The “March 2022 by-election” was held from March 24th to 28th. Many candidates from each college and department ran, and most of them were elected, allowing them to look forward to a bright future for colleges and departments. However, the General Student Council (GSC), which represents all students in the school, failed because there were no candidates who submitted valid documents within the specified period.
In a group or space where various and many members are gathered, there is an existence representing the group. Just as there is a president representing the country and a chancellor representing the university, the GSC is the representative of the student in the university. It is very important to have such a representative of a group, and it is also necessary for the public interest. However, unlike last year, when the GSC was crowded with members at the student council, only club members can be seen coming and going to the student council this year. On behalf of more than 14,000 Donggukians, the presence of a GSC is invaluable and necessary to speak out and help students live in a better environment.
At the end of December 31st, 2021, the GSC “Doyak” retired. It is 2022 and the opening of the semester has already, but the position of the GSC is still vacant. The Emergency Committee has also not been formed, so the Student Representative Management Committee has been temporarily launched and replaced. The Student Representative Management Committee is a conference body for student development at Dongguk University. It consists of an Emergency Committee, a member unit and an agent. Although the last year’s GSC’s communication window account was now received by the Student Representative Manage Committee, the account is only used for information delivery and is not as actively used as in previous years.
Since there is no GSC that actively communicated with students and helped them to live a better campus life, a big vacancy feels even bigger. Various student associations for the school, such as department associations and college student associations, are striving to realize policies that reflect the characteristics of departments or colleges. However, the absence of the GSC, representing all students, leaves much to be desired.
Unlike the past two years when Donggukians were relatively inactive due to COVID-19, face-to-face classes and face-to-face events have led to a new campus life. The more active school life is possible now, the greater the absence of the GSC that can actively reflect student’ opinions, and the more desperate the GSC is to be launched. I think the launch of the GSC, which will serve as a pleasant campus life and communication channel for students, is more urgent than ever.