Rusty Staples Reflect Poor Management of Bulletin Boards

On November 15th, the outdoor bulletin boards at Pusan National University (PNU)’s Busan Campus were layered with tape marks and riddled with rust-colored staples. Numerous posters competed for space, overlapping and creating a chaotic display. Notices intended to benefit students were left half-detached, flapping in the wind.

The outdoor bulletin boards, which serve as a platform for promotions and information delivery on campus, are suffering from prolonged neglect. According to “Channel PNU,” a recent inspection of ten outdoor bulletin boards on the Busan campus from November 3rd revealed that over half were poorly maintained.

In particular, three locations with the highest foot traffic (in front of Geumjung Hall, at the intersection near the Biology Building, and in front of the Student Union Building) showed clear signs of long-term neglect. At a glance, the bulletin board appeared poorly managed, with posters that didn’t have the required approval stamps posted on it.

Students expressed frustration that the disorganized state of the boards made it difficult to obtain the information they needed. Some pointed out that such neglect could lead to the perception that the information may not be useful. So Yu-Hyun (Dept. of Art, Culture and Image, 22), said, “When I pass by, I sometimes look at the bulletin boards for interesting competitions. But if the boards look poorly maintained, it feels like the information is outdated, and I lose focus.”

This poor management appears to stem from unclear accountability for the bulletin boards. Head offices admitted it does not have an accurate grasp of the number or locations of outdoor bulletin boards on campus. While bulletin boards have its managing department indicated at the top, the designated departments denied responsibility. For instance, when asked about the “Five bulletin boards designated for the PNU Student Association” managed by the Division of Student Affairs, the division responded, “There is no specific official in charge of outdoor bulletin boards. Please inquire at the Division of General Affairs.” The Division of General Affairs remarked, “It seems that the management responsibilities are unclear at the moment, but assigning a responsible party is necessary going forward.”

In contrast, bulletin boards managed by specific departments, such as college administrative offices or the Athletics Department, were well-maintained. Unlike bulletin boards with unclear management, it is visually clean and sufficient for delivering information. A staff from the College of Social Sciences Administrative Office stated, “Our office staff and student workers manage the bulletin boards together. We promptly remove expired or unauthorized notices.”

Reporter Hwang Ju-Won

Translated by Seo Yoo-Jung