By Zhang Xi (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-11-30 14:34

A former freshman at a university in Jinan, the capital city in eastern China's Shandong Province never thought he would become the focus of local media. He was recently interviewed by a TV station and the video clip was posted on the Internet, sparking quite a stir among netizens.

Originally from a village in central China's Hubei Province, the young man surnamed Yang was expelled from Shangdong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine last Saturday simply because he has diabetes, local media reported.

Yang has had diabetes for four years and with good treatment, he never missed any classes.

"I even successfully finished the military training before I started university," he said. But Yang admitted he did not write down he had diabetes on his university application to avoid being treated differently and looked down by others.

However, after months of study, his tutor discovered Yang's secret from the college health clinic and reported it to the university. Last Monday Yang got the news he might be expelled and asked others for help on the university's online forum. Two days later, he wrote on the forum that his tutor had showed him the university's decision to expel him but Yang refused to sign on the document.

"The tutor then informed my parents," he continued. "I really do not know what to do," the desperate young man wrote.

Finally, Yang turned to a local TV television station and talked about his story, even showing the explusion letter in front of the camera. The notification claimed that in 2003 the Ministry of Education had regulated people with severe diseases, which includes diabetes, cannot be accepted as university students.

The director of admissions at Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine named Yang Zhenning said the college cannot do anything to change the decision.

"We are sorry for Yang but had to ask him to leave the university according to the national policy. Other Shangdong universities treat students in similar situations the same way," he continued.

"Although we may sign an exemption clause with him, the clause will not be recognized in court. Nobody knows whether a patient with such chronic diseases can finish his studies. We cannot take the responsibility."

However, a new regulation also from Ministry of Education in 2006 expanded the criteria of university recruitment, by declaring as long as students do not have infectious, spiritual, heart and blood diseases, and have the ability to take care of themselves, they should be accepted by universities.

A large number of netizens were angry, saying it was unfair to expel the student. They believe people like Yang have the right to pursue higher studies like anyone else.

Some asked, "If they can finish high school, why can't they enter university?" Another added, "Diabetes is not infectious. It does not affect anybody as long as the patient treats himself properly. It's a prejudice to diabetes patients!"

Yang is eager to study in university, but he wonders if he applies to another university, he will encounter the same experience. "It's very difficult for a person from a small village like me to enter a university. I just want to use the knowledge I learn to change my fate. Every villager is proud of me. But everything is in vain now. I let my parents down."