![]() |
The dormitory's back door is guarded loosely without security guards. /Photograph by Kim Seung-hye |
Recently, there were a considerable number of postings about how students faced with difficulties living in the school dormitory in “Dongguk Bamboo Forest,” a Facebook page where the students of Dongguk University share their thoughts. The postings were mostly about inspectors coming by the dormitory unexpectedly for an air conditioner check-up. The inspectors just knocked on the door few times and simply opened the door with their own master keys. Including this event, some other incidents regarding the unprotected privacy of the students, who live in the school dormitory, exist. It is necessary to find out why these voices of distress have been risen to the surface and to deliberate about the solution of the problem.
School dormitory’s neglect of the management
The primary reason for such inconveniences is improper management of the dormitory. In reference to the unforeseen inspections with master keys, one student who majors in business administration said, “The fact that the dormitory has master keys itself came to me as a big shock.” With students complaining about such a matter, the school needs to make efforts to find different ways of inspecting students’ rooms.
Aside from the inspection issue, the school dormitory’s back door not being controlled properly also has been a problem. Some students living in the dormitory bring their friends who do not live in the school dormitory and offer them a sleep over a lot secretly. One student who majors in business administration continued, “Unlike the front door of the dormitory which is checked minutely by the security guards, the back door has a structure letting people enter the dormitory easily with just a single person’s pass.”
Furthermore, since the dormitory regulations mandate that these students be expelled from the dormitory eternally, it is hard for other students to accuse them. Therefore, suitable and constant supervision of the back door is needed fundamentally.
Students need to observe the rules
It is true that these unfortunate matters take place. However, before blaming the dormitory, the students need to know that the school dormitory is not the facility that is used only for themselves. They should not violate the rules, such as not bringing students who do not live in the dormitory. Still, this kind of misdeed is ongoing. The transgression would only make uncomfortable environments for other residents. In this manner, the administrative office has no choice but to punish those who disobey the regulation.
School’s stance on the issue opposed to that of students living dormitory
Regarding the matters that students are dissatisfied with, the administration has given the response as below. As for the issue of fixing or safety check, the official of the administrative office said, “We try to do our best not to make similar situations again. For example, we notify students the safety check time in hour basis. Also, before the safety check, we always train engineers to always carefully check whether the room is occupied or not. So the best way for the engineers to verify whether the room is occupied or not was to knock on the doors. However, since there was no response from the room, that is why they went in.” The official of the administrative office added, they are very sensitive to this issue, since it is directly related to students’ privacy. They said they also have requested female workers for female students.
Another controversial matter is bringing other students to the dormitory who are not living in the school dormitory. In regard to this situation, the dormitory heavily ban students from bringing other students to the dormitory. However, regarding the back door, students use the card key so that it is an issue that cannot be helped. The best way is to report students to the administrative office or the guard. Lastly, since it will be done anonymously, the official of the administrative office of the dormitory said that students should always feel free to contact the team by call or access the website to report.
The way the school and the students should go
As stated above, the school is acknowledged of these recent issues and trying its best to solve them. While the students should keep lifting their voices up regarding the discomforts they may face, the effort of trying to observe the dormitory’s rules is also required. With both of the parties doing their own roles appropriately, the dormitory would be administered properly.
Kim Ji-min annie2829@dongguk.edu
<ÀúÀÛ±ÇÀÚ © µ¿±¹Æ÷½ºÆ®, ¹«´Ü ÀüÀç ¹× Àç¹èÆ÷ ±ÝÁö>