#HappeningForFirstTime: Chinese student sues University, professor, over alleged sexual assault
In a first, a Chinese graduate sued Nanchang University in Eastern Jiangxi province for failing to protect her from a professor, named Zhou Bin, who allegedly sexually harassed her for about seven months in 2016. In the lawsuit filed on July 11, the student said the university should ensure it hired virtuous teachers. The student has demanded compensation for her distress.
In 2016, teacher assaulted her, hit her when she protested
The nightmare began on December 15, 2016, when the student brought a package for Zhou and he assaulted her. When she protested, he hit her. "He told me to stop moving," she told in a 2017 interview. The student said she spoke up to protect others. She also said she suffered from Stockholm syndrome, a behavior in which victims feel affection towards their predators.
Stay immersed in fear and confusion, victim tells
"My psychological condition is bad, often immersed in fear and confusion. I often have nightmares. The university can pay my psychological consulting fee first and then seek money from Zhou," the victim wrote on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter equivalent.
Last year, University suspended Zhou over assault charges
The victim is demanding that Zhou pay her 140,000 yuan (Rs. 14.29L) in damages, including money for psychological consultations, therapy and mental distress. Notably, in 2017, the University removed Zhou from his post of deputy head of the Academy of Chinese Classics and suspended him. Meanwhile, the court has to decide within a week if it will accept the lawsuit or not.
Unfortunately, harassment of female students has become common in China
An expert said the University is likely to pay 10-30% of the damages and added this case might encourage other victims to speak up. Since 2014, 14 sexual assault cases were reported in Chinese universities, a report said in January. Last month, a teenager took her life after being sexually harassed by her high school teacher. She also complained of inaction by authorities.
