A undergraduate student at Northwest University in China openly expressed viewpoints that negate Marxism and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in class, and has recently been expelled by the university. The decision of this disciplinary action has circulated within the campus, drawing attention to the tightening ideological boundaries in CCP-led universities.
According to documents circulating online, the student from the Physics Department of Northwest University, Class of 2023, was reported by four classmates for expressing views that challenge the legitimacy of the CCP’s governance, leading to his expulsion. In 2024, the student was put on probation for expressing disbelief in Marxism and lack of support for the CCP leadership in a political theory class. During the probation period, he continued to express similar views in the course’s online group and in class.
On September 16 of this year, during a class on “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,” the student engaged in a debate with the teacher on the topic of “the relationship between communist ideals and national rejuvenation,” publicly stating that there is no connection and that a nation can be rejuvenated without communism. The disciplinary decision also mentioned that the student remarked in class, “If the Communist Party falls, all you Marxist professors will have to set up stalls at the South Gate to make a living.”
Several scholars interviewed in Xi’an and Chongqing noted that discussions between students and teachers on Marxism and CCP history in classes at Northwest University are commonplace, and that students expressing personal views and emotional statements is not inappropriate.
A retired journalist from Shaanxi TV, Mr. Xu, commented that discussions on Marx, communism, or the history of the CCP are acceptable in ideological classes. Scholar Gao Hua, who researched the Yan’an Rectification Movement, has publicly discussed CCP internal struggles as part of academic discourse. Authorities do not need to overreact to a student’s remarks, as it should be seen as academic expression and viewpoint sharing.
During a meeting on November 21, the Northwest University Student Discipline Committee determined that the student’s actions “blatantly violated the four fundamental principles established in the Constitution” and “seriously disrupted the order of classroom teaching.” They ultimately decided to expel him. The university has not publicly released any related information nor responded to media inquiries.
Lawyer Fang Da from Chongqing stated that in terms of law, expressing disbelief in a certain ideology (Marxism) is not illegal. However, universities are part of the political management system and are given stricter responsibilities in ideological education. The establishment of Marxist institutes in many universities in recent years aims to strengthen ideological education.
Fang Da pointed out that while the student’s remarks have a tone of opposition to the CCP, using this as a reason for expulsion shows a shift towards more disciplinary management at universities. In the past, such situations might have been resolved through classroom debates and counseling, but in some universities today, diverging publicly from official narratives is seen as challenging political boundaries.
In recent years, Beijing has been pushing for stronger ideological management in universities, requiring the integration of “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” into core teachings, research, and campus governance. Multiple provinces have also issued directives emphasizing the need for universities to “resolutely guard against ideological risks on campus.”
Although cases of universities disciplining students are not uncommon, expulsions for openly expressing political viewpoints are rare. Previously, some students and teachers received warnings, suspension, or administrative penalties for classroom remarks, but much of this information was not made public.
A teacher from Chongqing Normal University, Mr. Wang, mentioned that in recent years, there has been a rise in student reports against teachers and fellow students on campus, giving a sense of a return to the Cultural Revolution era. He recalled a professor at their school, Tang Yun, who in 2019 expressed personal views in class, was reported by students, resulting in the revocation of his teaching qualifications and demotion. Even after retirement, Tang Yun’s home was reportedly monitored with surveillance cameras.
It remains unclear if the student at Northwest University will appeal the decision. Discussions on social media regarding this incident are limited, with most related posts being deleted shortly after posting. Some users on overseas forums believe that while political viewpoints expressed by students may disrupt classroom order, the necessity of expelling a student for such expressions is subject to debate.