39 Fun Facts about Gadjah Mada University

Balairung UGM (source: travelinghematnusantara.files.wordpress.com)

Gadjah Mada University (know as UGM) is a great campus with a lot of history behind. A lot of big figure take part to founding this great campus, in example Soekarno (Indonesian first president). UGM founded to prove the world that Indonesia can stand on his own feet in the era that colonialism just ended. Maybe you are the one of the next part of this great university, here we will present 37 fun facts about Gadjah Mada University.

**actually i translate it from local article in Indonesian language (berkuliah.com), i not write myself because i think that i just here for 2 years and not have enough capacity to describe a lot of things. By the way i study here now, and you may still ask a lot about my campus :D

1. All major has accredited in A score.

2. UGM's main building (known as Balairung UGM) is the first modern building in Indonesia.

3. Balairung's design inspired by old Greek buildings. Designed by Ir. Hadinagoro.

4.  The main building build with concept of Tri Hatta Karana, describing imaginary cosmologic line of Merapi Mountain at the north, The Palace of Yogyakarta at the middle, and the Kidul Sea at the south in one straight line.

5. There are 7 pineal behind the Main Building, symbolize the 7 Main Priest: Agastya, Brihgu, Bhargava, Bharadvaja, Kasyapa, Vashita, and Vismamitra.

6. It being the virtue of honesty, refuse to do bad act, refuse to not keep on promise, refuse to illegal things, refuse compliments, not to like filthy things and not to like luxurious things.  

7. Every Sunday, there is a street festival called Sunday Morning. This market sales a lot of interesting cheap-priced goods and a lot of students love to come in every week.

8. Officially established in Desember 19th, 1949, by Ir. Soekarno

9. Commitment to founding UGM started by prof. Ir Wreksodhiningrat, Prof. Dr. Prijono, Prof. Ir Harjono, Prof. M Sarjono to raise Indonesian value to the world.

UGM Logo (source: kuwarasanku.blogspot.com)

10. There are 3 parts of mening to the UGM logo. First, the center of circle means 'light' or 'sun' (Indonesian: sinar). Second, two circle outside the 'sun', "Gadjah Mada" words are inside the inner circle, "Universitas" and "Yogyakarta" words outside the outer circle, five sets of lights form a 'Kartika' or Five Side of Star. Third, five skull caps means honorary hat of a commander.

11. The beautiful UGM logo inspiring a lot of another logo.

12. In the earliest era of UGM, it is consist of 6 faculty: Dentistry and Pharmacy, Agriuculture, Medichal, Engineering, Literature and Philosophy, and Law.

13. UGM Campus Mosque is not part of UGM's assets.

14. The name of Gadjah Mada was taken from the name of Majapahit Kingdom's governer that have a vision about uniting the archipelago under Majapahit (as the origin of Indonesia).

Gadjah Mada (source: Wikipedia)

15. Soekarno President allow UGM to also keeping Gajah Mada's spirit in “Palapa” and '4 of life principles': Trisna tan Satrisna means there is no favoritism, Haniakan Musuh means there is no enemy, Satya Haprabu means obeying the authority, Ginong pati Dino means doing great everyday.

16. There is also a lot of spooky urban story about the campus. Some of them are ghost in the bridge of Agriculture, the flying head ghost and kuntilanak (local figure of myth) in Geography, Ms. Yayuk as ghost of eternal student at Faculty of Business and Economy, Swaragama's (Campus Radio) Ghost , ghost of South Science (MIPA Selatan) building, the Old Man Balairung ghost, the living cadaver at Faculty of Medical, and many more. One things to remember, it just a common myth without trusty source.

17. There is a lot of interesting culinary around campus. The Mrs. Wiro's Sego Pecel Traditional Restaurant (Indonesian: Warung SGPC Bu Wiro) is the one that very popular around the students by its great taste. The Mrs. Wiro's restaurant also already well-known about 40 years ago.

18. Student with sandals or t-shirt (or both of coarse) are not allowed to get inside most of UGM buildings.

19. UGM just also build Museum of UGM that explain the details history of the university. But it just unmaintained recently.

20. UGM also have an academic hospital that known as RSUP dr. Sarjito.

21. To be part of UGM, there is a super-selective academic test. Students of Gadjah Mada must be good in academic skills as the implication of UGM's high standart.

22. UGM's land area is about 300 ha.

23. UGM have a central food court with a lot of food variety (also facilitated with free hotspot area).

24. Most of UGM's facility are open for citizen of Yogyakarta, although they are not students or staff of UGM.

25.  UGM Residence is a dormitory that build for students. There are several location around the campus with different name: Bulaksumur Recidance, Cemaralima Residance, Darmaputra Residance, Klebengan Residance, Ratnaningsih Residance, and Kinanti Residance.

26. Cost for the dormitory is about Rp.350.000,- untill Rp.800.000,-.

27. Medical studies is the one of the prospective student favorite.

28. There are a lot of achievement collected by academician of UGM. As the newest example, Abdul Rohman as lecture of Pharmacy just getting the ProSPER.Net Young Scopus Scientist Award in sustainable agriculture development.

29. There are about more than 300 laboratory at the 18 faculties, 1 vocational school, and 1 postgraduate school.

30. UGM also providing students with campus bicycle. It purposely do for campaign the green act and reducing pollution and the use of non-renewable fuel.

31. In its international status, UGM keep the go green spirit as a principle.

32. UGM alma mater have a very good image in the society.

33. UGM also known as one of the best campus in Indonesia.

34. In spirit of populist, UGM keep make effort to allow everyone to can learn here without any doubt in cost. There is a lot of scholarship programs to help students survive in the city.

35. Bodhisatya Tree is the oldest and first tree at UGM. Bodhisatya just stand since about 50 years ago.

36. There is a couple of 80's Ford buses that still robust and used. There is also a lot of history about UGM founding story by this buses.

37. UGM located at the west side of State University of Yogyakarta (Indonesian: Universitas Negri Yogyakarta or UNY) campus.

38. Faculties are separated to several area and merged with the civilian houses as the uniqueness of UGM.

39. There are a lot of seniority principle between students. The seniority positively build as the teachings of Javanese culture to respect the older. Some of another Javanese teachings also being maintained as a precious principle of societies life.

There is a few of Gadjah Mada University fun facts. Every another campus also has itself uniqueness and history. They must be have reason and spirit behind every act that going in the academic life. Hopely can give a few of description how the campus life inside.

As translator, i also find a lot of subjectivity that maybe unpleasant, and sorry for that. You have another expirience or some another question? I will so glad to try to answer (but sorry for the subjectivity, i also just have been 2 years here). See you here!