On October 14, Korea University Student Association (KUSA) held a press conference regarding the KU’s Dean Yeom Jaeho’s announcement to abolish the grade scholarship. The news of the big change in policy, which is to abolish scholarships given according to grades and aggrandize scholarships conferred on the basis of low income, was delivered to KU students via a single article via The Korea University Weekly, on October 11.

 

KUSA gathered up in front of the Main Hall to show opposition at the dean’s unilateral policy announcement—not a single word was mentioned to the students before the decision was confirmed. Jieum underscored the fact that it was not the policy itself it was dissatisfied with, but how the decision was made. “It is a surprise that the school is ignoring all the diverse circumstances and opinions of KU students,” Jieum highly criticized. “It is another surprise that Dean Yeom used authoritarian self-righteousness to unilaterally inform us of the change,” Jieum added.

 

The press conference also discussed about Yeom’s remarks back in March about students merely being “educatees”—Jieum argued that KU students should be able to actively participate in the decision of policies that have direct connections with their lives. “Dean Yeom, our school is not a private property of yours,” reminded Shin Seung Min (’13, College of Medicine). The press conference ended with a scathing criticism; this unilateral decision was an attack against the democracy within KU.