The Closed Riaeni La Matinée, which posed hygiene safety issues in the 2nd Dormitory student cafeteria since September 2023

The 2nd Dormitory has entered a new phase: Riaeni La Matinee, the controversial meal provider, has been replaced. This appears to be a positive outcome, eliminating potential health risks for students. However, there remains a disappointing aspect to this decision: The 2nd Dormitory administration never communicated transparently with students, as they had done before.

Throughout Riaeni La Matinee’s two-year tenure, Kyung Hee University (KHU) students received no detailed information about the company’s operations. The Global Campus General Student Association (GSA) repeatedly requested to participate in cafeteria-related meetings with the 2nd Dormitory but was denied each time. The justification? “Dormitory affairs should be managed by the dormitory office.”

As a result, students remain unaware of internal cafeteria matters, even the rationale and process behind the company’s eventual removal. This means, for two years, the dormitory did not communicate with students about the ways to deal with who posed the safety and health risks to the students. 

The dormitory’s approach particularly stands out when compared with the Global Campus General Affair Team (GAT). While facing similar issues to the 2nd Dormitory, where Riaeni La Matinee repeatedly caused hygiene and taste problems in Student Center

cafeterias, the GAT addressed these concerns through student engagement. They invited student media to relevant meetings, providing access to information about cafeteria plans, current problems, budget status, university stakeholders’ intentions, and other related matters. This allowed KHU students to receive consistent updates regarding the cafeteria issues. Students could also influence decisions as the GSA representatives served as committee members. Like GAT, facing reality and collectively drawing solutions is the way to resolve long-term issues, not just hide from them.

What makes the dormitory office’s position even more frustrating is that the cafeteria incident is not the first time they have evaded responsibility. When students expressed outrage over the sudden decision to host a student bonding event at Everland amusement park, the administration provided no explanation. Instead, they sheltered behind dormitory student-workers, who became targets of public criticism—despite not being the decision makers.

Later, when laundry fees suddenly increased, administrators instructed student workers to praise the new functions accompanying the price hikes, rather than explaining the reasons for the increases.

The dormitory administration has reportedly expressed resentment toward student media, claiming that interviews only include a fraction of their statements. They allege that media sometimes distort facts to support predetermined narratives. However, given their attitude, these claims are just an excuse to avoid facing students honestly. They never deserve to cast such blame until they openly address dormitory affairs.

The dormitory cafeteria affair is an issue that needs to be discussed with the KHU community. Before Riaeni La Matinee, conglomerates like Samsung and Hanwha failed to reach full satisfaction. This means that a single group never meets the students’ satisfaction. Thus, if the dormitory does not change its secretive approach, student dissatisfaction will persist and serious issues, including those affecting health, can return. 

Get out of the excuses and communicate with the students honestly. This is the next step the administration must take.