Covid-era students tackle in-person event planning in a post-pandemic world

Covid-era university students face challenges organizing in-person events after the pandemic. Despite a lack of experience, they strive to create enjoyable and memorable experiences for new students, seeking guidance from senior members.

The inauguration ceremony of Pusan National University's College of Natural Sciences held at the university's Neokneokhan-Teo in March. [YOU SEUNG-HYUN]

Students during the Covid-19 pandemic are now in charge of organizing in-person events, doing their best to help current first year students enjoy university life to the fullest despite their lack of experience.

It was just a few years ago when campus events were scaled down due to the Covid-19 pandemic since December 2019, but in-person events have regained their vitality for some time.

Those arranging these events are none other than what has been labeled the “Covid undergraduates,” a term referring to students who started university between 2020 and 2022.

Not having participated in events in person due to everything being conducted online three to four years ago, some have experienced difficulties in preparing for events such as first year student welcome ceremonies, inauguration ceremonies, club activities and retreats.

“To be honest, I didn't even understand the difference between the new student learning program, the freshman welcome ceremony and orientation until I became the [student council] president," said Chu Kyung-ju, president of Pusan National University's Department of Media and Communication Student Council.

"I didn’t experience those events as a freshman because they had been suspended for several years and only started again this year, so it was difficult to set the direction of those events without knowing how they were done before.”

Every detail had to be discussed from the beginning to smoothly organize events.

The inauguration ceremony of Pusan National University's College of Social Sciences, held at the university's Siwol Square Neokneokhan-Teo in April. [CHO YOUNG-MIN]

“For the new student learning program, it was difficult for inexperienced members to handle details such as how much alcohol should be allowed and when we should ask students to stop," said Kim Da-hye, vice president of Pusan National University's College of Social Sciences Student Council. "So we had to gather our staff on the day of the event to discuss these details together.”

Organizing club activities and recruiting new members were also not the easiest tasks.

“Recruiting members for the club was difficult because we didn’t know how to decorate the booth, how to promote it, when and how to recruit new members and how many people to recruit,” said Jung Sang-hoon, president of Pusan National University's dance club UCDC.

Pusan National University's club recruitment fair held at the Neokneokhan-Teo in March. The dance university's club UCDC performed a busking performance. [KIM TAE-YI]

The student council members also expressed regret that if they had more experience, they could have created even better events.

"The biggest struggle I faced when preparing for events was that I lacked the most valuable component, which was experience," said Kim Do-eon, president of Pusan National University's College of Business. "Every time we organized an event, we tried our best to create enjoyable and memorable experiences for students."

"But since I didn't have experience, there were limitations to my imagination. I often think that if I had experienced events like the new student learning space or orientation during my freshman year, I might have come up with more creative ideas based on my experience."

But the students aren't left alone.

Current student council members also seek advice from seniors who organized events before the Covid-19 pandemic, getting help and guidance.

Jang Seung-chan, president of Pusan National University's School of Global Studies Student Council, entered the university in 2020 when the pandemic broke out.

Despite not having experienced in-person events, Jang says he was "able to learn operating methods and other things from the previous student council president.”

Cho Seok-hoon, a Pusan National University student and president of the university's College of Natural Resources and Life Science Student Council, also "sought advice from senior students and worked with the student council members to complete the project.”

The new student learning program of Pusan National University's College of Natural Resources and Life Science was held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang in February. [CHANNEL PNU]

Despite struggles, the student organizers have one common goal, which is to create good memories for new incoming students.

“We joke that we envy the students who enter university this year because they can participate in all events and frequently hold gatherings,” said Chu from Pusan National University's Department of Media and Communication Student Council. "And like that, we will do our best to make those students' freshman life more meaningful than anyone else.”

This article has been contributed by Yoon Seo-young, Ha Chae-won and Kim Tae-yi of Channel PNU from Pusan National University.

BY STUDENT REPORTERS YOON SEO-YOUNG, HA CHAE-WON, KIM TAE-YI, CHANNEL PNU [dbstjdud03@pusan.ac.kr]