1. Dept. of Art Education Holds the Last Graduation Exhibition
The Dept. of Art Education held the last graduation exhibition in Biennale Information Hall on January 16, 2005. It was chosen to be amalgamated into the College of Fine Arts due to the Department Abolition and Amalgamation Policy of CNU. In accordance with the policy, the department hasn’t collected new freshmen since 2000. For this year’s graduates of Art Education, the graduation exhibition is significant in this context. They are also required to hold the exhibition for graduation as the graduates of other departments are expected to submit their theses. The graduates-to-be of Fine Art Education prudently worked on their works to be displayed for this last graduation exhibition. Saying that he sat out even on Christmas Day because of this exhibition, Lim Hyun-suk emphasized, “I think that this graduation exhibition is not an end, but, in a way, a start. I will try to do my best to pass the National Teacher Appointment Examination and become a teacher who teaches dream and hope to young students.”
2. CNU Students at Dept. of Philosophy Won Silver Prize in the National Philosophy Forensics
For the past two years, the students in the Dept. of Philosophy have received the silver prize in the National Philosophy Forensics League (NPFL) under the sponsorship of the Korea Philosophy Association on November 20, 2004. Kim Hyun-jin, Ji Su-neong and Hong Jin-hee were the team members who received silver prize in 2003, and Kim Hyun-jin, Kim Hye-yeong and Lim Su-a were the members of 2004. The Korea Philosophy Association has held NPFL since 2003 which aims to make university students intellectuals to search for the right answers to the questions encountered in their lives through philosophical speculation, and to improve their understanding and communication skills. The League chose ‘Do you think that premarital cohabitation should be morally criticized?’ and ‘Do you think that the research of human embryo cloning is desirable?’ as the subjects of discussion. Kim Hyun-jin who received the prize for two consecutive years in this league recommended, “You should challenge yourself if you think you are qualified. Please never hesitate to participate in the League if you make up your mind. Once you make up your mind, it’s easier to prepare for the discussion.”
3. CNU Set To Raise Tuition Fees By 12. 5 Percent
Like most of the national universities, that plan to raise admission fees and tuition fees by 5 percent, CNU is also set to raise tuition fees, but at a higher level. Students are expected to be opposed to the plan. Along with other members, Hong Sung-woo (Dean of Planning & Cooperation Office) and Jung Dal-sung (representative of students) attended the 9th Finances Committee
Meeting held on December 29, 2004, to deliberate on dues for school. The two represented the university and the students, respectively. At the meeting, the two sides failed to reach an agreement due to differences over the deliberation on the budget bill.
The university insists, “It is inevitable to raise the tuition fees to cope with the increase in funding for restructuring among the departments and to boost student-centered policies like the surge in the financial aid for students’ overseas study as the deliberation on the budget bill of this year shows.” On the other hand, the representative of students contends, “The balance brought forward is accumulated each year and the expenditure of it is unaccounted for. The university is saddling the students with the responsibility of the educational crisis and defrayment of restructuring resulting from its own insolvent management.” The Main Office made the decision to raise tuition fees at the School Supporting Association Meeting held on January 4, 2005. President of the 37th GSC (General Student Council), Park Han-kyun, said, “Tuition fees have been irrationally raised every year. When the spring term begins, we will struggle to freeze tuition fees and conduct a campaign for the enforcement of a ‘Democratic Payment System’ (see a pledge of 37th GSC) in alliance with all the students.” Conflicts between the 37th GSC and the Main Office seem to be unavoidable.
4. CNU Campus Is Under Renovation
During the winter vacation, CNU campus is being renovated. The 7 construction sites are partly in progress or already completed. The university spent about 3.6 billion won in renovation costs. The tennis courts in front of the 2nd Student Union and the path through the woods to the College of Agriculture & Living have just undergone a complete refit. The wooden benches are going to take shape by the end of January, so that CNU members can appreciate a scenic view sitting around at the College of Social Science. The renovation of the lavatories in the CNU LibraryⅠ and Ⅱ will be finished by the end of January. Also, the elevator in the library of the College of Social Science is going to start to run starting in April and the facilities of Dormitory Building Ⅲ and Ⅳ will have been repaired by March. Lastly, the extension of classrooms in the Medical School whose expenditure comes to about 2.2 billion won will be done by April, this year. These renovations are supposed to lead the Yongbongians to a more comfortable campus life than before.
