The Alternative Platform

A Space for and by International Students

By Yousra Feriel Drioua

“Alternative” – What comes to your mind upon glancing at this word, or what do you relate it to? Is it an innovative method, meant to replace an old one? Is it a less important, secondary option to a service of some kind? Or is it creative practice born out of need in a continuously modernizing world? Whatever you take it to mean, it falls into the “other” category. If you’re an international student, at some point or other, this must have resonated with you.

Today’s piece is about a collective action group, Alternative Platform, created this past summer and initiated by international and Korean students as well as professors in Korea, but concentrated at Chonnam National University (CNU).

“It was important to involve international students in the organization process,” said Ganies Oktaviana upon asking her how the platform reaches out to international students. She explained that the reason is “so the work will not be alienated from the empirical cases that international students face, which means that a sense of belongingness among international students is also important. The approach we have taken has been research and public discussion, yet we are aware that this platform is newly created, so the process to involve other international students more in our activities takes time. Currently, we still need to introduce and socialize Alternative Platform to them.”

Ganies Oktaviana is one of the masterminds and founding international students behind Alternative Platform. I was fortunate to be invited to the first session conducted by the platform online on September 6 and wanted to introduce it to our Gwangju News readers as it is a one-of-a-kind initiative. As the platform is rather new, it was deemed best to have an interview with one of the founders for the clearest understanding of what it stands for, why it was founded, and what specific methods are used to ensure that students are aware of the platform and its work.

“First of all,” Oktaviana elaborated, “it is a fact that international students are already aware of their issues. But the thing is, those issues are mostly discussed by international students on a small scale, such as in their community of their country of origin, with other international students, or with close friends.” She added that these discussions, although similar, take place in small, closed groups. “Therefore, Alternative Platform exists to overcome this limitation where big issues are supposed to be discussed widely – not solely by those who are experiencing them but with those who actually have authority in terms of law-making and social change.”

Oktaviana highlighted that in order for positive change to occur, international students and the challenges they face should be brought to the public’s attention: “Now, we are trying to use various methods, such as an exhibition titled ‘From the Lens of Strangers: Struggle to Humanize Ourselves’ at the Kim Daejung Convention Center on October 11 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. This exhibition is a partnership with the World Human Rights Cities Forum [whose annual forum is taking place at that time].” In addition, a series of thematic webinars has been planned for the coming months. The first webinar in the series was held on September 6, and the dates of upcoming webinars will be announced as planning progresses.

Ultimately, Alternative Platform was created out of necessity, driven by a series of events which forced the founders to take action and not allow themselves to be bystanders. In May of this year, there was news of an international student nakedly cycling around the CNU campus. Later, the student was reported to have passed away. International graduate students at CNU reacted to the news with a surge of sadness. They then revealed their own personal struggles with adapting to the Korean academic system, These personal struggles included things “such as unhealthy relationships with professors, inadequate time off, excessive pressure from both the institution and professors, and the unhealthy lifestyle of being both a researcher and a student. Some also raised issues about being migrant students and facing racism in general conditions, as well as unequal workloads and wages,” Oktaviana disclosed. On the same day (May 24), Oktaviana and others decided to organize an event to express their condolences for the tragic loss of their friend. Considering the administration and the time they had to prepare, they opted for a march on the CNU Gwangju campus. 

We must understand that “the root causes are not personal issues, although some netizens on social media place the blame on the victim,” Oktaviana asserted. The group created a petition and gathered information from international students, particularly regarding mental health issues. Later, on May 27, the Silent Protest in honor of the deceased student, was held. There, more than 100 international students joined in signing a petition. In addition, almost 300 supporters signed online in English and Korean. In June, the petition was submitted to the Mechanical Engineering Department at CNU, the Office of International Affairs, and the CNU Graduate School. Campus authorities invited student representatives to attend a formal meeting. At the meeting numerous students related their experiences and stated their demands.

“The vice president of CNU promised to develop an online and offline system for reporting unfair working and learning conditions through anonymous methods,” Oktaviana related. “However, as yet, there has been no specific or significant improvement or feedback from campus authorities related to mental health issues.” Furthermore, many international students seem to lack an understanding of their own rights as students, as foreigners, and as humans. In response, the Alternative Platform was created on July 14.

All in all, this platform serves as an “other” way forward – an alternative initiative against neglectful institutions and ambiguous, unjust policies through the power of dialogue. The Alternative Platform aspires to provide a safe space for international students to share their problems and to leverage the platform for collective advocacy and problem-solving.