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Student autonomy of University of Seoul (UOS) is facing a lack of participation. From 2018 to 2020, many colleges and the Student Council were elected as single candidates. In the 2021 regular election, directly influenced by COVID-19, all colleges and student councils except for the two colleges were unable to elect because there were no candidates. This phenomenon can be explained for two reasons. First, there is no more serious political situation like before. Second, there is a tendency that students consider it more important to gain one's personal career.
Moreover, most of the events disappeared, and the presence of the student council executing them was reduced. Many departments of UOS tried to solve this part through online events, but it was difficult to proceed because it was not familiar. As a result, the participation rate of students was low. Then, there was a controversy over the unfairness of students who were forced to miss the event due to the lack of time.
As the burden on the student council grew, no candidates appeared in regular elections. It has become more important to pass the quorum than to compete for policy at the debate. Elections also tend to be conducted online, so it becomes very important whether students interested in student autonomy will run or not.
All in all, there is a public concern that student autonomy is declining. The traditional student movement of the 80s, which is frequently exposed to the outside world, became hard to find. However, it seems like student autonomy is not discouraged, but in the process of adapting to new changes. Compared to the past, students' interest has shifted to various fields such as the environment. The student council is trying to accommodate the needs of students and the generation through various interests.
This article is a follow-up to "Student Activism; The New Generation” by Ahn Sin-ho. It sees the gradual decline of student autonomy as a problem not only for our school but for the whole university. However, it claims that students are clearly aware of when to act, and cited the case of presidential impeachment in 2017.
