BU graduates snub president

SEVERAL Baptist University (浸會大學) graduates have continued to snub its president. Albert Chan Sun-chi (陳新滋) on Saturday refused to give a student his certificate after the latter opened a yellow umbrella on stage.

At a ceremony on Monday, a master’s graduate in journalism held a yellow umbrella as he went to collect his degree. He knelt and offered Chan a yellow umbrella.

Chan took the umbrella but did not present the student with the certificate nor did he shake hands. Another graduate held an open umbrella onstage and pointedly refused to accept his certificate from Chan.

Others also signalled their anger by refusing to either take possession of their certificates or shake his hands, and by walking straight past him. When the national anthem was played, 10 students held open yellow umbrellas.

During the ceremony, Chan quoted a poem by a famous politician Liang Qichao (梁啟超): “When we fight for justice, we should not be afraid of the attacks. I am prepared to be struck by tens of thousands of arrows. Even if tens of millions of arrows were fired at me, I will defend the attacks.”

Later, he said, “Our students have great aspirations and I appreciate that, but this is a solemn ceremony. I accept students wearing yellow ribbons but holding umbrellas and walking on [stage is] disrespectful.”

(The Standard, 18 November 2014)