▲ Students were chatting on the green lawn next to Bongji Fountain with their friends.
 The weather is becoming warmer and the deep-green grass shows us that summer is coming. Hot summer weather calls for students to enjoy its color and weather on the much greener lawn at Chonnam National University (CNU). CNUians have gathered around Bongji Fountain and have had a great time with their friends. During the afternoon, Bongji Pond is the place where students can chat with their friends in the bright sunshine. It is also the place for solidifying friendships by drinking in the evening.


 For CNUians, sitting around Bongji Fountain while drinking alcohol surrounded by beautiful landscape is the romantic ideal of university life. It is fascinating for them to drink on the green lawn next to the fountain. Enjoying the youthful culture around the Bongji that is full of youth and vitality can be a cultural symbol of CNUians. Additionally, as all roads from various directions lead to thy Bongji Fountain, students can promote the friendship by gathering and sharing their time and thoughts there. Drinking around the Bongji not only saves money but also keeps students healthy as CNUians are outside enjoying nature instead of in the crowded noisy pubs off campus where smoke hangs in the air.


 However, recently there have been debates over drinking around Bongji Fountain under the supervision of the CNU General Students Council. The problem: some students yell out and do not clean up their trash. Due to its location near Library Ⅰ(Baekdo) where a lot of students study day and night, making noise is a bigger problem than any other place on campus. Moreover, leaving a mess and breaking bottles are considered abnormal behavior that is unacceptable for university students.


 On May 25th, the request titled ‘a letter to fellow students’ was posted around Bongji Fountain. It contains two suggestions; clean up your mess and do not sing and scream loudly. The General Student’s Council also appeals to CNUians’ public morality sincerely that they should show consideration for others and follow the rules of public etiquette as the university is a public place. I regard this request not as a warning but as a campaign for a better campus that needs every CNUians’ to make an effort and show affection for their university. When students enjoy their university life keeping their ownership and taking responsibility for their behavior, debates over issues like drinking around Bongji Fountain will be eliminated. Therefore, I do not think there should be a regulation against allowing students to gather and to drink on the grass around Bongji Fountain. CNUians can find ways to enjoy a healthy drinking culture and to solidify their friendship by following public moral standards on our campus.
 

By Jang Min, Guest Reporter
#295 Student Column

저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지