Muhammad Adnan Fatron as the current Chairperson. In other universities that uses
Indonesia as their main language, it is usually called Rohis (Rohani Islam). This club
was first established in 2003, in order to accommodate all Moslem students in
President University, such as helping them developing their skills by conducting
seminars (Sharia Economic Seminar, Hijab Day, Fatimah Day, Tabligh Akbar, etc.),
participating in PHBI (Perayaan Hari Besar Islam/The Celebration of Islamic
Events) such as Idul Adha (sacrificing cattle and goat), Maulid Nabi (Birth of Prophet
Muhammad SAW), and Isra Miraj (Prophet Muhammad SAWs journey from
Masjidil Haram, Mecca to Masjidil Aqsa, Palestine).
1.2.2 PUCatSo (President University Catholic Society)

This Rokris (Rohani Kristen) club is made for accommodating the activities of
Catholic students in President University. Having Kevin Rana Sidharta as their
Chairperson, they made so many remarkable events, such as retreat, Holy Camp,
regeneration, misa (prayer for Catholics), etc.
1.2.3 COOL (Community of Love; Club for Christian Students)

Led by Arthia Josephine as the Chairperson of this Christian Club for President
University students, they have carried on several activities in order to praise Jesus,
their God. COOL Community Service, retreat, Friday Service, regeneration, drama,
is some of their events to gather all Christian students in President University.
1.2.4 KMB Asokavardhana (Keluarga Mahasiswa Buddha Asokavardhana)

This is a club that concerns on Buddhism students in President University, which

led by Varianto Tjiawi, the current Chairperson. Asokavardhana name is taken from a
kings name in India who believes in Buddha. This club is already listed as one of the
official member in KMB Jabodetabek.
1.2.5 KMHD (Keluarga Mahasiswa Hindu Dharma)

A Club that is being led by Krisna Bayu Setiawan, which specifies its activities
for Hindu students in President University, and celebrating Hindus big events by
going to Pura, such as Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi, and other events.
2. ANALYSIS
The purpose of having Zahirul Maala, PUCatSo, COOL, KMB Asokaardhana,
and KMHD is to facilitate all students in President University strengthen their beliefs
based on each religion, and bonding with other students who shares the same religion. In
order to alleviate its vision and mission as a club, each of those religion clubs must
conduct events, whether it is in form of seminar, leadership training, sport event,
competition, travelling outside Cikarang, regeneration, camp, and so on.
The main problem is, how would those events, conducted by each of religion
clubs could diminish the barrier of the cultural diversity in President University.
Regarding the cultural diversity, there are some students that might still insult each other,

using religion as their main point that makes the opponent. There was a case in football
championship, one of athletic event in Sport Olympiad of President University 2015,
where one of a student shouts out and mock one of an athlete that plays in the match, who
wears hijab covering all over her body. The student who insult the athlete said; Lu mau
maen bola apa ke pengajian, pake-pake hijab kayak gitu or if translated in English;
What are you actually doing here? Going to play in a football match, or to do Quran
recitation somewhere else? Of course, it is considered as a conflict that offended one
religion. Maybe some of students assume this as a simple matter, no need to be resolved.
But actually, this is a serious thing that needs to be discussed, because it will have impact
to the cultural diversity harmonious living among all of President University students.
The aforementioned issue has become viral in President University, even the PUMA
(President University Major Association) intervened, in order to solve the problem.
There are several ways to overcome diversity, as mentioned

in

leadersinheels.com, such as:

a. Fairly treat everyone with a respectful manner. No matter what they do or say,
do not ever offend that person, because it will hurt their heart.
b. Never insult anyone with bad words.
c. In every conversation, aim for a win/win outcome. Even if the conversation
is a tough one, words can be delivered in such a way that the other person
doesnt feel belittled.
3. CONCLUSION
Managing religious diversity in President University can be challenging from the
religion clubs standpoint. Tolerance and acceptance of religious views is vital, as well as
being able to accommodate those who may need extra time off or may have special needs
that are dictated by their religious preference. By following the solutions that will be
mentioned in the next chapter, it is possible to have a university that is enriched by its
diversity.
4. SUGGESTION
In order to figure out the problems aforesaid in the analysis that relates to cultural
diversity, this paper provides solution to overcome religious diversity in President
University, that can be implemented by each of the religion clubs, such as;

1. Conduct events that could enhance the students awareness of their own religion
values, and make it interesting to attract many participants joining the event
Example: COOL conducts a stage drama which usually takes place in Charles
Himawan Auditorium, 5th floor of Building A. Drama is something that considered as fun
and remarkable event, thus successfully attracting Christian students to come and watch
the drama.
2. Make free giveaways for increasing the confidence of students of their own belief and
religion
Example: Zahirul Maala gave 50 free hijab syari for Moslem womens who
came to the Hijab Day seminar in several months ago (February 2015). With attractive
speaker, massive sounding, and low fee, this seminar managed to gain more participants
than expected.
3. Consistently accommodate the need of praying in a certain place and time
Example: a. KMB Asokavardhana members usually conduct Praying Time in
A426 every Tuesday. All members of the club, including other Buddha students in
President University that didnt listed as member, are obligated to pray together.
b. KMHD members often go to Pura in Jakarta, to celebrate Hindus
religious events, such as Galungan (Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma
over adharma), Kuningan (special offerings of Yellow Rice, or 'nasi kuning', which are
made by rice colored with turmeric, in order to mark the end of the Gaungan holiday),
and Nyepi (Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new
year).
To mark the summary, those entire religion clubs efforts to create a harmonious
life between religion diversity in President University should be highly appreciated.
Moreover, they should open to any suggestions and critiques, for the betterment of their
quality itself.
5. REFERENCES
3 tips to overcome diversity issues - Leaders in Heels | Only Womens Business. (2013,
January 10). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from 3 tips to overcome diversity issues
- Leaders in Heels | Only Womens Business. (2013, January 10). Retrieved

December 2, 2015, from http://leadersinheels.com/business/3-tips-to-overcomediversity-issues/

Galungan Ceremony - When the Dharma is winning againts Adharma. (n.d.). Retrieved
December

2,

2015,

from

http://www.balitrips.net/temple_ceremony/galunganday.html
How to Manage Religious Diversity in the Workplace. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2,
2015, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/manage-religious-diversity-workplace10718.html
Kuningan Ceremony - Tumpek Kuningan - Kuningan Festival. (n.d.). Retrieved
December 2, 2015, from https://www.balitrips.net/temple_ceremony/kuninganceremony.html
NYEPI: Bali's day of silence. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from
http://www.indo.com/culture/nyepi.html