(LI SHIGONG)

The prestigious Peking University and Tsinghua University held graduation ceremonies on the same day this year. The presidents of the two universities delivered excellent speeches at the ceremonies as they used words, phrases or ways of expression that are very popular on the Internet currently. At the same time, graduation speeches by other university presidents were also under the spotlight for the same reason. Their speeches were warmly welcomed by students as they contained many fashionable words today, such as "floating clouds" (meaning 'too trivial to mention') and "gelivable" (meaning 'very helpful'). In the speeches, these university presidents recalled campus life together with students and finally moved all the audiences. They were very different from the usual run of lectures.

Many university presidents have changed their regular manner of addressing graduation ceremonies from an advising and preaching mode to a more fashionable and funny approach. They try to use those words prevalent among young people in their speeches.

In the past, university presidents' speeches were criticized for being stereotyped and lacking sentiment. Now, they quote fashionable words in their addresses, reflecting they are starting to adopt more everyday attitudes to students. The use of these new expressions has triggered a heated discussion. It focuses on the question of whether university presidents should speak in an informal way at graduation ceremonies.

Supporters agree with the new approach. They consider it good to build close ties with students by using the youth's own words. Opponents argue the new ways have no practical value or significance for education but are solely to please those leaving university.

Supporters

Han Haoyue (www.rmlt.com.cn): It is good for university presidents to use fashionable words and words drawn from the Internet at graduation ceremonies. A large number of new words are created in cyberspace everyday. Most of them will soon be forgotten, but a few may prevail and even be recorded in dictionaries. Although people may tire of frequently used new words, these words always exist for a reason. As long as they are not abandoned, they will go on living.

There are maybe two reasons why people don't like presidents' using Internet language. First, they think the new words pollute the Chinese language; second, they consider the presidents should maintain a proper manner or style as senior scholars and avoid using fashionable words as youth do.

These two opinions are both wrong. In fact, the wave of new words refreshes our language. And seeing a university president as a common citizen or netizen is a start to bringing universities in line with today's world. Consequently, I'd like to encourage the presidents rather than criticizing them.

Wang Dengfeng (tieba.baidu.com): A graduation ceremony has a focus on interactive communication between teachers and students. Young people speak in their favorite ways to express feelings and arouse common understanding. Moreover, the new words or new ways of expression created with the coming of the Internet time have many advantages, such as helping build closer ties between speaker and listener. It is worthwhile university presidents' attempting to make their addresses at graduation ceremonies in ways that connect with students.

By using vogue words popular on the Internet, university presidents have not only changed traditional way of delivering graduation speeches but also changed their attitudes toward addressing graduation ceremonies. There is no need to criticize presidents who please students through using youth's favorite expressions at graduation ceremonies. It heralds a pleasant return to equality of relations between presidents and their students.