Wuhan University said it will reopen a controversial sexual harassment case and review the graduation thesis of the accuser, days after a local court dismissed her allegations.
The school’s August 1 announcement came after the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone People’s Court rejected allegations by a female student, surnamed Yang, that a male classmate, surnamed Xiao had masturbated toward her in the university’s library in July 2023.
The incident, which Yang documented on her phone and later detailed in a viral WeChat post, prompted the university to issue Xiao a demerit, without publicly disclosing the reason.
Xiao’s mother posted to Sina Weibo in February 2024, claiming he was merely scratching himself due to a skin condition. Xiao’s family also reported he has suffered severe online abuse over the incident, resulting in PTSD and suicidal ideations.
In June 2024, Yang filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Xiao, demanding a public apology published in a newspaper for 15 days and 5,000 yuan (US$700) in compensation. The case was dismissed by the court on July 25.
The ruling sparked nationwide debate about justice and the complexities of handling sexual harassment allegations. Many argued that Yang had committed libel, with some digging into her background and uncovering alleged proof of academic misconduct in Yang’s graduation thesis. Others criticized Wuhan University for hastily punishing Xiao without thoroughly examining Yang’s accusation, which they said damaged his mental health, reputation and future prospects.
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