PhD student in Switzerland expelled after criticizing the CCP in Twitter(reddit.com)
reddit.com
PhD student in Switzerland expelled after criticizing the CCP in Twitter
https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/oxmgg2/phd_student_in_switzerland_expelled_from_his/
109 comments
> it isn't like a Swiss Student randomly tweeted about the CCP and got kicked out.
Based on the original article, it is pretty much exactly like that. The newspaper talked to both sides and clearly believes the student over the professor. It seems everything else are excuses by the Prof and the university (which has plenty of cooperations with China).
Now, if the student was technically enrolled at the University or the prof was "only" his PhD advisor, does not change anything about the story.
Edit: English version of the article here: https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
Based on the original article, it is pretty much exactly like that. The newspaper talked to both sides and clearly believes the student over the professor. It seems everything else are excuses by the Prof and the university (which has plenty of cooperations with China).
Now, if the student was technically enrolled at the University or the prof was "only" his PhD advisor, does not change anything about the story.
Edit: English version of the article here: https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
The NZZ, for what it is worth, is probably the most highly regarded newspaper in Switzerland when it comes to journalistic integrity. It has a clear political bias to the right, but very high credibility.
That article should definitely be the OP here, as it's much, much more informative than the Reddit posts.
The 2nd comment in the original Reddit post linked here on HN has a good translation:
https://old.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/oxmgg2/phd_student_...
https://old.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/oxmgg2/phd_student_...
No need for a translation. There is an original English version of the article:
https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
The reddit comment might be Chinese propaganda.
Reading the beginning of the English version of the article [1], it looks like the student was expelled from University of St. Gallen, which definitely sounds like a Swiss university.
[1] https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
Reading the beginning of the English version of the article [1], it looks like the student was expelled from University of St. Gallen, which definitely sounds like a Swiss university.
[1] https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
However, from later on in the article, "Yet throughout the spring of 2020, the university stuck to its position that when the trouble over his tweets broke out, he had long since ceased to be a St. Gallen doctoral student."
So it looks like the guy wasn't technically a student at the university at the time.
I don't know but I would guess this was some kind of technical move that is commonly done but because he kicked up some trouble, the university used this technicality as an excuse to get rid of him.
So it looks like the guy wasn't technically a student at the university at the time.
I don't know but I would guess this was some kind of technical move that is commonly done but because he kicked up some trouble, the university used this technicality as an excuse to get rid of him.
Sounds like a very weak excuse. "We let our not-students keep their email accounts until we not-kick-them-out."
The point is that a Swiss university retaliated against a Swiss student in Switzerland due to Chinese/CCP pressure because he voiced his political opinion.
The point is that a Swiss university retaliated against a Swiss student in Switzerland due to Chinese/CCP pressure because he voiced his political opinion.
I don't know how it works there, but IME, I can still use my email from a university I'm not working at for over 2 years.
My sister uses an email account from grad school as her primary personal email. She got her PhD seventeen years ago and hasn't had any official connection with the university since then.
I still have access to email accounts from previous educational institutions for 5 years. It's not uncommon at all.
Finish the article.
Lol, it's German. There is no Swiss language. We speak German, French, Italian and Romansch here.
(Spoken) Swiss German might as well be its own language. At least since we are already accepting Dutch being different from (Low) German.
Of course in this case, the write-up is in standard high German. Google Translate handles that just fine.
Of course in this case, the write-up is in standard high German. Google Translate handles that just fine.
The problem there is that there is no standardization across all the Swiss German variations, for foreigners, this is an interesting comparison of 5 of these dialects:
https://youtu.be/nEAcepckl5U
https://youtu.be/nEAcepckl5U
Yes. I suppose the lack of standardization is a consequence of Swiss German not having a long history of cross-regional use in national media (be that print or radio or TV).
> We speak German
The Germans might see that a bit different than us ;) Jokes aside, the article was of course in German.
The Germans might see that a bit different than us ;) Jokes aside, the article was of course in German.
There are several localized Swiss dialects and there are some Swiss German formal written publications in these local Swiss dialects that other Alemannic German readers have trouble understanding.
Sorry! Genuine mistake, should've probably looked it up before posting :/
Suisse Dutsch might as well be its own language.
People who speak German regularly dont understand Swiss German as it is different.
Same goes for Swiss from different regions. You know it's bad when they add German subtitles to a Swiss person talking Swiss German so other Swiss Germans understand it.
Sure, but this was not Swiss German.
It may happen the same way with random Spanish speakers on the Chilean, Argentinian or the Murcian dialect if they are not exposed to them.
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I recommend to continue reading the English article:
> Gerber's goal was to be able to continue studying at St. Gallen. But the university argued that the professor hadn’t kicked him out; rather, he had been deregistered at his own request quite some time ago. In fact, as of the fall 2019 semester, Gerber had been officially enrolled only at the university in China, not at St. Gallen. He had been advised to take this tack by the St. Gallen doctoral program manager. In an email, the manager had said this would ensure that the maximum time allowed for pursuit of the degree would not expire while Gerber was in China. «Deregistration allows you to keep all your options on the table,» the email had said. The reregistration process would be like applying all over again – but with the support of his professor, this would be no problem, the program manager said.
It then continues to talk about the voluntary nature of the continued support. The email that was received was also sent by a Chinese student in Canada
> Gerber's goal was to be able to continue studying at St. Gallen. But the university argued that the professor hadn’t kicked him out; rather, he had been deregistered at his own request quite some time ago. In fact, as of the fall 2019 semester, Gerber had been officially enrolled only at the university in China, not at St. Gallen. He had been advised to take this tack by the St. Gallen doctoral program manager. In an email, the manager had said this would ensure that the maximum time allowed for pursuit of the degree would not expire while Gerber was in China. «Deregistration allows you to keep all your options on the table,» the email had said. The reregistration process would be like applying all over again – but with the support of his professor, this would be no problem, the program manager said.
It then continues to talk about the voluntary nature of the continued support. The email that was received was also sent by a Chinese student in Canada
[deleted]
> which leads to this article in Swiss
What? There is no "Swiss" language, the article is in German
What? There is no "Swiss" language, the article is in German
I mostly came here to post that I was surprised that this is legal in Switzerland.
A Ph.D. student is an employee, and even normal university students can in most countries not be so easily dismissed without some show of academic misconduct.
Organizations being legally allowed to dismiss without some compelling reason or court approval is a U.S.A. idiosyncrasy.
A Ph.D. student is an employee, and even normal university students can in most countries not be so easily dismissed without some show of academic misconduct.
Organizations being legally allowed to dismiss without some compelling reason or court approval is a U.S.A. idiosyncrasy.
[deleted]
Considering that the CCP paid The NY Times, LA Times, and other major papers to publish propaganda pieces and not publish COVID lab leak pieces during 2020, I don't believe much of what I read when it comes to articles that could be deemed favorable to China.
“ The Daily Caller first reported the multimillion-dollar expenditures on June 8, based on an 86-page Justice Department filing dated June 1.”
[0] https://dailycaller.com/2020/06/08/chinese-propaganda-china-... [1] https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Amendment-20200601-2.pdf
[0] https://dailycaller.com/2020/06/08/chinese-propaganda-china-... [1] https://efile.fara.gov/docs/3457-Amendment-20200601-2.pdf
The FARA source doesn't support your conclusion here, which leaves the Daily Caller, which is a white supremacist rag that Tucker Carlson puts out.
In other words, you have no evidence to support this.
In other words, you have no evidence to support this.
@dang, what’s the idea here?
Are we allowed to slander groups if they’re not here to represent themselves? For example, I would never write something like ‘baritone.org is a crypto-homophobic site that Jeff Fields maintains.” is that okay?
Are we allowed to slander groups if they’re not here to represent themselves? For example, I would never write something like ‘baritone.org is a crypto-homophobic site that Jeff Fields maintains.” is that okay?
Is it slander if the Daily Caller’s Wikipedia article has an entire section titled “Ties to White Supremacists”?
I don’t think the Daily Caller is a white supremacist organization, but they do have a curious amount of ties to white supremacists.
I don’t think the Daily Caller is a white supremacist organization, but they do have a curious amount of ties to white supremacists.
I guess you are kinder than I am, or more forgiving, or more restrained. So I do congratulate you, since those are excellent qualities.
But really, people: if we can't agree that Tucker Carlson's media org that he founded to be a mouthpiece for white supremacy is not a white supremacist organization, then we've officially lost the ability to agree on, and work with, obvious fact.
Tucker Carlson is the most important white supremacist leader in the country today.
But really, people: if we can't agree that Tucker Carlson's media org that he founded to be a mouthpiece for white supremacy is not a white supremacist organization, then we've officially lost the ability to agree on, and work with, obvious fact.
Tucker Carlson is the most important white supremacist leader in the country today.
Assuredly you count among your peers many who celebrate your insight.
I think you need to refresh your memory on the definition of slander. But let me help: slander is a false statement. I didn't make one of those.
We have evidence that the Chinese Communist Party has made substantial "advertising" payments to the New York Times, Washington Post, Twitter, the Seattle Times, the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribute, Sun Sentinel. The evidence of payments may not confirm the conclusion, but it certainly supports it.
In any case, I'll be submitting your declaration to the Daily Caller, so you can truly stand behind it.
In any case, I'll be submitting your declaration to the Daily Caller, so you can truly stand behind it.
Oh, please, make my day. Sic the Nazi boys on me, go for it. I will be happy to stand behind it.
I am pleased to stand aside and observe a fool at play. Do write more!
Do you have evidence for this from a reputable source?
Of course he doesn't, as it's complete nonsense.
Chinese mouthpiece paid US newspapers $19 mn in ads, printing: https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/chin...
Please refrain from reactionary insults like calling chrissnell's comment "nonsense." It's in poor taste even if you're supported by others who don't bother to perform even cursory research.
Please refrain from reactionary insults like calling chrissnell's comment "nonsense." It's in poor taste even if you're supported by others who don't bother to perform even cursory research.
Okay, China Daily paid for ads. Any evidence that "CCP paid The NY Times, LA Times, and other major papers to [...] not publish COVID lab leak pieces during 2020"?
China Daily (simplified Chinese: 中国日报; traditional Chinese: 中國日報; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rìbào) is an English-language daily newspaper owned by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
I'm getting confused. Is China Daily separate from the CCP?
I'm getting confused. Is China Daily separate from the CCP?
China Daily actually paid mostly (if you actually read the FARA documents that were falsely cited above as evidence) to print copies of the China Daily for dissemination in the US. That's very clear from the documents. The advertising was a relatively minor endeavor by comparison and limited mostly to buying WaPo ads, whereas they paid a number of papers to print the China Daily.
There's no evidence at all that US papers were paid to publish "propaganda pieces".
There's no evidence at all that US papers were paid to publish "propaganda pieces".
Was this a regular transaction? Was the price per unit notably divergent from other contracts? It's important to remember that graft often gets whitewashed in legitimate-looking transactions. That being said, $19 million USD sounds like a particularly insignificant sum for risk that would be incurred to the reputation of a single US tier 1 journalistic publication let alone multiple.
They paid millions for pro-china ads, the kind that look like actual articles. It's important to remember that graft often gets whitewashed in legitimate-looking transactions. The money, regardless of what it's for, is coming straight from the Chinese government. There is of course more money transfers that haven't been discovered. You don't have to be a genius to know that for every bit discovered there is a byte still covered..
China Daily (simplified Chinese: 中国日报; traditional Chinese: 中國日報; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rìbào) is an English-language daily newspaper owned by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
China Daily (simplified Chinese: 中国日报; traditional Chinese: 中國日報; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rìbào) is an English-language daily newspaper owned by the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
chrissnell claims the NYT etc accepted money to spike stories. Your story doesn't validate his claim.
Meanwhile the NYT published an article on the lab leak theory by the same author that published the 2003 article on Iraq's WMDs (co-author with Judith Curry) that helped push us into war.
And I don't have to dig into anything financial to find that, its sitting there staring at you right on the byline.
And I don't have to dig into anything financial to find that, its sitting there staring at you right on the byline.
> Als seine Freundin einige der Tweets sieht, ist sie schockiert. Sie bittet ihn am Telefon, damit aufzuhören. Nicht weil sie bei allem anderer Meinung wäre. Sondern weil sie sich vor Repressionen der chinesischen Regierung fürchtet. «Ich bin in der Schweiz, nicht in China», antwortet er. «Hier kann ich sagen, was ich will.»
Translation:
When his girlfriend saw some of his tweets she's aghast. She's asking him on the phone to stop. Not because she disagrees. But because she is afraid of repercussions by the Chinese government. "I'm in Switzerland, not China", he replies, "here I can say whatever I want".
Of course he should be able to speak his mind.
But when your girlfriend (who is Chinese and living in China) pleads for you to stop, maybe you should just take the hint. Not even for your sake ("I'm in Switzerland"), but for hers?
Translation:
When his girlfriend saw some of his tweets she's aghast. She's asking him on the phone to stop. Not because she disagrees. But because she is afraid of repercussions by the Chinese government. "I'm in Switzerland, not China", he replies, "here I can say whatever I want".
Of course he should be able to speak his mind.
But when your girlfriend (who is Chinese and living in China) pleads for you to stop, maybe you should just take the hint. Not even for your sake ("I'm in Switzerland"), but for hers?
Isn't that exactly the point, though? Relationship trouble aside, influencing people's choice of words and freedom of expression by making their loved once fear repercussions from their government sounds exactly like the kind of abuse the Chinese government uses to crush dissent.
People who care deeply about China can't speak up to protect their people because their loved ones might fall victim to the governments wide-spread abuse of power. That's the kind of dystopia freedom of expression is meant to prevent. The fact his girlfriend felt threatened by his opinion is exactly the problem with the CCP and something we should all speak out against.
People who care deeply about China can't speak up to protect their people because their loved ones might fall victim to the governments wide-spread abuse of power. That's the kind of dystopia freedom of expression is meant to prevent. The fact his girlfriend felt threatened by his opinion is exactly the problem with the CCP and something we should all speak out against.
What bothers me about this whole ordeal is the fact that the Chinese gov seems to keep a watch on pretty much anyone's social media it seems. This guy supposedly had like 10 to 20 followers, and the tweet in question was only a reply.
It reminds me of the time when some athlete (if my memory serves me right) expressed sympathy with HK protests, and was made to apologize to the Chinese gov. But this guy is much less known than that.
It makes me wonder to what extend the CCP keeps a watch on foreign citizens. Do we all have a file in their social credit score system?
It reminds me of the time when some athlete (if my memory serves me right) expressed sympathy with HK protests, and was made to apologize to the Chinese gov. But this guy is much less known than that.
It makes me wonder to what extend the CCP keeps a watch on foreign citizens. Do we all have a file in their social credit score system?
I would assume it was a reply to a popular comment, and it being a cartoon increases visibility for people clicking through.
Also not impossible that some paid or highly motivated people would reverse image search the picture in question and try to make problems for the people posting it.
I do also think that posting a racist cartoon is grounds for a professor to cut their ties to a PhD student. A PhD student isn't worth that much, and standing by them through accusations of racism is probably not worth the risk.
Also not impossible that some paid or highly motivated people would reverse image search the picture in question and try to make problems for the people posting it.
I do also think that posting a racist cartoon is grounds for a professor to cut their ties to a PhD student. A PhD student isn't worth that much, and standing by them through accusations of racism is probably not worth the risk.
> What bothers me about this whole ordeal is the fact that the Chinese gov seems to keep a watch on pretty much anyone's social media it seems.
It's more likely that the Chinese government gives social credit for finding and outing such "troublemakers".
Thus the "Chinese student in Canada" sending the complaint.
By doing that, the Chinese government doesn't have to police everywhere. There will always be suckups willing to throw other people under the bus for tiny amounts of gain.
This is not unique to China.
It's more likely that the Chinese government gives social credit for finding and outing such "troublemakers".
Thus the "Chinese student in Canada" sending the complaint.
By doing that, the Chinese government doesn't have to police everywhere. There will always be suckups willing to throw other people under the bus for tiny amounts of gain.
This is not unique to China.
The article in English: https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
Thanks. Maybe an admin can change the URL from reddit to this?
Maybe it would be better to change the URL to https://old.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/oxmgg2/phd_student_... so that we can read the comment threads more easily; the Redditors are picking apart the claims in the article from different angles, while the newspaper is not.
Yes, I always trust random reddit comments more than newspapers.
[deleted]
Non-Swiss students have known to stay away from this university for awhile now. See: https://gmatclub.com/forum/university-of-st-gallen-hsg-mbf-2...
This is a really good overview of one of the Financial Times' top rated business school programs in the world, where this PhD student was expelled from, in Switzerland, with an extremely damning report of the program and how they cook the books to make it look like you would have a chance of making it in a place like Switzerland post-graduation.
What is really damning about it: You have zero chance of integrating unless you have an EU passport from about 8 or so countries, unless you are Swiss. It is very insightful, actually.
This is a really good overview of one of the Financial Times' top rated business school programs in the world, where this PhD student was expelled from, in Switzerland, with an extremely damning report of the program and how they cook the books to make it look like you would have a chance of making it in a place like Switzerland post-graduation.
What is really damning about it: You have zero chance of integrating unless you have an EU passport from about 8 or so countries, unless you are Swiss. It is very insightful, actually.
Great example of a clickbait headline right there. No love lost for the CCP from my side, but making stuff up is stupid. The guy burned bridges with his doctoral advisor, left the uni, went to China to study in a Chinese university and posted a racist cartoon about Chinese people. Then after they expelled him (figures) he tried to force his way back into the previous one. None of this is the least bit controversial.
This is misrepresenting the article quite a bit. The newspaper also sides with him after having reviewed all accounts.
He did not "burn" bridges, the relationship was very positive up until the complaint. And he "left" the Uni only temporarily because of an administrative technicality. This is a common thing in German-speaking countries. Some universities have hard limits on the total terms of study. You can avoid racking up total terms by temporarily ex-matriculating yourself.
He also only retweeted the "racist" cartoon and did not think much of it. He was not even aware it was considered to be problematic. Something like this can easily happen to anyone. Especially, in the heated debate climate of the last year.
They university did not expel him, the advisor just cut off all contact. This is more a Kafkaesque situation where the university is exploiting a technicality to comply with Chinese pressure.
He did not "burn" bridges, the relationship was very positive up until the complaint. And he "left" the Uni only temporarily because of an administrative technicality. This is a common thing in German-speaking countries. Some universities have hard limits on the total terms of study. You can avoid racking up total terms by temporarily ex-matriculating yourself.
He also only retweeted the "racist" cartoon and did not think much of it. He was not even aware it was considered to be problematic. Something like this can easily happen to anyone. Especially, in the heated debate climate of the last year.
They university did not expel him, the advisor just cut off all contact. This is more a Kafkaesque situation where the university is exploiting a technicality to comply with Chinese pressure.
He hasn't tried to reenroll, because he was unable to find an advisor in the same department. Taking an advisor from a different department would mean to start over on his thesis. I'm not sure what would have happened if he was still enrolled in this case. It seems to me that no one can force an adviser to work with him, so this talk about enrollment is a moot point.
Also, according the professor, the only Chinese pressure was an email from a Chinese foreign student in Canada who felt offended by the cartoon. It seems like the initial email from the professor was just not worded carefully and had some speculations about visa repercussions and that is what the entire article is based on.
Also, according the professor, the only Chinese pressure was an email from a Chinese foreign student in Canada who felt offended by the cartoon. It seems like the initial email from the professor was just not worded carefully and had some speculations about visa repercussions and that is what the entire article is based on.
I am Chinese by ethnicity. He is responsible for what he share on public. He studied in China I am sure that he is aware that kind cartoon has racist connotation.
Where in the article do you read that?
https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
After reading the English version of the article [0] shared by others in this thread, this look like the adviser has (rightfully or not) panicked and distanced herself from the PhD student (Gerber). The adviser, in her first email, mentions «angry emails from China», but then, when the journalist contacts her, she only refers to a single email from a Chinese doctoral student from Canada.
> The writer [of the email] accuses Gerber of a «racist attack on the Chinese people.» He was referring to a specific tweet: a cartoon that Gerber had posted in response to another user's tweet. It depicted a comic character that had been altered and had stereotyped Chinese features, with yellow skin tone and slit eyes.
> The professor's first email clearly shows that she feared she would no longer be able to obtain a Chinese visa because of Gerber's tweets.
> In the early summer of 2020, Gerber decided to abandon the legal effort. He said he didn't complete the enrollment application because he couldn't find a new adviser: «There was no other professor in the same department with whom I could have finished my work. Changing topics would have meant starting from scratch again after three and a half years. That was out of the question for me.»
The article clearly sides with Gerber on the issue, but I don't think an adviser can be forced to work with a specific PhD candidate. On the other hand, I think this is an important debate:
> [...] Gerber's case demonstrates that China's aggressive foreign policy can in fact influence how academics in Switzerland publicly express themselves, and how they deal with critical comments from their students. It shows that some researchers are willing to restrict their own and others’ activities in order to avoid upsetting China.
[0] https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
> The writer [of the email] accuses Gerber of a «racist attack on the Chinese people.» He was referring to a specific tweet: a cartoon that Gerber had posted in response to another user's tweet. It depicted a comic character that had been altered and had stereotyped Chinese features, with yellow skin tone and slit eyes.
> The professor's first email clearly shows that she feared she would no longer be able to obtain a Chinese visa because of Gerber's tweets.
> In the early summer of 2020, Gerber decided to abandon the legal effort. He said he didn't complete the enrollment application because he couldn't find a new adviser: «There was no other professor in the same department with whom I could have finished my work. Changing topics would have meant starting from scratch again after three and a half years. That was out of the question for me.»
The article clearly sides with Gerber on the issue, but I don't think an adviser can be forced to work with a specific PhD candidate. On the other hand, I think this is an important debate:
> [...] Gerber's case demonstrates that China's aggressive foreign policy can in fact influence how academics in Switzerland publicly express themselves, and how they deal with critical comments from their students. It shows that some researchers are willing to restrict their own and others’ activities in order to avoid upsetting China.
[0] https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot...
Talk about the Streisand Effect... [0]
There were less than 10 people following or presumably reading Gerber's tweets.
Now 10 million+ people will read them.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
There were less than 10 people following or presumably reading Gerber's tweets.
Now 10 million+ people will read them.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Oliver Gerber is not a real name, it would be not trivial to find his twitter account. Not quite impossible too, but still too much hassle for most people (myself included).
There are literally millions of Twitter accounts posting puerile sinophobic memes/spam on Twitter on a daily basis. It's a billion-dollar industry; the USG just earmarked $1.5B specifically for anti-China propaganda [1]. Not that Gerber was getting paid for it--he's a small fish.
[1] - https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7937...
[1] - https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7937...
explanation of what's going on which is, of course, way more complicated than the headline: https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/oxmgg2/phd_student_...
Here's also a statement by the HSG regarding the article in the NZZ: https://www.unisg.ch/de/wissen/newsroom/aktuell/rssnews/camp...
According to the statement, the student tried "to force his re-acceptance to the phd-program with legal and political means".
To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make out of the whole situation (as a Swiss, originally from the area of St. Gallen, where the school is).
I would be heavily surprised if the HSG would let itself pressure to the effects that the headline of the article insinuates. The school has a bit of a reputation in engineering circles as "useless MBA graduates factory", but being beholden to Chinese interests? That seems quite the stretch to me.
According to the statement, the student tried "to force his re-acceptance to the phd-program with legal and political means".
To be honest, I'm not quite sure what to make out of the whole situation (as a Swiss, originally from the area of St. Gallen, where the school is).
I would be heavily surprised if the HSG would let itself pressure to the effects that the headline of the article insinuates. The school has a bit of a reputation in engineering circles as "useless MBA graduates factory", but being beholden to Chinese interests? That seems quite the stretch to me.
Replying to the university's claim directly:
> Der Wunsch der ehemaligen Betreuerin, sich klar zu distanzieren, ist nachvollziehbar, wenn ein Rassismus-...
"Nachvollziehbar" mag sein, wenn -- warte mal, was war das da mit dem "Rassismus"?
> ...Vorwurf im Raum steht.
Nein. Wenn was "im Raum steht" ein blosser "Vorwurf" ist, dann erwewist die ehemalige Betreuerin sich mit ihrer übereilten Distanzierung als Vollblut-Arschloch.
.
For you non-German-speakers, in (my personal translation into) English:
> The wish of the ex-advisor to clearly distance herself is understandable, when racism...
"Understandable" may be, if -- wait a minute, what was that about "racism"?
> ...has been alleged.
No. If this "racism" has only "been alleged", then the ex-advisor, in her over-eagerness to distance herself, reveals herself to be a pure-bred asshole.
> Der Wunsch der ehemaligen Betreuerin, sich klar zu distanzieren, ist nachvollziehbar, wenn ein Rassismus-...
"Nachvollziehbar" mag sein, wenn -- warte mal, was war das da mit dem "Rassismus"?
> ...Vorwurf im Raum steht.
Nein. Wenn was "im Raum steht" ein blosser "Vorwurf" ist, dann erwewist die ehemalige Betreuerin sich mit ihrer übereilten Distanzierung als Vollblut-Arschloch.
.
For you non-German-speakers, in (my personal translation into) English:
> The wish of the ex-advisor to clearly distance herself is understandable, when racism...
"Understandable" may be, if -- wait a minute, what was that about "racism"?
> ...has been alleged.
No. If this "racism" has only "been alleged", then the ex-advisor, in her over-eagerness to distance herself, reveals herself to be a pure-bred asshole.
From https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-phd-students-dismissal-spot... :
> The professor said she had informed Gerber that he was no longer allowed to represent himself as a St. Gallen doctoral student on Twitter, because he had deregistered the previous year. «This has nothing whatsoever to do with the issues of China or censorship,» she said. She said it was only an oversight that she had used the plural in referring to «angry emails from China,» despite receiving only one email – and that one originating from Canada. She had wanted to make it clear that further reactions could be expected. The phrase «I would have to end our advisory relationship» had referred to the informal advice she had provided «at the doctoral student's request,» she said. The fact that Gerber had continued to be listed as a student on the St. Gallen website until the end of March was due simply to an oversight, she added.
Yeah, right. Every little piece of evidence that the University, and this professor in particular, is twisting the truth is just "an oversight", "making it clear", "informal advice", and another "oversight", which all of course have "nothing whatsoever to do with the issues of China or censorship". Rings soooo true... Not. (So thanks a whole lot for the downvote, that's always such a convincing counterargument.)
BTW, for those of us who can read German, here's an archived copy of the original: https://archive.is/l433X
> The professor said she had informed Gerber that he was no longer allowed to represent himself as a St. Gallen doctoral student on Twitter, because he had deregistered the previous year. «This has nothing whatsoever to do with the issues of China or censorship,» she said. She said it was only an oversight that she had used the plural in referring to «angry emails from China,» despite receiving only one email – and that one originating from Canada. She had wanted to make it clear that further reactions could be expected. The phrase «I would have to end our advisory relationship» had referred to the informal advice she had provided «at the doctoral student's request,» she said. The fact that Gerber had continued to be listed as a student on the St. Gallen website until the end of March was due simply to an oversight, she added.
Yeah, right. Every little piece of evidence that the University, and this professor in particular, is twisting the truth is just "an oversight", "making it clear", "informal advice", and another "oversight", which all of course have "nothing whatsoever to do with the issues of China or censorship". Rings soooo true... Not. (So thanks a whole lot for the downvote, that's always such a convincing counterargument.)
BTW, for those of us who can read German, here's an archived copy of the original: https://archive.is/l433X
Hmmm, unsourced claims by an anonymous user on Reddit. What's not to like.
I‘m a bit taken aback by the responses I read here. Honestly I have no clue how anyone can be so dismissive of his story and situation as some of the people in these comments here.
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What does CCP acronym mean?
I assume it means China, but it is not explained in the reddit thread or in the Swiss article.
Союз Советских Социалистических Республик
The next major American geopolitical rival will have to use the acronym CP to continue the trend
It means Chinese Communist Party and is usual used as synonym for China if the focus is on the authoritarian regime rather than the people or the land. Only like 6% of the people in China are part of the CCP.
CCP is the acronym for Chinese Communist Party.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party
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Chinese Communist Party
China Communist Party
Shit report.
1. Would you dare not post the student's tweets and cartoons? Let everyone judge whether it is racist, and whether the doctoral student's actions are justified, whether his Chinese girlfriend's feelings are hurt, and whether his actions can go uncondemned in the name of freedom?
2. He was no longer a student at the University of St Gallen, "because he had deregistered the previous year".
3. Since there is no longer a formal supervised relationship, what's wrong with distancing yourself from the doctor because you don't agree with his actions and opinions? Doesn't the professor have that right and freedom?
4. Shouldn't any racial discrimination be condemned? Or should it be forgiven because it was directed at China? Isn't it ingratitude and biting the hand that feeds you that you are racially discriminating against Chinese people and stigmatizing them as the source of COVID-19 while having lived in China and studied for a PhD in China and on a Chinese scholarship?
5. The professor according to their own views and quoted the reaction of friends decided to terminate the guidance of residual this informal relationship, it is a personal affairs, but to drag China into the picture and make it out that China is putting pressure on the world and undermining the independence and freedom of Swiss education, and to make China a terrible threat. This is not a slur on China, but more an insult to Switzerland.
When will the news media truly treat its readers as independent, thinking individuals rather than objects of brainwashing and propaganda?
2. He was no longer a student at the University of St Gallen, "because he had deregistered the previous year".
3. Since there is no longer a formal supervised relationship, what's wrong with distancing yourself from the doctor because you don't agree with his actions and opinions? Doesn't the professor have that right and freedom?
4. Shouldn't any racial discrimination be condemned? Or should it be forgiven because it was directed at China? Isn't it ingratitude and biting the hand that feeds you that you are racially discriminating against Chinese people and stigmatizing them as the source of COVID-19 while having lived in China and studied for a PhD in China and on a Chinese scholarship?
5. The professor according to their own views and quoted the reaction of friends decided to terminate the guidance of residual this informal relationship, it is a personal affairs, but to drag China into the picture and make it out that China is putting pressure on the world and undermining the independence and freedom of Swiss education, and to make China a terrible threat. This is not a slur on China, but more an insult to Switzerland.
When will the news media truly treat its readers as independent, thinking individuals rather than objects of brainwashing and propaganda?
People seriously need to delink their ven/tweets from their personal twitter accounts
I am very sorry this looks like another post the pro-CCP trolls will have a feast on and severely diminish the value of Hacker News. It's sad to see another good website to go under under the onslaught of political propaganda.
To the topic, CCP influence in Western academia is a huge and growing problem the West is sleeping on to its own peril. It is probably too late now for any meaninugful fix and anyway how would that fix look like? So prepare for more self-censorship and censorship and bullying of researchers critical of CCP.
To the topic, CCP influence in Western academia is a huge and growing problem the West is sleeping on to its own peril. It is probably too late now for any meaninugful fix and anyway how would that fix look like? So prepare for more self-censorship and censorship and bullying of researchers critical of CCP.
China is quickly becoming an entity that cannot be criticized.
Here in Denmark the authorities confiscated Tibetan flags among peaceful protesters because someone in the Chinese embassy was offended.
The Danish police has had a few problematic incidents in the past but confiscating flags from peaceful protestors is unheard of.
Here in Denmark the authorities confiscated Tibetan flags among peaceful protesters because someone in the Chinese embassy was offended.
The Danish police has had a few problematic incidents in the past but confiscating flags from peaceful protestors is unheard of.
Meanwhile in America: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=201908301...
There are probably a million more examples from USA.
There's a whole industry opposed to accurate education alone:
https://reason.com/2019/09/06/alabama-dean-jamie-riley-resig...
https://time.com/6075193/critical-race-theory-debate/
There's a whole industry opposed to accurate education alone:
https://reason.com/2019/09/06/alabama-dean-jamie-riley-resig...
https://time.com/6075193/critical-race-theory-debate/
I can't read Swiss... but the comments on Reddit seem to show that this isn't as cut and dry as the title makes it sound. Quoting /u/hamsterman20:
> "First of all, he was going to a chinese university with a chinese scholarship.
> He left the swiss university because of some weird technicalities while attending the Chinese university.
> He posted political messages against china and 1 picture depicting a chinese with yellow skin and slit eyes.
> Im not surprised he was kicked out of the chinese university and that the supervisor wanted to distance themselves. Though I wish they would stand up against China, its hard when your career depends on it.
> His swiss university refused to take them back. Don't know why. Technicalities I guess."
I'm sure there's still more to the story, and that it obviously isn't entirely the student's fault, but it isn't like a Swiss Student randomly tweeted about the CCP and got kicked out.