| Beijing University | |||||||||||||||||
| by Jared Madsen | |||||||||||||||||
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Beijing University is one of the most prestigious schools in China. Almost all high school students pick it as their number one choice of schools to attend when applying for college. When a student receives a diploma from this university, one can be sure the student is well educated and will probably obtain a good position in their area of work. As illustrious as this school is it has some unconventional practices. Some of these practices are acknowledged by the school and others are not. Since the students who come to this university are the top students from all around the country, one might say they are smart enough to get around the system. The government knows that the most intelligent and politically active students attend this school. So the government has set up a monitoring system with which they can observe the students. There are well placed informants around campus who are usually students, because who knows more about what is happening in the minds of students than students themselves? The information gathered from these informants is used to give the government some concept of what students around the country are feeling in terms of politics and change. The students are not punished for their opinions that they air about the government and the policies made, instead it is permitted and maybe half -way encouraged. This is how the officials know what is brewing in their country. One of the most substantial unconventional practices, is that of "The Wall." This wall is a giant billboard on which students are able to write their feelings in any form they want, exclamations, poetry, essays, etc. In this way students are able to disclose their true feelings free from oppression. This practice is fairly recent, as China is still a communist country and opposing the government publicly is still a touchy area. With students given this opportunity it is a way of communication between the younger generations of China, or in other words the future of China, and the government. A way of communicating that does not involve violence or punishment, only observation and listening. This is a step for China, rare has the government had the patience to listen to the people it governs. Now its made it their business to know what the people are saying, whether they use this knowledge positively or negatively is left to be known. What is known, is the fact that if one has graduated from Beijing University one will not be able to acquire a position in government. The officials know only too well what notions the students have of them, so their chances of being hired are nil. This does not weigh too hard on the students conscience because in the same way the government knows the student mind and the student know the government mind. Along with this erudition of the government�s workings comes a wariness. Even though a communication of sorts has been set up, students do not fully trust it and with reason. Some find that the easiest way to obtain true information is to go directly, and illegally, into the system. With the help of modern technology and the local "hackers", one is able to tap into all sorts of interesting things. Information which would give students basis for their theories on the government and the officials. The students at this university are not the usual run-of-the-mill type, they are the exceptional. One would be ignorant to assume that these students would follow rules without questioning them, or allow the happenings in China, or around the world, slip by them. It could be said the government feels slightly threatened by these students. If they did not they would not of gone to such extremes in Tiananmen Square or even now with the way Beijing University is set up. Yes, it is a prestigious school, and yes, if one receives a diploma from there he/she is practically guaranteed a good job. Though this is all true, while one is a student one will feel watched constantly. The students at this university speak for all students, as far as the Chinese government is concerned. | |||||||||||||||||
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