At SNU, 2nd sit-in staged by students

Social Affairs

Published: 31 May. 2011, 21:33

At SNU, 2nd sit-in staged by students

Dozens of professors and union leaders at Seoul National University issue a statement in support of hundreds of students who were holding a sit-in at the president’s office yesterday. [NEWSIS]

The president and staff of Seoul National University were unable to get into their offices in the university’s main building yesterday because they were blocked by hundreds of students who demanded that the president discuss the school’s plan to become an independent entity.

This is the second time that students have occupied the building, after staging a sit-in outside of the president’s office in March. During that sit-in, President Oh Yeon-cheon was blocked for 12 hours from leaving his office.

This time, about 500 students occupied the main building since Monday night, shutting access to the administrative building.

“We will continue demonstrating unless the school discusses its incorporation plan,” said Ji Yun, who heads the SNU student council. “If President Oh doesn’t come to meet us here by 6 p.m. [today], we will consider toughening our protest plans.”

The university said that Oh canceled all of his appointments for this week and held an emergency meeting at another building.

A group of SNU deans expressed regret over students trying to get what they want by using physical force. The students are demanding to have more say in the university’s transition from a state-run institution to an independent one, such as having the right to select a member of the board of directors.

By Kim Mi-ju, Byun Sun-goo [mijukim@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [중앙일보]

총장실 점거 서울대생들 “총장 면담 안 되면 투쟁수위 높일 것”

서울대 학생들이 31일 오후 본관 총장실에서 법인화 설립준비위 해체를 요구하며 농성을 하고 있다. 이틀째 본관을 점거 중인 학생들은 출입문을 막고 교직원 150여 명의 출근을 저지했다. 서울대 총학생회는 “1일 오후 6시까지 총장 면담이 이뤄지지 않을 경우 투쟁 수위를 높이겠다”고 말했다. 이에 대해 학장단은 성명을 내고 “물리적 수단으로 의사를 관철시키려는 것은 지성의 전당에서 절대 용납될 수 없는 일”이라고 지적했다. 반면 서울대 민주화교수협의회 등은 “서울대의 미래를 결정하는 중대한 문제를 제대로 된 사회적 논의도 없이 국회에서 날치기로 결정해서는 안 된다”고 말했다. 오연천 서울대 총장은 이날 본관으로 출근하지 않았고 이번주 일정을 모두 취소했다.