Navigating Academia in a Foreign Space: An Interview with Professor Vanessa Lim
Vanessa Lim is a professor in the English Department of SNU, part of the school’s growing international faculty. As she shares her journey that has taken her across the globe from the UK to Korea...
[64th SNU Student Council Election] The vision for SNU’s sustainable future
Hello. I am Kim Min-gyu, candidate for the 64th SNU Student Council President, running under the campaign name, Signal. Through this contribution, I would like to introduce our vision and our commitments to the members of SNU’s diverse community—especially to our international students. For the past few years, the Student Council has achieved many accomplishments, including the implementation of a food distribution counter system for the 1000 won cafeteria and the establishment of new shuttle buses. However, it is regretful that these accomplishments were not maintained systematically. The term for Student Council is very short, lasting only one-year. As a result, good policies are implemented every year, but most of the times, they expire without much development in the long term. Therefore, Signal plans to go beyond solving isolated problems, to create deeper changes within the lives of students by creating a sustainable Student Council system. A sustainable Student Council and the value of cooperationSignal plans to make a student community that creates larger value by connecting diverse resources both on and off-campus. For example, we plan to provide more opportunities to connect student capabilities with the local community by expanding the SAM mentoring program, in coordination with the Gwanak-gu Office. Through this, we hope that international students will be able to communicate more intimately with the local society, and earn not only achievements in their academic fields, but also diverse networking opportunities. Moreover, we will establish more exchange programs with overseas colleges, so that students will be able to experience more cultures, and provide a stage for academic exchange. We will especially work to provide exchange programs for international students, which allow SNU to interact with their home countries. Tailored commitments for international studentsInternational students are vital members of the SNU community, and often times, their requests and voices are not fully reflected. Signal seeks to showcase commitments that can initiate real change for international students. 1. Increased cooperation with SNU International Students Association (SISA): We will strengthen cooperation with SISA so that we can reflect more opinions from SNU’s international student community. Through this, we will create a system which can more effectively tackle the problems and requests of international students. 2. Renewal of SNUON lectures: There are many circumstances in which international students have a hard time accessing class materials. Signal will ensure that the current SNUON platform is renewed so that important lectures and resources are expanded. Through this, we will increase lecture accessibility for international students, by providing access to important lectures online. 3. Expansion of hybrid lectures: Hybrid lectures will help students, who have difficulty attending classes due to time constraints or physical distance, to actually attend lectures. By simultaneously providing online and offline classes, Signal will increase class accessibility, and provide an environment in which students can more easily choose the classes they want. 4. Re-attempt to host a Subway restaurant on-campus: Signal will reattempt to bring in Subway so that the students’ right to choose diverse menus is protected. Subway is a brand that can provide a healthy and convenient meal to vegetarians and students who have specific dietary needs. Through this, we will provide support so that all students can choose diverse meals. A better tomorrow made togetherSignal will present long-term visions and clear objectives, rather than simple problem-solving. We will foster an environment in which all students—including international students—can participate freely, and create a sustainable student society. We will create a Student Council that develops sustainably, by systematically recording the Student Council’s projects and creating a framework in which its accomplishments and limitations are archived. Signal does not wait for possibilities. We will become a Student Council that makes its own potential. We will make a better future for SNU, together with our fellow students. Thank you. The author is a senior at SNU’s Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering. This article was submitted by the author and translated by The SNU Quill’s editorial team. It reflects the author’s own views. –Ed.
[Opinion] Wishy washy medical reform
Last week, Seoul National University decided to approve its medical students' gap years, almost a year after the students started refusing to attend classes in protest of the government's medical reform initiatives. SNU became to first university to do so, despite the government's pressure not to. In what appears to be retaliatory measures, the Ministry of Education launched an audit on SNU. The chairperson of the Emergency Committee of SNU Medical Center Professors, Professor Kang Hee-kyung, said it was only right that the school approve the student's gap years. In an interview with campus newspaper, SNU News, professor Kang said "If we do not approve the students' gap years, we have to hold all of them back a year. And that cannot happen. "Eventually, the ministry back down, announcing on 6 Oct. that it would allow students to take a gap year, given that they return for the 2025 spring semester. However, it was a different announcement by the ministry that sparked massive debates. In order to preemptively combat future medical staff shortages that is expected to result from the students' walkout, the ministry said it would mull reducing the medical school curriculum from six years to five. This proposal sparked criticisms from both the opposition party and the medical community. Suspicions arose that the ministry did not thoroughly consider the impact of such a decision. The medical community argued that five years was not enough time to learn everything one needs to actively save lives, while both colleges and the Ministry of Health said it was not consulted when the Education Ministry drafted the proposal. Facing harsh backlash, the ministry took a step back on Monday, saying that the proposal did not mean all colleges had to adopt the five-year curriculum. Rather, it meant the government would fully support colleges that wished to do so, according to the Ministry. Criticisms continued that the ministry was hasty in announcing the proposal, and that it was changing its words. Ultimately the ministry retracted its proposal on Tuesday. But debates concerning the measures did not stop there. Doubts were cast as to whether the Yoon administration was capable of making thorough and thoughtful policy decisions. Suspicions were raised as to whether inter-ministerial communications and inter-cabinet coordination were functional. However, this is not the first time that different ministries in the Yoon administration failed to unify their voice. Labor reform and gender equality initiatives were all tarnished by communication issues. The Yoon administration has one of the highest rates of policy initiatives that were scrapped before fruition. Meanwhile, the side effects of the medical students' walkout still linger as questions that need to be answered by the government. As med students return next year, how are universities going to cope with the sudden influx of students and still provide them with quality education? How will the administration address medical staff shortages that arise from a smaller graduating class? Many of the med students that took a gap year enlisted in the military. How will the government deal with shortages of medical officers in the military a couple of years down the line?More importantly, can the governmen better coordinate and communicate its policies? Can it escape its exclusive attitude and communicate with local universities and the medical community in order to overcome the situation? Only questions remain. The author is a former Editor-in-Chief and the current Chief Editorial Writer at The SNU Quill. –Ed.
[81th Edition] Letter from the Editor
Dear readers,For the past couple of years, I have been contemplating the space that The SNU Quill occupies within our largely Korean-speaking university—where our English publication fits into the broader community. It’s kind of funny, considering the sheer vastness of our campus; it took us over an hour just to install two magazine stands across the university grounds (which you can find in the Student Center and Doosan Humanities Hall, by the way). Still, within the sprawling reaches of our campus, the reality remains: space is limited. When an ahjussi manspreads on the subway, we instinctively shrink back; each claim to space carries inherent consequences for others. Similarly, I found that I’ve been increasingly denying myself the right to fully occupy space. I began dressing in clothes that stand out less, afraid to intrude on others’ visual spaces. I step aside, soften my voice, slump my posture. But within these pages, I reclaim my rights to project my voice and declare my opinions. And this has always been the ethos of our magazine—to give a platform to those who might otherwise go unheard. With this realization, it became clear to me what The SNU Quill offers to our writers and readers alike. It is a space where we can collectively assert our presence. The 81st edition’s theme is grounded on “Space. ” A new building stands where another once stood, some flourish while others are pushed further into the margins. The inevitable question arises: who gets to take up space, and who decides how it’s allocated? This question is now more pressing than ever. We invite you, dear readers, to join us as we explore the concept of space: how we define it, navigate it, and occupy it. The cover, captured by our photographer Hye-won, serves as a striking frontispiece capturing this edition’s theme—geometric, energetic, and hopeful. We open SNU Society with an interview featuring Professor Vanessa Lim from the English department, who shares her journey navigating academia in Korea as a foreigner. In our Features section, we explore the challenges faced by youths, Kyopo, and prisoners in Korea, shedding light on the unique struggles they face. Our Arts and Culture section dives into the vibrant world of K-pop, public art, and the secrets behind the chocolate we consume. This edition also features an article by Kim Ha-jin, the first-prize winner of our magazine's very first English Column Writing Competition. His compelling account offers a firsthand look at his experience during Seoul's Pride Parade. As we delve into our musings over space and identity, it is my hope that you find a sense of belonging within these pages. Afterall, the world calls to you—harsh and exciting—announcing your place in the family of things. Sincerely,Min Yun-geun
