Member Only!

“Members Only!”. At the first side, we see this sign is like a common sign to find in some public places. They have meanings, and they have more specific meaning according to the place in. In UMK, we also could find this kind of sign, In one room of English Education Department (EED) of  Teacher Training and Education Faculty. The room is called SAR or Self Access Room. The Self Access Room is aimed to provide many sources for students especially for English Students in searching and finding data for their projeccts and assignments. The question is,”what is the relationship between that SIGN “Members Only!” and the SAR room?”.The sign is sticked on the cupboard or the bookshelf of SAR room. Everyone knows that the function of the sign is aimed to remind the visitors of the SAR room not to open the shelf and borrow the book. At the first time, this sign shows a good system in SaR that is used by the authority in administering the room. But in another side, this sign creates many problems, for the students especially.  As the sentence before, the SAR room is existed aimed to provide many sources and data for students in finishing and completing their assignnmments, but this sign blocks and gives obstacles for students in finding data they need. According to the sign, Only the members of the SAR room that are allowed to open the shelf and borrow the book although the book are not allowed to be taken home by members. This condition creates a large effect for many students who really need the sources for their assignments even for their last project (skripsi). Everyone also knows that the book which are placed in the “bookshelf” are the book which published on the year up of 2004, so they are really good and new books and sources to have. But in other side, the students are only able to see NOT to read or even borrow. So, what is the FUNCTION of the books in the SAR room, if the students are not allowed to use the sources? “except the members”, the administrator said. Then, if the problem is about being problem or not, the administrator or the Authority should provide the solution for this problem. Many students were trying to ask about how to be the member of the SAR room so they can use the books and sources. But, again the administrator did not give the clear answer for this problem. The administrator cannot explain how to be the member of SAR room. So, the sign which is existed, actually not existed. Beyond of the problem in SAR room, It reminds me about something larger. It reminds me about the problem in OUR beloved COUNTRY, the government is always trying to make new regulations but they do not understand what regulation they have made. They are able to say “loudly”, but they do not know the meaning. They provide something, but the others can get that thing. They create something USELESS to see and to understand. Although this condition is really happened here, but at least we still be able to study well in this place. Even we are not THE MEMBER.

Ahmad RA

Umk//fkip//pbi//2008