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Sastra Spotlight - Celebrating Faculty of Letters 32nd Anniversary with Incredible Performances

Sastra Spotlight Performance

The Faculty of Letters of Universitas Sanata Dharma celebrated the 32nd anniversary on Saturday, (3/5), with “Sastra Spotlight Volume 5.” The event was divided into three parts: an opening speech by the Faculty of Letters dean, a series of performances, and then group photos and closing. “Literature does not only exist in books and texts or subjects in class, but literature is a movement, spirit, blazing fire of the human soul,” Dr. Yoseph Yapi Taum, M.Hum. stated in his opening speech. “It is manifested in performances and platforms, like the Sastra Spotlight tonight." He hoped that with events like this, the familial relationships between study programs in the Faculty of Letters would remain close and harmonious.
It was a lively event held on the ground floor of the Faculty Letters bilding, featuring spectacular performances from the entire Faculty of Letters community. With the theme “Jembatan Dunia – Bertemu di Layar, Bersemi di Halaman.” (World bridge – Meeting on Screen, Blossoming in the Garden), the entire Faculty of Letters family and the alumni attended this special event. 

“The theme suits the anniversary theme, Humaniora Digital,” Dr. Yoseph Yapi Taum, M.Hum., the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, explained. “It teaches the members of the Faculty of Letters to be aware of real-life interactions in our environment. We are not only engrossed in the virtual world but should also reconnect our social environment—returning to campus, and engaging with others, including our lecturers and friends. Holistic education—education with a strong impact—happens when we meet in person like in lectures, or on stages like this.” 

The Faculty of Letters has reached some major achievements over the past year. Three study programs received accreditation upgrades: the Indonesian literature and English literature programs both received Excellent accreditation, while the Master's of Literature program received Good accreditation. Another major achievement is the Faculty of Letters’ introduction of innovations in research and learning this year. One example is the establishment of the Center for Documentation and Animation of Nusantara Oral Literature, which has already produced a significant body of work.

Dr Yoseph Yapi Taum, M.Hum., remarked that students should not be fixated on pervasive gadgets or technology because humans are multidimensional beings. He expressed his ideas by reading a poem. 
"It's like there's a barrier to interact, making us feel unfree,” Saphira, a student from the English Letters Department, performing a monologue, explained. “This monologue is an embodiment of the desire to tell stories, to interact with others outside of gadgets or the internet.” Her monologue was inspired by her dislike of the interactions on social media or in the digital world, which easily made individuals weary. 

Sastra Spotlight 2025

This barrier was also noted by several alumni, who saw a significant change in the technology-driven era. They compared to the Faculty of Letters community in their time and the current generation. 
“There are so many differences between my time and today. The most obvious thing is maybe the building,” Chitra, an alumna of the English Letters class of 1997, shared. “Other than that, the biggest change is in how students relate to each other. In my day, events like this were held on the initiative of the students themselves. If we wanted an event, we just made a proposal. The rest was by us, the students. Unlike now, where it seems that this event was organized by the faculty.” 

The need to connect with other people inside and outside the university was highlighted by alumni. 
“In this era of digitalization, this generation of Faculty of Letters students should build and keep interactions with fellow students from different study programs inside or outside of Sanata Dharma University,” Dwi, another English Letters alumnae from the class of 1996,  added. 
The 32nd anniversary was not only a celebration of achievements but also a reminder that literature is part of the human soul. It works best when it lives beyond texts; with the performance on stage, in voices, and through the community. 

The warm gathering that brought together alumni, students, and lecturers—celebrated by various amazing performances—was a physical manifestation of the Sastra Spotlight's theme “Jembatan Dunia – Bertemu di Layar, Bersemi di Halaman.”
(FS)

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