Alumni, students call for action

Seventy-six students and alumni of Xiamen University have written a letter to the university's president, calling on the institution to make regulations to prevent sexual harassment.

Their letter follows allegations that a history professor had enticed female students into having sex with him.

The allegations have sparked controversy on the Internet, with a host of netizens condemning the professor's alleged behavior.

Li Furui, who initiated the letter from the 76 people, said she is glad that the university has launched a probe over the case.

"The university should make the investigation results public and handle the case fairly, or its reputation will be damaged," said Li, who graduated from the university in 2011.

The 76 people wrote to Zhu Chongshi, president of Xiamen University, saying that setting up a mechanism to prevent sexual harassment is an effective way to protect the university's reputation.

The letter suggested that the university make regulations to forbid teachers from having intimate relationships with students.

The letter also said the university authorities should allow people to report sexual harassment cases and make the relevant investigations and punishments known to all faculty members and students.

The university is facing mounting pressure after the case, and it must take action, said Qiu Lufeng, a law professor at Nanjing University who graduated from Xiamen University in 1980.

Li Furui said that according to her research, no university on the Chinese mainland has made rules to prevent sexual harassment.

"Hopefully, Xiamen University will take the lead and set an example for other universities," Li said.

The letter was mailed to the university on July 24 and had not received any feedback by press time.

Xiamen University President Zhu Chongshi was not available for comment.

Continuing controversy

Xiamen University authorities have suspended the professor who allegedly sexually harassed female students pending investigations, but online vitriol over the case continues to grow.

"Ting Yang", the online moniker used by the netizen who created a stir on the Internet with a blog "exposing" the professor's alleged acts, has hit back at those who are defending him.

The 122 students who have defended Wu Chunming are being "used" by a female student who had an affair with the professor, Ting Yang claimed.

"Rather than helping find the truth, the letter is interfering with the probe," the post by Ting Yang said.

Ting Yang was responding to a joint letter written by the students who defended Wu.

In the letter released online on July 21, the students, most of whom were tutored by Wu, claimed that the online accusations have done tremendous harm to the reputation of the professor and the university, and they felt shocked and angry.

The letter said Wu is a dedicated professor known for being strict with students.

"None of the students, including those who graduated from the university in various years, have heard about Wu sexually harassing female students," the letter said.

The letter added that Ting Yang used to be a doctoral candidate for archaeology and entered the university in 2007. She failed to obtain her doctorate due to "personal issues", it claimed.

The letter said that Ting Yang held a grudge against the professor for unknown reasons and urged the university's investigation team to find out the truth as soon as possible. The investigative team said it is encouraging the reporting of evidence that would help solve the case.

Neither Ting Yang nor Wu could be reached for comment.

By Sun Li