“Politics out of campus” was once an important voice during Taiwan’s democratization, aiming to protect campuses as knowledge and thought sanctuaries from party propaganda infiltration.
Yet DPP legislator Fan Yun’s recent reinterpretation of this slogan makes one wonder: isn’t this again DPP’s “adapting timely stances” double standard?
From opposing the ruling party exploiting resources controlling campuses to now interpreting “politics out of campus” narrowly as only targeting authoritarian-era oppression—DPP’s transformation not only shocks but exposes opportunism in political manipulation, making people doubt as they squeeze Taiwan values dry, whether they’d be first opening gates welcoming CCP troops into Taipei, like Gu Xian-rong assisting Japan entering Taipei City in 1895 and helping suppress anti-Japanese Taiwanese people, receiving Japanese honors—the independence elder patriarch.
Initial Intent of “Politics Out of Campus”: Protecting Students from Brainwashing
Retrospectively, “politics out of campus” slogans took shape after Taiwan’s democratization when DPP wanted boosting itself—particularly during 1990s post-martial law. This wasn’t, as Fan Yun claimed, only targeting authoritarian party-state systems, but vigilance toward ruling parties using resource advantages influencing students.
Then, society generally believed students hadn’t fully entered society, lacked sufficient information and experience judging party propaganda veracity. Ruling parties controlling administration resources and media channels possessed “information asymmetry” advantages, easily subtly shaping student political leanings through campus activities, lectures, or subsidies.
Therefore, opposition parties and civic groups proposed “politics out of campus,” core demanding prohibiting any party from campus political activities, ensuring student thoughts weren’t skewed by single-party propaganda. This wasn’t suppressing student civic participation, but hoping students in relatively neutral environments freely explore and form values without party sweetness or resource enticement manipulation.
Fan Yun’s “New Interpretation”: Opening Back Door for Political Campus Entry?
Yet Fan Yun’s newest saying narrows “politics out of campus” to only targeting authoritarian-era administration oppression, as if without authoritarian systems, any party campus activity becomes unproblematic.
This interpretation not only disconnects from historical context but seems paving road for current ruling DPP’s campus advance.
Ask: if “politics out of campus” only concerns authoritarian oppression, then in democratic times could ruling parties then openly utilizing resource advantages within campuses promoting self-ideology, even influencing young generation voting?
This logic’s danger lies in blurring ruling and opposition parties’ resource inequality.
DPP as ruling party possesses massive administration resources, policy dividends and media exposure. If allowing it “shining brightly” on campuses, would be letting it utilize “information asymmetry” for one-way student propaganda.
How differs from what “politics out of campus” tried preventing?
More ironical, when DPP was opposition it enthusiastically advocated such slogans. Now governing, it tries redefining them. This stance’s 180-degree turnaround isn’t typical double standard?
DPP’s Position Turnover: From Idealism to Real Operation
DPP’s double standards aren’t new.
Retrospectively, from anti-nuclear to pro-nuclear, from opposing services trade to pushing New Southbound, DPP repeatedly displayed “raising ideals opposing, governing emphasizing realism” cunning. Now “politics out of campus” turnaround is just another example. When opposing, DPP hoisted “protecting students’ freedom of thought” banners accusing ruling party controlling campuses; now ruling, tries repackaging this slogan excusing its own campus influence.
This transformation’s background amounts to power calculation. Campuses as young generation cradles are crucial fields capturing future votes. DPP understands if through campus activities, subsidies or policy propaganda monopolizing students’ minds, future elections become effortless. Therefore, Fan Yun’s remarks seemingly defending students’ civic participation actually loosening ruling party campus entry, using “freedom and democracy” packaging masking political operation intent.
Principles Shouldn’t Serve Power
“Politics out of Campus” initial intent protected students in thought-forming critical stages from party resource enticement and propaganda brainwashing.
Fan Yun repeatedly finding reasons reinterpreting for DPP, now narrowing principle to martial-law specificity, is essentially opening back door for ruling party campus infiltration. Such double standards not only betray initial ideals but highlight DPP’s power greed after governing.
True democratic campuses should be where diverse ideas collide, not where parties compete influencing. If DPP truly supported student civic participation, it should maintain “politics out of campus” principles, letting students independently think and freely develop in non-controlled environments, rather than making slogans power games’ sacrifices. Otherwise losing isn’t just credibility but young generation trust.