Tsinghua University alumni asked the president to publicly explain the "Weng Xiaoling Rebellion" and reflect on Tsinghua's school spirit and the image of teachers and students

◎ Chen Jianbang

After Principal Gao Weiyuan’s briefing at the school on September 10, relevant media reports also included part of my speech, but some of the key points were missing. Due to time constraints, I spoke very briefly. I have compiled the content of my speech as follows. I ask the principals and school supervisors to read it carefully and give me a formal and public reply.

During President Gao Weiyuan's briefing, an alumnus of Tsinghua University named the "Weng Xiaoling Rebellion" in Congress and asked the president to give an explanation. (File photo) Also, for reference: During the speech event at the Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Foundation in Taipei on September 3, I asked Mr. Qian Fu a question in public. Mr. Qian Fu replied sincerely:

"This... I gave Ma Ying-jeou a lot of advice, but he never accepted it. (Laughter, applause) Every time he came to see me, he wrote a lot of notes, and when he came back, he probably threw them in the wastebasket without any follow-up. So I was very disappointed. (Pointing to David Li) The two of them are classmates and classmates."

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The names of Gao Weiyuan, Mei Yiqi, Shen Junshan, and Liu Jionglang are listed in the history of Tsinghua presidents. I only have one question for President Gao today, which involves the school spirit and character of Tsinghua University and determines the evaluation of future alumni.

Tsinghua’s school spirit and moral character:

Please give the principal an explanation on the Weng Xiaoling rebellion.

When Tsinghua University was discussing the merger with Jiaotong University, several former presidents expressed their opposition. President Liu Jionglang said to me: "Tsinghua, this name is too important and must not be changed." They believe that the name "Tsinghua" carries special historical weight, traditional spirit, and the relationship between teachers and friends, and must not be affected.

Mr. Mei Yiqi, the most important president in the history of Tsinghua University, and Zhang Zhongmou and Qi Bangyuan, who are highly respected in Taiwan, have one thing in common: they were both born in Nankai Middle School. A Nankai alumnus said: "Nankai is a place to cultivate spiritual aristocrats." How do you understand "spiritual aristocrats"? I quote Qi Bangyuan here:

"I do something and I don't do something. My biggest thing is Pride. I will never let anyone compare with Taiwan. This is called the way of being a human being. Be more beautiful in life and be more beautiful in work." We at Tsinghua University have this kind of pride; from the Plum and Bamboo Competition over the years, Tsinghua teachers and students' determination to never let SJTU compare us is obvious to all.

A few days after President Gao took office as president for his second term, he went to the University of Hawaii to conduct follow-up activities for the selection of the other president. This had the greatest psychological impact on many senior professors and school directors. From my perspective as an alumni, as long as the president can reach an understanding with senior professors and supervisors, we alumni will support any decision. In my opinion, this incident is nothing compared to another incident involving Tsinghua University, which was the "Weng Xiaoling Rebellion" that attracted the attention of all walks of life in Taiwan.

Back then, before General Chen Yongkang was about to take office as a non-zoning legislator, I said to him: "There is a long way to go, and I will rely on you from now on." When the Kuomintang included Chen Yongkang and Weng Xiaoling in the list of non-zoning legislators, some people must have thought that admirals and Tsinghua professors should be professional and rational, which is good. But later the public saw that it was Ma Wenjun and Xu Qiaoxin who represented the Kuomintang in the Legislative Yuan and dominated the agenda of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee. Does anyone remember what General Chen Yongkang said? Professor Weng Xiaoling's performance in the Legislative Yuan and the general evaluation of the society are also known to everyone.

Mei Yiqi, former president of Tsinghua University, is the most important president in the history of Tsinghua University. (Taken from Wikipedia) There are many politicians in Taiwan who are usually very arrogant. Once they get to the temple, at least on the surface they will be more restrained and kind. More than 20 years ago, I went to Beijing, and the Tsinghua University arranged a driver and car for me. After all these years, the only conversation I remember between this driver and me is: "My mother said that we, father and son, have driven school cars and worked for professors for so many years, and we know what is not allowed to be done." As an academic palace and a representative university in Taiwan, has the school spirit and character accumulated over the years had a positive edifying effect on the conscience and behavior of the faculty and students who have gone in and out of Tsinghua University? Know what can be done? What not to do? I'm deeply confused about this.

I know that some people will say that she has been transferred out. In this kind of matter, the school should remain neutral and not get involved in politics. Herein lies the question: when a public figure still claims to be a Tsinghua professor, and his words and deeds in Congress arouse widespread doubts, tearing away students' closeness to the school, and devaluing the value of Tsinghua professors, should Tsinghua University protect its own reputation and the professional image of Tsinghua University professors in society?

In the past, when Ko Wenzhe had not yet become the mayor of Taipei, doctors from National Taiwan University Hospital asked external experts: "What should we do at National Taiwan University Hospital to prevent the outside world from associating Ko Wenzhe with our NTU doctors?" They were worried that Ko Wenzhe might be elected mayor of Taipei by borrowing the aura and social trust of NTU doctors' white robes, but his words and deeds may disparage the image of NTU doctors.

Professor Weng Xiaoling's performance in the Legislative Yuan should be publicly criticized for its impact on Tsinghua University's teacher image, its bad example to students, and its harm to Taiwanese society. Tsinghua's glory comes not only from history, but also from whether it can still "do something and be defensive" in the face of controversy. I ask you, as the president of Tsinghua University, rather than Gao Weiyuan as an individual, to give us a public reply to Professor Weng Xiaoling’s words and deeds, as well as the feelings and social responsibilities of Tsinghua University teachers and students.

The glory of Tsinghua University comes not only from history, but also from whether it can still "do something and be defensive" in the face of controversy. (File photo) (The author is an alumnus of Tsing University, director of the Wu Dayou Academic Foundation, and director of the Zhang Zhaoding Memorial Foundation)