Three Cheers for Landa for Allowing Waste Collectors into Campus

In their thesis acknowledgments, students typically thank their hardworking parents, classmates, friends, and teachers and supervisors for their guidance.

But an MA student, Feng Zidong, showed his gratitude to a very unlikely party.

"I want to express my gratitude to a special department, the Security Department of University (Lanzhou University, or Landa), for allowing elderly waste collectors in... I am grateful to the department for allowing the elderly woman in, affording her a means to get by," said Feng, who completed his post-graduation this year.

The citation, which was made public, has gone viral.

Including parents, teachers, and friends in a paper is usually straightforward, but it takes some imaginative power to include waste collectors and the security apparatus in a note of appreciation.

In expressing his gratitude, Feng suggests that the social and moral responsibility of a good education should be instilled among students.

This is especially useful when most Chinese universities, particularly the top-tier ones, only allow visitors after a lengthy appointment process, often days in advance.

Despite the recent surge in social appeals for universities to open up, most universities are still waiting, following the release of several influential campus check-in videos by Zheng Yuhuang, a former professor from Tsinghua University.

In fact, when I conducted a sporadic survey of students at a couple of Shanghai universities, I was surprised to find that most students were reluctant about opening up fully, citing concerns over chaos, crowds, theft, and personal harassment.

We suspect school administrators and faculty share these views.

The survey also convinced me that dismantling the face-recognition turnstiles would cost more than money.

The party within the gates has, in time, become so inured to a protected cocoon far from the madding crowd outside that they begin to view outsiders with suspicion.

In this context, the implications of not turning away elderly waste collectors are admirable.

Landa Security's flexibility in providing a livelihood for these people gives some students a taste of real education.

Feng also shared a small detail in his acknowledgment. After sorting through trash, the collectors would clean up the mess with a broom. So, in effect, these elderly people are also helping the environment and fighting climate change by salvaging useful items from the trash.

In the ongoing discussions about opening up the campuses, many students mentioned possible impacts on campus security, sanitation, teaching order, and students' lives.

They should also be reminded why a community takes such pride in having a university campus nearby.

An open campus enables students to interact with diverse groups, helping them engage with the real world at an early age and learn from them.

Feng said he could do little for the elderly collectors but hopes to "become someone who can help those in need" in the future.

In more than one sense, Feng is a fast learner and a competent teacher.