Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators yesterday joined students from National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in urging the Ministry of Education (MOE) to investigate a case of alleged misconduct by a universiy faculty member.
DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) in November last year said that an unnamed NTNU educator allegedly coerced members of the university’s soccer team into participating in experimental procedures, which included having their blood drawn three times a day for 14 consecutive days for several years.
The blood samples were collected by unlicensed, nonprofessional people and the students were threatened with the deduction of academic credits if they refused to take part, Chen said.
Photo: CNA
The educator said that the experiments were part of a National Science and Technology Council research project on precision sports science, Chen said.
One of the students, referred to as “Student A,” said the students’ bodies were not “made of steel,” adding, “I do not understand why we had to endure such intense demands.”
Another student, referred to as “Student B,” questioned the university’s official statement, which said the blood collection was periodic, lawful and conducted with prior consent. The student disagreed with that characterization and expressed hope that similar incidents would not occur in the future.
DPP Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) said that if the accusations of the professor threatening to deduct academic credits were proven, it could constitute criminal coercion, adding that allegations that the blood test fees were later incorporated into the soccer team’s public funds, if substantiated, could be considered criminal embezzlement.
DPP Legislator Fan Yun (范雲) said that members of the research project should be held accountable for potential contraventions of the Human Subjects Research Act (人體研究法), and called on the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to investigate the allegedly unlawful collection of blood samples.
Department of Higher Education Division Director Chi Ying-ju (紀盈如) said the MOE had ordered the university to complete an internal review within three months, adding that the ministry would coordinate with the MOHW to introduce measures to prevent similar incidents.
NTNU College of Sports and Recreation dean Wang Ho-seng (王鶴森) yesterday issued an apology to students and the public on behalf of the school.
He said the educator in question was removed from their position with the soccer team in November last year and had also been relieved of all administrative duties and disqualified from teaching specialized training courses.
The National Science and Technology Council said that it had requested additional information about the case.
While the MOE has jurisdiction over the matter, the council said it would respect the ministry’s handling.
The council also said that it would take appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Guiding Points on National Science and Technology Council Subsidies for Research Projects (國科會補助專題研究計畫作業要點), which could include terminating funding or reducing subsidies.
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