Education without representation: Student councils disappearing from universities

Apathy and other priorities are accelerating the decline in general student councils, leaving change in the hands of interim committees with less power.

Hanyang University's College of Education building at its campus in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul [SOHN CHAE-WON]

General student councils were once considered the cornerstone of university student governance, but they are beginning to vanish on campuses today.

At universities, the general student council is an essential entity that serves as a conduit for student expression, a beacon of unity and a catalyst for change within the sociopolitical landscape.

However, they are slowly disappearing and being replaced by emergency committees. The committees are temporary organizations, electing a student representative among the presidents of each college's student council when there are no candidates in the general student council election, if voter turnout is less than 50 percent or if the existing student council president steps down.

Among 16 universities in Seoul, 11 currently have a general student council, while others have been replaced by emergency committees.

Hanyang University's Seoul Campus falls into the latter category. Due to the cancellation of the 52nd general student council election in November of last year, the campus finds itself operating under an emergency committee system. Another election was scheduled in April, but it failed to achieve a voter turnout rate of more than 50 percent.

Not only is the university missing a general student council, but there are also colleges at Hanyang University that don't have a student council.

As of May, 13 out of 16 colleges at the campus in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, had a student council. The Erica Campus in Ansan, Gyeonggi, is in a better position, with all of its nine colleges having a student council.

In a survey of 220 Hanyang University students conducted by the Hanyang Journal, respondents said students aren't interested in voting in student council elections due to overall apathy, insufficient information about candidates and other priorities such as academic commitments or extracurricular activities.

“Students are overwhelmed with their commitments, making them hesitant to dedicate time to the general student council," said Park Soon-seok, a professor at Hanyang University's Department of Sociology. "But it's not solely the students who are responsible; society also plays a role.”

Park added that while societal factors are at play, students should acknowledge their role in shaping their political environment and be conscious about how they can contribute to society and reflect on the political landscape.

Despite declining interest, having a student council can be very important.

“I believe having a representative who can voice students’ concerns is crucial for effective communication with various campus entities,” said Joo Jong-hyun, a Hanyang University sophomore in the Department of Sociology.

Joo has been part of both the university's general student council and emergency committee in the past. Despite the emergency committee's purpose of substituting for the general student council, Joo says that there are limitations, although not as significant as before.

For instance, without a proper general student council, Hanyang University's Seoul Campus had to cancel its fall festival last year. The emergency committee was operating on a low budget, struggling to get additional funding.

Among the 220 Hanyang University students that responded to the Hanyang Journal survey, 58.6 percent said they experienced limitations from the emergency committee system. Many said they felt such limitations during university events and festivals.

“The absence of a practical political education leaves individuals ill-equipped to engage in community decision-making,” said Prof. Park.

Park also added that there is a cultural tendency to collectively act only when there is a high chance that the desired goals can be achieved, hence why students aren't interested in student councils.

More support from schools for student organizations is one solution proposed by Park. He also suggests overhauling the political education within Korea’s compulsory education system, although that would require long-term commitment.

Kim Do-eun, the chair of Hanyang University Seoul Campus' emergency committee, says she tries to bridge the gap left by the absence of the general student council.

"Since the school regulations mandate that the [emergency] committee assumes the duties and responsibilities of the general student council president, the emergency committee doesn't lack status or power in regard to student governance,” said Kim.

However, there are logistical hurdles in assembling the executive board, as well as disparities in the transition process from the previous general student council to the temporary emergency committee.

This article has been contributed by Nam Seung-won of The Hanyang Journal, an English-language publication from Hanyang University.

BY STUDENT REPORTER NAM SEUNG-WON [ggko1025@hanyang.ac.kr]