<div>Dear Professor Bundhit Eua-arporn, Ph.D. </div>

<div>150 scholars, scientists, writers, and activists from 60 institutions in 19 countries around the world have denounced the punishment against members of Chulalongkorn University’s Student Council who were removed for challenging the university’s tradition.</div> <h2><strong>Statement for supporting Chula students</strong></h2> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>We, activists, academics and human rights defenders have been following&nbsp; the case of eight Chulalongkorn University students walking out to praise respect in alternative form to the royal statues of King Rama V and </div>

<div>We, the foreign students and alumni of Chulalongkorn University (CU), are concerned about CU's handling of an incident which took place on August 3rd, 2017.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Universities seeking to become globally competitive must subscribe to international standards. We find it unacceptable for student representatives to be removed from their positions by staff members. They were appointed by and represent the students.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Furthermore, we believe any lecturer who assaults students should be fired without delays or excuses. </div>

<div> <div>Facing criticism over the dismissal of a leading student activist, Chulalongkorn University (CU) has published a statement arguing that the university “has the right to reserve a certain space or activity as an exception from the free speech rule.”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 6 September 2017, CU <a href="http://www.chula.ac.th/en/archive/9213">published a statement</a> in response to the criticism it has faced since the <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/7353">dismissal of its Student Council</a> President Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal. </div></div>

<div> <div> <div>A progressive student has been dismissed from the position of Student Council President for staging a symbolic protest during a university initiation ceremony. </div></div></div>

<div> <div>World scholars including Noam Chomsky have expressed support for Netiwit after Chulalongkorn University initiated disciplinary action against the progressive student activist.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 14 August 2017, Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, President of Chulalongkorn University’s student council, posted on his Facebook account an email from Noam Chomsky. </div></div>

<p>Chulalongkorn University has accused a leading student activist of improper behaviors after an incident during freshman induction.</p>

<div> <div>Over the past week, a teenage singer was slammed by nationalists after complaining about her country on Twitter. A lecturer put a student in a headlock for protesting a university ceremony. And various prosecution cases moved forward against human rights advocates and politicians.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Late last week, Thai social media heated up over <a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/7308">tweets from a pop singer</a> called ‘Image’ who had expressed her discontent at living in Thailand. </div></div>

<div> <div>University orientations in Thailand are notorious for human rights violations. But a top Thai university has announced a halt to cruel and dangerous activities.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 12 June 2017, the Student Council of Chulalongkorn University (SCCU) posted on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chulasccu/?fref=ts">Facebook page</a> a “declaration of rights during orientation activities”. The declaration states that students cannot be forced, either physically or psychologically, to join orientation. </div></div>

<div>A young academic explains what Chulalongkorn University (CU) means to Thai society and why conservatives were so furious when a progressive activist was voted to be president of the university’s student council. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>

<p>Chulalongkorn (we have murals of Hitler as a superhero) University is back in the news and you don’t whether to laugh or cry.</p> <p>Its Faculty of Engineering seems to have spawned its own little Hitlers who are going round seizing the cards of any student not in uniform.&nbsp; And even if you’re in uniform but not the correct one.&nbsp; The blue smock required in workshops is OK if you’re in the workshop, but step outside still wearing it and you’ll get nicked.</p>

<div> <div>Students at an elite Thai university are campaigning against outdated uniform regulations, arguing they stifle creativity and intellect. The university is threatening those who fail to comply with disqualification from receiving scholarships.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 8 February 2017, a group of students from Chulalongkorn University’s Engineering Faculty released <a href="https://deklanghong.com/content/2017/02/506">a declaration</a> calling on the faculty to abolish regulations requiring students to wear school uniforms both inside and outside of the classroom. </div></div>