Sang Hee Park/ Department of Psychology
"Learned helplessness" describes a state whereby an animal, when deprived of any control over its environment, becomes depressed but quietly endures any pain inflicted upon it (such as electric shock).  What's more, this phenomenon applies not only to lowly lab animals but also to human beings. Recently, people in Gyeongsangbukdo suffered cut in water supply for days, but the country is surprisingly quiet for such a disaster involving more than half a million people. Why? My theory is that the people do not feel like they have any control over the government anymore. The government may like their people to be nice, docile, and pliable, but it should not forget that such an attitude may, in the long run, make it a government not of free, self-reliant people, but of lab animals accepting electric shocks without even a squeak.
 
 
Dept. of International Business Yeon Hye-jin
 ‘The Four Rivers Project’is sinking a lot of money and time across the nation. Therefore, the government should carefully review this project and check the potential side effects that can occur in the future. When the damage happened, they should have admitted their responsibility and compensated the victims quickly. The government should have compensated them and apologized to the victims rather than identifying the causes of cutting off the water supply.

 
 
Dept. of Korean Language and Literature Yun Bo-ram
President Lee Myung-bak is trying to finish the Four Rivers Project before his term ends. Recently, the hasty decision caused a suspension of water supply. A more serious drinking water shortage is expected in the rainy season. However, the press didn't report properly about the cutting of the water at that time. Therefore, the press should report on the incident concretely. Also, the government has to apologize to citizens and proceed systematically with the Four Rivers Project with a long-term plan.