George Washington University president reverses pledge to seek out Chinese government critics after satirical Olympics posters appear on campus

After a George Washington University (GWU) student organization criticized posters throughout campus of cartoons satirizing the Chinese government, the university’s president pledged to punish those responsible, but later reversed himself, declaring the posters to be protected speech. 

Key Players

Badiucao is a Chinese political cartoonist, activist, and artist based in Australia. His work has been exhibited around the world and published by organizations such as Amnesty International, Freedom House, BBC, and China Digital Times.

The GW Chinese Cultural Association (GWCCA) is a student organization at GWU founded to help enrolled Chinese nationals acclimate themselves to the university, foster community with other Chinese students, and protect members from injustices and discrimination. 

Mark S. Wrighton was elected president of GWU at the start of 2022, having served as chancellor and chief executive officer of Washington University in St. Louis.

Further Details

On Feb. 3, 2022, the posters appeared in buildings around campus, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. 

The “Beijing 2022” cartoons depict, among various other things, a snowboarder riding down a surveillance camera, a curling team member throwing a coronavirus particle, and an ice skater slicing through Hong Kong’s flower symbol. Other cartoons refer to the Uyghur genocide and China’s oppression of Tibetans.

According to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, GWCCA said the posters were insulting, trampled “on the Olympic spirit,” and were a “naked attack on the Chinese nation.” The student-run organization also called for a public apology and for those who posted the artwork to be “punished severely.” 

On Feb. 6, 2022, GWCCA published a statement saying the posters did not fall under the “scope” of Free Speech and arguing that the messaging might incite hateful sentiments against Asian and Asian American communities, which would pose a personal safety risk for Chinese and Asian students. 

That same day, Badiucao tweeted a screenshot of an email from Wrighton, the new president of GWU, who said he was “personally offended” by the posters and would “undertake an effort to determine who is responsible.” Badiucao wrote, “I demand [of] him an explanation why exposing CCP’s abuse offends him,” . 

On Feb. 7, 2022, Badiucao spoke about the situation with National Review. “I think it’s a huge scandal and shame that a president of well-known university is so ignorant and not informed to understanding my art,” he said, adding, “we’re not talking about someone who is not aware of the international situation or the human rights issues around the Olympic Games. This is really just public common sense.”

Outcome 

Wrighton retracts promise of investigation 

On Feb. 7, 2022, Wrighton stated that, following the posters’ appearance, the GWU administration “began to receive a number of concerns … that cited bias and racism against the Chinese community.” He noted that “without more context on the origin or intent of the posters,” he had “responded hastily” to concerns. 

“I have since learned from our university’s scholars that the posters were designed by a Chinese-Australian artist … and they are a critique of China’s policies,” Wrighton wrote, adding that he no longer viewed the posters as racist, but rather as “political statements.” 

Because of this, Wrighton said there would no longer be an investigation and no action would be taken “against the students who displayed the posters.” 

Wrighton also asserted that he supported Free Speech “even when it offends people—and creative art is a valued way to communicate on important societal issues. I also support the many students and faculty at our university who are engaged in researching, and actively advocating against, all forms of discrimination, marginalization, and oppression.”