Palembang, KOTABARI.COM – The Palembang public was stunned by a viral video showcasing students enjoying a nightclub party (dugem) within the campus premises, gaining traction on social media.
The location of this student revelry was within the Poltekpar Palembang campus on Governor H. Bastari Street, Jakabaring, Palembang.
The video, uploaded on Tuesday (5/12/2023) on the Instagram account @palembang_viral, depicted a Disc Jockey (DJ) seated at a round table, sipping from a glass, while students in the room joined in, dancing to the DJ’s beats.
This post received criticism from netizens as it was suggested that the party was attended by the Head of the Study Program (Kaprodi).
“Viral on Social Media: Campus in Palembang Holds Dugem Party with Kaprodi,” read the caption on the post.
Regarding the viral video, the Head of the Cultural and Tourism Office of South Sumatra Province, Aufa Syahrizal, mentioned that the activity was part of the Convention and Event Management Program (PKA).
However, despite its intended purpose, the video was perceived negatively by netizens due to potential misinterpretations of its context, as Aufa stated when contacted on Tuesday (5/12/2023), as quoted from TribunSumsel.com.
Aufa expressed that such activities should not take place within the campus premises. He emphasized that campuses should foster productive and creative students oriented towards positive and beneficial pursuits, aligning with the knowledge they acquire for their future careers.
He urged the campus authorities to clarify the viral video to prevent misunderstandings and misconceptions about the existence of Politeknik Pariwisata Palembang within the community.
Campus Responds: Ensuring No Repeat of Dugem Activities
Responding to the viral video, Romi Okta, Head of the Catering Program Study (Kaprodi TAH) at Poltekpar Palembang, mentioned that the event was initially posted by the Female Disc Jockey (FDJ) on her social media.
It was revealed that the FDJ was invited to perform during the final session of a Function organized within the campus.
“Function is an event held at the end of theoretical and practical learning. After students complete a semester, they create an event to celebrate the six-month journey and welcome the Final Semester Exam,” he stated on Tuesday (5/12/2023).
Romi clarified that the event encompassed various activities such as art exhibitions, award ceremonies, and showcasing students’ works aligned with their learning competencies.
He highlighted that the viral video segment merely captured a small fraction of the larger positive event. However, the focus of the video on the FDJ’s performance as a ‘dugem’ stirred controversy.
Despite this, the campus apologized to the South Sumatra community for any disturbance caused by the video. They also appreciated the feedback and criticism from the public regarding the event.
“The campus has conducted an evaluation and ensured that such incidents will not recur,” he concluded.
However, there was no specific clarification regarding the alleged attendance of the Head of the Study Program in this dugem party.