University looks to avoid liability for potential suicides  

廣東高校要求新生簽協(xié)議：自殺或自傷自己擔責

昨日，東莞理工學院城市學院5000多名新生完成報到，他們踏入校園的第一件事，就是與校方簽訂《學生管理與學生自律協(xié)議書》。協(xié)議書明確：“學生本人對自殺、自傷引起的后果承擔責任”。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A college in a Guangdong provincial city has begun requiring freshmen to sign an agreement of "student management and self-discipline," which explicitly states that students should take responsibility for the consequences if they self-mutilate or show suicidal behavior, the Nanfang Daily reports.

The move by City College of Dongguan University of Technology has sparked outrage among students and parents.

"It seems like the school just provides a place for students to live, and doesn't care whether the students are developing in a healthy way,. said a freshman.

Another said the school is shirking its responsibility and lacks humanistic awareness.

A parent said: "We sent our children here because we trusted the college. If something bad happens to our children, the first reaction we will have is to ask the school for an explanation."

But some students said they can understand the school's motives. "Students are obligated to assume responsibility for themselves when they turn 18 years old," one said.

A director at the school said they just wanted to notify students of issues to pay attention to at dorms. "The school won't shirk responsibility for students just because of the agreement," he said.

Xiong Bingqi, deputy president of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said the agreement is invalid. "It's crude for colleges to teach students safety with such an agreement," he said. "Colleges should improve their management and create a favorable environment for students, not look for a way to pass the buck."