University Moves to Expel Student for "Damaging National Dignity and School Reputation"
Wave of Criticism Over "Punishing Only the Victim, Sexist Decision"
A female university student in China is facing the risk of expulsion for having a physical relationship with a foreign man, sparking controversy. Online, there has been a flood of criticism that the school's disciplinary action is excessive.
According to Chinese media outlet Liberty Times, a female student at A University in eastern China spent a night last December with a married Ukrainian e-sports player while attending a tournament in Shanghai. The man then posted videos and photos of the two on social networking services (SNS). The post included phrases such as "A Chinese woman was seduced in just one day" and "Chinese women are easy," which spread on Chinese social media and became a source of controversy.
Subsequently, on July 8, A University announced that it was moving to expel the student, stating that she "caused public outrage through inappropriate conduct on December 16, 2024." The official notice also included the student's real name.
The university cited Article 30, Clause 6 (violation of social morality) of the 'Regulations on the Administration of Students in Higher Education Institutions,' as well as its own rule regarding "damage to national dignity or the university's reputation due to inappropriate interactions with foreigners," and notified the student to submit an explanation regarding the incident by September 7.
This incident has sparked debate on Chinese social media platforms such as Weibo and TikTok. Many Chinese netizens supported the university's decision to expel the student, arguing that her actions damaged the honor of both the university and the country.
On the other hand, there has also been criticism that expulsion is excessive for what is essentially a matter of personal privacy. In particular, many pointed out that the man unilaterally disclosed the student's private life. One netizen commented, "A foreign man spread a private video and trampled on the woman's honor, yet Chinese law does not sanction him and only punishes the female student, who is the victim," calling the situation discriminatory against women.
Experts have also pointed out that the university's intervention in the student's private life is excessive and that the student's protection is insufficient. Fu Jian, a well-known lawyer in China, told a local media outlet, "Even though the student's private life does not constitute a legal issue, there are questions about how far the university's authority to intervene extends," adding, "It is also problematic that the man who distributed the private video has not faced any legal consequences."
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