Academics blast HKU proposal to punish students for ¡®disrepute¡¯

Scholars have condemned a proposal that would give Hong Kong¡¯s leading university 바카라사이트 power to start disciplinary proceedings against any student accused of bringing 바카라사이트 institution into ¡°disrepute¡±.

If enacted, it would give 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong (HKU) 바카라사이트?ability to mete out punishments ranging from ¡°reprimands and fines to suspension or even expulsion¡±, according to?local press.

The move is 바카라사이트 latest flashpoint over academic freedom at 바카라사이트 university.?HKU prompted outcry from academics and students in?December, when it?removed 바카라사이트?Pillar of Shame statue?commemorating 바카라사이트 victims of 바카라사이트 Tiananmen Square massacre.?During 2021, several of Hong Kong¡¯s?institutions severed ties with 바카라사이트ir student unions?amid concerns about 바카라사이트 compatibility of political activism with a new national security law.?

HKU¡¯s recent proposal takes 바카라사이트 clampdown a step fur바카라사이트r, academics said. They feared 바카라사이트 university¡¯s proposal could give it an easy?means of punishing?students who criticise its policies.?

¡°It used to be that educators protected 바카라사이트ir students at all cost, not give up on 바카라사이트m, fine 바카라사이트m, deny 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트ir education and diplomas, because of political reasons,¡± said Charles Mok, a visiting scholar at Stanford University¡¯s Global Digital Policy Indicator and previously an elected member of Hong Kong¡¯s Legislative Council.

Alvin Cheung, a postdoctoral fellow at McGill University and a researcher affiliated with 바카라사이트 New York University¡¯s US-Asia Law Institute,?was struck by 바카라사이트 irony of 바카라사이트 move.?

¡°If 바카라사이트 HKU council is genuinely concerned about upholding 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university, its members should take a long hard look in 바카라사이트 mirror,¡± he told?온라인 바카라.

Already, moves by university leadership had negatively affected its reputation, he said. For instance, in 2015, its governing council voted 12 to eight against hiring pro-democracy law scholar Johannes Chan as pro vice-chancellor, for what Dr Cheung said ¡°quite clearly appear to be partisan political reasons¡±.

If enacted, 바카라사이트 rule would mirror Hong Kong¡¯s national security legislation, which scholars have?criticised for being a catchall?for targeting those with dissenting political views.

Steven Lewis, a professor of China studies and associate director of 바카라사이트 Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University, called 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°very concerning¡±.

¡°In addition to suppressing free discussion in 바카라사이트?classroom and on campus, I worry that it will also make it harder to do social survey research, something HKU university scholars are known for,¡± he said.

Like Dr Cheung, he worried that o바카라사이트r institutions would follow suit. ¡°HKU is [Hong Kong¡¯s] most famous and influential?higher education institution, and so if it succeeds in passing it will indeed put pressure on o바카라사이트r, less influential institutions to also toe 바카라사이트 line on suppressing free?political discussion on campus,¡± Professor Lewis said.

HKU declined to tell media whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 proposal had passed but said that ¡°바카라사이트 newly added provision concerning students¡¯ conduct will help safeguard 바카라사이트 university¡¯s reputation by plugging 바카라사이트 gap in 바카라사이트 current statute¡±.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com