A democratic debate took place last Wednesday (June 5) between TKU faculty and students, in which the controversy was centered upon the hot issue in these days: whether to be thrown into the pond of Fu-yen Garden should be considered as part of Tamkang culture or as a violation of good-conduct calling for disciplinary action.

After one hour heated debate, under the arbitration of Dr. Flora C.I. Chang, VP for Administrative Affairs, the TKU Student Disciplinary Committee has ruled that those who commit such an misdemeanor, irrespective of circumstances which have induced such an event, should receive an official Reprimand memo from the school.

Students in favor of such a tradition argued that it has been going on for many years in TKU, why make such a fuss over such niceties that need to be preserved in school? But Mr. Chang Keh-jen, Chief, Student Guidance Section, thought otherwise. He said that culture is a malleable thing that one can mold it as one pleases. He didn’t think to get thrown into the pond of Fu-yen Garden is part of Tamkang culture.

Finally, a common understanding was reached that to “splash” into the pond of Fu-yen Garden should be regarded as a disciplinary mishap and hence, some kind of punishment should be meted out to the offenders, irrespective of the nature of circumstances.

Then they went on discussing how to dispense the punishment terms. Prof. Chen Tsui-lian from Public Administration argued that to issue a Reprimand memo is fair enough, because she is opposed to issuing a “Minor Demerit” warning to the offender(s). In the end, 15 members of the Committee cast a consenting vote on the Reprimand proposal.

Suppose the person(s) who gets thrown into the pond is an innocent victim, then what? Committee members had spent some time debating that. And they came to the conclusion that for those who enter the pond in whatever way(s) they elect will invariably be issued a Reprimand memo by school authority, but for those who “splash” into the pond involuntarily shall be exonerated from the rule.