Access to campuses sparks fierce debate

Measured responses

In recent months, many prestigious universities in China have declared they will further open their campuses to the public in response to calls for a comprehensive lifting of the restrictions.

Since the start of the year, Tsinghua University has expanded campus accessibility to the public. The number of daily visitor registrations at weekends and on public holidays has increased by 50 percent to more than 12,000 people, according to a notice released by the university.

People from outside the university can be invited on campus to watch performances and attend activities. The public is also allowed broader access to exhibitions, lectures and sports events held at the university as part of efforts to open up more educational resources, the notice said.

During the winter vacation, Peking University opened its museum of art and archaeology as well as the Weiming Lake ice rink to registered visitors. Six research paths on the campus were designated for students and social groups, while parts of the university canteen were also opened to the public, said the university's latest notice.

Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture rents ice skates and sleds to visitors wanting to use their facilities, while Beijing Sport University has opened its outdoor sports facilities to the public including the Yingdong athletic field.

Other higher education institutions such as Renmin University of China, Zhejiang University, and Tongji University in Shanghai have also opened their campuses to registered visitors.

While allowing visitors to enter their campuses, the universities also emphasize visitors' orderly behavior and urge them to follow management rules and avoid going into teaching or office buildings without permission.