Persepsi Civitas Akademika Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik Universitas Sumatera Utara terhadap Keberadaan Pemulung di Sekitar Kampus

Abstract

The presence of waste pickers in urban public spaces often generates diverse responses, as their activities intersect with issues of cleanliness, security, and the broader social dynamics of the surrounding community. A similar situation is evident within the University of North Sumatra, where daily interactions between the academic community and waste pickers shape particular constructions of meaning toward this informal worker group. This study aims to describe the perceptions of the academic community at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP USU) regarding the presence of waste pickers around the campus and to identify the internal and external factors that influence the formation of these perceptions. Employing a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation, and using purposive sampling techniques, the research involved 10 informants consisting of students, lecturers, administrative staff, security personnel, cleaning staff, and waste pickers who actively work in the campus area. The findings indicate that perceptions among the academic community are divided into negative perceptions driven by concerns related to cleanliness, environmental aesthetics, orderliness, and potential security risks and positive perceptions rooted in ecological awareness and humanitarian values that view waste pickers as contributors to waste reduction and recycling efforts. Further analysis reveals that these perceptions are shaped by internal factors such as personal experiences, moral values, empathy, and emotional conditions, as well as external factors including the physical environment of the campus, institutional norms and culture, prevailing social stereotypes, and daily interaction patterns between the academic community and waste pickers. The study concludes that the presence of waste pickers is not merely associated with sanitation issues but represents broader social relations between the academic community and informal sector workers. Recommendations include strengthening campus waste management systems, enhancing environmental education, improving regulations for campus public spaces, and adopting more humanistic approaches that continue to account for order and security.