Place of origin: Lumajang, Indonesia
Favorite food: saté
Favorite reading topic: philosophy of science
Favorite musician: Islam teacher Abdullah Gymnastier
Favorite pastime: writing poetry
Favorite sport: aikido
Favorite place to be: in a mosque
Favorite spot in the Netherlands: 'in my office'
Best part about living in the Netherlands: friendly people
Worst part about living in the Netherlands: winter weather
Hadi Susanto's identity is largely defined by his Muslim faith. So over a year ago, when he arrived at the Universiteit Twente to see female students baring so much skin in their skimpy summer outfits, he was startled to say the least. In Hadi's home community, a woman reveals only her hands, forearms, and face, safeguarding the rest of her body for her husband. Likewise the young Indonesian is unsettled by public displays of affection so typical of European universities. Living in a foreign country can be lonely at first, so Hadi sought people with whom he instantly had a common bond; in this case, religious conviction. He lives with four other Muslim students hailing from Morocco, the Netherlands, Sierra Leone, and Turkey. He is also active in the Indonesian Muslims in Enschede Association (IMEA).
Hadi came to UT after the Department of Applied Mathematics invited him to complete his BS with them, rather than at his home institution of Bandung Institute of Technology. BIT was reluctant to see him go, especially since he had been voted Best Student in 2000. After completing his undergraduate degree last spring, Hadi was asked to join the Applied Mathematics PhD program. There he works with Brenny van Groesen and Stephan van Gils on a project concerning the analysis of superconductor equations.
While his research is essential, life beyond the scope of academics is also crucial to Hadi.
To feel comfortable in this initially alien environment, he joined IMEA. Currently he serves as coordinator for the group. The organization facilitates encounters among Indonesian Muslims in Enschede, especially during holy periods like Ramadan. It also encourages members of the Muslim community at the UT to pray together. In fact, Hadi is part of a group of students who recently requested a special prayer room on campus rather than sharing access to the Silence Room, which many religious groups employ. Why? The number of Muslim students on campus increases each year, rendering it impossible to fit them in the Silence Room when they gather weekly to pray together. They would like a room devoid of religious icons depicting other religions. Moreover, because Muslimworshippers must wash their face, feet, and hands before praying, washing facilities in or near the room have been requested. According to Hadi's conversations with President van Vught, such a gathering place looks promising in the near future.
Hadi also mentioned that IMEA helps its members be good Muslims. But what makes a good Muslim? According to his readings, Hadi offered these ideas. A good Muslim prays five times daily, fasts when appropriate, give one's best for all people (not just for all Muslims), protests the defamation of Islam, and does not hurt others except in self defense. He added that the idea that Muslims must kill themselves in the name of Allah is patently untrue.
Since September 11, some of his Muslim friends report that there is a coolness in the air when they interact with non-Muslim colleagues and acquaintances. Hadi, on the other hand, has noticed no difference in the way the Dutch community treats him. Despite the occasional chills, Hadi believes that Muslims are well received by Dutch society. The number of mosques in Enschede impresses him as does the fact that some departments on campus do not offer courses on Friday afternoons in deference to the Muslim holy day. That the Dutch and their government are so tolerant of sundry religions makes this Indonesian Muslim feel welcome in his new land.
Kristin Zimmerman
Hadi Susanto
