BEIJING – A postgraduate candidate with a historical past of abusing cats was rejected by two high Chinese universities, sparking discussions not too long ago on the significance of ethical evaluation through the admission course of.
The scholar, surnamed Xu, was accused of abusing cats at his dormitory at Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, and posting the movies on-line in February. One of the clips exhibits him placing a cat right into a bucket of water and treading on its head.
Nanjing’s public safety bureau launched an investigation and interviewed Xu and his mother and father. Xu had admitted wrongdoing and promised to not repeat related behaviors, it stated.
The engineering graduate utilized for a grasp’s program at Nanjing University’s School of Physics late final 12 months. An enrollment report confirmed earlier this month that he was rejected by the college, though he had the best complete rating among the many candidates.
Many assumed that the refusal was associated to Xu’s historical past of animal abuse, as a number of netizens advised the varsity that Xu had critical ethical points.
Admissions employees responded that they comprehensively evaluated candidates’ performances in postgraduate entrance examinations and interviews, and his abuse of cats could have affected their determination.
After the refusal from Nanjing University, Xu was discovered on a ready record for Lanzhou University, in Gansu province.
Since final week, netizens commenting on the college’s Sina Weibo micro weblog account urged the varsity to be cautious about enrolling Xu.
Comments comparable to “Don’t accept students with bad behaviors” and “Morality prevails over intelligence and academic performance” dominated the posts in recent days.
On Monday night time, the School of Nuclear Science and Technology at Lanzhou University launched its admission record — with out Xu’s identify — marking the second refusal from a high college.
Despite the overwhelmingly adverse opinions expressed on social media platforms, public opinion chief Hu Xijin, a former editor-in-chief of Global Times, known as on Sunday for Xu to be given a chance as a young person simply starting his life journey.
“Posting the video of animal abuse was clearly a serious mistake, indicating his potential psychological issues,” Hu stated. “However, society should provide the student with an opportunity for correction, allowing this young person to have prospects and hope.”
He stated denying Xu admission to Nanjing University was already extreme punishment, and he hoped Xu actually regrets his actions and reshapes his values, and that public opinion doesn’t “hunt him down”.
“I also hope that after his path to become a postgraduate student is interrupted, other avenues will be open for him,” Hu stated.
