Before the 9 AM lecture started, Kang Soo-Chan (pseudonym, Dept. of Applied IT & Engineering) walked out the gate of the PNU Miryang Campus. Because the dormitory of Miryang Campus decided to stop providing breakfast this semester, he tried to find a restaurant to eat. However, he can only see five bars. None of the restaurants were opened. Kang needed to eat something to take medicine, so he walked to the convenience store. But he saw only a triangular kimbap left. As this situation repeats, he is getting tired of Miryang Campus life. Kang said, "It is hard to find a place to have breakfast. It seems like the university never worries about their students."

The breakfast problem of the PNU dormitory on the Miryang Campus has become controversial. On March 1st, the dormitory of Miryang Campus stopped providing breakfast without any suitable alternative. 

As was discovered by our investigation, the campus and other restaurants or cafeterias are not providing breakfast. Therefore, the dormitory students mostly use convenience stores in the dormitory or around the campus, but it is not easy to find food in stock there. 

■ "A reckless administration with no alternatives"

PNU Miryang Campus students are angered by the university headquarters, which has been neglecting this pain for three months already. Kang said, "If they know the infrastructure of the campus is poor, wouldn't it make sense to provide breakfast at least?" Another anonymous Miryang Campus dormitory student, A said, "I know that PNU Busan Campus has 1,000 won breakfast and payment benefits. But my campus has no payment benefits, and they canceled providing breakfast. Is this the best thing?"

Moreover, many students of the Miryang Campus are saying that the act of campus, which stopped providing breakfast without any suitable alternatives, is an irresponsible attitude. The students asked for at least refrigerators to keep the food and microwaves to warm the food, but PNU denied them due to the problem of safety. In the PNU suggestion box on the PNU website, the dormitory official answered that no cooking facilities or food storage facilities could be provided due to sanitation and safety risks. 

■ "A hard decision due to difficulty in running a restaurant"

According to the dormitory of Miryang Campus, the number of students who breakfasted in March last year was around 250 out of 600 graduates, but since April, the number has decreased to 150. The dormitory of Miryang Campus indicated the main reason for stopping providing breakfast is financial difficulties. Son Hye-Young (Nutritionist, PNU dormitory) said, "The labor cost was too high compared to the number of students who breakfast." 

Another reason for canceling breakfast is the result of last year's survey. As a result of the two surveys on the preferred meal type to students, there were more opinions to stop providing breakfast. 

However, what the students sincerely wanted was a “meal option” instead of the cancellation of breakfast. The survey conducted in the second semester gave students the option of a 'meal option ticket system,' which 50.9% of respondents voted for. The anonymous student of PNU Miryang Campus B said, "At the time, the students insisted that they ask for the same 'meal options' as in the Busan Campus so that both students who eat breakfast and those who do not eat can be satisfied."

The dormitory of Miryang Campus asked to be excused, saying that it was hard to make a decision that satisfied every student. Nutritionist Son said, "Miryang Campus is difficult to operate if students request meals in various forms. I have been thinking a lot about this situation for five years, but it was my best to take the opinions of the majority." On the other hand, it is expected that the restaurant operation that reflects the students’ opinions will be difficult because the dormitory students’ association this year doesn’t exist due to unregistered candidates. 

Reporter Kim Min-Sung

Translated by Yun Chae-Eun