Founded February 1, 1998 (042)-869-2241 FAX: 869-2245 Vol. 267, November 11, 2005
	THE KAIST TIMES http://kaisttimes.com

The Graduate Student Council is a special organization that other schools don't have. It is 33 years old - as old as the KAIST itself. It has faithfully represented graduate students and pursued many activities to protect their rights, such as the recent "Graduate Research Environment Investigation." It has also persistently engaged KAIST in solving graduate student problems. Nonetheless, it has not been very successful at inspiring graduate students' active participation.

Result of poll question: "How much do students know about the Graduate Student Council's activities?"

What do graduate students think about Graduate Student Council? And which things must be fixed? Let's check through the questionnaire. 79 graduate students responded.

It's Necessary, but I'm Not Sure What it Does

How much do students know about the Graduate Student Council's business? According to the poll, 43.6% of the students answered, "I don't know much about it." The others answered mostly, "I know a little" or "I have not that great knowledge." Only 6.4% answered, "I don't know anything about it." No student answered "I know it well."

At the same time, the question about the necessity of the graduate student council gave a shocking result: 100% said, "Needed." Thus, although students don't understand the Council's business, they appear to believe the Council is necessary.

Seung-gi Baek, the president of the Graduate Student Council responded, "I am doing my best to lead this organization to represent graduate students' interests."

Graduate Student Council Doesn't Represent Majority

88.5% of graduate students said that they will participate in next Council election. The 67% of students who answered, "I am interested, so I will vote," greatly exceeds the fraction who answered, "I am indifferent, but I will vote." Only 3.8% students answered, "I will not vote because I am not interested." But to the question whether they participate in the organization or not, 44% students said "no."

President Baek said, "Although our activities in such areas as demanding lab safety are extremely important, students doesn't pay enough attention to understand how well we represent their interests."

Result of poll question: "Where do you turn to solve problems?"

Students Don't Request Help

The question of where students turn to solve problems revealed that 44.4% students counted on the internet and 37.8% students appealed to the Administration. But only 10% students regard the Administration as an effective avenue for petitions.

This seems to indicate that students don't regard the Council as their first source of help in solving problems. The reason may be that the Council tends to solve troubles quietly and indirectly. Unfortunately, in many cases it has simply protested feebly and then given up in the middle rather than talking meaningfully with Administration.

Graduate Student Council Too Far From Students?

To the question about problems of the council, 45.7% students answered, "It's too far from us." President Baek sadly admitted, "We failed to communicate with students."

This year, only 3 members - the president and two vice presidents - are working for the Council. Because of their shortage of members, they could not pursue the kinds of public relations activities the Undergraduate Student Council does, such as publishing a regular newspaper or holding outdoor rallies.

Thus the Graduate Student Council must do its work without the backing of a majority of students. President Baek lamented, "This year the council was built under such stress that we couldn't collect enough people." Accordingly, he said that the goal of the organization was "just stopping bad things." He also said, "It's actually natural that we couldn't find enough people to work with. We had been relying excessively on personal connections to maintain the organization, and it just spiraled downward."

More Student Participation Needed for Better Council

The conclusion is that students think they need the Council but don't know what it's doing and don't believe that it's interested in them.

The graduate student council is thus entering its 33rd year faced with a need to reform itself to be more open and to more effectively encourage student participation. Its ability to help students will depend greatly on its success.

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