Cover story - looking back at the course KNUE has followed for 30 years
For the past 3o years, there were a lot of incidents in this KNUE. Whether they were good or not, it is absolutely true that all of them have made KNUE into what it is today. As KNUE people, knowing what happened in KNUE will give us not only some pride, but the ability for reflection. So, this first time for the cover story to be the 30th anniversary of KNUE starts with some interesting stories that will surprise and touch you. Now, let’s go to the past historical scenes in KNUE.
1980s
It’s not a normal tree! "Kyowon tree"
There is one tree on the field in front of the Humanities building. Last summer, some of you guys may have had some experiences of taking a rest under the tree, feeling cool with shadows that this NORMAL tree gives you. But, it is also the special tree that has our seniors' aspirations for demonstration. Today, although this tree is called the "alone tree," "outcast tree," and so on, the formal name for it is "Kyowon tree." Our senior students planted this tree on April 12th, 1989 by themselves after they pulled out the tree that was planted by the president at that time, Jeon Doo-hwan. Considering that this tree has stood for about 26 years in KNUE, don’t you think this tree has enough right to be the symbol of KNUE? It is recommended that you watch it carefully next time. Then, you can find that this tree is much greener than any other tree in KNUE.
1990s
The KNUE students’ drowning accident during ‘Nonghwal’ (voluntary activities for rural communities)
Every year, as other university students go, KNUE students go to voluntary activities for rural communities, called ‘Nonghwal’. Because there were many farmers and works concerned with agriculture than now, maybe many more hands would have been needed. However, about 22 years ago, there was such a pitiful incident in KNUE. This poem represents the deep sorrows of the students of that period.
At the place that most of you just casually go by, sometimes there are some bunches of flowers on the monument. If you didn’t look carefully when you pass the road in front of the sports area. If you do, you will find one memorial stone that is written like this: On June 27th, 1990, during ‘Nonghwal’, Shim Hyoung-joo (a junior in the Primary Education Department) and Woo Jong-hyung (a sophomore in the Physics Education) died due to an accident where they were swept away in a strong current when finding a missing kid in the Chun-choo River. This was built to cherish the memories of them. Then, what happened, exactly? At that time, they were doing volunteer work and planning for 7 nights and 8 days with twenty students. But, suddenly, one six-year-old child disappeared when he swam, and the residents asked for help in order to find the kid. Unfortunately, however, Shim Hyoung-joo and Woo Jong-hyung and other guys in the village died from the accident as they sank into the waters. This incident was reported in the major daily news, and Chungwongun proposed that they be acknowledged as martyrs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare agreed to make a decision to do it. It is so sad that we hear that the news of the young students who died of the unexpected accidents. Meanwhile, it is admirable that they were willing to rescue the small child. Maybe, we should emulate their attitudes. The next time you pass by the monument, how about praying to God for the mercy of them?
The implementation of the teacher recruitment examination and the strong resistance
During this time at KNUE, many seniors are studying to pass the teacher recruitment examination. But, do you know the fact that your past senior students did not have to study as hard to become teachers than those of us now? Until 1990, the graduates of KNUE could be teachers automatically if they wanted. However, after the Constitutional Court made a decision to find it a violation for the law on October 8th, 1990, the only students who passed the exam can be public teachers. Many students in KNUE were shocked and they resisted that ruling. They withdrew from all classes in the 2nd semester of the year and demonstrated for gaining the right again. It did not end until the Ministry of Education’s official announcement that they guaranteed the students who entered the university prior to the ruling. Even if KNUE students have to pass the exam to be teachers now it is a proud fact that many seniors pass the exam each year. Last year, there were 548 students who passed in KNUE and the passing rate was 94.3% (the contrast to the entrance quota). It was the best ranking nationally.
Banning for construction of the Soojeong apartment
Now, many juniors and seniors live in apartments around KNUE. But, do you know the fact that there were some demonstrations against the construction of them? Typically, the Soojeong apartment was not built easily. On February 9th, 1996 many people struggled to protect the environment for education. This problem went to the court formally, and finally, they won the case and received decision that ‘an apartment building over 10 stories cannot be built’. However, they could not prevent them from building the apartment in the end.
2000s~2010s
The KNUE merging plan: KNUE becomes the Darak Campus for Chungbuk National University?
Just three years ago, there was a big issue in KNUE. Have you ever imagined that KNUE is one of the campuses for the Chungbuk National University? The events started from the following situation. One day, one officer of KNUE visited the Ministry of Education and saw some papers about the merging of KNUE by chance. Although there was nothing that was determined, this information spread all over KNUE, and it became a hot potato immediately on the Internet and in KNUE. INDIGO also was interested in the problem at that time, and we had some surveys about the merging of KNUE. There were some big demonstrations about it and this situation ended. KNUE is still alive and still stands as the center for the Korean educational system.
The merging of some departments in KNUE
This year, some plans where some departments would be merged or abolished were announced. In addition, the university headquarters announced that a department of Chinese education is going to be launched, and it will reduce the number of people that were assigned to each department. Many students and professors strongly protested the plans and especially, some departments like environment education, home economics education, technology education, French education, and German education felt that the plans would be applied directly to their respective departments demonstrated on campus. Of course, other students in other department who disagreed with the plans expressed their voice with them. Through some votes among the professors, the plans were cancelled and just one list about launching the Chinese education and reducing the number of people who are allocated was accepted.
So, as we can see, this 30th anniversary of KNUE marks a period where a lot of things have happened. Then, what stories will be continued? For the last 30 years, while our senior students were the contributors, now it’s time for us to be the main characters for the future. Thus, while you are reading INDIGO, the history is created continuously.