What is initiation? The etymology of initiation is a ritual celebration that becomes a sign of admission or acceptance of a person within a group or society. Initiation also becomes a formal sign of a person's acceptance of becoming an adult within a community or group. Koentjaraningrat (1979) explains that initiation is a ceremony that takes place as one enters a certain social class, and therefore contains ceremonial elements for the critical moments in one's life.
Encountered in society that life is divided into levels.
These levels in terms of Anthropology are called life cycle, such as; infancy, weaning, childhood, adolescence, puberty, post-marriage, pregnancy, elderly and others. During the transition between one stage of life to the next, usually held parties and ceremonies. The organization of parties and ceremonies throughout the lifecycle is due to the realization that every new stage in the life cycle leads to the entry of a person in the new and wider social environment.
Some cultures consider the transitional period, the transition from one level of life or social environment to the next level of living or social environment, to be dangerous moments, real or unseen. Therefore, life cycle ceremonies often contain elements of harm and ghaib repellent. In Anthropology such ceremonies are called Crisis Rites (Rites de Passage). Such ceremonies have important meanings, among other things, to inform the public about the changes in the level of life one has attained.
In the FISIP-University Malikussaleh Antrology Study Program, this new student reception is called Initiation. Initiation on the Anthropology Study Program itself, is a tradition that all new students attend. After participating in the Initiation activities their status will change from a freshman to an Anthropology "Relative". By becoming a relative the brotherhood will be awakened from the bench to the end of life. This proves that the Initiation of the Anthropology Studies Program is not just a meaningless event but truly a ritual performed on the transition in the life cycle.