National Sun Yat-sen university sparked controversy after one of its professors invited Chinese Unification Promotion Party President Chang An-lo to give a speech. School President Cheng Ying-yao issued an open letter, saying he was deeply distressed by the move that violated academic ethics. Asked for comment, Chang said his criminal record is clean and and asked the university president what he was afraid of.
This poster invites National Sun Yat-sen University students to discuss politics, current events and the future with Chinese Unification Promotion Party President Chang An-lo. Over 70 students attended the talk. After NSYSU President Cheng Ying-yao found out the event had taken place, he said the talk abused academic freedom and apologized to students.
This is an opportunity for our students to see that Taiwan is a place that values diversity. I also hope through this kind of dialogue and exchange, students can see the importance of tolerance and inclusivity.
It is inappropriate for members of the (Chinese Unification Promotion Party) to give speeches at the school due to their history of violence.
Cheng issued an open letter saying fundamental academic ethics had been violated by inviting someone with a criminal record, organized crime and intimidation convictions, and a history of threatening violence against the nation to discuss politics on campus. He said he was deeply distressed by all this. In response, Chang said he has a clean record and asked Cheng what he was afraid of.
I can tell you, there are no convictions for organized crime or intimidation on my record. This university president owes me an explanation. I think he's scared.
NSYSU assistant professor Phillip Chen, who organized the talk, said he issued the invitation to Cheng without considering his identity and he maybe should have given it more thought.