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Policies needed, not
¡¥concern¡¦: students
POLITICAL EUPHEMISM: Student groups complained
that the term ¡¥concern¡¦ is often associated with threats and attempts to stop
students partaking in protests
By Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter
After a recent e-mail from the Ministry of Education to school administrations
asking them to show ¡§concern¡¨ for student protesters caused a public uproar, a
student rights advocacy group yesterday called on the ministry to show its
support for student movements through policies, not e-mail.
¡§While the ministry called on school administrations to show ¡¥concern¡¦ to
students taking part in protests through an e-mail, the reality is that the
ministry has not shown any true concern for the students; instead, it is
allowing some universities to repress student movements,¡¨ Chang Fu-shun (±i´_µÏ), a
medical student at Chang Gung University (CGU) and a spokesperson for the
Student Rights Team, said through a press statement.
¡§We believe the ministry was motivated to send the e-mail by the fear of being
held responsible by students¡¦ parents and an authoritarian mentality,¡¨ Chang
said.
Chang said the ministry is afraid that it may become the target of criticism
from parents who do not support their children¡¦s participation in student
movements.
As such, it wanted written proof that it is paying close attention to what
students are doing.
On the other hand, in the context of student movements, the term ¡§concern¡¨ is
often associated with threats and attempts by schools to bar students from
taking part in demonstrations.
¡§For example, some universities would impose stricter curfews in student dorms
because they are ¡¥concerned¡¦ about students¡¦ safety at night. CGU cuts the
Internet connection at dorms at midnight because the school administration is
¡¥concerned¡¦ that students may stay up all night playing online games,¡¨ Chang
said. ¡§Moreover, school officials or on-campus military education officers talk
to students when student newspapers publish articles critical of school or
government policies, saying they only want to show their ¡¥concern.¡¦¡¨
The term ¡§showing concern¡¨ has always had a negative connotation among students,
he said.
Chang said that while the ministry says it encourages student participation in
public affairs, it has declined to intervene when universities ban students from
taking part in or initiating demonstrations.
¡§Written rules in more than 70 of the 149 universities in the country ¡X
including National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan University of Arts,
the Taipei National University of the Arts and the Asia University ¡X ban their
students from taking part in demonstrations,¡¨ he said.
¡§When we petitioned the ministry asking them to intervene, officials said they
had to respect the autonomy of universities,¡¨ Chang said.
¡§If ministry officials are truly concerned about students, they should show
their concern through actual policy,¡¨ Chang said.
In response to the ministry¡¦s e-mail, a number of students are coordinating a
campaign to bombard the ministry with phone calls, saying ¡§I am fine, thanks for
your concern.¡¨
Separately yesterday, Minister of Education Chiang Wei-ling (½±°¶¹ç) commented on
the public uproar, saying he was saddened that the ministry¡¦s good intentions
had been twisted, adding that the ministry would think about how to show its
good will in a better way.
Responding to a question about why he did not appear at the demonstrations to
support students, Chiang said he was afraid that his appearance would create
unnecessary problems, but added that he was fully supportive of students taking
part in public affairs.
Additional reporting by Rachel Lin
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