The quest by members of the Korean Students Association and the Korean-American Student Association to develop a Korean studies program at GW has reached a crossroads. GW is one of several area schools being considered for a substantial financial boost from the Korea Foundation, a group that promotes Korean culture and education. If the Korea Foundation selects GW, the grant could fund several courses in Korean humanities and social sciences and an endowed chair.

No final decision has been reached yet, but the hard work done by proponents of the new courses should be studied and emulated by other students and faculty who press for additional courses to be taught at GW.

In the recent past, several other student groups have complained about the lack of GW courses dealing with specific ethnic groups or subjects. But while other groups simply complained about the lack of courses and left it at that, the groups advocating a Korean studies program went out in search of funding possibilities.

The major impediment to a larger selection of classes is usually funding. Presenting the University both a list of funding options and students who have a strong interest in taking the courses prove this group is serious in its support of the program.