As #MeToo movement gains traction in China, professor is sacked 20 years after alleged rape
Two universities sever ties with scholar Shen Yang after it emerges he was given a demerit for ethical misconduct in 1998 following death of 21-year-old Gao Yan
A Chinese scholar accused of raping a female student more than 20 years ago has been sacked by two universities, making him the second eminent academic this year to lose his job amid allegations of historical sexual abuse.
Shen Yang, 62, had been employed on a part-time basis by Shanghai Normal University, but the institution issued a statement on Saturday saying it had terminated his contract.
The university made no reference to the rape allegation, but said it had been made aware of the fact that Shen had been given a demerit for “ethical misconduct” two decades ago after an investigation by his then employer, Peking University, into sexual harassment charges.
The statement came after Peking University, where Shen worked until 2012, announced on Friday that the professor had been given a major demerit in 1998 after being accused of having sexual relations with student Gao Yan.
