(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on March 3)

Preventing college incidents

In the university entrance season, welcome parties and orientations for freshmen have led to a series of incidents.

On Feb. 26, two freshmen girls at the Pohang University of Science and Technology (PUST) in North Gyeongsang Province were sexually abused by older male students in their department during a freshmen welcoming party held at a holiday villa. More than 40 students participated in the event, but there were no professors or school staff there, who could have watched over the students and prevented such shocking behavior among participants.

On Feb. 22, a freshmen from a university in Incheon got drunk at an orientation at a condo in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, and accidentally entered an elevator control room and got three fingers cut off. On the same day, a bus crashed, resulting in the death of the driver who was driving freshmen from the Kumoh National Institute of Technology in North Gyeongsang Province on their way to Wonju, the site of their freshmen orientation. The school president had to issue an apology to the students and parents for the accident, which left more than 40 physically and emotionally injured.

Such accidents highlight the urgent need to change the culture of university events. In 2014, the Ministry of Education created a manual to promote safety at these, but it has not been properly observed. The ministry guidelines include holding large-scale events on campus, and the university rather than the student council, overseeing welcoming events for freshmen.

Holding big events at faraway cities and in places like condos raises the possibility of various incidents. Also, there should be a strict rule against alcohol.

The universities are primarily responsible for the repeated incidents involving freshmen. They should properly check that welcoming events are organized in accordance with the ministry's safety manual.
(END)