On November 23, 2023, the second day of the joint public hearing for the Dongguk University elections took place. The public hearing was held at the Central Auditorium of the New Engineering Building at Dongguk University starting at 6:30 P.M. The proceedings went in the order of the School of Law Student Council Election Branch ‘Hero,’ the College of Social Sciences Representative Council Election Branch ‘Dawon,’ and the General Student Council Election Branch ‘Sidong,’ concluding around 10 P.M. Over the course of approximately three and a half hours, intense questioning and answers took place, with additional questions directed at the candidates.
Amidst numerous questions, the Dongguk Post would like to particularly focus on and describe the General Student Council Election Branch ‘Sidong,’ which garnered the most attention and received the highest number of questions. The Dongguk Post posed three formal questions and six additional questions to ‘Sidong.’ Below, a detailed account of the content and responses regarding the Dongguk Post’s three main questions are provided.
Q1. We are curious if there is a specific plan for the trial operation of shuttle buses on campus. We would like to hear details regarding the operational schedule, routes, frequency, and the number of buses, among other practical information.
I have experience assisting in affiliation-related tasks. During this process, we received a proposal from a company regarding shuttle bus operations, taking into consideration the distance from Dongguk University’s elevated location and Chungmuro Station. While this was a compelling proposal at the time, it could not be implemented due to practical difficulties during the Emergency Measures Committee regime. However, I believe the situation will be different after the establishment of the General Student Council. A sustainable executive branch capable of continuous management is planned, and it is anticipated that budget allocation can be arranged in consultation with the school. As a part of my pledges, I have included this project, and in meetings with the company, we discussed operating a shuttle bus circulating within the campus, starting from Chungmuro Station. Specific frequencies and the number of buses will need further discussion with the company. Given that this is an initial undertaking, accurately predicting demand is indeed challenging. Nevertheless, considering this aspect, we have planned various options and intend to adjust the frequency and intervals appropriately.
Q2. As we reviewed the currently uploaded policy booklet, we felt a significant lack of specific explanations or plans for each promise compared to the number of promises made. Considering this, we would like to ask whether you have the intention to reorganize and publicly disclose detailed explanations for each promise, making it accessible for students to understand, if ‘Sidong’ is elected as the General Student Council.
Due to the limitations on the number of pages that can be included in the policy booklet according to election rules, we also feel the constraint of not being able to provide detailed explanations to our fellow students on how we plan to implement these promises. It is regrettable that we cannot do so. However, today’s public hearing provides an excellent opportunity to address these aspects. As you mentioned, if we are elected, we commit to specifying the implementation details and timelines for our pledges. We plan to make this information public through press releases and internal meeting rooms to ensure transparency and keep our fellow students informed.
Q3. We would like to ask a question regarding the expansion of the opening hours of the Central Library and study rooms in each building during the exam period. The Law Library is already operating 24 hours during exam periods, and the Myeongjin Lounge in the Myeongjin Hall is also open 24 hours. Additionally, students have the option to study individually in their major rooms or club rooms. Therefore, we would like to hear your opinion on whether expanding the opening hours of the 'Central Library' is genuinely necessary.
I am aware of the points you mentioned, as opinions on these matters have been discussed thoroughly in internal meetings. Specifically, for places like the Law Library, where students often struggle to find seats during exam periods, I understand that the seating capacity is at saturation levels. Therefore, I believe there is a need for spaces that can help disperse this crowd. Additionally, regarding the major rooms or club rooms that you mentioned, ensuring safety is challenging. Hence, I believe it is the role of the General Student Council to provide spaces where safety can be guaranteed.
The joint public hearing is scheduled to extend until Thursday, the 23rd. Live streaming of the proceedings is accessible through Dongguk University’s broadcasting station, DUBS, on its official YouTube channel.