The controversial proposals by two candidates running for president and vice president of the student council at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) Economics Department have given society a glimpse of the “character” of NTU students.
With sexist proposals like “small-breasted girls need to enroll in national defense class” or “boys with short dicks need to take home economics class,” the candidates might have thought they were being “creative,” but the proposals have only laid bare their childishness and vulgarity.
The proposals should have entailed issues that NTU students wish to address. People are born the way they are, and their physical traits should not mean anything: Their contribution to society is what counts.
There are many reasons why there has been a decline in the overall quality of NTU students. The number of high-school graduates keeps dwindling while the number of NTU admissions remains the same. This has caused the top-ranking university to take in subpar students.
Further, due to the nation’s low birthrate, parents spoil their children, hence the rise of immature college students. The fast-paced digital world might have also contributed to NTU students’ shallow mindsets.
Campaign proposals can still be fun and interesting, but issuing crude and sexist proposals should be beneath any college student, let alone an NTU student.
Chen Chi-nung is principal of Shuili Junior High School in Nantou County.
Translated by Rita Wang
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