Wealth gap conspicuous at academic year's start

BEIJING - Arriving at Beijing's Communication University of China (CUC), freshman Wang Xiaoyan lugged a small suitcase to queue for a welcome package of daily necessities and subsidies from her university.

One of her fellow freshman, Zhu Ling, meanwhile got out of a nearby Mercedes-Benz, took out 12 suitcases and proceeded to hire three porters to carry all the stuff to her dormitory.

Such a scene has been common in the past few days, as new and returning students from across the wealth spectrum set down at university. Xinhua's interviews with young scholars in Beijing highlight a contrast in economic status among peers that will be playing out on campuses nationwide. It is unlikely to turn less conspicuous throughout the college year, as it costs a lot of money to finish higher education amid inflation.

According to a 2011 survey of 1,700 students by China Campus, a magazine for Chinese university students, most of its target readers spend 800 to 1,200 yuan per month ($126 to $189).

Chen Zhijian, a student from Beijing-based Renmin University of China, said that one of his well-off friends once treated him to a French buffet costing 1,000 yuan per person.

Media reports in 2005 also showed the polarization of students' monthly expenditures ranging from 300 to over 10,000 yuan.

Gaps in income between the poorest and richest of Chinese have got much bigger in the last few decades, and the economic difference in campuses is but a reflection of the wider phenomenon in society, according to Zheng Lu, associate professor of sociology at Tsinghua University.

In addition, Zheng pointed out that the contrast is partly caused by Chinese students' lack of financial independence from their family. "American parents are very keen on cultivating their children's independence while Chinese parents prefer letting their kids in school benefit from their hard-earned wealth," said Zheng.

Despite the alarming wealth gap, a Xinhua straw poll of students found 80 percent felt the differences in family backgrounds during campus life but believed it would not affect them.

Fang Li, studying at the China University of Geosciences, said that although the girls in her dormitory came from disparate backgrounds, they could get on well with each other.

"For birthday celebrations, girls from richer families invite us to a feast, while the poorer ones cook a big meal for us to celebrate. We enjoy both!" she said.

A junior student from the CUC who didn't wish to give her name said she believed students from privileged families many have better access to upper-level social circles and higher living conditions, but her advantage is financial self-reliance and mental strength in tackling difficulties.

Peking University student Liu Haiyang agreed, saying, "Rich students live with less pressure, but they are also less motivated," and adding that poor students earned respect in supporting themselves through hard work, such as doing part-time jobs.

Chinese universities and public authorities have been working on programs to offer financial help to less advantaged students.

A system including the State-Subsidized Student Loan, national scholarships and work-study projects has been built to cover all public educational institutions, said Sun Wenlong, a member of staff at the Students' Affairs Office under the Beijing Institute of Technology.

"Under the current aid scheme, no college students need drop out because of failing to pay tuition fees," according to Sun.

Chinese students received nearly 98.6 billion yuan in subsidies in 2011, figures from the Ministry of Education show.