The School of Physics did not provide an explanation for Xu’s failure to be admitted, but an official mentioned that they had received numerous complaints about him mistreating cats. Viral posts showing the potential physicist torturing and killing cats ultimately led to his rejection. According to the university’s admissions guidelines, applicants’ moral and political qualifications are taken into consideration, and failure to meet those criteria may result in denial of admission. The school official mentioned that the incidents of cat abuse were taken very seriously and may have impacted the admission decision.
In early March, Xu, a fourth-grade student at Southeast University in Nanjing, was exposed on social media for posting videos of him abusing and killing cats in his dormitory. In one shocking clip, Xu was seen putting a cat into a bucket and repeatedly stomping on its head. Despite the cruelty displayed in the videos, the Nanjing police conducted an investigation but chose to educate Xu and his parents without imposing any formal punishment. Xu issued a letter of apology and promised not to repeat his actions after acknowledging his mistake.
After being rejected by Nanjing University, Xu applied to Lanzhou University in northwestern China and was granted a face-to-face interview. However, he declined an interview request from Red Star News, stating that speaking to the media could potentially cause further controversy on the internet. Xu expressed uncertainty about how his responses to the media would be received by the public.
The online videos of Xu’s atrocious acts against cats have sparked widespread condemnation on mainland social media platforms. While some individuals believe that Xu’s actions deserve harsh consequences, others argue that his talent should outweigh his transgressions. The debate over Xu’s fate continues to unfold online, with differing opinions on how his behavior should be addressed.