How to Use Student Space Preferably
In October, 2023, the lobby on the first floor of the Paulus Hall was remodeled. With a comfortable space on campus, many students are visiting the Paulus Lounge. Before the Paulus Lounge opened, there were several student spaces like this on campus. For example, there is the Darak Room in Dasan Hall and the Kim Sangsu Café in Geppert-Nam Duck Woo Hall. Students freely use such student spaces to do various activities such as team projects, studying, and conversation freely. However, while many people use these student spaces, problems will inevitably arise. Thus, The Sogang Herald will examine some of the problems with student spaces, find out solutions to solve these problems, and suggest what attitudes students should have to use these places correctly.
Problems that Occur in Student Spaces
As student spaces are used by many naturally, complaints have arisen in the school community about the various problems with such spaces. The first issue stems from the fact that many students wish to occupy the few highly preferred spots in the student spaces. In many cases, they take the seats early and then, leave their luggage for a long time while going out to eat or take classes. Such behavior can cause inconvenience and dissatisfaction to other students. Despite there being regulations prohibiting people from leaving their seats for a prolonged period, these are not being properly adhered to because of the absence of a manager to enforce them.
Second, waste management is ill-organized, plastic cups from cafes being a particularly concerning matter. Specifically, students not properly disposing of the trash, such as leaving cups without proper treatment, can cause inconvenience for other students. A sign stating that ‘Do not put cups on the trash can’ was written on the trash can, but this guideline was not properly followed.
The last problem regarding student spaces is the change in atmosphere. Most of the initial purposes of these student spaces were to provide students with a space where they could do various activities regardless of location. However, COVID-19 and exam periods overlap with other factors at the same time, and it gradually turns into a quiet atmosphere, making it an unfit space for students.
There are two places where we can best observe these problems in our school: the Kim Sangsu Café in Geppert-Nam Duck Woo Hall and the Paulus Lounge that was newly opened. The ambiguous identity of the “café library” confused students, and there was no other way to restrict students due to the absence of a manager. The Paulus Lounge is also a space where the problems were clearly revealed. It was not possible to specify the standard of “action and noise that caused inconvenience to others” notified regulations with the opening. Rather, as these noise standards gradually became stricter, a quiet atmosphere was gradually created.
Interviewing About Student Spaces
The Sogang Herald conducted an interview with a student, often using the student space mentioned as an example. The interviewer is majoring in economics in the 20 class.
Q1. Why do you often use the student spaces?
A. Personally, I think it is a good place for students who don’t like the atmosphere of study rooms such as Kim Daegon Hall and Jeong Hasang Hall. I use student spaces often because I like the fact that I can study in a freer atmosphere than in a very quiet atmosphere like two places.
Q2. What are the advantages of using the student spaces?
A. I especially use the economics café and the Paulus Lounge. Both are located inside each major building, so students in the major are easy to access. I think the biggest advantage is that both places have various concepts of studying backgrounds.
Q3. In many cases, students leave their seats for a long time, leaving only their luggage for going to classes or eating. What do you think about this?
A. In fact, I think that this behavior might be the obstacle that others can’t use for personally. But it is difficult to check all those students one by one, and it is more ambiguous and difficult to regulate. There is no direct solution, and I have often questioned whether it is best to leave it to the conscience of students.
Q4. There have been several problems related to trash cans on the side of KIM SangSu Cafe, have you ever experienced this before?
A. Well, I have never thought about that the trash cans are not organized well until this time. But there are people who often drink and put the cups on the trash can without proper treatment. Not all students do, but I'm puzzled because I don't think it takes a lot of time and effort to throw away the waste properly.
Q5. Contrary to the initial intention, the student spaces become like a reading room. What do you think about this?
A. In fact, I’ve never experienced the previous atmosphere of an economics café because I’m a class of 20. However, I’m curious about the atmosphere at the beginning. I’m also disappointed with the atmosphere of a reading room.
Q6. What kind of atmosphere do you want to create in the student? Please give us your opinion!
A. In particular, the Twosome Place is located next to the Paulus Lounge, so it is difficult to maintain a quiet atmosphere. It has become a quieter atmosphere than before, but I don’t think that creates an adequately rowdy atmosphere.
How can Solve these Problems?
What solutions can be prepared to use these spaces more properly? First, the presence of a manager is essential for such a space used by many students. If there was a manager, it would be possible to restrict the behavior of students who are away for a long time. Therefore, more students will be able to use the space more smoothly. Also, the problem caused by the ambiguity of the rule can be solved by clarifying the rule. For example, when the Paulus Lounge noise-related issue was constantly mentioned, the Business School Student Council directly inquired about it to the administrative team. They announced, “Team project and conversation are possible, but please refrain from actions and noises that hinder the atmosphere of the lounge, such as shouting and lying down.” The most serious problem in trash treatment is the café plastic cup, which can reduce the volume of the cup and manage the trashcan more neatly by placing the cup collection box separately. Another example of a solution is the creative trash can that was implemented at Chung-Ang University. Recently, as the problem of managing trashcan became serious at Chung-Ang University, a student placed a balance game in the box to create a trash can that voted with a straw or cup holder. Many people took this idea positively because it was a creative way to attract students’ attention and encourage them to throw away the trash interestingly. In this way, it is possible to manage the trashcan more cleanly by arranging a trash can that can naturally separate collection while gaining the interest of students.
There are solutions based on such coercive or control, but before that, there is also a way for us to act with consideration for each other. Students share the space together, for their convenience and better school life. They can be Sogangers who can first step forward and try to maintain the place as a comfortable space so that more students can use it more smoothly.
By Na Yun Kim (Cub Reporter)
