By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Is monopolizing a seat in a university library so serious an act as to warrant being barred from entering the facility for 30 days? A collegian recently filed a lawsuit against his school for making such a rule, saying it was made without the consensus of students.
The litigation was in response to the University of Seoul's recent decision to ban the entrance of students who leave their personal belongings such as books or bookstands to mark their seats at its central library. The suspension period could be as long as 30 days. About 150 students have so far been penalized.
``There are 2,000 seats in the library but these students were `monopolizing' a few hundred seats,'' the school spokesman said.
Students pile their books and others on a table near window, blocking other people from sitting there. It drew criticism and complaints from their peers.
However, those given the suspension order challenged the decision. They said the new rule violates students' freedom to study. Jeon Byeong-gwon, a senior at the school who had applied for provisional disposition, said that the school never asked students about a solution.
The students are also divided over the issue. Some say the best solution would be installing more lockers for students to put their belongings. Many thought a legal dispute between the school and students is not a good idea. ``Let's talk, brainstorm and work out a solution,'' another said.