Two days ago, on Tianya Network, a netizen named "Feier Lianying" posted that his school, Tianshui Normal University, required students to donate blood in order to receive national scholarships, financial aid, be rated as exemplary students at the school level, or become outstanding student leaders. Otherwise, they would not receive the awards. Yesterday, Tianshui Normal University responded by saying that the school did not force students to donate blood. However, the reporter found that the school's "Provisional Measures for Student Awards" clearly stipulated that "students must donate blood at least once a year."
To be rated as an exemplary student, one must donate blood.
"Feier Lianying" wrote in the post that he started studying at Tianshui Normal University in 2008. Last year, the school required several students from each class to donate blood, and he went voluntarily. However, starting this semester, the school required students who received national scholarships, financial aid, were rated as exemplary students at the school level, outstanding student leaders, probationary party members, or aspiring party members to donate blood. "If they don't go, they won't receive the award."
"Feier Lianying" said that the school had organized four blood donation events. Since many students had already donated blood, the school then required students who received awards to donate blood. "It's not that we don't want to donate; we've already done it once. But the school said that if you donated before September last year, you have to donate again this time." He questioned: "We are just students; where do we get so much blood?"
"The school's practice is too extreme," "Feier Lianying" hopes the media will pay attention and stop the school's actions.
"Blood Donation" included in the "Award Measures"
Yesterday, the reporter contacted Tianshui Normal University. The director of the office, Cui Yajun, said that the school only advocated for students to donate blood and did not force scholarship winners, financial aid recipients, or those rated as exemplary students or outstanding student leaders to donate blood.
However, the reporter found online the school's "Provisional Measures for Student Awards" that took effect on September 1, 2008. The measures stated that to be rated as an outstanding student leader, exemplary student, or outstanding college student, one of the conditions was: "Actively participate in social public welfare activities, such as voluntary blood donation (at least once a year)." Students who were rated would receive rewards of more than one hundred yuan.
When the reporter asked Cui Yajun about these measures, Cui said he was unaware and suggested contacting the student affairs office. A representative from the student affairs office told the reporter that being rated as an exemplary student required participation in social public welfare activities, and blood donation was just one way, not mandatory. He said: "For example, if a student's body is unsuitable for donating blood, they can help elderly people in the community."
The Department of Education intervenes in the investigation
According to China's "Blood Donation Law," the state advocates that healthy citizens aged eighteen to fifty-five voluntarily donate blood. Tianshui Normal University includes "donating blood at least once a year" in its measures as a condition for receiving awards. Is this reasonable?
Yesterday, the reporter interviewed Jiang Yanqing, the principal scientific officer of the Higher Education Division of the Gansu Provincial Department of Education. Jiang said that each university's regulations regarding student management are based on the "Regulations on Student Management in Higher Education Institutions" issued by the Ministry of Education and are self-drafted. However, the reporter found that there was no requirement in the "Regulations on Student Management in Higher Education Institutions" that students must donate blood to receive awards.
Yesterday afternoon, the Office of the Gansu Provincial Department of Education replied to our reporter: an investigation will be conducted.
Netizens' voices
Blood donation is an obligation, not a task
"Ants Bragging": Voluntary blood donation, how did it become mandatory?
"Occasional Marshmallow": At our school, blood donation adds credits, which are directly related to comprehensive evaluations, which are directly linked to scholarships. Last year, I missed out on a scholarship due to a lack of 0.5 credits in my comprehensive evaluation. My roommate said: "Oh, if I had donated blood, I would have gotten it."
"Flowerdiner": Voluntary blood donation is doing good deeds. Forcing people to do good deeds, what's the point?
"DASHUP": Our school forcibly requires juniors and seniors to donate blood.
"Lzzhaha": Blood donation is an obligation for every citizen, not a task assigned by the school.
Reporter Chao Nie, Intern Wuri Le