An Autumn Festival of Sharing and Friendship Not Just Games and Cheering An Occasion to Think of the Less Fortunate Donations, Blood Drive, and Exchange Lectures Show True Leadership in Service It was the perfect fall festival. The “2007 Yon-Ko Games,” an annual festival of Yonsei University and Korea University, were held for two days beginning on October 5. This year’s festival was made more meaningful as a festival of sharing and friendship. - A Festival of Sharing This year’s Yon-Ko Games provided an occasion to think of our less fortunate neighbors. As part of Yonsei’s efforts in advancing ‘Leadership in Service’ and the spirit of sharing, 60 underprivileged students from the Gangwon area were invited to visit the Jamsil Baseball Field for the baseball game. Their first visit to a baseball field ever, the students donned Yonsei blue hats and shirts and became a Yonseian, following the cheerleaders with Yonsei songs and chants. President Jung Chang-Young emphasized that “The Yon-Ko Games should be a festival not only to ourselves but also to our neighbors and our community. We must show Leadership in Service rather that elitism.” To mark this new spirit of sharing and service, school supplies worth 10 million won will be donated to an elementary school on a remote island in the Incheon area, and the Wonju Campus is donating 3,000 books to elementary and middle schools in the Gangwon area. - Friendship and Exchange As the two top private universities in the nation, Yonsei and Korea University have proudly maintained the spirit of friendly competition. But this year, the two universities took their competitive spirit outside of the field as well. During the four days prior to the Games, both universities held blood drives on their respective campuses, vying with each other to quantify their love in liters of blood. The two universities also made “matching donations” to Korean residents of the Utoro district of Japan, who are fighting for the right to their properties. The donations were decided in accordance to the number of students who came to campus dressed in school colors during the week of the Games, blue for Yonsei and red for Korea University. Another memorable event during the festivities took the form of a series of exchange lectures that promoted the sharing of scholarship. Professors from four departments (History, Economics, Biology, and Mass Communication) participated in these lectures, including Professor Lew Hee-Soo of the Korea University Department of History, who came to Yonsei on October 4 to give a lecture titled “European History and the Grand Tour,” while Professor Sul Heasim of Yonsei University lectured on “The Kinship System of Medieval Europe” at Korea University. - An Autumn Festival Represented by the “Sinchon Eagle” and “Anam Tiger,” Yonsei University and Korea University have a long tradition of rivalry. Both universities pride themselves in having preserved our national and cultural heritage during our darkest period in history, and out of this an alliance has formed that is both competitive and cooperative. On the first day, Yonsei gave up the victory to Korea University in the baseball match, where pitchers Lim Chang-Min and Kim Joon (Korea University) led their teams. The score was 2-5. On the basketball court, Yonsei made an impressive attempt to overcome the difference in height by strategically shooting from the outside and attempting turnovers, but lost the game 75-90. The Yonsei team fought hard trying to overcome a score deficit that ran up to 20 points. The players closed the gap to eight points in the fourth quarter, but the opposing team was simply too tall. The day ended on a sour note. The ice hockey game was cancelled because the two teams failed to settle the issue of referee appointment. The presidents of the two universities agreed to reschedule the game for a later date. President Jung Chang-Young of Yonsei University commented on the incident that it “must not be repeated in the future.” During the second day’s games, Yonsei lost the rugby game by 22-30, and the soccer games was tied at 0-0, despite Yonsei dominating the game. Yonsei lost overall this year, but the record still remains in Yonsei’s favor at 16 wins, seven ties, and 14 losses. Despite the loss, Yonsei athletes distinguished themselves by their sportsmanship and perseverance. No game was over until the whistle blew. The cheering competition of the two universities was also a grand sight, as waves of blue and red swept the stadiums. KBS announcer Choi Song-Hyun, a Yonsei alumna, demonstrated her love for Yonsei by coming to both days’ events and singing along with the students. At the closing ceremony held on the Baekyang-ro, the main street of Yonsei’s Shinchon Campus, food and drink was provided for everybody. The two universities left the results of the games behind as they became one under the rising moon.