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Chinese Media Irritates Chinese Students At USC


Chenyi Ye (Bella) |
April 12, 2012 | 4:32 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Memorial vigil for USC students (Photo by Gracie Zheng)
Memorial vigil for USC students (Photo by Gracie Zheng)

 

Just a few hours after the gunshots took place, an atmosphere of mourning covered the USC University Park Campus as students gathered for a vigil, remembering the two Chinese graduate students who were killed Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, several Chinese media irritated international students in the U.S.—especially fellow Trojans—with distorted reports of the incident.  

On well-known Chinese websites such as “qq.com” and “163.com”, the story's title read “In Los Angeles, Two Chinese students were killed in a BMW.”

The reporter continued to remind readers of the BMW's importance to the story, stating that the BMW car was a brand new car worth $60,000. However, the BMW was later discovered to be a 2003 model that the male victim bought for about $10,000, reported The LA Times.

Because of the “$60,000 BMW" claim, the two students were criticized by multiple Chinese media outlets as being among the “second generation of the rich”—which carries with it a negative connotation in China. The characterization refers to kids from rich families who do not study or work, choosing instead to take advantage of their family background and spend money. Contrary to the stigma, the two victims were described by their classmates as being hardworking students who saved money instead of spending loosely.

Several Chinese media reporters not only offended the victims with misinformed labels, but some Internet users also gloated over the story, leaving malicious comments:“Good job of killing them, kill more ‘2nd generation of the rich’”; “Highly celebrate the death of the rich kids in American!!!!”; “Driving BMW, not worth sympathy.”

A number of USC Chinese students said they felt a huge betrayal by their country and are extremely disappointed by the comments made.

“The reporters distort the truth and possess the stereotype of “2nd generation of the rich” on Chinese students who study abroad,” said Yujiao Xian, a freshman at USC.

Another USC freshman shared the same sentiments.

“The media only pictures that we party or have fun, but they do not see us working hard in order to pursue a better future," said Clement Huang.

A family friend of the female victim Ying Wu requested that the media reporters in attendance at Wednesday's memorial follow moral guidelines and only report the facts.

The 163.com website has since fixed its headline and the inaccurate details after receiving requests from the public while qq.com's comments remained unchanged.

 

RELATED CONTENT:

Fatal Shooting Near USC Campus Prompt Safety Concerns Among Students 

UPDATED: Two USC Students Shot and Killed Near Campus Identified

 

Reach Staff Reporter Chenyi Ye (Bella) here.




 

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified) on April 18, 2012 10:30 PM

I have to clarify some facts about the two studentds' parents.They are doubt about bankruptcy because thay are officals in china.Wu's father Xiyong Wu is the director of nation security team of police departement in Wu Lin district ,Chang De city,Hunan province in china.Xiyong Wu's normal salary is 100 hundred dollors in china.Many chinese people respect Xiyong Wu making bankruptcy in order to offer her daughter Ying Wu to pay tuition in such a expensive university as USC.I swear to the GOD that what I said is true.

Your rating: None
Anonymous (not verified) on April 18, 2012 10:30 PM

I have to clarify some facts about the two studentds' parents.They are doubt about bankruptcy because thay are officals in china.Wu's father Xiyong Wu is the director of nation security team of police departement in Wu Lin district ,Chang De city,Hunan province in china.Xiyong Wu's normal salary is 100 hundred dollors in china.Many chinese people respect Xiyong Wu making bankruptcy in order to offer her daughter Ying Wu to pay tuition in such a expensive university as USC.I swear to the GOD that what I said is true.

Your rating: None
Anonymous (not verified) on April 18, 2012 10:30 PM

I have to clarify some facts about the two studentds' parents.They are doubt about bankruptcy because thay are officals in china.Wu's father Xiyong Wu is the director of nation security team of police departement in Wu Lin district ,Chang De city,Hunan province in china.Xiyong Wu's normal salary is 100 hundred dollors in china.Many chinese people respect Xiyong Wu making bankruptcy in order to offer her daughter Ying Wu to pay tuition in such a expensive university as USC.I swear to the GOD that what I said is true.

Your rating: None Average: 1 (1 vote)
Anonymous (not verified) on April 18, 2012 10:30 PM

I have to clarify some facts about the two studentds' parents.They are doubt about bankruptcy because thay are officals in china.Wu's father Xiyong Wu is the director of nation security team of police departement in Wu Lin district ,Chang De city,Hunan province in china.Xiyong Wu's normal salary is 100 hundred dollors in china.Many chinese people respect Xiyong Wu making bankruptcy in order to offer her daughter Ying Wu to pay tuition in such a expensive university as USC.I swear to the GOD that what I said is true.

Your rating: None
Anonymous (not verified) on April 18, 2012 11:08 AM

In fact the two dead kids' parents are chineese offcial .Wu's dad is a police in changde city,hunan province whose nomal salary is about one hundred dollors in china.A lot chinese people just doubt Wu's father bankruptcy in china .That's why they are irritated.I swear to the GOD that what I siad is true.

Your rating: None Average: 1 (1 vote)
Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2012 8:14 AM

First People are always obsessed with those they do not have. On the one hand they dream about having a lot of money, however on the other hand, they criticize those who have money. Funny.
Second those two students are not rich. If they were really as rich as those people said, they would have given all they have to the robber in order to save their lives. Everyone knows life is more important, unless they honestly didn't have money.
May the Lord accept their souls. RIP.

Your rating: None Average: 5 (2 votes)
Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2012 12:45 AM

Most poor-educated Chinese, especially who have their wealth declining(not referring to the poor but the ones who make themselves poor) are in lack of independent thinking. They are never aware of the truth but only what can make them money and victory without themselves' devotion. As a mainland Chinese I have to admit it coz we never should hide the bloody fact.

Your rating: None
Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2012 7:21 AM

I agree with u!!! As an Chinese youth,I think we should try our best for our country,even she has some shortcomings.....

Your rating: None
Anonymous (not verified) on April 14, 2012 12:04 AM

GOD BLESS U

Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)
Anonymous (not verified) on April 13, 2012 9:43 PM

many chinese are so easy to be misled, which is rooted in traditional culture and is hard to change. that's why we want to go abroad to study

Your rating: None Average: 5 (1 vote)

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