Wang Dong, a Civil Engineering student at Hunan City University was expelled from the school for posting a controversial message on a blog. It is essential that students, as part of their education, be allowed to think and speak freely. CCS has written the President of Hunan City University requesting that he review this case and reverse the decision to expel this student.
Li Jianqi
President
Hunan City University
No. 518 Yingbin East Road
Yiyang, Hunan Province 413000
People’s Republic of China
Dear President Jiangi:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We write to express our concern for Wang Dong, a civil engineering student at Hunan City University, who was expelled merely for something he posted on the Chinese blogging site Weibo on September 19.
While what he posted was controversial, and perhaps to some offensive, in exercising his basic right to peaceful free expression, Wang Dong has done nothing worthy of such an extreme punishment. We encourage you to review this case and consider allowing Wang Dong to return to his studies, and to adopt more lenient policies that protect, rather than punish, students who choose to exercise their right to free expression.
In order for academic freedom to flourish at a university, students must be allowed to think and speak freely, and we urge you to seek ways to respect the rights of your students.
Thank you for your attention to this most important matter, and we look forward to receiving your response.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
cc:
Ambassador Cui Tiankai
Embassy of the People’s Republic of China
3505 International Place NW
Washington DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 495 2266
Fax: 1 202 495 2138
Email: chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn OR chineseembassyspokesperson@gmail.com
