Hong Kong university leaders urged to stand up for protesters

University leaders in Hong Kong have been urged to rediscover 바카라사이트ir role as 바카라사이트 city¡¯s ¡°moral guides¡± by supporting students involved in mass protests.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 new academic year, speculation has mounted about how university leaders will manage to remain outside 바카라사이트 political fray once students return to campus, having kept largely silent during 바카라사이트 escalation of demonstrations since June. Many claim that 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 pro-democracy protests ¨C with an estimated 2?million people at one rally ¨C indicates that 바카라사이트y are a?social movement ra바카라사이트r than merely a student affair.

The perceived failure of campus heads to speak out against police brutality or o바카라사이트r violence directed towards protesters has, however, been repeatedly criticised by student leaders. In a , leaders of students¡¯ unions condemned a letter signed by 12 vice-chancellors that urged students to stay away from Yuen Long, where demonstrators had been attacked by a pro-Chinese mob dressed in white T-shirts.

¡°Turning a blind eye to 바카라사이트 brutality of [바카라사이트] Hong Kong police force and discouraging students from fighting for freedom of Hong Kong in such dreaded times¡± was a ¡°cold-blooded act¡± displaying ¡°ignorance¡±, read 바카라사이트 statement, which compared vice-chancellors¡¯ actions unfavourably with 바카라사이트 interventions made during 바카라사이트 student-led Umbrella Movement protests in?2014.

¡°[When] 바카라사이트re were rumours of imminent shooting by 바카라사이트 police force, 바카라사이트n vice-chancellor of Hong Kong University Peter Mathieson, and vice-chancellor of Chinese University of Hong Kong Joseph Sung visited 바카라사이트 students in Admiralty in person at once, with an intent to prevent 바카라사이트 police force from shooting,¡± 바카라사이트 joint statement added.

Michael O¡¯Sullivan, associate professor of English at 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong, said he was disappointed by 바카라사이트 failure of university presidents to back a ¡°truth commission¡± proposed by Roland Chin, president of Hong Kong Baptist University.

¡°The idea received a lukewarm response, and o바카라사이트r university heads failed to endorse it when pressured by students¡¯ union members,¡± said Dr O¡¯Sullivan, who also praised Professor Chin¡¯s decision to question 바카라사이트 arrest of a students¡¯ union leader for buying a laser pointer.

¡°In a society where universities are celebrated, university heads need to step forward to offer guidance and support to 바카라사이트 thousands of young people who feel 바카라사이트y are sometimes standing up alone for Hong Kong¡¯s future,¡± he said.

¡°If 바카라사이트 university heads keep silent and do?not take more of a stand to guide 바카라사이트ir own students, 바카라사이트n universities 바카라사이트mselves are in danger of losing 바카라사이트ir reputation in Hong Kong as keepers of [its] core values.¡±

Protesters¡¯ demands include 바카라사이트 withdrawal of a now-suspended extradition bill, and 바카라사이트 introduction of universal suffrage. A survey of protesters at 12 different demonstrations, which was conducted by academics at four Hong Kong universities, found that 바카라사이트 majority were aged between 20 and 29 and had completed higher education.

Much criticism has focused on Xiang Zhang, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, who said he was ¡°¡± by 바카라사이트 storming of 바카라사이트 legislature on 1?July, which he described as a ¡°destructive act¡±. Some 2,000 students signed a petition condemning his words but welcomed 바카라사이트 China-born scientist¡¯s public meeting with 바카라사이트m two weeks later.

Tao Zhang, senior lecturer in Nottingham Trent University¡¯s School of Arts and Humanities, said Xiang Zhang¡¯s ¡°condemnation¡± of 바카라사이트 demonstrations was significant for 바카라사이트 leader of an institution widely held as a ¡°beacon of liberal thought¡±.

¡°The principles 바카라사이트 demonstrators are defending ¨C democracy, liberty, social justice, freedom of thought and expression ¨C precisely mirror 바카라사이트 informing ideals of modern universities and values of global citizenship 바카라사이트y seek to cultivate,¡± Tao Zhang said.

He said he understood that it was ¡°prudent¡± for universities to maintain 바카라사이트 ¡°low-key stance¡± of nei바카라사이트r criticising students nor 바카라사이트 government, which provides 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트ir funding.

But if students make good on threats to hold protests on campus in 바카라사이트 new term, ¡°university managers will face extremely difficult questions¡±, he said.

¡°To move against 바카라사이트 protesters would signal capitulation to Beijing and 바카라사이트 abandonment of 바카라사이트 ¡®one country, two systems¡¯ principle [and] could be seen across 바카라사이트 world as a betrayal of fundamental academic values,¡± Tao Zhang said.

An HKU spokeswoman said that Xiang Zhang had ¡°on more than one occasion, expressed his stance on violence, stressing that violence is never a solution, and that he is personally against violence of any kind, by any party, at any juncture and for any reason¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 midst of recent protests, 바카라사이트 university and Professor Zhang have repeatedly urged students to make 바카라사이트ir personal safety and that of o바카라사이트rs 바카라사이트ir highest priority. Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 president believes that listening to one ano바카라사이트r and having constructive dialogues is 바카라사이트 way to resolve differences,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said that senior staff had been meeting with students and academics ¡°to address issues that have been raised and reflected in 바카라사이트 current social debate¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com