It's not uncommon to see sweethearts exchanging hugs or kisses on university campuses, but the East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), a key university in Southwest Shanghai, has prohibited the behavior, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

ECUST drew up a plan last September under which all students are granted a certain number of "morals education points", based on attendance in morals classes and a clean behavioral record. Those found kissing or hugging on campus will have points deducted, and if the points drop below a certain level the student cannot graduate.
 
"Many sweethearts hug or kiss in public areas such as the cafeteria, which has a negative impact on other students," said Shen Wei, director of the student department of ECUST. Some even feed each other, Shen added.

Some students make long distance calls to boyfriends or girlfriends late at night, disturbing other students, Shen said.

"We have established an 100-member monitoring team, and students caught engaging in such behavior will have points deducted," Shen said.

To date, more than 30 students have violated the regulation, he said.

Many ECUST students are against the regulation. "The policy violates our rights, and is bound to backfire," said a sophomore. "There is no law that says students can't be in love at university," he added.

"Schools have no right to ban behaviors such as hugging and kissing by university students, because they are not against moral standards," said Wu Shengjian, associate professor in the law department of the East China University of Politics and Law. "It's ridiculous to record such behavior and make graduation contingent on compliance," Wu said.