Tian Xia Yu Ha (nmgdxalycj.home.news.cn/blog/): Universities are in the frontline of ideas and theories. Their presidents use popular expressions to summarize the four-year university life and say goodbye to graduates, which is surely warmly welcomed by students. It would be quite boring if presidents still delivered their addresses in old ways. So why not deliver humorous and passionate speeches to make enjoyable ceremonies for everybody? A good speech encourages the spirit of the audience. Students do not want to listen to a didactic speech at their graduation ceremonies. Reforms to get rid of bureaucracy in universities should be done step by step, and maybe they should start from the presidents' graduation speeches first.

As time passes, society is progressing. Today the wide use of the Internet is greatly changing the world. So we should advance with the times. Since China's reform and opening up were initiated three decades ago, Chinese people have been accepting new ideas from the outside world and progressing with every passing day. But we neither forget who we are, nor lose our traditional culture. Therefore, new means of expression deserves to be understood. University presidents should be encouraged to address graduation ceremonies using fashionable new words to communicate with graduates.

Opponents

Bi Xiaozhe (www.edu.cn): Needless to say, presidents of China's two outstanding universities delivered splendid speeches, and had a good influence on the graduation ceremonies. But the influence is too weak to mention.

Such excellent speeches have no direct and strong relationship to university education or the future of graduates. A well-prepared graduation speech will not improve the current state of the education system which has been criticized a lot in recent years, so these speeches littered with fashionable words have a limited effect on education itself. In addition, students do not often hear such pleasing speeches during their time at university.

An excellent speech has little effect on the current reforms in universities. The real challenges facing university education are: dryasdust teaching, old ideas, and lack of incentives to innovation and care about students, rather than whether presidents are familiar with popular words from the Internet.

Huang Tuanyuan (www.edu.cn): The presidents of universities should keep their own characteristics in speeches. A speech should contain significant content and inspiration rather than mere jokes or newly created words. Outstanding educationists from history have already set good examples for today's university presidents. In 1916, Cai Yuanpei, President of Peking University at that time, said, "Students in universities should make learning their sacred duty, rather than seeking political power or wealth as their purpose in life." Cai built close friendships with his students because of his warm heart and care about students. His words and action are still remembered by people today. In contrast, the heated debate over graduation speeches reflects there is a gap between today's presidents of universities and their students.

Zeng Ying (www.rmlt.com.cn): University presidents should use newly created words as little as possible. Presidents' speeches at graduation ceremonies are probably the last classes for graduates. For this reason, the speeches should contain more thought than florid words. But people have highlighted the use of popular words, misunderstanding the nature of graduation speeches.

Present-day expressions used on the Internet are usually created and used by young people. Perhaps these new words and sayings do not correctly express feelings and thoughts. When a graduation ceremony is full of various pop words, the dignity of the academia disappears. It is not difficult for heads of universities to find elegant words to express their feelings about students' graduation and their hope for the students' future.

Peng Lijie (Wuhan Daily): University presidents should not be the promoters of the Internet language. First, for teachers and students, a graduation ceremony is a time to say farewell. Everyone should express their real feelings at that time. There is no need to please students with claptrap at these ceremonies. Second, these newly created words often contain much misuse of Chinese language. Presidents should not use them too much.

Wang Li (www.eastday.com): Presidents of universities may use popular words in their speeches at graduation ceremonies, but they should speak in the voices of their hearts. These popular words may prevail for only a while. Truly heartfelt and sincere expression will be remembered by students for the rest of their lives. In all, every speech should have its own characteristics, rather than copying and imitating others.