At a recent degree awarding ceremony at the Law School of Fudan University, a male student went on stage and swiftly punched a teacher before leaving. After the incident, the student realized that he had assaulted a different teacher, not the dean of the Law School as he had initially thought. The student then released a “manifesto,” listing the various issues plaguing Fudan University’s education system, including deteriorating academic standards and corrupt practices such as a decline in academic integrity, corrupt administrative practices, and more.
According to a video circulating online on June 19, during the degree awarding ceremony at Fudan University’s Law School, a male student went on stage and punched a teacher standing in the second position on the right before quickly leaving. The teacher’s glasses and mentor’s cap were knocked off, and another teacher standing in the first position on the right seemed startled and moved aside. After a brief pause to regroup, the ceremony proceeded.
The Student Affairs Office of the school responded on the evening of June 19, stating that the university was investigating the incident, but no conclusive findings had been reached yet.
The graduate who assaulted the teacher was surnamed Xia, and he later posted a photo on his social media account showing him flipping off the main campus of Fudan University, along with a scathing “manifesto” criticizing the university.
In his “manifesto,” Xia stated, “Just finished the Law School graduation ceremony, I punched the dean for a reason as shown in the picture (manifesto). I couldn’t swallow this. Even if I’m suspended for 15 days, or even shot, I’m not afraid. I’ll go against your administrative detention, F**k! F**k your mother’s Fudan University.” However, the student later realized that he had actually assaulted a different teacher, not the dean, and he apologized to the teacher on his WeChat moments.
According to the official website of Fudan University’s Law School, the dean of the school is Du Yu, and the party secretary is Xu Jin.
The student listed the problems in his “manifesto,” citing the university’s deteriorating education system, low level of legal education, and corrupt academic atmosphere, including issues like poor academic culture, foul-smelling administrative practices, and more.
Below is the full text of the statement from the student involved, Xia Chengxi, explaining his decision to withdraw from the university.
[Continued in next message…]