07 November 2025
Anita Kartika Pasaribu
FIB USU PR - On Friday, November 7, 2025, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of North Sumatra, held an art exhibition themed "Tribute to Ismail Marzuki" to commemorate Heroes' Day and raise awareness among students about honoring and embracing the fighting spirit of heroes.
The event took place over two days, Thursday, November 6th, and Friday, November 7th, 2025. On Thursday, November 6th, a poetry reading competition was held. The event featured musical, poetry, and dance performances on the theme of Heroes, performed by students, educational staff, and lecturers from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at USU. The event was also attended by the musical group Lebah Begantong, which performed at the FIB Hall.
Prof. Dr. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., Dean of the FIB at USU, officially opened the Arts Exhibition with great enthusiasm, as this activity served to remind students of the struggles of fallen heroes.
Prof. Dr. Edy Ikhsan, SH., MA. (USU Vice Rector I) also performed a poem, "We Are the Rightful Owners of This Country" by Taufiq Ismail, expressing his appreciation for the event as a way of strengthening national character on campus.
"During the planning meeting, I asked, why, of all the national heroes, should a tribute be made to Ismail Marzuki? It turns out he died young, not yet 50 years old, but left behind works that are deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people," said USU Vice Rector I.
As a Dutch language lecturer who also teaches history, USU Vice Rector I believes arts activities like this are important for fostering students' sensitivity and nationalistic spirit.
"Art performances like this can be a space for character development. Through music and poetry, students can learn the values of struggle, passion, and togetherness," he said.
Dr. Zulfan, S.S., M.Hum, the committee chair, explained that the Arts Exhibition is not a new activity within the faculty. Previously, this activity was usually organized by the History Department Student Association (HMJ). However, this year, the faculty took the initiative to hold it at the faculty level so that all study programs could participate and showcase their creativity.
"Last year, it was at the student association level, but now we're holding it at the faculty level so everyone can experience and participate across study programs. Some performed poetry readings, others danced, and everyone demonstrated a spirit of togetherness," he said.
The choice of Ismail Marzuki as the main character in this year's Art Exhibition theme holds special significance. Ismail Marzuki is a hero who fought through art. "He may not have taken up arms, but through his poetry, he galvanized the spirit of nationalism," he said.
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