Chinese students get the vote

This was the sound of a debate among four candidates vying to become student body president. Yesterday the students voted and there was a 64% turn out among the student body of 30,000+. The winning candidate said he’d be hard working and would sacrifice for others. This was the first time in decades that a Chinese university allowed all students to vote in an election. Up until now it’s only been members of the Communist Party Youth League who were allowed to vote. When the campaign started last week, the university’s website ramped up interest by referencing Obama. The U.S. election seems to have made a deep impression on many students here. There were signs even in this election that change comes slowly. When a local newspaper picked up the story and some international media took it from there, local officials got spooked and students were told not to speak to foreign journalists. Democracy remains a touchy subject in China.