Direct Election System for University President
<#320 Howdy, CNUians?>
What Is Your Opinion
About Direct Election System for University President? By Yoon Ji-yeon, Guest Reporter
Na Seol-hee (Junior, Department of Psychology)
As the pillars of our school, the least we can do is to vote directly in an election. However, looking into ourselves inwardly, how many of us are totally interested in 'our' election? How many of us are aware of presidential candidates? Not knowing where the election was held, being busy, stuck with major studies, and not being interested in the election with the impractical pledges of the candidates, we might have postponed our immersion to the realities of the university. Considering the impact of our behaviors, I think a new way of selecting the president, other than the direct election system, could be better. It will be the 'indirect election system' by ones who know well about presidential candidates. Of course, alternatives should be prepared to keep the election in balanced, such as collecting opinions from the student representatives or going through the proper procedures in selecting a new president to be much more willingly accepted by majority of the members of CNU.
Yi Ji-ang (Junior, School of Mathematics)
Before raising an issue of direct election system, foreign students are actually not familiar with the election. Since the number of foreign students is not that many, it is difficult for us to have a decisive effect on turning the table of election. What’s more, the pledges for us are scarcely found, in which made us uninterested in the topic. For this, likewise, I don't mind any approach, as long as a new system shall provide us with more opportunities and giving us more practical benefits. It is likely that it doesn't matter whether direct election system should be consistent or not, under the condition of both improving the welfare of ours and bringing us new idea that we ourselves participated in the decision-making procedure. Educational environment is continuously being changed with the changing flow of society, and I will be willing to stand in the direction of my school being developed.
Yoon Ye-ji (Freshman, School of Self-designed Interdisciplinary Studies)
I disagree with the abolition of direct presidential election. To begin with, it’s quite natural that the education system would be severely damaged if each university loses their independence. It means the democracy of the country is being threatened, which is also against the Constitution declaring South Korea a democratic republic. Secondly, the corruption possibility among the professors cannot be the reason to lift the direct election system. I believe that dishonorable bribery could be settled through strict investigation since it often occurs in the election of both the president and the National Assembly. I think, paradoxically, seemingly the negative process of current election system shows that ‘the real president’ could be elected. To sum up, a direct presidential election should be protected for our educational future based on democracy and the real president that we ourselves chose. It is our duty to conserve the inherited direct election in which all of school members democratically participate.
Park So-jeong (Junior, School of Mathematics)
Annually in May, I get proud of our school and its alumni. With the fact that Korean Democracy is incomplete without mentioning CNU, I'm proud of my seniors who led Korea to its democratization. I agree with the system of direct presidential election. As far as I know, CNU first performed the system amongst national universities across the country in 1988, with the high spirit of May 18 Democratic Movement by Gwangju citizens and students. In this sense, the abolition of the direct election system would be a humiliating treatment that throws off the honor of CNU, the icon of democratization. I hope my CNU remains as it is, even though she should be put under the financial pressure of education ministry.
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