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Uni prez details hierarchy: Deities, tigers and dogs
By Ni Tao |
March 18, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IN China, calling somebody a dog is a slur.
But Tsinghua University president Chen Jining has no problem comparing himself with a dog.
Chen, a deputy to the National People's Congress, recently called students at Tsinghua tigers, professors deities and the president, he himself, a dog.
While some perceived his self-mockery as antics, Chen explained that it only reflects the hierarchy at Tsinghua, where privileges are showered on its faculty and students. By contrast, the president is only a servant working for their interests, just as a dog serves its master.
In fact, Chen's dog metaphor isn't so demeaning.
Besides implying dedication to the faculty and students' welfare, the dog metaphor also embodies the ideal, said Chen, that university officials should not interfere with academic affairs to ensure academic freedom.
This is mirrored by promotion and assessment of teachers on academic merit, rather than on seniority or connections. A professor's chance of advancing himself must not hinge on the president or old-timers' good graces.
Chen's comparison to a dog, perhaps a watchdog, may also suggest his vigilance against sleaze on campus, a development unforeseen by whoever created the metaphor, when academia and ivory towers were less polluted by money.
University presidents today have a big say in fund-raising, infrastructure and other projects. Recent years have seen a few sacked over graft.
From this perspective, Chen's self-deprecation is all the more relevant.
Only when university presidents work dutifully like dogs to improve the education quality of their schools can China's universities hope to consider themselves on par with names like Harvard and Cambridge.
But Tsinghua University president Chen Jining has no problem comparing himself with a dog.
Chen, a deputy to the National People's Congress, recently called students at Tsinghua tigers, professors deities and the president, he himself, a dog.
While some perceived his self-mockery as antics, Chen explained that it only reflects the hierarchy at Tsinghua, where privileges are showered on its faculty and students. By contrast, the president is only a servant working for their interests, just as a dog serves its master.
In fact, Chen's dog metaphor isn't so demeaning.
Besides implying dedication to the faculty and students' welfare, the dog metaphor also embodies the ideal, said Chen, that university officials should not interfere with academic affairs to ensure academic freedom.
This is mirrored by promotion and assessment of teachers on academic merit, rather than on seniority or connections. A professor's chance of advancing himself must not hinge on the president or old-timers' good graces.
Chen's comparison to a dog, perhaps a watchdog, may also suggest his vigilance against sleaze on campus, a development unforeseen by whoever created the metaphor, when academia and ivory towers were less polluted by money.
University presidents today have a big say in fund-raising, infrastructure and other projects. Recent years have seen a few sacked over graft.
From this perspective, Chen's self-deprecation is all the more relevant.
Only when university presidents work dutifully like dogs to improve the education quality of their schools can China's universities hope to consider themselves on par with names like Harvard and Cambridge.
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