Hunger strike student highlights mental concerns

A PhD student who went on a hunger strike over his noisy computer-game playing roommate has highlighted the fast-rising number of Beijing students suffering psychological problems.

On Oct 14, Xiu Liangzhang, 27, a second year doctoral student from Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), posted a message on a campus bulletin board, claiming he would start a three-day hunger strike and quit school, because BIT had not responded to his September request to be moved from his "noisy" room.

His roommate was obsessed with computer games and often played all night until early morning, significantly affected his sleep, his posting said.