On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, ASEZ Human Rights Day Online Seminar was held at the Yeongam Hall of Keimyung University at 8 p.m. The event was broadcast live through a videoconferencing program (Zoom). Based on the survey on human rights which started from December 1, the event consisted of ASEZ presentation, report on the survey results, and suggestion & campaign derivation through discussion.
ASEZ members from Keimyung University and Keimyung College University and the event host too conducted a survey on human rights issues on campus for three weeks; the surveyes were the professors, enrolled students, and students on a leave of absence. As a result, following issues were raised: poor administrative and financial responses of colleges, discrimination against foreign students, coercion in academic life, and disadvantages in credit when students refuse to pay department fees. As a solution, it was suggested to raise the awareness of the seriousness of discrimination through education programs, and to inform students of the activities of the Human Rights Centers on campuses and how to use them.
Based on this, a discussion was conducted to draw out suggestions and campaigns. They discussed about what college students could do for human rights issues on campus. As a result, they suggested making card news and distributing it on social media, establishing online channels for students to keep communicating with the school, and providing systems for students to speak up on the absurd practices of colleges. They also suggested installing suggestion boxes and conducting online and offline picketing to inform students of irrationality and discrimination.
“I didn’t usually think about human rights, but I got to know many things in detail while preparing for this event. It was meaningful to know that various human rights issues are occurring,” said ASEZ member Park Ji-yeon, the presenter of this event.
Now is the time to make a determination to solve problems on our own, rather than just knowing it. Schools also need to realize that solving problems rather than concealing them is the way to improve the education system. ASEZ will continue to speak out so that students, professors, and all who belong to colleges can be respected and achieve self-realization to their heart’s content.