Winning 46 percent of the vote, Godaegonggamdae has been elected another term as the 46th Korea University Students’ Association (KUSA). The students of KU have once again put faith in them to lead and look after them. Major campaign pledges that the new student council has proposed focus on student welfare. It all sounds promising, so what can we really expect from our new KUSA? 

Godaegonggamdae is serving the school for the fourth time as it has succeeded in re-election. Hwang Soon Young (’10, Political Science and International Relations) was elected as the new student council president and Bae Jung Ho (’07, Biotechnology) as the vice president. The two together have shown passion to form a student government that effectively interacts with the needs of the KU students.

In their last term, KUSA had a number of success, including KU’s seceding from Handearyeon, the Korea University Students’ Union and making necessary amend-ments to the KUSA regulations. However, it was criticized for not being too keen on social issues like high university tuition fees. This time they are more determined to continue their efforts to listen to the voices of the students and to make them be heard. “The former KUSA has made meaningful changes for the school. This year we plan to focus on stabilizing those changes for good and start building around them to make reformations that will benefit the students in the long term,” said Hwang. 

What KUSA Has Been Up To

The most important thing that the current KUSA has been doing is attending conferences regarding the reduction of university tuition fees. After six intense meetings, the plan finally came through. “We have succeeded in lowering another two percent of the tuition from last year,” said Lee Jeong Myeong (’11, Food and Resource Economics), the head of the executive committee of the KUSA. The student government acknowledges that this rate of reduction is not enough and is still making progress. “We plan to further lower the tuition fees and expand scholarships through a campaign in March,” said Lee.

Another major pledge that the student government has promised is the “190 thousand won dormitory.” This is a service proposed by the Korea Foundation for the Promotion of Private School to accommodate less fortunate university students using the national housing fund and private school promotion fund. The council has been striving to place this service to aid college students in Seongbuk District, where KU stands.

“After numerous attempts, we have had four other universities agree to side with KU in efforts to carry forward,” said Nam Byung Gwan (‘12, Biotechnology), the Planning Director of the KUSA. The council is now going over the site area of more than 3000 square meters. “As soon as that is done, we plan to have a meeting with the executives of the foundation to proceed with our plan,” added Nam.

The KUSA has also engaged in directly enhancing student welfare by lauching the “Student Card Plus.” It is an upgraded version of last year’s Chungchun Card, which provided diverse benefits to KU students. Major advancements include discount benefits from local businesses that KU students often use, such as Rockhu Karaoke and Pogunae PC Room. Also, the benefits are given to every student who has their student card with them, taking away the burden of carrying an extra card around. These privileges are available to every KU student from this March. 

▲ Provided by The 46th KUSA

What Can Be Expected

“We have concluded that there were a great deal of students complaining about the current curfew system of the dormitory,” said Hwang. The KUSA and the school have reached an agreement taking a gradual approach to the situation. “We have received a positive response from the school dormitory in plans to let up the curfew by 30 minutes.”

When school starts, KUSA will be having an anonymous yes or no survey on campus regarding the matter. “Additional costs will only be around 500 won and security will be working for an extra 30 minutes for the safety of our students,” assured Hwang.

In addition to ameliorating the welfare of students, the student body president has plans to tackle social problems as well. “The most serious problem at KU is in the management structure. The use of assets of the corporate body is not transparent, student activities and autonomy are ignored by the school and the students are never involved when setting visions for the school,” said Hwang. That is why the student council has come up with plans for a university senate. “It might not be a magic wand, but it could be a starting point for resolution.”

A university senate, if it is well planned and implemented, will give the students a chance to monitor the school and will serve as a direct method to reflect the opinion of students in school policies and plans. “A university senate is urgently needed at this point and will promote democracy within the campus,” stressed Hwang.

Specific plans to realize this goal will be required as this is no easy task. The key for the success of this organization is in the students’ absolute rights to run the committee. With efficient systems to assemble student opinions and to apply them directly to the school’s plans, it might be the revolution that will take the student government and the university to the next step.

From last December, the 46th KUSA has been struggling to carry out their promises to students. The KUSA has suggested some impressive goals to aid students. It is students’ hope that they will speak with their action more than their words.

▲ Provided by The 46th KUSA