A 26-year-old counsellor from Renmin University and a PhD student from Nanjing Medical University fell from a building. When will the truth come out?

Chinese paramilitary police stand guard at Tiananmen Square. (China Photos/Getty Images)

[People News] According to reports from netizens on mainland social media, on September 15, a 26-year-old counsellor who remained at Renmin University after completing her master's degree jumped from the university's iconic Mingde Building, leaving her family with lasting grief.

It is likely that no one knows what she faced before that 'jump' or the pressures she was under; whether it was a spontaneous decision or if she was suffering from depression remains unclear, but there is undoubtedly a story behind this tragedy.

Information shared by netizens reveals that this 'post-00s' girl from Sichuan, who often goes by 'Sherry' on social media, enjoys spicy food and watching anime. She began her studies at the School of Information at Renmin University in 2018 and pursued a master's degree at the Gaoling School of Artificial Intelligence at Renmin University in 2022. Upon graduating with her master's degree in 2025, Sherry, who had received multiple job offers from various companies, surprisingly chose to stay at the School of Statistics at Renmin University as the secretary of the Youth League Committee, where she was responsible for the college's publicity, student employment, accommodation counseling, and other duties.

This decision seems at odds with her impressive achievements at Renmin University. Reports indicate that during her time there, Sherry published several papers that were cited over 300 times, and a recommendation system framework she developed received more than 3,800 stars on the open-source platform GitHub. She also interned at prestigious companies such as Microsoft Research Asia and Meituan, earning accolades such as Outstanding Graduate of Beijing and Excellent Party Member at the university level.

After seven years of study, one would expect to achieve significant results and advance in their professional field. However, she abruptly stopped her progress and opted for a career in party and government work, which is rife with deception. Is this choice solely based on her assertion of 'enjoying helping others'?

If her claims are true and she derives happiness from assisting others, then over the past year, having engaged with numerous university students in need, she should have found considerable joy. Did this job ultimately lead to her disappointment? What transpired? Even in the face of disappointment, there remains the option to make a different choice. What was it that ultimately overwhelmed her? I do not wish to speculate recklessly, but based on my understanding of universities in mainland China, the situation is undoubtedly complex.

It is unfortunate that the administration of Renmin University has remained silent following Sherry's 'incident,' with related information being systematically removed from social media platforms. The university's discussion board has seen a surge of popular student posts expressing dissatisfaction: 'Let people speak; the sky won't fall,' 'One issue after another leaves us disheartened about this school,' 'Just like that, they won't even provide an explanation; it feels as if they simply mopped up the blood and moved on,' 'Southern Medical University is trending first, while 'You Lu' (the nickname for Renmin University, 'Lukesi University') enjoys tranquil times.' 

The phrase 'Southern Medical University is trending first' refers to the tragic event that occurred on September 15. In the early hours of that day, a student named Chen from the eight-year clinical medicine program at Southern Medical University fell to his death from a dormitory building.

According to information provided by the doctoral student, his family has experienced a significant crisis: his father was involved in a car accident in July and has been in the ICU since then; his mother has also been hospitalized in the ICU due to illness. He requested leave from his advisor to care for his parents, but the advisor only granted him three days off and insisted that he record data until the early morning every day. If he failed to complete the recordings, the advisor would not allow him to begin his thesis proposal, while the doctoral student also had to work at the hospital.

Furthermore, reports indicate that his father passed away on September 14, with September 15 being the scheduled day for his thesis proposal. Overwhelmed by insults from his advisor, coupled with profound grief and immense pressure, he ultimately chose to end his life.

However, on the evening of September 16, mainland media released the complete WeChat chat records between the advisor and Chen, along with statements from the family, confirming that the advisor not only approved his leave immediately and suggested he take a break from school but also proactively transferred 22,000 yuan to provide financial support.

Which statements are 'rumors' and which are facts? What is the truth? Due to the absence of an independent investigation, it remains unclear whether the situation can be accurately reconstructed.

On the same day, two young individuals from different regions both chose to take their own lives, and such 'incidents' have not been rare in many universities over the years. The author has heard from friends at Peking University that there are nearly always students committing suicide each year at the university.

While each individual who chooses to take their own life may have their own reasons, the distorted education propagated by the Chinese Communist Party has resulted in psychological deformities and fragility, a flawed understanding of happiness in life, and the pressures of societal competition in adulthood, all of which contribute to their tragic decisions. The Chinese Communist regime cannot escape responsibility for this.

(People News first published) △