A teacher at Henan University of Economics and Law has been accused of alleged harassment towards female students, with details of these allegations spreading widely across social media platforms. The university has officially announced that they have suspended the accused teacher from all teaching activities. The teacher in question previously held the position of Dean at the School of Marxism.
On November 7, an individual claiming to be one of the victimized students released a post titled “Where is Teacher Ethics?” accusing Zhao Zengyan of inviting her to a location disguised as an educational visit. Due to her inability to refuse, she felt compelled to go. During this encounter, she reported that he repeatedly embraced her forcefully, kissed her on the face, and touched her ears. Furthermore, she claimed he warned her against discussing the incident, which left her without any valid evidence to file a police report.
In subsequent messages, the student shared partial audio recordings and images taken on her way from the tourist spot back to her school. She expressed that due to the teacher’s age and her historical respect for him, she had not anticipated any inappropriate behavior. After returning to her dorm, she recounted breaking down in tears from the emotional distress of the harassment.
Following this incident, more female students have come forward with their experiences. They revealed that during the remote teaching sessions amid the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic, Zhao had taken the opportunity to add many female classmates on WeChat. One student claimed that Zhao had asked her to his office under the pretext of needing assistance, where he held her tightly and pinched her face before she left. Subsequently, she reported receiving late-night video calls from him, during which he was lying in bed with no shirt, which deeply frightened her.
On November 9, several media outlets, including The Paper, Phoenix Network, and China Youth Online, reported on the university’s official statement. However, these reports did not disclose the full name of the accused, his identity, or specific details surrounding the allegations and incidents.
According to the official statement released by Henan University of Economics and Law, they had become aware of the online discussions regarding the alleged ethical misconduct of teacher Zhao on November 7. In response, the university established a specialized working group to conduct investigations and gather evidence. Currently, all educational activities involving Zhao have been suspended pending the outcome of their inquiry.
Established in 1948, Henan University of Economics and Law is a province-run public institution that provides full-time higher education. Historical posts from the school’s official accounts highlight Zhao Zengyan’s roles, including Dean of the School of Marxism, Vice President of the Henan Ethics Society, and Executive Director of the Center for Morality and Civilization Studies.
Public records show that the university’s legal representative is Si Linsheng, with operating funds amounting to approximately 2.068 billion yuan. The school has been involved in multiple judicial disputes, including cases related to labor disputes, liability for infringement, and contract disputes.
On November 3, the university was listed as a subject of enforcement, with a total amount due of approximately 196,200 yuan.
The issue has become a hot topic of discussion among internet users. The stark contrast between Zhao Zengyan’s prestigious title as Dean of the School of Marxism and the allegations of ethical misconduct has driven significant focus and debate about the case online. The community continues to follow the developments closely as the investigation progresses.