Kansas State University Student Newspaper Publish Hate Speech Towards Chinese Students on Campus

Kansas State University's Kansas State Collegian published an article authored by a staff writer Sean Frye regarding on campus population of international students from 'enemy' states, which include Afghanistan, China, Iran and Turkey.

The article made some factual error in its findings. For example, it alleges 'taxpayer's money', as large as $6.9 million in a year, was used to educate students from countries that have 'outwardly said they do not appreciate the U.S.'. On the contrary, foreign students pay at a much higher tuition, which is essential and instrumental at the time being to sustain the higher education systems in the State of Kansas. As a matter of fact, that was the reason local resident could afford to go to colleges.

The article fell short of calling foreign students on campus at Kansas State University spies, but indeed pointed out that these students 'could take the knowledge they obtained back to a country that the U.S. does not get along with.'

The article pointed out that on campus at KSU, 938 students come from China. It then proclaimed China will 'undoubtedly become enemies of the U.S.' The author concluded with a statement that 'taxpayer money should not be spent to educate students who could in the near future become the enemy'.

By citing wrong data, after applying wrong logic, this article successfully created a hostile environment for a group of students to study and work on campus at Kansas State University. These students were targeted on one factor, that is their origin of country.

The Kansas State Collegian is the campus students newspaper endorsed and sponsored by the Kansas State University through office space contribution and redistribution of student activity fees, among other financial resources provided by the University. The daily publication is distributed throughout the campus. Because of its wide circulation across KSU campus, it is the ninth largest daily newspaper in the entire State of Kansas. Based on Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier and Hosty v. Carter, KSU as the endorser and sponsor, as well as the educators and the administration of the campus, may have a duty of prior review of this widely distributed publication. However, inaction by the Kansas State University administration is not a relief on the duty of the editorial board of the Kansas State Collegian.

The Kansas State Collegian advocated and spread hatred against foreign students, including Chinese students by the publication and circulation of this article authored by a staff writer, both in printed form and as an online edition. Chinese students who are studying at the Kansas State University are targeted exclusively because of their national origin. The publication and wide circulation of this article on the Kansas State Collegian created an intimidating, hostile and offensive academic environment on campus of the Kansas State University. The publication and circulation of this article constitutes a distraction and obstacles for Chinese students to continue their study in classroom and on campus of the Kansas State University.

The Seagull recommend this advocate and spreading of hatred towards a group of students because of their national origin be investigated by the Kansas State University. The University has an obligation to report this rare but severe incident of discriminatory harassment incidence to the Office of Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education. The Seagull also recommend the faculty Self-Study group to include this incidents in their Self-Study Report to be presented to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association during their upcoming site visit on April 9-11, 2012.

Public universities should not accept students from countries that have bad relations with US

By Sean Frye staff writer
Published: Friday, February 24, 2012
Updated: Sunday, February 26, 2012 13:02

Here on campus, there are currently 1,851 international students, consisting of 1,045 undergraduates and 717 graduate students, according to the International Student and Scholar Services page on K-State's website. During the fall 2011 semester, there were 1,856 international students. Of that number, 972 students were from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Iraq or Turkey. China had the highest number of students, with 938.

What stands out about those five countries is that the United States does not have good relations with any of those nations.

So why does K-State, or any other university in the country, willingly choose to spend money on resources to educate students who could take the knowledge they obtained back to a country the U.S. does not get along with?

Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq are not allies with the U.S. for reasons surrounding the war on terror as well as problems before that, dating back to before the Gulf War. China and its communist regime has always had a rocky relationship with the U.S. and Turkey's relationship with the U.S. has deteriorated due to Turkey's displeasure with the Iraq War.

It is disappointing to know that, while international students are an integral presence on campus, 52 percent of them come from a country that has outwardly said they do not appreciate the U.S.

According to the K-State 2011-12 fiscal year budget, which can be found on K-State's website, K-State receives $161.8 million in state appropriations and $9.4 million in federal land-grant funds.

In those two categories alone, the university receives $171.2 million in tax dollars from the state of Kansas and the U.S. government.

In the fall of 2011, there were 23,863 students enrolled at K-State. Divide the total dollar amount evenly by the number of students and that shows that just over $7,000 in government funding is being spent to educate an individual student on campus.

Multiply that by 972, and that equals out to $6.9 million. That means nearly $7 million in government funding is spent to educate international students from nations that are not friendly with the U.S.

Debates rage on as to whether China is an adversary to the U.S. or not. Simply put, though, for as long as China remains under communist rule, it will be under the careful watch of the American government. In an April 30, 2011, article by Paul Kix on The Daily Beast website, the International Monetary Fund projects that China will have the world's largest economy and will be the next world superpower by 2016.

If a world superpower is under a communist regime, then they will undoubtedly become enemies of the U.S. The Cold War, Vietnam War and Korean War were all based on stopping the spread of communism.

Do not get it twisted, I am not saying people from these countries or the students here at K-State from these countries are all evil or should be treated as such.

I had a conversation with Patrick Sweeney, head women's rowing coach, who is from Great Britain. He said in his travels around the world, he learned that people are virtually the same everywhere and have the same basic goals, and I can respect that.

My argument is that they shouldn't have been allowed to come here and study at a public university that receives government funds.

We cannot control the agenda of private universities, as they set their own agendas.

And quite frankly, they have the right to because they fund themselves. But public universities like K-State should not be allowed to educate students from a country which the U.S. has bad relations with, and legislation should be passed that dictates such.

I have nothing against citizens from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Iraq or Turkey. I just truly believe that nearly $7 million of taxpayer money should not be spent to educate students who could, in the near future, become the enemy.

A Japanese Story

The Lunchbox and Dad

Three years after Father died of a disease, I became a first grader.

I want to tell you something Dad, although you probably have already known: I borrow your lunchbox.

My heart is still pumping when I think about what happened yesterday.

When my chopsticks hit the wall of the lunchbox, it made a pleasant tinkling sound. I had a really special lunch yesterday. My head was totally occupied by the packed lunch as early as 10 o'clock in the morning.

It was really special because it was the first time I used Dad's lunchbox. After you passed away, I was very lonely, very sad.

Father worked at a tempura shop, where he made the best fried tempura in the world. Every time I went there, he would secretly gave me a lot of tempura shrimp. I felt I was the special kid and very happy. After that, I always eat a lot, and worked really hard on Karate. Now that my lunchbox is not big enough for me.

"I need a bigger lunchbox!"
As I was telling Mom, she handed me Father's lunchbox from the back of the cupboard, the one you used when you went to work.

"It may be too big for Yu-kun," said Mom, but she allowed me to use Dad's lunchbox anyway.

Then it started the long wait since the breakfast. I ate all the lunch. After that I felt I was like Father, strong and kind. I really want to meet Father. Until now, my heart is still pumping, when I was thinking the yummy lunch and the happy time when I was eating it.

If I am granted to a wish to the God, I would like to live with Dad, Mom and sister once again. Alas, I know Father is guarding us from the sky.

Although I am lonely because Father is not at home, but since I am the only boy in the house, I will protect Mother and sister for Dad. I will eat well with Father's lunchbox, and become a stronger and kinder big boy.

Thank you for lending me your lunchbox, Dad.

translated from a Chinese translation, also with help of Google Translate.

Takanori Yu Katayama is a 1st grader. He took the picture with his father Shunsaku when he was three years old. Shunsaku died a few months later of a disease. This essay made him the first place winner in the 4th writing contest held by the Asahigakuseishinbunsha. The theme of the contest is 'Thank You Always'.

いつもありがとう

おとうさんがびょうきでなくなってから三年、ぼくは小学一年生になりました。

　おとうさんにほうこくがあります。きっとみてくれているとおもうけど、ぼくはおとうさんのおべんとうばこをかりました。

　ぼくは、きのうのことをおもいだすたびにむねがドキドキします。

　ぼくのおべんとうばことはしがあたって、すてきなおとがきこえました。きのうのおべんとうは、とくべつでした。まだ十じだというのに、おべんとうのことばかりかんがえてしまいました。

　なぜきのうのおべんとうがとくべつかというと、それはおとうさんのおべんとうばこをはじめてつかったからです。おとうさんがいなくなって、ぼくはとてもさみしくてかなしかったです。

　おとうさんのおしごとは、てんぷらやさんでした。おとうさんのあげたてんぷらはせかい一おいしかったです。ぼくがたべにいくと、いつもこっそり、ぼくだけにぼくの大すきなエビのてんぷらをたくさんあげてくれました。そんなとき、ぼくはなんだかぼくだけがとくべつなきがしてとてもうれしかったです。あれからたくさんたべて空手もがんばっているのでいままでつかっていたおべんとうばこではたりなくなってきました。

　「大きいおべんとうにしてほしい」

　とぼくがいうと、おかあさんがとだなのおくからおとうさんがいつもしごとのときにもっていっていたおべんとうばこを出してきてくれました。

　「ちょっとゆうくんには、大きすぎるけどたべれるかな」

　といいました。でもぼくはおとうさんのおべんとうばこをつかわせてもらうことになったのです。

　そしてあさからまちにまったおべんとうのじかん。ぼくはぜんぶたべることができました。たべたらなんだかおとうさんみたいに、つよくてやさしい人になれたきがして、おとうさんにあいたくなりました。いまおもいだしてもドキドキするくらいうれしくておいしいとくべつなおべんとうでした。

　もし、かみさまにおねがいができるなら、もういちどおとうさんと、おかあさんと、ぼくといもうととみんなでくらしたいです。でもおとうさんは、いつも空の上からぼくたちをみまもってくれています。

　おとうさんがいなくて、さみしいけれど、ぼくがかぞくの中で一人の男の子だから、おとうさんのかわりに、おかあさんといもうとをまもっていきます。おとうさんのおべんとうばこでしっかりごはんをたべて、もっともっとつよくて、やさしい男の子になります。

　おとうさん、おべんとうばこをかしてくれてありがとうございます。

The Leading Princelings

Vice President Xi Jinping is due to assume the supreme-leadership of China in one year. Many cited words such as confidence as their first impression, but it could be simply arrogance in disguise.

Other leading Princelings do not fare much better either.

Bo Xilai, the Governor of Chongqing Metropolitian, had been finding his way to the top by revitalizing the Great Cultural Revolution under his absolute reign of the Southeastern city. Thousands of people were persecuted and jailed without going through legal system, some executed despite national outcry. On February 6th, his henchman the police chief Mr. Wang Lijun walked in the US General Consulate in Chengdu seeking asylum protection from Bo himself. The move effectively marked the end of his political ambition.

General Liu Yuan, son of former President Liu Shaoqi who was persecuted to death in the Great Cultural Revolution, had an unusual hurdled path in his political ascending. It seemed the overwhelming national sympathy on his father's tragic political farewell was not enough to propel him at any level in the past 30 years. Liu had to be moved across the board each time to get a promotion. He had been the Governor of a Province, Commander of Paramilitary Troops, Party Boss of a university before being named a Lieutenant General in the Logistical Corp.

Liu made quite a few splashes in what used to be a quiet-on-the-surface pool of political affairs in Beijing one year before the once decade power transition. A deputy of his, Lieutenant General Gu Junsheng was removed from duty under fraud investigations, echoing his vows made last month to fight corruptions in the army. Liu also backed his advisers to make voice on state issues. For example, he ordered the Army to publish a book authored by his adviser Zhang Musheng.

As a matter of fact, both the outsider world, as well as people in China with opposing political views are having great expectations on the new leadership, partially because of the current core's seemingly weakness when facing interest groups.

Xi himself does not have a clean record:

• Xi divorced his wife, then married a young pop star Ms. Peng Liyuan;
• Xi was the Governor of Fujian Province when the 'largest smuggling scandal' broke out;
• Xi was the Governor of Zhejiang when the corruption of Leqing County took place, which ultimately led to public execution of a Village Head Qian Yunhui;
• Xi ordered to use a girl with better appearance to act in voice of another non-presentablegirl at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic;
• Xi obtained a J.D. from Qinghua University without attending a single lecture in classroom nor writing a single line on paper;
• Xi interfered to sentence business woman Wu Ying to death so that some local officials in Zhejiang could take her fortune.

After a long waiting, The Princelings are ready to set off conquering the world, but are you ready for the manner it would be executed?

One More Death of Chinese Students in a Kansas College

Emporia State University was a regional public institute, with an 'average' international population composition among its peers in Kansas.

Last October, it has been hit with a disproportional high share of tragedies when two Chinese students, Fan Yawei and Lin Zheng, were found dead of house fire. Fan and Lin came to ESU in Fall 2009 and fell in love. The duo planned to return China to get married.

There was no smoke detector installed in the apartment they rent from Mr. Tony Wang the owner of a restaurant where Lin worked part time. Police determined the cause of fire was combustibles being placed too close to a floor furnace.

Life hardship was evident. On the night of fire, it was 25 degrees outside. Yet that was the first night in the winter the furnace was turned on in the apartment building shared by Chinese students. Fan sometimes made money by taking international students who didn't have cars to the airport.

The tragedy made its strike before anyone could realize what was happening. The furnace was turned on around 11 pm. Life was as normal when Lin made a call to her friend at about 11:20 pm. Before midnight, Ms. Cang Lan, a tenant living downstairs smelled smoke. She was about to call the fire department, but a passer-by told her he already did. She also knocked on the doors of Fan and Lin, but there was no response. knowing the couple was taking students to the airport, she thought they had already left.

According to department log, the fire department received a call at 12:18 and arrived at 12:22 am. Lin was brought out naked and life-flighted to Wichita, where she would die a few hours later. Fan was found dead at the scene.

Police reported another student Yang Alex Mingxuan was found dead in a car at a crash scene on January 10, 2012. Initial report was not clear on the cause of death. Later it was said, a call was made to the 911, in which the caller alerted the police a traffic accident. When police reached the alleged crash scene just after 4 pm, they found Yang in a crashed car with a gunshot wound. They also found a note, which appears to be a transcript of the previous 911 call. Police decided Yang must have made the call himself, reading from the note. Then Yang drove to the pre-determined location, fired a shot to himself and crashed the car.

All three students came from Dalian, Liaoning Province in Northeastern China. Fan and Lin came to the US through an exchange program with Liaoning Normal University in Dalian. Fan was a sophomore in Chemistry, Lin was a graduate student in English. Yang transferred to ESU from University of North Texas in Denton, and was working on MBA program. Yang was involved with the Chinese Students Association and attended services at the 12th Ave Baptist Church and also at First Presbytarian at the 12th Ave.

Chinese media reported Yang had been under economic pressure. He worked at restaurants, but later quit because of hardship of the work.

Over 200 Chinese students study in Emporia State University.

What would link Emporia State University the Dickinson State University is a Disney program, which was highly criticized for the chaos in the state college in North Dakota where 400 Chinese students were admitted without proper background and subsequently awarded degrees without meeting required academic standards.

Among the regional Regents Universities in Kansas, ESU was about average in terms of international students composition. Its sister school, the Fort Hays State University (FHSU) boasts a 36% of international students population. FHSU became the first American University to offer dual bachelor's degrees in China, and started offering courses through partner schools since 2000. According to FHSU official websites, in Fall 2009, FHSU is serving 3200 students at partner schools in China. However, a Wikipedia page indicated that 'to date, no one international students at SIAS has earned the FHSU degree,' FHSU's main partner in China.

Dean Found Dead in a State University Charged on Fraud

Douglas LaPlante, the Dean of College of Education, Business and Applied Sciences of Dickinson State University in North Dakota was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday February 10, 2012.

The Dickinson State university is ranked 63rd in the Midwest Region by US News & World Report. With an undergraduate enrollment of 2,668 and an endowment of $10 million, the public university has been seen struggling with shrinking state funding, which was compounded by a booming local oil industry that drew high school graduates away. Its four year graduation rate is 12%.

Hours earlier on the same day, the university made public the result of an audit which confirmed accusation that many students had been awarded degrees before completed their course study. Of 410 degrees granted to Chinese students in the past four years, 400 of them did not meet qualifications to graduate. In addition, of 144 degrees granted to Russian students in the same period, none meets graduation standards. The program at issue is titled 'Join, Top Up and Disney'. International students were promised an US degree after 6 months of Disney experience and 7 months of on campus study.

LaPlante was a strong supporter for the University's Confucius Institute, a Chinese cultural center fully funded by the Chinese government. Dickinson officials announced on Wednesday evening that they would scrap a plan to implement the Institute. A Chinese representative from partner school Taiyuan University of Technology, Professor Mei Hao, will pack and go.

Connecting Dots

Wang Lijun's whereabouts between Monday 2/6/2012 and Wednesday 2/8/2012 might never be confirmed by either Chinese or American government. We may never know what happened inside the US Chengdu General Consulate. Having that said, below is one most plausible plot:

In the months leading to the final show down, Wang should have already sensed Bo's malice. Because of Bo's absolute power in Chongqing, as well as his political clot in the nation, Wang has no chance at all to fight back. Judging from Bo's track record, it was logical for Wang to believe Bo would harm him and very possibly his families and friends. Therefore, it amounted to a duty and obligation for Wang to strike back.

The US consulate is picked perhaps because it is the only place in the southeastern China where Wang can have a direct and uninterrupted communication with central government in Beijing. Wang was under tight monitoring long before he had been stripped off Police Chief duty. He was not allowed to travel. If he try to flee on foot, he might be immediately arrested, or quietly killed as a fugitive.

Wang jumped on an opportunity when he was arranged to inspect a local university as a stage-show to tell the public everything had been normal. He fled in disguise and drove an unmarked car to the capital city Chengdu of neighboring Sichuan Province, where he scheduled a meeting with the US consulate. The Consulate arranged him to sneak in the US General Consulate in Chengdu. However, Wang was identified by a security agent working for the central government.

What happened in the next 24 hours was not clear. Wang might left some important evidence to prove Bo's involvement in crimes. Wang might discusses refuge or asylum status issue with US officials. Wang might spoke to some senior officials in Beijing. Wang might had a talk with his boos Bo.

In the end, outside the consulate there was an armed stand-off between paramilitary troops equipped with heavy equipment from Chongqing and local police who are reinforced by security forces belonged to central government. Bo tried to take Wang back to Chongqing by force, but was pushed back by Beijing.

The US General Consular was not in the consulate at the time on Tuesday night. He went out for unknown reason but could not come back because of road blocks and a man-made traffic jam. Wang received a call from a commander outside the consulate. Wang was told if he did not walk out, then police would break in using the excuse that there might be a bomb inside the building. Wang contacted the General Consular again, and was told he did not know when could he get back to the consulate. Wang decided to walk out. Spokesperson of the US State Department said Wang walked out in his own volition. She also stated there was no threat to the Chengdu Consulate, and US did not request increased security to the consulate.

While Wang walked out, he shouted to police surrounded the building that he had collected evidence of crimes committed by Bo Xilai. Bo was taken by the security forced loyal to the central government, and flown to Beijing within hours.

Now that it had become an international incident. The central government will have legitimate excuse as well as a procedural obligation to launch an investigation against Wang's charges against Bo. It is revealed that a high level delegate had stationed the Jinniu (Golden Bull) Hotel in Chengdu since the incident, and that there was no sign they were leaving anytime soon.

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand of Words

Because of online censorship, the above emoticon posted on the micro-blog Weibo run by Sina told a following fictional story:

Last night, an individual walked in the US Consulate in Chengdu of Sichuan Province seeking refuge protection. The Consulate was subsequently surrounded by troops enforced with over 70 APCs from neighboring Chongqing, a province-level Metropolitan, led by the Mayor of Chongqing Mr. Hong Qifan. More local police and central government security forces rushed to the scene. After negotiations, the US Consulate released the man. There was an armed standoff between paramilitary forces from Chongqing and security forces loyal to Beijing. In the end, the person was taken by security forces from the central government and flew to Beijing via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

Rumor has it that the man in the above story is Mr. Wang Lijun. Wang was released from the position of Police Chief of Chongqing a few days ago. Wang had been credited for his heavy hand measures in cracking down organized crimes, but was also criticized for human rights abuse in the process.

The portrait to the far right was an official picture of Wang in his new assignment, the deputy Mayor of Chongqing in charge of education. It was discovered by the online community that the picture was a Photoshop job of a dated portrait of Wang (left) when he was the police chief. A suit was laid on top of his uniform, and a pair of glasses was added to fit his new role.

Rumor has it that Wang had been placed under tight control for an unknown period. Up to 11 deputies and aides of Wang had been arrested by the Chongqing Governor Bo Xilai. The new post of Deputy Mayor was only a cover for investigation before Wang would be formally prosecuted. Wang already lost freedom, and was in no position to shoot another 'official' photo. The propaganda department had to Photoshop a new 'official portrait' to make people believe it was yet another normal day. Wang jumped on the opportunity, when Bo ordered Deputy Mayor Wang to inspect a local university as a staged show of harmony, to disguise as another person and flee to neighboring Sichuan Province.

Wang Lijun had been acting as Bo's henchman in Bo's bid for higher power, but also became a political burden. It is said that Bo, sensing dangerous, decided to get rid of Wang.

Bo Xilai, the Chongqing Governor, is known for his Great Revolution style approach, which was a outlier today, even in communist China. Wang's defection is seen as a major setback for Bo's ambition for a higher post in the upcoming Party's National Conference. The 18th CCP National Conference which is expected to be held later this year will decide the Politburo, government and cabinet for the next 10 years.

Today, the office of the Chongqing Government released a brief micro-blog regarding the incident. In a literal translation, it said Wang was placed under a 'vacation-style therapy', a phrase troubled reporters from BBC and CNN alike, trying to figure out an accurate translation. After all, there was no such phrase in Chinese, never before.