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National Taiwan University Enmeshed in Controversy Over Sexist and Discriminatory Remarks in Student Election Bulletin

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Rafia Tasleem
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National Taiwan University (NTU), one of Taiwan's most prestigious educational institutions, was plunged into controversy on Saturday, May 20, following the discovery of sexist and discriminatory statements published on an online bulletin in the run-up to student council elections.

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The language under scrutiny was a set of proposals put forth by two candidates who were vying for the positions of president and vice president of the NTU Economics Department’s student council, as reported by UDN. The electoral commission overseeing the elections labeled the text as "extremely inappropriate" and discriminatory, issuing a “trigger warning” for students who were likely to peruse the bulletin.

Offensive Remarks Ignite Campus Debate

The problematic proposals included suggestions to impose restrictions on the university's quota for "indigenous students, overseas Chinese students, and athletes." The timing of these comments was particularly sensitive, coinciding with "Free Speech Month," a series of events hosted by the NTU Student Association during May.

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On the previous day, May 19, the campus was the site of demonstrations and counter-demonstrations, with participants expressing their diverse perspectives on the university's enrollment policies pertaining to indigenous Taiwanese students. One faction argued that these students enjoyed undue advantages and faced less stringent requirements, while others insisted that indigenous students faced discrimination and were in dire need of more robust institutional support, as reported by local sources.

Inflammatory Proposals Spark Outrage

The controversial student candidates put forth a series of 16 sexist and discriminatory propositions for their campaign platform. These included the mandate for girls with an A-cup or smaller to undertake two credit hours of national defense training courses, insistence on high school uniforms for girls in calculus classes, and a restriction on LGBTQ students and dogs playing a particular smartphone game during student council meetings. Furthermore, they proposed elevators be fitted with ID card access, denying usage to students with a BMI of 20 or higher.

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Other incendiary suggestions included compulsory vasectomies for graduating single males, introduction of co-ed dorms for freshmen, and sexually discriminatory attendance rules for school dances.

These contentious campaign proposals provoked swift backlash on Facebook, with student groups calling for the immediate removal of the offending statements. The candidates responsible for the remarks have since issued apologies, asserting that their statements were originally intended as jokes.

In a statement on the NTU Student Exchange Facebook page, the candidates offered their "deepest apologies." Acknowledging the impracticality of withdrawal from the elections at this late stage, they admitted to their immature attitude and conduct, as reported by local sources.

NTU clarified that student elections are primarily managed by students within respective departments and that the university's involvement is minimal. Both the university and the Department of Economics affirmed their commitment to student self-governance and free speech, yet condemned the disrespectful remarks that violated human rights and gender equality principles.

An internal committee within the Department of Economics focusing on gender equality has been tasked to investigate the incident, and the department plans to offer counseling to facilitate discussions on equality and mutual respect, according to sources.

Controversy National Taiwan University Sexist Discriminatory Remarks
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