By last week, four punishments that include two “minor demerit,” one “notification,” and one “one-month privilege waiver” were issued for inappropriate expression on the Internet, based on the Praise and Punishment Rules for Students. Dean of the Office of Student Affairs, Ding-an Chiang, advised that students should manage rather than abuse their freedom of speech on the Internet and avoid hurting people by language. Also, he claims that the school will continue to mediate such misconduct based on related laws and regulations.

Those students were punished for their inappropriate language and information exchanges. Huang, school account registered as “roey” and Shih, as “Draman,” expressed their opinions on the school’s management of Five-tiger-hill Parking Lot; Huang called for a countersignature on the president’s BBS billboard, and Shih posted supposed questions that clearly insulted teachers. Huang thus received a “notification” and Shih a “minor demerit” for unsuitable actions on the Internet. Lu, as “Dear D,” also received a “minor demerit,” for he insulted teachers publicly although his speech did not violate laws. An alumnus, Huang posted obscene contents (known as Lizardking) on the “boyTOman” forum. School officials considered that these contents would have a bad impact on students and decided to withdraw Huang’s privilege to use his school email account and server for a month. All these inappropriate messages and information had been removed from the Internet; students have also addressed their apologies to related individuals and on the BBS as well.

Ding-an Chiang indicated that these students’ expression has obviously gone against school Internet management regulations, and some have even violated related laws. He also hoped that these punishments would bring student’s awareness of netiquette. Yen-yu Kao, chief of guidance section, expressed similar concern. She remarked that students should not abuse Internet communication by sending anonymous messages or posting supposed questions; they are crimes if these contents violate laws. She also hopes that these light punishments would be a warning to those who may consider misconduct of the same kind.