杜克大学医学院禁止公开场合说中文？涉事负责人被勒令下台 ...

邮件显示，该负责人提醒国际学生，在大楼里大声说中文的时候，要注意会有意想不到的后果。

近日，全美排名前十的顶尖学校杜克大学，因为禁止研究生在公开场合说中文一事，惹上了风波。

1月26日，一封邮件在网络上流传。邮件的发出者是杜克大学医学院的生物统计系研究生项目负责人、助理教授Meghan Neely，他向全系抄送了这封“侮辱性”的邮件。根据邮件，他看到有一小部分刚刚入学的中国学生，在休息室和学习区域大声地说中文。他表示，他想知道这些学生的姓名，因为这些学生没有抓住机会提高英语，反而并不是很礼貌地说着一种其他人都不是很懂的语言。他提醒国际学生，在大楼里说中文的时候一定要注意到意想不到的后果。最后，他抄送给正在申请工作的二年级学生作为提醒。

事件曝光之后，立即在网络上引起轩然大波。为什么不能在公开场合说？难道只能练习英语吗？

第二天，杜克大学医学院院长Mary E. Klotman发了一份声明，他为邮件一事向生物统计系的国际学生道歉，并对受伤害的学生表达了理解和尊重。他表示，杜克大学医学院以及生物统计系会尊重每一个学生、每一种文化、每一门语言，学院会保护学生们权利。

同时，他宣布，Neely将被勒令辞去项目负责人一职。

声明如下：

Dear Masters of Biostatistics Students,

I am writing to you directly to apologize for the message that was sent yesterday by Professor Megan Neely, the director of graduate studies, regarding the use of Chinese and English in the department.

I understand that many of you felt hurt and angered by this message. To be clear: there is absolutely no restriction or limitation on the language you use to converse and communicate with each other. Your career opportunities and recommendations will not in any way be influenced by the language you use outside the classroom. And your privacy will always be protected.

Please be assured that Duke University, the School of Medicine and the Biostatistics Department respect the value of every student, every culture and every language that is spoken. This rich diversity of cultures and languages at Duke only strengthens our academic community.

I have asked the university’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) to conduct a thorough review of the Master’s of Biostatistics Program and to recommend ways in which we can improve the learning environment for students from all backgrounds. In addition, Dr. Neely has asked to step down as director of graduate studies for the master’s program effective immediately and will be replaced by an interim DGS to be named shortly.

We will always be committed to ensuring that you are welcomed and included in every aspect of university life. Sadly, this matter demonstrates that we must continue to work on overcoming deep-seated concerns about our cultural awareness and understanding. We take this challenge seriously and you have my personal pledge that it will be addressed quickly and sensitively.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Klotman

Dean, School of Medicine