UNS-Sense of enthusiasm and positive thoughts are indispensable in facing COVID-19. This becomes a background for Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) (red: a women organization whose members are the wife of Indonesian civil servant) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta to hold poetry contest entitled Rhymes of DWP UNS Empathy for COVID-19. The competition was aimed for an internal member of DWP UNS, in total 83 participants from 13 implementation units (UP DWP) send their rhymes.
The chair of DWP UNS, Budhi Jamal Wiwoho stated that this competition aims to awaken the spirit in facing the current condition.
“Even though we are at home, we have to rise and think positively. A positive thought can be poured into rhymes that can build our spirit in facing the COVID-19 pandemic,” explained Budhi after announcing the winner of this competition in UNS Rector Official Residence, Solo, Monday (11/5/2020).
Previously, DWP UNS also conducted social activity by distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand sanitizer, and basic foods to the community that get affected by COVID-19 pandemic. This time, using a new activity, the participant’s enthusiasm can be seen from the number of participants who send their rhymes. This competition is held online in April. All participants send three to five verses of rhyme through email until the deadline on 19 April 2020.
The panel of juries consists of three experts in linguistic and literature. These juries are Dr. M. Rohmadi, from Indonesian Language and Literature Education program, Drs. Albertus Prasojo, and Asep Yudha W., M.A. from Indonesian Language and Literature program. The rhymes were blind judged by the juries, the name of the creator is removed and a number is used as an identification. This way, the juries do not know the creator of the rhymes they assessed.
The rhymes send will be published as an anthology. “The rhymes send by the participant will be arranged into a book entitled Untaian Pantun DWP Empati Covid-19 (Rhymes of DWP UNS Empathy for COVID-19) as a form of souvenir,” Budhi concluded. Humas UNS/Bayu