Membership training breaks ice for campus life

[stutterflies.livejournal.com]

By Kim Yu-jin for The Korea Herald

South Korean students tend to have high hopes about their campus life, giving them something to look forward to as they trudge through years of cramming and countless tests. Membership training is one of the campus events that boosts freshmen’s expectations.

The “MT” ritual is designed to help freshmen adapt to campus life. Staying at a simple resort, usually in the woods or along a river, for a day or two, students can make new friends and build rapport with each other, as well as exchange information related to their academic schedules, assignments and tests.

Students from Tongmyong University in Busan are drawing pictures on the wall in Bok-dong village, South Gyeongsang Province during a “Volunteer Activities for Rural Communities” event on July 21. (Yonhap)

What’s notable is that it is fairly common to see college students organize MTs on a regular basis, mostly involving student unions. Student leaders work together to set up an MT budget, recruit participants, organize recreational events and make reservations. Participants pay the fees in advance to finance the event.

Wee Sung-jae, 22, a student union member at a Seoul-based university, said great efforts are made to meet the high expectations of freshmen.

“Many MTs are scheduled at the beginning of the year, and drinking and playing games together during the event are the best way to break the ice among newbies,” said Wee.“For the student union, the most difficult challenge is to set up a creative program, while avoiding overlapping with other programs,” he added.

There are several types of MTs for Korean university students. An MT for helping freshmen learn the basics of campus life is called a “sae-teo.” Those who belong to the same department organize a department MT while the broader college-wide, massive MT is called “OT,” of just orientation.

While sae-teo and the department MT focus on forging close relationships among members, orientation puts more emphasis on conveying necessary information regarding university life, including registration for courses and the introduction of professors, classes and annual events.

Students from Jeonbuk Science College‘s nursing department are checking blood pressure and glucose levels of the elderly at Chilbo Elementary in North Jeolla Province during a “Volunteer Activities for Rural Communities” event on July 23. (Yonhap)

Students also hold another type of group activity, called “nonghwal,” referring to their volunteer activities designed to help Korea’s rural communities during the summer vacation season.

“Aside from official MTs, we often organize unofficial MTs such as those planned by campus clubs,” said Lim Jee-eun, president of a university dance club. The enduring popularity of MTs among college students has to do with the dynamics of campus life. Students from across the nation with different backgrounds want to form a cluster of like-minded friends quickly, and MTs are one of the faster routes.

“Frankly speaking, it would have been difficult for me to find (like-minded) friends without the MT that I attended as a freshman,” said Lee Ju-young, 23, who is now a junior. The speed at which students form friendships is accelerated by the usual drinking parties coupled with group games.

Sometimes, students invite professional singers to grace the stage or present their own skits or live performances to fire up the atmosphere.

A drinking game called “X Man,” in which some seniors pretend to be freshmen until they are discovered, is especially popular.

“Our department has a game called Moonlight Dating in which randomly chosen boys and girls must carry out a random mission under the moonlight outside the resort,” said a freshman attending Hankuk Universities of Foreign Studies.

Considering the nature of such activities, it is hardly surprising that some students find their romantic partners at MT.

“It was impossible for me to imagine being in a couple so quickly, right after I passed the college entrance exam,” said Oh Sun-bin, a 23-year-old student who met her boyfriend during an MT session. “I never knew MT could play cupid.”

For all its advantages, MT also has its not-so-romantic side. Some students are exposed to sexual harassment during an MT, and some events have led to fatal accidents as a result of lax safety rules and negligence.

Critics argue it’s time to abolish the MT custom saddled with problems, but proponents claim the MT has a positive function for college students as a bridge for forging networks in campus in an effective manner.

Were/are you involved in student organizations or extracurricular activities?
Would you participate in an MT with your faves?

Comments

[typhlogirl.livejournal.com]

Reading this makes me miss college life so much, sob

although I like not having to do exams any more, so

[donutism.livejournal.com]

I did do some campus activities and was part of some organizations, but not enough.

i miss college (minus the studying part and being poor part)

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

i really don't like stuff like this (#NoNewFriends), but lock me alone in a cabin/tent with top and I'll play nice

[burnbook31.livejournal.com]

All i missed in college is being regarded as an active student of society, tho tbh i NEVER enjoyed my college life. I have not met any like minded people in the university i went. Even some of my professors harassed (one even sent me death threats on fb for proving his brother (my professor) wrong) me because I was the odd student in the batch. I had so much awful experience that i wanted to erase its existence in my resume but i am too poor to restart college again. maybe in my day dreams i could manage to study somewhere else. I have already forgotten those people i met because they just reminded me of the worst.

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

All I did during college was worry about money.

GASP.

Nothing has changed. #stayhumble

[chibi-rei.livejournal.com]

Ahhh I mis campus life. I'm a grad student, but it's online so I miss out on meeting new people. I never went on trips with people, but I did try to do a few clubs.

Actually I did do a trip with college friends, but it was after I graduated (tho they were still in school).

[http://users.livejournal.com/_redneckbitchx/]

The MT I went on in Korea with the International Club was really fun. I can see why it's such a big deal over there.

[v-glace.livejournal.com]

Ah, my college has trips (all outdoors, though there are "community" and "meditation" ones too) for first years right before they start! It's been mandatory for three years now. I had a great experience, although even with my group we all drifted apart after a semester. I think the downsides they mentioned are possible in most college group activities, unfortunately. Ultimately, it's so much better coming into college with a few people you kinda know; you aren't lost at least.

I don't know how but I ended up as an officer for like six organizations next year....I never liked student organizations so idk, I think I must've made a few poor decisions somewhere down the line. When will I get time to watch variety shows???

Heck yeah I'd go on an MT with my faves! Though tbh, most idols don't strike me as super outdoorsy types; I feel like all those years confined to training rooms, dorms, and personal-life-limitations take their toll. (that's why they should all go camping with MEEE!) (seriously though, this is my plan for when my non-outdoorsy friends have kids. I will be THAT aunt).

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

I hate being forced into doing stuff with strangers so school orientations and camps were always a nightmare for me. But I miss university though - I actually made (and retained) some of my best friendships there :') work life is no fun minus the money part lol

[aleksu7.livejournal.com]

I miss college so much, damn. Yes i was broke but I had really good times there. Now I'm working and I'm still broke but my life is boring af 😥

[yulia-eru.livejournal.com]

A Professor at my Uni used to teach in South Korean Uni. She once was asked to supervise such MT. A girl was raped there. Everybody knew and did nothing (the girl didn't report, of course). My professor was then told thet it's business as usual for these MT trips, so she never went again.

[magicpineapple.livejournal.com]

Sighhhh, I miss undergrad, wahhhhh... Even if I was broke af (not much has changed, seeing as how I'm still #brokeasajoke). I did a lot of activities (sorority, women's music fraternity, marching band ❤️💛, etc). We definitely had introductory parties/welcome parties, esp in band, lol. Those were some really great parties, & the cool thing was, everyone was always super friendly & welcoming, especially to the rookies/babies (what you called the new people/freshman really depended on which section you were in, lol). No one was ever forced to do/say anything they didn't wanna do/say. + later that night, the section leaders/captains gather all of their rookies/babies, & taught them all about their individual section's colours/symbols/meanings/etc. Good times.

[jasmineakaiumi.livejournal.com]

I only went to one of these, and never again.
Thankfully I go to an all girls school so nothing shady happened (that I know of) but it was so boring and everyone just got shitfaced and screamed and talked about boys all night.

Felt like a highschool party so I was nhft

[phililen3.livejournal.com]

I'm going to UAntwerpen this September. I have been sent so many invitations for ice breakers and socials and surprise surprise, they all involve alcohol.

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

honestly MT is sooooo fun!! except on the second night of my first MT i got so wasted and threw up blue cruisers all night haha and i never got with any dudes at them because i guess im too much of a drinker and was too busy with that to flirt haha

but at my school i heard the MT for the youth counselling major was lit as and everyone hooked up and there was a fire haha

and the ones for the majors that are more girl-heavy (like hospital admin is like all girls and each grade has maybe 6 guys) are brutal like most MTs the freshman will have to learn a dance or something but the hospital girls had to learn four dances and wear like super ugly makeup while they did it

like my friend from that major came to my room and was like 'what are the most embarrassing dances i can make the freshmen do'

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

my uni does a bar rally every year for freshmens where the older students go to different bars with the newbies, do some weird games and just..... drink.
i didnt attend because back then i stll drank alcohol but ive never been a fan of just sitting around and drinking beer