On the Net at Fudan University

Friday a couple of us went to Fudan University (about 20 minutes away from our hotel by cab) to meet students. I interviewed Dr. Limei Gu, who was on the panel Thursday at SORSA and is also a professor of international relations at Fudan. For almost an hour, we talked about the government’s responsibility and the citizens’ responsibility when it comes to the Internet, and also the e-forums at universities. Gu said she trusts her students when it comes to posting on the BBS forums that they know to not write anything that might be considered “too sensitive” or possibly cause trouble for the univeristy.

Following the interview, Dr. Gu talked to a security guard for me so I can go into a computer lab, which requires a University ID, to talk with students using the Internet. Rick, my translator, and I stayed for two hours talking with various students. The computer lab attendant told us that foreign Web sites were not accessible on campus and it cost money to visit other Chinese Web sites outside the University’s.

Students inside the lab were watching movies, checking e-mail or playing games. The four students we talked with didn’t have any major issues with Internet regulations.