University Tells Students Don’t Use Computers to Avoid Internet Addiction

University Tells Students Don’t Use Computers to Avoid Internet Addiction
(Cancan Chu/Getty Images)
9/13/2006
Updated:
9/13/2006

TAIPEI—Computers have already become an indispensable part of everyday life, yet Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) appears to be heading in the opposite direction. SJTU is suggesting to its incoming students to not use computers in the dormitories, in order to avoid Internet games addictions that could affect the students’ grades.

Shanghai Morning Post reported on September 9 that upon the arrival of the more than 4,700 new students, SJTU authorities suggested to every freshman this year to not use computers in their dormitories. According to the authorities, it was to help the freshmen build good study habits and avoid having Internet games addictions that can negatively affect their academic records.

According to Yin Jie, the vice-president of SJTU, the first year in college is a stage for building foundations and involves a very heavy course load, especially for students of science and engineering majors who have to study generals such as college physics and advanced mathematics well. Otherwise they would have great difficulties in many higher-level classes.

Yin expressed that, in the past, a group of the incoming students found it difficult to adapt to college life and indulged in Internet games and became addicted. Afterwards, their academics could not recover. Some students even had to withdraw from school because of this addiction.

According to data supplied by the university, every year the school has a dozen students who failed their courses due to being addicted to Internet games and had to withdraw from school.

It was reported that SJTU’s suggestion won the “applause” of most parents who think it would be good for their children.