Chinese Court Upholds Dismissal of Wuhan University Campus Harassment Case, Raising Questions on Institutional Accountability

A Chinese court has upheld the dismissal of a high-profile campus harassment case at Wuhan University, a decision that has sparked significant public debate and highlighted the complex interplay between legal rulings, public opinion, and the careers of university officials. The case, which went viral on social media, involved a female student accusing a male student of harassment, with the court ultimately ruling in favor of the accused.

"The party secretary is not in a harassment case. A female accused a male student and the whole thing went viral bc people can’t agree on and the court says no," stated Liqian Ren on social media. Ren further noted, "The party secretary job can get impacted negatively if things under his management became 'trouble' for the Party."

The People's Court of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone initially dismissed the claims brought by the female student, identified as Yang, on July 25, 2025. Yang had accused a male student, Xiao, of masturbating in her direction in the university library in July 2023 and subsequently filed a civil lawsuit in June 2024 seeking a public apology and 5,000 yuan in compensation. Xiao's mother countered the allegations in February 2024, stating her son suffered from atopic dermatitis and was scratching himself due to the condition, providing medical records as evidence.

The Wuhan Intermediate People's Court affirmed the original ruling on September 17, 2025, dismissing Yang's appeal and concluding that the first-instance judgment had "clearly established the facts" and "correctly applied the law." This legal outcome follows a period of intense public scrutiny after Yang initially published details of the incident online, prompting Wuhan University to issue a statement in August 2023 indicating a demerit for Xiao and a "zero-tolerance policy" towards disciplinary violations.

The incident's widespread public attention, particularly the court's decision, has drawn focus to the role of university party secretaries. These officials hold significant administrative and political authority within Chinese educational institutions, and incidents that become "trouble" for the Party, especially those garnering negative public sentiment, can adversely affect their careers. The case underscores broader discussions in China regarding campus disciplinary procedures, the protection of student rights, and the accountability of university management in handling sensitive issues.