"Midterm Report"

With the start of the midterm exam period to begin this week, the GSA would like to take this opportunity to provide a "midterm report" to the student body of the events planned/executed thus far, and provide an idea of what lies ahead in the coming months.

Hopefully this post will provide a bit more transparency on the GSA's activities up to this point in the semester. Moreover, we hope to illicit some feedback in order to better serve the interests of the student body for the remainder of the semester.

Activities thus far:

• Development of this graduate student association blog: the intent was to provide a forum to allow students to offer constructive feedback, sell/purchase books, and gather information on upcoming events & school-wide policy changes. Additionally, the GSA along with one of our very own students (Sam Kwon, 1st Semester IMP) were able to lobby the Dean and administration to secure funding to develop a new website that will be accessible only to current students, alumni and a select number of recruiters. The intent is to provide students with a forum for staying in touch and networking. Expect the beta version of the website to be out in May.
• Membership Training (MT): in a break with tradition, the MT was hosted before the semester began in an attempt to allow students to avoid any conflicts with their studying and class schedules. We felt this allowed more students to join us and were surprised at the larger than expexted turnout and participation by incoming as well as current students (90 as opposed to typical 40-50 students every semester).
• Kickoff Parties: this semester's Kickoff Parties were some of the most eclectic and widely attended. Who can forget the underground, urbany ambiance of the PIC's "Kickass Party"? How about the gathering of students that devoured plate after plate of meat at both the IMP and ITF parties? Or what about the more laid back atmosphere at the ASP/KSP Kickoff? Although every program had a little something different planned, two things seemed to remain the same throughout every party: 1) a certain member of the faculty having a blast with the students; 2) students having the opportunity to meet new folks and develop relationships that will have carried them throughout the rest of the semester.
• GSIS Picture Wall: the intent of the picture was was to provide a place for the GSA to post pictures from events throughout the semester and allow students to post their pictures of GSIS related events for all to see and enjoy. We currently have pictures from the MT and Kickoff parties. Expect more pictures to follow.
  
• International Cultural Event and Human Auction: the "Cultural Crossings" event was held in mid-April and was a great success in that it provided an opportunity to learn about and display many of the unique cultures and foods of the countries of students that are represented at Yonsei GSIS. The GSA, in coordiation with a number of willing volunteers and the CDC/ODAR office, worked hard to secure sponsors and media coverage, prepare country information briefs, cook food for the event, and execute the Human Auction. The even itself went towards raising approximately W10million to be donated to twin cancer patients at Yonsei's Severance Hospital.
  
• Career Opportunities: the GSA has been working very closely with the CDC/ODAR office and faculty members to bring in alumni and recruiters to speak to students about professional development and career opportunities. A couple of speakers have already stopped by from the financial sector, with an alum working at a multinational firm scheduled to speak in early May. The CDC was also able to host a representative from the Washington Center to speak about government/non-governmental internship opportunities in the US. Be on the look out for more speakers to come.
  

Things to come:

• MBA students from the National University of Singapore: Yonsei GSA will host an exhange event on May 6th at 12pm at NMH. 30-35 international MBA students from over 15 countries will be visiting Korean firms and the GSA has managed to arrange a meeting with these students for the mutual benefit of learning about each other's graduate programs and developing relationships. If you are interested in business, non-profit work or have plans to do any traveling this summer (i.e. - India, Singapore, China, etc.), please stop by for the two-hour lunch event to meet our guests and make some new friends.
  
• "Spring Link 2006": the Spring Link party will be held on May 4th in Hongdae. Most schools have already picked up their tickets and posters, so don't miss out on this great opportunity to meet peers from other GSIS programs (SNU, Korea, Ewha, Sogang, Kyunghee). Additionally, the response from Yonsei Alumni has been phenomenal, as the GSA has already received a number of RSVP's for tickets. Finally, all funds raised from the event will go towards subsidizing the end-of-semester banquet.
  
• Student Honor Committee: a draft proposal was made and the final details of the student honor committee and code of ethics is being completed. We expect this to be competed by the end of the semester.
• GSIS End-of Semester Banquet: TBD