On March 24, a complaint was uploaded on Dankook University (DKU) community ‘Every time’ about the restricted use of campus facilities by Dankookians (students of Dankook). Currently, the post has 159 likes and garnered 35 angry comments. According to the author of the post, four graduate students from the university applied for the use of lecture room 105 in the 1st Engineering Hall through the school’s “Application for Use of Facilities” process. Graduate students were subject to online lectures, but they needed a separate space to deliver presentations. They were granted permission to use the lecture room, but just prior to the start of the class, school administration at the Institute of Technology informed them that they had never been given approval for the classroom use and were asked how they were able to gain access. They were eventually asked to leave, with the official saying, “This is not a lecture room that students can use at random.” The students were forced to deliver their presentations in the hallway while the school administrator continued to investigate how they were approved.

   The students later called the school administration to express their dissatisfaction with their treatment but were again questioned about how they received approval when the department in questions was never consulted. The response made the students feel as if they were to blame, when they had followed the university’s established protocol. However, when the case became public, the school administration apologized, but repeatedly blamed the students for their actions. They also called for an end to the discussion further enraging Dankookians (students of Dankook).

   Popular opinion proved a majority of Dankookians supported the graduate students. The post saw the number of likes grow and comments related to the controversial issue of Dankookians using the educational facilities were filled with fury towards administrators. One student wrote, “It is so frustrating to see the administrator’s frivolous behavior to the students.” Another said, “How is this possible? This is ridiculous and unfair!”

   According to the second chapter of ‘Space Management and Operation Regulations’, the occupation and utilization of spaces in DKU shall be jointly used. This indeed means Dankookians also have the authority to use education facilities along with school personnel and professors. This means the DKU administrator never had authority to say, “Students cannot recklessly use the lecture room.“

▲ This is the second chapter of ‘Space Management and Operation Regulations’ that describes the authority of education facilities. (Photo from DKU website)​

   The Dankook Herald (DKH) interviewed the author of the post ‘School Facilities Should Not Be Used by Students at Random’. Before we sat down, the writer clarified that their acquaintance was the victim of this controversy and that they were only the ones to publicize it. They also said that their acquaintances were not ejected while using the classroom. Rather, they were forbidden the right to use it before they even entered, unlike what the author had written in the Every Time post. They believe, however, that the key point in this case is the use of the words ‘at random’ by university administration.

   There was also the question about the victim receiving an apology. The interviewee said that the victim received an apology only after the issue was publicized. The Administrative Team began taking calls from people who had seen the Every Time post and were unhappy with the treatment of the students. Once the department understood this was a growing issue, they called the victims to apologize. They explained that the approval was a system error and requested they drop any further public pursuit of the issue. As a result, the interviewee wanted to thank the people who took action after the post on Every Time and to those who helped them receive an apology from the school administration. The post author revealed that one of the anonymous civil petitioners also received an email apology after consultation with the Head of the Administrative Team and the Dean of the College of Engineering passed it on to them.

▲ This post on 'Everytime' explains the incident. You can see that there are many likes and comments. It means Dankookians had a lot of attention in this incident. (Photo from 'Everytime')

   The head of school administrators expressed strong regrets in the handling of the matter and felt deeply responsible for the issues that followed. DKU administration promised the proper education of its personnel, especially those involved in this incident, so that it would not happen again in the future.

   Fortunately, the case was settled after gaining an apology from the administrator and a process of reconciliation took place between the two sides. However, it is clear that DKU needs to develop ways to prevent the reoccurrence of similar problems in the future, so that the rights of Dankookians are protected and students are treated with the respect they deserve.