Students defend professor facing sex allegations

More than 100 students from the History Department of Xiamen University in Fujian province have written a letter to defend a history professor who is accused of molesting and forcing female students into having sex.

Wu Chunming, the professor, has recently been suspended after a blogger with the Internet handle of "Youth Caravan" alleged in an online post on July 10 how Wu enticed female students into having sex with him.

The post, which included a photograph showing Wu in bed, is said to support another blogger with the Internet handle of "Ting Yang", who had earlier alleged in an online post about being harassed by the professor.

In response to the online allegations, a special investigative team has been set up by the university. During their probe, Wu will be prohibited from teaching and enrolling students.

The allegations have generated controversy on the Internet, with many netizens condemning the professor for his alleged behavior. But 122 students of the university's History Department, most of whom were tutored by Wu, wrote a letter on July 14 to the university's authorities to support the professor.

In the letter shown on Monday on the Internet, the students claimed the online accusations have done tremendous harm to the reputation of the professor and the university and they felt shocked and angry.

The letter said Wu is a dedicated professor known for being strict with students and scrutinizing them about their papers.

"None of the students, including those who graduated from the university in different years, have heard Wu enticed female students into having sexual intercourse," the letter said.

The letter added Ting Yang, as a PhD student majored in archeology and entered the university in 2007, failed to obtain her doctoral degree due to "personal issues".

The letter said Ting Yang held a grudge against the professor for unknown reasons and urged the investigation team to find the truth as soon as possible.

On July 15, Ting Yang posted a blog that claimed she knew a group of students wrote a letter to support the professor.

But the person who initiated the letter is a female student who had an affair with Wu Chunming and the rest of students were "used" by the initiator, the blog claimed.

According to the university, the case is still under investigation.

Neither Ting Yang nor Wu could be reached for comment.

Born in 1966, Wu is a specialist in archeology and ancient history and led a number of State research programs.