Law

Telkom University Expels Student Over Dormitory Bullying

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•3 min read

Telkom University sanctioned four freshmen from the class of 2026 for dorm bullying: one was permanently expelled, one suspended for two semesters, and two placed under ethical guidance. The incident occurred on 9 October 2026 and went viral after footage showing intimidation with a lighter and gas spray circulated on social media.

Key Facts

Telkom University menjatuhkan sanksi kepada empat mahasiswa baru angkatan 2026 yang terlibat kasus perundungan di asrama putra pada Jumat (9/10/2026); satu mahasiswa ditetapkan sebagai korban.
Satu mahasiswa dijatuhi sanksi berat berupa pemberhentian tetap (drop out) karena perundungan berulang yang dinilai membahayakan keselamatan fisik dan psikis korban.
Satu mahasiswa diskors dua semester disertai pembinaan karakter karena merekam aksi perundungan, tidak berupaya menghentikan, dan mengunggah video ke media sosial.
Dua mahasiswa lainnya dikenai pembinaan karakter dan kegiatan sosial selama satu semester atas pelanggaran etik.
Kasus ini viral di media sosial lewat video yang memperlihatkan pelaku menakut-nakuti korban dengan korek api dan semprotan gas.
Rektor Telkom University Prof. Dr. Suyanto menegaskan kampus tidak memberi ruang bagi perundungan dalam bentuk apa pun; anggota Komisi X DPR Habib Syarief Muhammad mendukung sanksi tegas dan meminta evaluasi pengawasan asrama.

One Expelled, One Suspended, Two Given Guidance

Telkom University imposed sanctions on four students involved in a bullying case within the male dormitory premises on Friday (October 9, 2026). The decision on sanctions was announced on Monday (October 12, 2026), based on the findings of an investigation and a hearing held jointly by university leadership and the Higher Education Violence Prevention and Handling Task Force (Satgas PPKPT (Satuan Tugas Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan di Perguruan Tinggi)).

Following an investigation conducted on October 10–11 and a hearing on October 11–12, 2026, the number of students identified as perpetrators increased from three to four, while one student was identified as the victim. All students involved are freshmen from the class of 2026.

Sanctions were applied progressively according to each individual's role and degree of involvement. One student received a severe sanction in the form of permanent dismissal (drop out) as a Telkom University student, based on findings of repeated bullying and actions that potentially endangered the physical and psychological safety of the victim and surrounding environment.

Another student received a moderate sanction of a two-semester suspension accompanied by character coaching, due to involvement in filming the bullying incident, failing to attempt to stop it, and uploading the bullying video to social media. The remaining two students were assigned character development and community service for one semester for ethical violations.

Viral on Social Media, Guided by Strict Regulations

The case surfaced after a video of the bullying went viral on social media. In the video, a perpetrator was seen intimidating the victim by pointing a lighter and gas spray at his dorm roommate. The intimidation prompted public outcry and calls for the university to take decisive action.

The handling of the case referenced Permendikbudristek (Regulation of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology) Number 55 of 2024 on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education, University Regulation Number PU.009/KMH03/KKA-BKM/2026 on the Student Code of Conduct Guidelines of Telkom University, and internal regulations on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education (PPKPT (Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan di Perguruan Tinggi)) Number KWR3.004/KMH01/KKA/2026.

Telkom University Rector Prof. Dr. Suyanto, S.T., M.Sc. affirmed that the university maintains zero tolerance for all forms of bullying. The university is also preparing psychological counseling for the victim and reinforcing violence prevention programs across the higher education environment.

House of Representatives Backs Sanctions, Calls for Dorm Review

The firm action taken by Telkom University received support from the DPR RI (House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia). A member of Commission X of the DPR RI from the PKB (National Awakening Party) faction, Habib Syarief Muhammad, backed the sanctions imposed on the four students involved in the dormitory bullying case.

According to Habib, such disciplinary action is vital for maintaining order while ensuring higher education environments remain safe spaces for all students. He asserted that rules must be enforced consistently without regard to the perpetrators' backgrounds.

In addition to endorsing the sanctions, Habib urged Telkom University to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the dormitory supervision system to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.