University presidential vacancy spurs concerns

HANGZHOU - The position of president of one of China's most prestigious universities - Zhejiang University - has been vacant for months, with alumni against the so-called assignment system of the position.

The presidency became available after Yang Wei was transferred to become the secretary of the committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) of China National Science Foundation in February.

Lin Jianhua, president of Chongqing University, has been considered the most likely candidate to be selected by the Ministry of Education to take the Zhejiang position, according to online speculation.

The Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education choose the presidency of a top university.

However, Zhejiang University alumni around the world have launched an Internet campaign to protest against the opaque selection process for the presidency.

A former student with the Internet name of "Haiwaiqiushiying," in an open letter uploaded on June 21, called for alumni to jointly oppose the possible appointment of Lin.

"The university with a history of 116 years needs a president who has the school background in order to carry on its distinguished cultural legacies," the former student wrote.

He pointed out the former three Zhejiang University presidents Lu Yongxiang, Pan Yunhe and Yang Wei had either achieved long and outstanding academic achievements in the school or boasted an internationally-acknowledged reputation.

The online protest was soon echoed by the university's alumni associations in North America, France, Spain, Italy and Japan.

The general alumni association of Zhejiang University issued a notice on Saturday appealing to the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Education to select a proper person to take the presidency, one who should be "academically established, in the prime of their life and boast a strong social influence."

Lin aged 58 is considered by many in Zhejiang University as too old for the job.