As Gwanak Mountain begins to thaw, the SNU campus is coming to life not only with new greenery but also with new friendships and student activities. During the second and third weeks of March, the SNU Student Club Association held a fair, heating up the cold campus with a chance for student clubs (called ‘dongari’ in Korean) to present themselves to potential recruits.
The"Acropolis" between the Administration Building and the Central Library was filled with booths representing some sixty clubs of all kinds, and the entire campus reverberated with sounds of advertising and street performances by members hoping to spotlight their club. SNU is proudly home to a host of clubs for students to come together and do what they love, from photography to sports to writing.
The 17th and 18th of March highlighted the fair as many performance and sports clubs provided a stage to present informal shows attracting many curious freshmen. The basketball team 'HOBAS' set up hoops and played impromptu games, while the jazz club 'JIVE' gave a taste of their musical talent to passing ears. The magic club 'Monghwan' awed and fascinated visitors to their booth with their"close-up magic."
Passersby were also treated to street performances by SNU's acclaimed dance clubs of all genres, ranging from the jazz dance dongari"Morphine" to the belly dance dongari"Jasmine." Freshmen who wished to join more traditional types of activities turned their footsteps towards the performance of the traditional martial arts dongari.
KIM Seol-bin (Korean Music, '10) commented,"It's fun and informative, because I can get information on dongaris while getting to watch performances all at the same time."
KIM Yun-tae (Humanities II, '10), who had just joined the photography club"Yeong-sang" at a booth, said,"It was a chance for me to hear more details about the club and to join. I have always been interested in photography, and this provided the opportunity for me to meet the club." Members of the participating clubs praised the event as a great advertising opportunity. In particular, dongaris that offer activities that are rather uncommon, such as magic or traditional martial arts, consider it a rare chance to attract freshmen who would have never knocked on their doors.
For students who missed the fair, information on all the clubs are available on the Student Club Association website (http://kwdy.cyworld.com), including information on dongaris that did not participate in the fair. The diverse student body at SNU provides not only a rigorous educational environment but also a pool of highly talented individuals in a variety of activities. Seventy-three member clubs of the Student Club Association and some seventy non-member clubs welcome anyone who is itching to write, run, dance, sing, throw, kick, or do whatever else with other SNU students who share the same passion.
April 2, 2010
Written by Pia WON, SNU English Editor