Let every graduate feel appreciated

SOME STUDENTS who will graduate from Beijing Jiaotong University this year complained that only the top 10 percent of the graduates were invited to take part in the commencement ceremony to be held in one of the university halls later this month, and that the remainder were expected to sit in their classrooms watching a live broadcast of the ceremony on TV. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

The university responded that the original plan was drawn up taking into consideration the possible weather on the date concerned and some other restrictive factors; but it admitted that the plan was not considerate toward the other students. The university has announced a new plan, that invites all graduates and their parents to participate in an outdoor graduation ceremony.

The commencement is one of the most important ceremonies of a university, and a memorable moment for graduates. By only inviting the top 10 percent of the graduates to attend the ceremony, Beijing Jiaotong University has made 90 percent of its graduates feel they are not valued and are being discriminated against.