Um Student Union Comes Up With Own Guidelines On Varsity Concerts

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The Universiti Malaya Students' Union (UMSU) has come up with its own guidelines on concerts staged on campuses, saying the Higher Education Ministry’s guidelines restrict student freedom.
And it called on other higher education institutions to consider its guidelines as a reference.
Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin on Friday said he had not yet approved guidelines proposed by the ministry and preferred if student councils would self regulate concerts on campus instead.
The UMSU proposals involved making amendments to sections of the ministry's guidelines that restrict students when conducting entertainment and concert activities on campus.
For example, it cited the ministry's guidelines which reportedly call for the audience of such concerts to be gender-segregated.
UMSU said it would be more conducive to encourage organisers to determine audience seating arrangements, instead.
“Furthermore, we propose an amendment stating that guest artistes may invite the audience onto the stage with prior approval as indicated in the event schedule,” it said in a statement yesterday.
It also called for a more reasonable procedure for activities and clothing etiquette.
“The guidelines established by the Higher Education Ministry are unreasonable. For example, requiring artistes with long hair to tie it up and not allowing them to keep it down during their performance, as well as prohibiting students and staff from having long hair, is, in our opinion, irrational.
“It excessively restricts the freedom of expression and appearance for artistes and organisers involved in these entertainment activities while causing unnecessary inconvenience to the students who are organising these events.”
The union also proposed that student representatives should serve as advisers for entertainment and concert activities, rather than university staffers, as stated in the current guidelines.
This, UMSU said, is because any matters related to student activities should involve direct participation of the students themselves.
“As the student executive body, ensuring the smooth execution of activities without any issues is one of our responsibilities.
“This amendment also helps empower students by providing the executive committee members of UMSU with the opportunity to take on the responsibilities given,” it said, adding that the programme advisers should also be involved in discussions with the university’s Cultural and Safety Departments.
Systematic arrangement
Other suggested improvements to the guidelines include a more systematic arrangement for the distribution of promotional materials and concert approvals.
“The guidelines state that every logo for promotional and publicity purposes must obtain approval from the Higher Education Ministry if it is sponsored by the ministry.
“We propose that any logos for promotional and publicity purposes should obtain approval from the respective sponsors, whether they are government ministries, companies, NGOs, or other organisations.
“This approach would make the guidelines more inclusive and encourage collaboration with various stakeholders,” it said.
As for the disciplinary actions for rule violations, UMSU asserted that its representatives should be involved in the committee as members when deciding on these actions.
The ‘Guidelines for Entertainment Activities (Concerts) in Higher Education Institutions’, reported by China Press on Augt 31, have drawn criticisms for both impinging on university students' rights and restricting their autonomy to organise entertainment activities.
Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled NordinAccording to the document, concert attendees are required to follow a modest dress code, which prohibits the wearing of clothing featuring Illuminati, pro-LGBT, or pornographic symbols, as well as "punk" hairstyles.
Furthermore, artistes are restricted from cross-dressing or wearing attire that is typical of the opposite gender - for instance, male performers are prohibited from wearing earrings, bracelets, and shorts.
On Sept 1, Khaled clarified that the purported new guidelines regarding concerts on university campuses are still pending approval.
Khaled further clarified with Malaysiakini that the proposed guidelines had not been submitted to him for approval.
Later that same day, he said he would prefer if guidelines came from the students themselves.
“I have always talked about empowering the university students so I would like them to set the guidelines themselves; so I will wait for them to send it,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.
According to China Press report, local higher education institutions reportedly received the guidelines on Aug 30.
However, Malaysiakini was unable to verify this information with Khaled. - Mkini

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