Campus misconduct coverups compound offense

More often than not schools tend to deny or downplay sexual misconduct cases on campus, especially when teaching staff are involved. Yet handling such cases seriously and decisively would not tarnish a schools' reputation, instead it would enhance it, as proven by the praise Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University has received recently.

A female student at the university revealed the sexual misconduct of one of her teachers on social media on Oct 19. Two days later, the University's Communist Youth League not only confirmed the case on its official micro blog, but also announced the university was dismissing the teacher from his post. The rapid and decisive response to the student's complaint by the university authorities have won it much public approval.

Over the years, a number of sexual harassment and sexual assault cases on campuses have been exposed, sounding alarms about the extent of the problem. Unfortunately some schools and colleges have been reluctant to deal with these offenses, and they have failed to act with due attention and swiftness, causing repeated psychological harm to the victims.