<#312 News Focus>
CNU Is Preparing for Its 60th Anniversary
By Han Su-yeon, Tribune Reporter
Next year is the 60th birthday of Chonnam National University (CNU), which was founded on June 9th 1952. To commemorate the past 60 years, CNU organized the Preparatory Committee of 60th Anniversary Events and is ready to grow as a new CNU in 2012. The Chonnam Tribune checked to see how the University is preparing to celebrate its 60th birthday. What are the noteworthy features of the preparations?
The CNU Museum is pushing ahead with the plan for opening CNU History Hall, which will be open in Yongbonggwan on June 9th 2012. For this, the University has been collecting various historical documents relating to CNU and its people in and outside school. As well as this, CNU has compiled a book about its history from 2009, similar to “The Annals of CNU for the Last 50 Years” published for the 50th anniversary of its foundation. These efforts are aimed at focusing on ‘the future’ because CNU focused on it during the process of planning its 60th anniversary events. The core idea of the events is ‘Human Creativity’ for the future. Yoo Jong-won (Professor, Dept. of Communication), Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of 60th Anniversary Events, said, “Creativity is the most important thing in the information society, and people that have it are the right ones for the 21st century.” According to his sayings, there is no doubt the university has to enhance its students’ creativity and foster creative human resources for the future. CNU is also running a catchphrase contest from September 1st to October 10th. Not only CNU members but the public can also submit their idea which conveys the meanings and visions of the 60th anniversary.
To reflect on its past and prepare for the future through CNU’s birthday, the University’s preparations are actively underway. In contrast with the moves of the University, most CNU students do not care much about the history and future of their school. They may not even know when CNU was established. However, CNU's aforementioned efforts to commemorate its anniversary will affect CNU students. Kim Na-hyun (Sophomore, Dept. of English Language and Literature), a student ambassador of CNU said, “CNU’s long history gives me a sense of pride in my school. Through various activities as a student ambassador, I have come to know CNU’s history more than others. So I feel more affection for CNU.”
As pointed out above, the University is making an effort to increase student participation in the preparations for the 60th anniversary. A student representative from the 2011 General Students Council was chosen to be a member of the Preparatory Committee alongside school officials to encourage students to participate fully in the anniversary in contrast to past celebrations. The Committee has no specific proposals yet, but is planning some special events both directly and indirectly related to students. With the effort of students, the University is also trying to avoid one-off or expensive events and is planning those which will be held throughout the year 2012, from March to December, according to the Office of Planning and Coordination of CNU.
During its preparation for the 50th anniversary CNU looked at other schools’ methods of celebrating for inspiration and fresh ideas. Are there any other special cases that could help CNU's preparations? For its 60th anniversary in 2006, Kyungpook National University (KNU) included the history of its student movement in the compilation of the 60-year history of KNU. It was considered a special effort, because KNU tried to escape from compiling strictly school-oriented history. In the same year, Pusan National University (PNU) held a special dance performance which symbolized six images of PNU to celebrate its 60th anniversary. A variety of methods were used by the universities to celebrate their anniversaries, but what we surely have to know is that theyare not only made for entertaining students, they should be the turning point for change at the universities.
As is the case for other universities, CNU’s 60th anniversary could be a kind of turning point for CNU to look back on its history and decide where CNU should go in the 21st century. Compared to universities that are hundreds of years old in Western countries, CNU has a much shorter history. Nevertheless, CNU has its own traditions and valuable experiences which haveaccumulated since 1952 and they distinguish CNU from other universities. School students, graduates, professors, faculty staff and even local citizens have taken the leading role for CNU’s long-held history and development. As a CNUian, having a sense of pride is no less important than taking part in the preparations for CNU’s 60th birthday. 2012 can be an extra special year for CNU and CNUians.
한수연 기자
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