It was a huge honor for English Department of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta to host a public lecture with the theme “Education, Law, and Politics in America” featuring Prof. Robert B. Leflar, Ph. D, an alumnus of Harvard University and currently a professor in Faculty of Law of Arkansas University, USA. This event was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Alwan Khoiri, M. A. as the Dean of Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences.

In this occasion, Professor Leflar brought up current issues in America. Some of the issues he explained were about the implementation of education system in America and some Asian countries and about the law and politics regarding the latest presidential election in USA with some overseas political policy. The talks about America from multi perspectives including education, politics, and law rarely become the topic of public lecture these days. Therefore, to have discussion such as this is important for college students, especially for English Department students. Regarding issues in higher education in America, Professor Leflar explained that when a student wants to be a lawyer, doctor, or so forth, they do not have to choose the related majors. They can choose any general majors so that they can have a wider perspective about general knowledge, not only about a specific major.

In this public lecture, Professor Leflar also mentioned about the issue related to American politics and law for the upcoming presidential election that would be held soon. The two candidates are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Some international policies proposed by each candidate are totally different and receive pro and contra from various parties.

“It is expected that by organizing this public lecture, it can bring a new stream of education, law, and politics to English Department students of our university”, Said Dr. Ubaidillah, M. Hum, the Head of English Department of State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.

Students also asked some critical questions regarding the current issues happening in America. This indicated that the interest of the current issues in America became the particular enticement for English Department students. In closing session, Prof. Dr. Alwan Khoiri, M. A. as the Dean of Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences expected that the visit of Prof. Robert B. Leflar to Indonesia, especially to State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta would not be the last, but would be a continuous visit as a form of relation between University of Arkansas and Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University. This relation was expected to help Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta become a world class university.