Volume up the Voice for KGU Students

: Meeting a Student Who Wants to Be a Mike of Their Voice

  After the Students' General Meeting on October 10, the normalization of the board has become a hot issue among students once again. On Everytime, a school community, there was a student who did a survey to gather students' opinions and other activities to raise up the voices as a student. Pharos interviewed this most talked-about man yesterday; October 16.

Q1. Introduce yourself briefly, please.

A1. Hello, I am Hee-joong Kim, a sophomore majoring in English Language and Literature. I am just a normal student without any position.

Q2. Which organization do you belong to?

A2. I have organized ‘All for Normalization and Related Response(경기대 법인 정상화 관련 대응을 위한 일동, ANRR).’ I do not belong to any other official organization, and ANRR is distinct from ‘Kyonggi University Normalization Emergency Planning Committee(경기대 정상화 비상대책위원회).'

Q3. How did you create the organization?

A3. The starting point was the Q&A at the Students' General Meeting this semester. Previously, I trusted the student council, but I criticized the chairman of the student council who didn’t give a clear answer to students’ questions and only gave ambiguous answers on that day. After the Students' General Meeting, I felt sad that no students had spoken out seriously about this important discussion and that deeper discussion was impossible. The purpose of ANRR was not to oppose the Son’s family, but the need to properly discuss with many students. That is why I started the survey and created the organization.

  As of today(October 16) afternoon, about 360 students participated in the survey. Due to the support of many people, other activities such as making and distributing leaflets were carried out. It is regrettable that there is no one to join me, but I received feedback or advice through Everytime or from people around me. According to some friends from other universities, they often voice their opinions using their names. However, in Kyonggi University students tend to hide their opinions. I felt sad about this and wanted to be a microphone for the students' voices, although I could not be the voices of the students themselves.

Q4. You have opened and managed an open chat room on Kakaotalk about normalization. What is the purpose of the chat room?

A4. If I work alone, there is a concern that it could be my dogmatic behavior, so it was to receive opinions and advice from others. And I also wanted to seem different to the student council, which is not open to students’ opinions. However, it is not very helpful because there were many people who only missay anonymously.

Q5. What is your next plan after the survey?

A5. If the petition can be delivered directly to the Private School Dispute Resolution Committee(사학분쟁조정위원회), I plan to do so. If not, I will email each member of the committee or find a way to convey our opinion. I considered delivering it through the student council as well. However, the student council is in a position that does not really restrict the Son's family. So I think this method is meaningless. 

Q6. Were there any difficulties while doing these activities?

A6. At first, I started to gather students' opinions. However, I am concerned that the students are splitting up. In the survey, most people were supportive and there were people who even suggested donations. On the other hand, in the open chat room, there were people who only blame me. I am confused and worried about what students really want, and how to decide where to focus when I deliver students' opinions. 

  I was asked if my activities were illegal, and I was told to quit now and criticized a lot. I was also told that the board of directors and the student council have their own circumstances, but what do you know? Of course, I can't even say that my thoughts are right and absolutely correct. However, it is clear that the number of students who are interested and concerned about this issue is not small. It is a pity that many students are reluctant to ask questions or speak out. I was scared enough to think about dropping out of the school. But now, I feel more pity than fear. I also regret that the survey was not elaborate enough because it was made in a hurry, on a bus heading to school in the morning.

  The student council seems to plan to take post-action rather than pre-action, but I think more opinions from students are needed. There are not a few opinions that students point out in the student council. Should I leave it in such an ambiguous state or should I act? That is why I am going to conduct more surveys. I think the first thing to do is to find a solution together. 

Q7. Is there anything else you would like to say?

A7. I am just a normal student, but I am grateful for the interest. Still, with more than 10,000 Kyonggi University students, I think 360 participants in the survey are ridiculously small. Students are not very interested in this agenda itself. I think that conveying the opinions of students who are truly concerned about the school is what I can do for the school. Some people ask if I intend to run in the student council election, but I started this activity to communicate students' opinions, and I will do so until the end. So, please pay a lot of attention. Thank you.

Editor-in-Chief •  CHOI BO YOUN • invierno.y@kyonggi.ac.kr

80th Reporter • CHOI JUN HONG • chloi0058@naver.com