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High standards set for campus security personnel

The Ministry of Education's new campus security personnel will not only have to meet certain physical strength and age requirements, but for the first time will have to sign contracts stipulating that they will not "have inappropriate male-female relations."

Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) last year announced that the military personnel charged with protecting campuses would be gradually replaced with civilian guards trained by the ministry.

The ministry began recruiting and training new guards earlier this month, with the positions open to applicants aged between 25 and 59. As the guards will also have a guidance role, they must have experience in student counseling.

The applicants had to sign statements that they were morally sound, did not have a criminal history and had not been involved in any bribery or other serious offenses. However, the new contract also says that they will not use their position to have inappropriate relations with students. Violating the policy would result in dismissal.

The ministry says its decision was motivated by past incidents of inappropriate contact between professors, guards and students, leading to disruption and even violence on campuses.

Kuo Hong Kuo-hsiung (郭洪國雄), a student counselor at Shu-te University, said that romantic relationships between counselors and their students constituted a violation of professional ethics.

Wu Yu-chou (吳豫州), a student counselor at Lunghwa University of Science and Technology, said any behavior which gave the appearance of an inappropriate relationship should be avoided.
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