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Wildan Rofi’i and Asheke Alaihi Elected as First President and VP of Ƶ Student Union

November 02, 2024

Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi | Photo: Atia Adjani

Wildan Rofi’i and Asheke Alaihi have been elected as the inaugural President and Vice President of the ‘Ƶ Student Union’, marking a milestone in the university’s commitment to student leadership and democratic values. The pair, both MA students in Political Science—Rofi’i from Indonesia and Alaihi from Bangladesh—won with 39% of the total 369 votes in the first-ever election of Ƶ Student Union. 

The election, facilitated through Ƶ’s official student portal, ensured transparency and accessibility, allowing students to vote securely online. “We are very happy that we joined the candidacy, because the system is really transparent,” said Wildan Rofi’i. “As it was an online system directly connected to the students’ official portal of Ƶ, this election was both transparent and democratic. We are happy with the result, and we believe the other candidates are happy too.”

Vice President Asheke Alaihi echoed these thoughts, praising the process and its execution by Ƶ’s Office of Student Affairs. “It cannot be more transparent than that,” Alaihi remarked. “I’m so happy with the transparency and the participation of students. We have to thank the team and the steering committees for implementing this process in alignment with proper procedures.”

Rofi’i and Alaihi led the vote over two other candidate pairs: Muhammad Akbar Rahmadi (MPP on Climate Change) paired with Abdullahi Abubakar Muhammad (MA in Islamic Studies), and Athar Uddin and Habib Alfarisi, both MA students in Political Science. The candidates’ campaign platforms, debates, and ideas for student initiatives had engaged students across Ƶ’s four faculties, making the election an event that unified the student body.

Looking forward, Rofi’i and Alaihi are focused on building a Student Union that listens closely to the needs of Ƶ students. “The first thing we will do after winning the election is ‘hearing’—to absorb ideas from Ƶ students to maximize the programs,” the elected president shared. Their goal is to shape a dynamic and inclusive union that advocates for student interests and strengthens community ties.

This first election of Ƶ Student Union has set a standard for transparency, inclusivity, and active student involvement at Ƶ. With Rofi’i and Alaihi at the helm, the Student Union is poised to play an influential role in enhancing the student experience, fostering a spirit of collaboration, and advancing initiatives that reflect the voices of the entire Ƶ student community.