FIB Unhas — The silence that usually shrouds the Teak Forest in the Tamalanrea area turned into a warm bustle that night. On Saturday night (Dec 6, 2025), this green area beside the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Hasanuddin University building was “transformed” into a glowing little village. Dozens of tents stood among the stands of trees, illuminated by hanging lamps casting a golden-yellow glow onto the damp ground.
That night, FIB Unhas was not holding a public lecture or a rigid seminar. They held the “Cultural Camp” (Kemah Budaya), a celebration serving as the heart of the 65th Anniversary (Dies Natalis) festivities. Involving the Alumni Association (IKA) FIBRA and all elements of the academic community, this activity successfully brought together cross-generations—from new students and senior lecturers to alumni who had long left the campus—into one bonfire circle.
The Dean of FIB Unhas, Prof. Dr. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, S.S., M.Hum., who attended and mingled with participants, called that night a momentum of “returning to the roots.” According to him, culture cannot only be discussed in air-conditioned classrooms but its pulse must be felt in fluid togetherness.
“Culture is alive, moving, and shaping how we view one another. Tonight, we prove that a space like this—in nature, in an egalitarian atmosphere—is capable of breaking down walls of formality and fostering emotional closeness,” expressed Prof. Akhmar on the sidelines of the activity.
The atmosphere became even livelier when the Literature Appreciation Stage began. Verses of poetry were read in turns, intermingling with the sounds of cards slapping from another corner where domino and rummy competitions were held. There was no distance between professors and students; all were immersed in laughter and game strategy.
The aroma of coffee and thin smoke from the fire completed the Tudang Sipulung (community gathering) session, where ideas about the faculty’s future were exchanged in a relaxed yet substantive manner. For the alumni, this night in the Teak Forest became a time tunnel evoking nostalgia. Meanwhile, for active students, this was a real lesson in humanities solidarity. The Cultural Camp closed the Saturday night with a deep impression, before the Anniversary series continued the next day with the Fun Walk and Film Workshop agenda. The Teak Forest that night was not just a camping ground, but a silent witness that the sense of family at FIB Unhas remains firmly maintained.
