Racist vandalism toward Chinese students at Columbia and its backlash
Society & Culture
Top society and culture news for February 15, 2017. Part of the daily The China Projectย news roundup "A surprise win for the Trump brand in China."
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After being James, Peter, and William, I decided to stick with my Chinese nameย / Quartz
Earlier this month at Columbia University in New York, a number of East Asian students with distinctive non-Western names reportedย that their name tags were ripped off from their dormitory doors at several residential halls across the campus. The vandalism promoted an investigation conducted by the universityโs Office of Multicultural Affairs and a student-made videoย that went viral on the internet and has garnered 288,000 views so far on Facebook. In the video, Columbia students of Chinese origin explain the meaning of their last names and the reason why keeping a Chinese name, instead of a English one, while interacting with Westerners is important to them. In response to the buzz created by the video, Quartzย writer Zheping Huang wrote this personal essay to tell his story of why he used his Chinese name for his bylines. -
Police use app to solicit Chaoyangโs online masses to nab lawbreakersย / Global Times
Police in Beijingโs Chaoyang district have developed a new smartphone app for locals to easily report suspected illegal behavior. Named after the famous police informants chรกoyรกng qรบnzhรฒng (ๆ้ณ็พคไผ), or โChaoyang masses,โ the app โaims to strengthen the relationship between the police and the public, and to fully tap the potential of Chaoyang residents in fighting against crimes,โ according to an announcementย posted by Chaoyang police on Weibo. On the app, users can anonymously provide tip-offs by uploading videos, photos, and text related to all kinds of suspicious activities such as child trafficking, criminal suspects, and traffic violations. The app also allows users to check on the progress of their reported cases. Over the years, โChaoyang massesโ gained their reputation by successfully bringing several Chinese celebrities who were involved in drug taking and prostitution to justice, including Jaycee Chan, Hong Kong kung fu star Jackie Chanโs son, who was arrested for drug useย in August 2014. The snitching app is jokingly calledย the worldโs fifth-largest intelligence group after the United Statesโ CIA, the Soviet-era KGB, Israelโs Mossad, and Britainโs MI6 by Xinhuaย News Agency.
- China bird flu deaths surge in what could be the worst season everย / Reuters
- Stark, erotic images of Chinese youth stirs controversyย / CNN
- Lao Gan Ma: The story of China’s most spicy godmother Tao Huabiย / What’s on Weibo
- Is China on a collision course with world footballโs governing body?ย – considering possible connections between soccer team acquisitions and the Chinese governmentย / China Policy Institute: Analysis
- Fighting on behalf of Chinaโs women โ from the United Statesย / NYT (paywall)
- In China, a lonely Valentineโs Day for millions of menย / NYT (paywall)
- โPangolin Princessโ detained in China after posting images online of cooked wildlifeย / The Telegraph
