On July 22nd, Wang Di, a female doctoral student at Renmin University of China, reported allegations of sexual harassment by her 65-year-old supervisor Wang Guiyuan. This news went viral on social media platforms like Weibo and Baidu, sparking widespread attention online. In response to public pressure, the university confirmed the veracity of the report and revoked Wang Guiyuan’s teaching position, terminating their employment relationship.
Wang Di, a doctoral student at Renmin University of China, publicly accused her supervisor, Wang Guiyuan, the former Party Secretary and Deputy Dean of the School of Literature at Renmin University, of sexual harassment on May 21, 2022. She stated that Wang Guiyuan had harassed her and demanded a sexual relationship against her will. Wang Di further claimed that after she refused his advances, Wang retaliated against her for over two years, threatening her graduation. Feeling she had no other choice, Wang Di decided to speak out and demanded legal action against Wang Guiyuan and a change of advisor.
Wang Di presented three categories of evidence in a video: direct audio recordings, key points from the chronological sequence of audio and chat records, and unedited audio files along with other evidence. She then tagged Renmin University in her report video on social media and urged netizens to spread the word, expressing that if the information does not circulate, she would have no other recourse.
This incident quickly drew attention from all corners of the internet. Renowned figures like “Zhi Xin Qingnian” founder and Weibo influencer “Geng Xiangshun” praised Wang Di for her courage in exposing the misconduct of her supervisor and the risks involved in taking such a stand. They highlighted the power dynamics between graduate students and their mentors, emphasizing the vulnerability of students in such situations.
Economist and Weibo influencer “Yu Fenghui” commended Wang Di for bravely standing up against the abuse of power by her supervisor, stressing the importance of upholding academic ethics and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. They called for a fair investigation to bring justice to the victim and restore integrity to the academic community.
Popular writer and Weibo influencer “Qin Yimo” expressed dismay after reviewing the series of video evidence released by Renmin University. They urged the university to take concrete actions in response to the allegations, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability.
Many internet users empathized with Wang Di’s predicament, acknowledging the risks she took in confronting her supervisor and the challenges faced by students in similar situations. Some questioned the prevalence of such misconduct within academic circles and the importance of speaking up against abuse of power in educational institutions.
Under mounting public pressure, Renmin University issued a statement on July 22nd confirming the veracity of the allegations following an investigation. As a result, Wang Guiyuan was expelled from the Party, stripped of his professorship, disqualified from supervising graduate students, and had his teaching position at Renmin University revoked, effectively terminating his employment. The case was also reported to higher education authorities for further action in accordance with the law.