MEDAN – Yoel Edward Hasugian, a 2023 undergraduate student in the Law Study Program at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), has achieved an outstanding academic milestone by publishing eight scientific papers in various national journals.

This accomplishment reflects his commitment to fostering a culture of research and scientific publication throughout his academic journey.

The achievement also represents the implementation of The Era of Ultimate Excellence, through which USU continues to cultivate an academic ecosystem that encourages students to think critically, actively conduct research, and produce scholarly work that contributes to scientific advancement and community development.

Yoel, as he is commonly known, hails from Pakpak Bharat Regency. He admitted that he only began taking academic writing seriously during his third semester. Academic requirements that demanded extensive reading and scientific writing gradually transformed his perspective on research. Motivated by a strong sense of curiosity, he eventually embraced writing as an integral part of his learning process.

To date, Yoel has published eight scientific articles, six of which he authored independently, while the remaining two were collaborative studies in which he served as the first author.

His interest in public law has led him to explore various legal issues, including Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Criminal Law, and Civil Law.

One of his most meaningful studies is titled "Eugen Ehrlich's Living Law in the Conflict Between the Toba Indigenous Community and PT Toba Pulp Lestari: A Socio-Legal Analysis." The research combines the philosophy of law—particularly Eugen Ehrlich's concept of living law—with the real-world conflict between indigenous communities and a corporation, integrating legal philosophy with a socio-legal approach that examines how law functions within society.

Among his eight publications, six were written solely by Yoel, while two were published with him as the lead author. These articles have appeared in journals ranging from SINTA 3-indexed publications to non-SINTA journals, demonstrating his consistency and dedication to legal research from an early stage of his academic career.

One of his most notable publications is titled "The Implications of Constitutional Court Decision No. 168/PUU-XXI/2023 on Sectoral Minimum Wages in North Sumatra," which was published in Neoclassical Legal Review, a SINTA 3-accredited journal published by the USU Faculty of Law.

For Yoel, this research was more than just an academic assignment. He explained that the study was inspired by his concern after witnessing firsthand the impact of the Constitutional Court's ruling on sectoral workers in his region. Through this publication, he demonstrated that even local labor issues deserve national scholarly attention and are capable of competing in respected academic journals.

"I have always believed that law cannot be understood solely through legal texts and positivistic perspectives. It must also be examined through the way it is actually practiced, experienced, and accepted within society," he said during the interview.

According to Yoel, this perspective enriches legal scholarship by going beyond statutory analysis to examine the social factors that influence how laws are implemented in practice. This approach continues to motivate him to pursue further research in the field of law.

Throughout the publication process, Yoel admitted that he had experienced manuscript rejections and revision requests from editors and peer reviewers. However, rather than discouraging him, these experiences became valuable learning opportunities that strengthened both the quality of his research and his academic arguments.

"Of course I was disappointed at first, especially after spending so much time conducting research and making revisions. But eventually I realized that rejection doesn't necessarily mean the paper is bad—it just wasn't the right fit for that journal," he joked during the interview.

The academic environment at the USU Faculty of Law has also encouraged students to develop critical thinking skills, conduct research, and express their ideas through scientific writing. Yoel acknowledged that he became serious about academic publishing thanks to the encouragement of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni, Dr. Agusmidah, S.H., M.Hum. Through her continuous support, she consistently motivated students to produce scientific articles as part of their academic development.

"One of the people who inspired me the most to seriously pursue academic writing is Dr. Agusmidah, S.H., M.Hum. She was my lecturer for Labor Law and Research Methodology. I still remember how strongly she encouraged us to write scientific articles," he recalled.

Beyond achieving his personal goals, Yoel hopes to inspire fellow students to embrace research so that a stronger culture of writing and scientific publication can continue to flourish within the university.

"People may pass away, but their ideas live on forever," he concluded.