Tsinghua University punishes staff, students facilitating illegal entry of outsiders

Tsinghua University has punished several staff members and students for illegally organizing outsiders' entry into the campus for profit, with some individuals detained by police, according to a notice issued by the university on Monday.

The notice, released by the university's safety and security office, highlighted multiple recent cases where university personnel violated campus regulations by facilitating unauthorized visits, often in collaboration with illegal tour guides or scalpers.

As one of China's most prestigious higher education institutions, Tsinghua University restricts casual public visits to maintain campus order and security. However, the public can generally enter for free by making a real-name advance reservation through the university's official channels.

In one case, a staff member was found to have collaborated with an external guide to organize group entries into the campus through improper registration, generating significant illicit profits. The individual was detained for 10 days by police and subsequently dismissed from their position.

Another incident involved a staff member who posted online advertisements to attract tourists, with the staffer's family members using university-licensed vehicles to transport visitors for profit. Both the staff member and their relatives were detained for seven days, and the campus vehicle permit and family entry privileges were revoked.

A student was also penalized for responding to a post on an anonymous platform, connecting with an illegal agency to arrange entry for over 20 outsiders and recruiting other students to assist in the scheme. The student faced administrative penalties, disciplinary action, and had their registration privileges suspended, while all the students involved were required to return their illegal gains.

Additionally, another student was given a warning and barred from applying for scholarships, honors and graduate recommendations after arranging entry for more than 10 unrelated outsiders during junior year.

The university reiterated strict prohibitions against improper registration and unauthorized transport of visitors, emphasizing that campus vehicle permits and entry approvals must not be used for profit-making activities.

All units are required to strengthen education and management of their personnel, with the university pledging zero tolerance for violations and enhanced inspections during the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.

Tsinghua also noted that it does not charge any fees for campus visits and urged the public to avoid believing false information from unauthorized guides to prevent financial losses.