About 150 Students Take Leave of Absence
in Protest Against Coeducation Transition
Students at Dongduk Women's University condemned the school's legal action related to the engineering transition issue that has arisen since last year.
Yonhap News reported on the 9th that the Dongduk Women's University student union held a 'Dongduk Women's University Foundation Condemnation Rally' in front of Anguk Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 9th.
They stated, "We condemn the school for damaging posters and filing lawsuits against innocent students, and we will protect the spirit of democracy on campus." As of 4 p.m., the students estimated about 700 participants, while the police unofficially estimated about 1,000 people gathered.
Students' Union of Duksung Women's University is shouting slogans at the protest against the Duksung Women's University Foundation held on the 9th at Bukinsa Madang, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Wearing purple vests with the phrase 'Will Spring Come to Democratic Dongduk?' and towels on their heads reading 'Implement Direct Election of the President,' they shouted slogans such as 'Student protests are justified' and 'Condemn the university administration for suing students.' They also held photos of the school flower, the cotton flower. Occupying three lanes, they shouted slogans wrapped in silver blankets against the perceived temperature of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius.
Park Subin, chairperson of the Emergency Measures Committee of the Student Council, took the stage and raised her voice, saying, "The school has long obstructed autonomous activities and unilaterally carried out department mergers and abolitions," and now has even filed criminal charges, asking, "Is this how students should be treated?"
One student argued, "We must eradicate private school corruption and achieve the direct election of the university president to democratically reflect students' voices."
The Dongduk Women's University Student Union is shouting slogans at the protest against the Dongduk Women's University Foundation held on the 9th at Bukinsa Madang, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The Dongduk Women's University student union pointed out, "Regarding the engineering transition, the school ignored students' opinions," and criticized the school for prohibiting all acts such as protests, condolence wreath installations, and poster postings, thereby restricting freedom of expression and assembly, which is illegal.
They continued, "Our goal is for the university administration to stop its anti-democratic actions and democratically reflect students' voices," raising their voices to demand the eradication of private school corruption and the implementation of the direct election of the university president, which they have long called for.
Earlier, in November last year, students occupied the main building because the school was preparing to transition to a coeducational system without sufficient discussion, spray-painted various campus buildings, and damaged property. Although the occupation ended after 23 days, the school filed a lawsuit under the president's name against 21 people, including the student council president, on charges such as joint property damage.
Meanwhile, JTBC reported that about 150 Dongduk Women's University students have submitted leave of absence applications. It is known that they decided to take a leave of absence as a form of protest against the school. The student emergency committee expects the actual number of students on leave to be higher, as the application period is still ongoing.
Dongduk Women's University announced that, in response to the student council's demand for a way to gather student opinions on the transition to coeducation, it plans to promote a 'Coeducation Transition Public Deliberation Committee' for six months starting next month. However, among students, there are complaints that specific progress is not being properly shared.
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