Peking Students Protest Effect of Economic Reform

The student unrest that erupted last month at Peking University spread to another nearby campus this week, this time taking on political overtones.

Students at Peking Normal University have put up wallposters denouncing efforts by the school administration to comply with China’s economic reform program. The students are complaining about rising prices and about an attempt by the administration to give greater financial rewards to talented students.

At least 50 posters, on colored paper or newsprint, have been placed near the entrance to the cafeteria and on two adjacent buildings at the teachers’ college.

Such protests are highly unusual in China. In the past, the Chinese constitution upheld the use of wallposters, but that provision was removed several years ago. As recently as last summer, the Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily called on party members to help wipe out wallposters as a vestige of the Cultural Revolution.

‘OK to Make Criticism’ “I think it is OK in this era to make criticism,” a student at the campus told a reporter. The student expressed some sympathy with the protests but said he could not talk for long. “It is suspicious to be seen talking to foreigners,” he said.

Last May, the police were called to the campus of Nanjing University when students there demonstrated against what they felt was the low status and inadequate funding provided by the Ministry of Education.

In mid-December at Peking University, China’s best known and most prestigious university, hundreds of students marched, set off firecrackers, burned torches and put up wallposters to protest a university policy of cutting off electricity to student dormitories at 11 p.m.

As in these other instances of unrest, the protests at the 5,000-student Peking Normal University were prompted by dissatisfaction with campus conditions. However, this time the complaints include the effects of the government’s economic reform program.

Stipend Terms Changed Students at Peking Normal get a stipend of 18 yuan a month (about $6.40) from the school. In the past, they received this financial support not only while attending classes but also during summer and winter vacations.

Recently, the school administration announced that students will get the stipend only while classes are in session. School officials said the money saved will be used to reward talented students, a financial incentive in line with the government’s reform program.

Some students complained that, as a consequence, they will be unable to go home for the one-month winter vacation that starts in mid-February.

“The students say it’s all right to give extra money to some advanced students but that they should not have to pay for it (with lower stipends),” an instructor said.

Sources at the school said that only a very small number of posters were put up at first. When school officials threatened to take disciplinary action, another group of students put up new posters to show their sympathy with the original group.