The student representatives of the first semester of 2022 met officially with the University Administration for the first time this year to discuss the revitalization of students’ autonomy. It is a measure to cope with the fact that the students’ autonomy is wavering, failing to organize the student council both in PNU and colleges in 54 years due to frequent unregistered candidates.

On April 8th, the Student Office held a meeting with the expanded Central Operating Committee of the student council at Unjukjeong in Pusan National University (PNU). A total of sixteen people attended the meeting, including Kim Yoonchan (00, Dept. of Fine Arts), the chief of the Student Office, Park Sangjoon, the leader of the Student Support Team, and the students from the expanded Central Operating Committee.

Both sides agreed to constructively discuss how to “revitalize students’ autonomy” on this day. The Student Office will communicate regularly with the President and the Central Operating Committee of colleges. It will hold a meeting which the departments of the Student Administration visit following the request of the student councils of colleges.

Park Sang-Joon (Team Manager, the Student Support Team) said, “We are also considering ways to award the PNU president's commendation to the excellent activities of student executives or issue a certificate of volunteer work with the PNU president’s name. After the midterm, I will attend the Central Operating Committee and give more detailed support methods.” Additionally, Jung Se-Yoon (18, Dept. of International Trade), the chairman of the Emergency Measure Committee, said, “I think we start conversations. We are expecting the results to improve by shaping up possible agendas.” 

Moreover, both discussed the improvement of students’ welfare: raising the number of school buses, extending the library operation time, and installing smoking booths. The expanded Central Operating Committee claimed that the Student Administration should resolve that school buses are too crowded at the start of the school day and restart the night driving service, which was suspended by COVID-19. In addition, it added that the libraries should be open 24 hours a day during the exam period and the social distancing between seats should be removed to resolve intense competition for the seats, and also smoking booths have to be established in each college.

The Student Administration asked the department in charge to adjust the intervals of school buses and will propose a night drive to the Traffic Management Committee. Additionally, it will review associated laws for setting distances between seats and extending the library operation time, and consult on installing smoking booths at each college with the authorities.

   They will hold the second meeting soon and embody students’ welfare plans and the support measures for students’ autonomy. Meanwhile, the University Administration decided to repair the facilities of students’ autonomy organizations starting this year. The plan is to fix the floors, walls, and doors of the aged student council of colleges at first.

Reporter Kim Min-Sung

Translated by Park Yeon-Hee