Chapter 40 Sudden Changes: The President of China University of Political Science and Law Was Abruptly Removed

In 1978, Beijing Institute of Political Science and Law was re-established. In the following year, Jiang Ping resumed his teaching position and returned to teach at the school. While devoting himself to studying civil law and commercial law and promoting national legislation, he also did a good job in legal education.The Roman law and Western civil and commercial law taught by him are the most advanced in China, and have become nationally famous characteristic courses, and he has also become one of the most famous professors in the legal field of our country. In 1983, Professor Jiang Ping was promoted as the vice president of Beijing University of Political Science and Law.When Beijing Institute of Political Science and Law was renamed China University of Political Science and Law in 1984, he was vice president and was promoted to president in 1988.

In President Jiang Ping's view, legal education should not overemphasize empty form issues, but should have more openness and be connected with the legal knowledge system of the entire human being.Don't isolate Chinese legal education from the world, and don't separate Chinese legal education from the rich legal knowledge system of human beings.For this reason he chose to engage in the education of democracy and the rule of law. The rule of law as understood by Professor Jiang Ping has two fulcrums of democracy and freedom.That's why his colleagues called him the "Principal of Democracy".Under his leadership and the efforts of his colleagues, China University of Political Science and Law quickly became one of the most famous universities in China and the highest palace of Chinese law.

Jiang Ping is not only a good housekeeper, but also a good professor.People who have listened to his class say that he has a talent for lecturing.He has a clear mind, a prominent focus, and the topic can be realistic and citing extensively, which is very inspiring. In the early 1980s, he began to cultivate a master's degree in civil and commercial law, and in the 1990s, he began to train a doctorate. He is an expert approved by the State Council to enjoy government subsidies. In the 1990s, Professor Jiang Ping mainly turned his energy to the translation and organization of Western legal works.As early as 1988, when he visited Italy, he reached a cooperation agreement with the Roman Law Communication Research Group of the Italian National Research Council and decided to translate the original documents of Roman Law.This is a huge project, with more than 20 volumes and 5 million words in total, and it will take 20 years to complete the translation.This was almost unimaginable at the time.Jiang Ping provided first-hand historical documents for my country's legal education and Roman law research with his foresight.He also obtained funding from the Ford Foundation of the United States through his efforts to organize the translation of a set of more than 30 kinds of "Foreign Legal Library" series, with a total of more than 10 million translated words.At present, both projects have been completed and have been well received by the academic circle.

His student, Dr. Long Weiqiu, once summed up three characteristics of the University of Political Science and Law during Jiang Ping's tenure as president: First, among the various tasks of the school, teaching is always given priority.He retained many excellent teachers, and also helped and introduced many excellent teachers, and provided the most important help at the most difficult time.Young and middle-aged scholars in China, including many scholars outside of civil and commercial law, have been encouraged or supported by him.The second is to treat the students as the masters of the school in dealing with the relationship between the school and the students.He created a precedent for students to freely choose teachers to attend lectures in a certain range.As a school leader, he often goes deep into the students, understands the students' life and learning needs, and respects the reasonable wishes of the students.He loves the students very much and is a teacher who can truly breathe with the students.Third, in terms of educational policy, establish the principle that education of democratic ideology and professional education go hand in hand.

When it comes to the story of President Jiang Ping's retention of talents, we have to talk about Professor He Weifang, another well-known jurist in my country's legal circle. He Weifang started to teach at China University of Political Science and Law in 1985 and presided over the editorial work of the journal "Comparative Law Studies". In 1988, he decided to "go to sea".However, He Weifang, who had just "entered the sea", couldn't cut off his longing for the university campus, and finally changed his mind.With the efforts of President Jiang Ping and his school colleagues, He Weifang returned to China University of Political Science and Law from China Light Industry Products Import and Export Corporation in January 1990.When recalling this experience, He Weifang said with great emotion: "At that time, it was hard for me to imagine that I would return to the University of Political Science and Law so soon. Walking on the campus, I felt very complicated. I am full of respect and gratitude to Teacher Jiang, and I am very fortunate to be able to work with him. The principal was transferred back to the school at the end of his tenure."

However, less than two months after He Weifang returned to school, Jiang Ping was removed from his post as principal. On February 15, 1990, the teachers and students returned to the school from all directions after the winter vacation. At the school teachers’ conference that afternoon, almost without preparation for all the teachers and students, the Ministry of Justice sent personnel to the school to announce the decision: Jiang Ping was removed from the post of president of China University of Political Science and Law and member of the school's party committee. The explanation for this personnel change was quite low-key, and the atmosphere at the venue was very dignified.But Professor Jiang Ping was very calm.In the long applause of all teachers, he delivered an intriguing speech:

First of all, I support the decision of the party group of the Ministry of Justice to remove my principal and school party committee member.In fact, ever since I assumed the position of headmaster, I have felt inadequate for this burden.I also had the idea of ​​resigning from my post many times.Especially in the recent period, the role of university president has become more and more difficult to perform, and I have become more and more unable to adapt to the requirements of the country.I was finally relieved of my post today. I seemed to have unloaded a heavy burden and felt a special sense of relief.I was originally a scholar. I came from a teacher, and now I am returning to a teacher. I think of Tao Yuanming's words: "The countryside will be overgrown, and the barbarians will not return!" I am sincerely relieved to be able to return to my academic home.

I started my career as a university teacher from Beijing University of Political Science and Law, the predecessor of this school.For decades, all my ups and downs have been associated with our small campus, and I am full of affection for everything here.It is my responsibility to be able to make some modest contributions to the school.Of course, due to my own ability and level, many things I wanted to do were not done, or not done well.I think today is an opportunity to express my apologies to everyone, especially those I have offended, and hope you can forgive me. Starting today, I am no longer the principal.But I am still a teacher in the school.In the future, I will still go all out for any work that the school leaders need my participation or assistance.In addition, I am still serving as a member of the National People's Congress Law Committee. I will continue to actively participate in legislative work and make my own contribution to the legal system construction of our country.In short, no matter how my status changes, no matter what kind of work I do, I will strive to be worthy of history and the people!thank you all!

The teachers listened to Jiang Ping's "Farewell Speech" almost holding their breath.When Jiang Ping finished speaking, there was another long and warm applause at the venue. Counting from his tenure as vice president of Beijing University of Political Science and Law in 1983, Jiang Ping served as vice president (deputy president) for 5 years and president for 2 years at China University of Political Science and Law and its predecessor.This was only a short period of time in Jiang Ping's life. However, during this period of time, he made outstanding contributions to realize the reform of China's political and legal teaching model, promote the integration of Chinese legal education with the world, and promote and improve the construction of China's legal system. .

After Professor Jiang Ping left the post of president, on the one hand, he continued to be actively engaged in subject research and teaching, and on the other hand, he devoted a lot of time to the translation of Western legal classics and the drafting of the national legal system. December 28, 2000 was Professor Jiang Ping's 70th birthday. When his colleagues and students celebrated for him, he personally donated 500,000 yuan to set up a scholarship fund at China University of Political Science and Law, which was very touching.In order to commend this outstanding jurist for his outstanding contributions to China University of Political Science and Law and the entire Chinese legal cause, China University of Political Science and Law awarded him the honor of tenured professor.

In his thank you speech, Jiang Ping said: "I am seventy years old, it's time to sum up my life! God is finally 'fair'. After 1957, he gave me 22 years of adversity, and another 22 years of freedom. Prosperity. Adversity has brought me hardships and tests, and made me look at everything with a normal mind. A motto I like is: "Born in sorrow, die in peace." The same is true for the nation and the individual. Adversity has given me meditation And looking back, there is no such thing as superstition anymore, and another of my favorite adages is: 'Bow your head only to the truth.'”