Radical plans

Peking University, one of China’s top schools and a hotbed of political activity in years past, has reportedly delayed a plan to screen and target students for “radical thought” and other problematic issues.

The plan, reported on by Chinese media and others earlier this week, was to have zeroed in on students with potentially problematic life circumstances, but also those believed to be ripe for radical thinking. On Wednesday,

China Daily reported that officials at Peking University had decided to hold back on implementing the plan, which drew criticism from many students. The university has a storied history of political debate and was at the heart of the student movement that led to the ill-fated anti-government demonstrations that overtook Beijing and other parts of China in the spring and early summer of 1989.

“Although the consultation program was to be adopted across all departments in May, university officials have delayed its introduction to allow more time for further discussion,” China Daily wrote.