Wu Zongxian and Chen Meiling went to the school to canvass for votes. Yilan University: Very inappropriate

Yilan University stated that based on administrative neutrality, elections are not allowed on campus. The school prohibits any candidate from entering the campus to canvass for votes while wearing a vest. This has always been the principle of Yilan University. (File photo)

First published at 14:33

Update time 14:42 (Added response from Wu Zongxian’s bid)

Yilan Mayor Chen Meiling of the Kuomintang, who was seeking re-election, and Wu Zongxian, the county magistrate candidate, wore campaign vests and openly went to Yilan University to canvass votes for the movement. They engaged in campaign activities and behavior, which aroused public discussion. The Democratic Progressive Party camp criticized Chen and Wu for taking the lead in breaking the law; Yida also said that such behavior was very inappropriate. Wu Zongxian's bid responded that if the school thinks it is inappropriate, it will respect the school's wishes; Chen Meiling did not answer the call and has no comment yet.

Please read on...

Chen Meiling posted a limited-time post on Facebook today. It can be seen that she and Wu Zongxian were wearing campaign vests. Wu Zongxian's campaign team also held signs and entered the campus of Yilan University to canvass and pray for votes. After causing controversy, Chen Meiling has deleted the restricted video. Regarding their blatant entry into the campus to engage in campaign activities, many people said that it was really outrageous and a blatant violation of the election and strike law.

Lawyer Gao Ziting, director-general of the Democratic Progressive Party's Yilan mayoral candidate Han Ying's campaign, criticized Chen Meiling and Wu Zongxian for blatantly breaking the law. The Basic Education Law stipulates that schools must remain neutral and must not conduct any election campaign activities. The election law also mentions that schools cannot engage in electioneering activities. However, Chen and Wu took the lead in breaking the law. It is really outrageous.

Gao Ziting pointed out that since her candidacy, Han Ying's team has always respected the city government's requirement for "administrative neutrality." In the past, whether it was Yilan City's Big Day or the Starlight Concert, their colleagues were prohibited from distributing promotional materials around the area, but the Kuomintang county magistrate candidate was able to hand out promotional fans at the scene. Administrative neutrality should be a consistent rule. It would be a pity if different camps have different standards, or even take the lead to enter the campus.

Yilan University stated that based on administrative neutrality, elections are not allowed on campus. The school prohibits any candidate from entering the campus to canvass for votes. This has always been the principle of Yilan University. As long as the guards see them, they will be asked to leave. However, Yilan University is an open campus. In this case, the candidates should have entered from the side door. The guards did not see it. No matter which political party they are, such behavior is very inappropriate.

Yida pointed out that in order to prevent similar behavior from happening in the future, it has instructed the school’s General Affairs Office to strengthen supervision and ask guards to strengthen patrols. If they are found entering the school to canvass for votes, vote-seeking and other campaign activities, they must be asked to leave.

Wu Zongxian's campaign stated that the Minister of Education Cheng Yingyao proposed the "open campus" declaration two years ago, opening the campus to the public on Saturdays, Sundays and after school hours without affecting normal teaching operations. Many people in Yilan City go to Yilan City to exercise in the morning. They use the period not in class to greet the public and do not enter classrooms and other classroom areas. If the school thinks this is inappropriate, it will respect the school's wishes.

Wu Zongxian and Chen Meiling went to Yilan University to canvass for votes and engaged in campaign activities and behavior, which Yilan University considered very inappropriate. (Picture provided by the public)