Recently, many colleges and universities have banned students from hanging bed curtains, which has aroused heated discussions among netizens. The school said that the bed curtain was a fire safety hazard, and the students said that the bed curtain helped protect personal privacy. Netizens who graduated and those who did not graduate also quarreled about this, some netizens felt that hanging bed curtains was very strange, which would make people get farther and farther away from each other, and some netizens said that "prohibiting hanging bed curtains" is a one-size-fits-all approach, which treats the symptoms but not the root cause, and the school needs to reconsider the solution to the problem...... Why did the little bed curtain make such a big commotion? How did a thing that wasn't a thing become a thing?
Hot search number one!
Colleges and universities in many places prohibit students from hanging bed curtains
"Can bed curtains be installed in student dormitories so that students have a private space?" On April 23, the related topic #Many colleges and universities prohibit students from hanging bed curtains# rushed to the first hot search on Weibo, triggering discussions among netizens.
On March 27, according to the website of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Medical University replied to the students' opinions and suggestions. Among them, in response to the question of whether bed curtains can be installed in the dormitory, the reply said: the student apartment is a densely populated place, and there are certain fire safety hazards in hanging bed curtains in the dormitory, and the bed curtain is a flammable product.
At present, many colleges and universities have banned students from hanging bed curtains. In January this year, Northwest University for Nationalities issued a management method for student apartments, strictly prohibiting students from hanging door curtains and bed curtains (cloth curtains) in the dormitory. On March 27, the Department of Foreign Languages of Gansu Normal University for Nationalities held a meeting of dormitory directors for the spring semester of 2024, and also demanded that behaviors such as pulling bed curtains without permission should be prohibited. Hebei Zhangjiakou University has also recently carried out the "special rectification of bed curtains in student dormitories".
Previously, Jilin Agricultural University issued the "Work Arrangement for Safety and Fire Prevention in Student Apartments" in November 2023, and it is strictly forbidden to hang bed curtains and hanging chairs in the dormitory. In July 2023, China University of Petroleum (East China) also issued the "Notice on Carrying out Special Rectification Work on Safety and Health in Student Dormitories", prohibiting the hanging of bed curtains.
At present, Beijing and other places have clearly stipulated in the "Acceptance Standards for Standardized Apartments in Colleges and Universities" that there should be no beds in the dormitories. In October 2019, according to the website of the Communication University of China, the logistics service hall of the Communication University of China revealed in response to the student's message about "why it is forbidden to install bed curtains in the dormitory", and the "Acceptance Standards for Standardized Apartments in Beijing Universities" stipulates that there are no beds in the dormitory. According to Chinanews.com, Beijing News, etc
The school says!
Simple bed curtains are a safety hazard
It also hinders classmates from communicating
On March 28, the website of Nanyang Normal University in Henan Province published a signed article by a counselor, explaining in detail why "the seemingly simple decorative act of hanging a bed fence is often strictly restricted by the school."
According to the article, the bed circumference, as a kind of cloth or plastic shield, is very easy to ignite and become a medium for the acceleration of the fire. In 2019, a female student at a university forgot to turn off the power after using an illegal electrical "splint" in her dormitory, causing a fire, which quickly ignited the bed wall next to her, and then began to burn in a large area.
In addition, "dormitory administrators may need to lift the bed circumference frequently when checking hygiene and facilities, which not only increases the workload, but can also cause dissatisfaction among students." "In June 2020, a school official said that there had been an incident in the dormitory where a student fell ill and died in a bed covered by the bed enclosure, and was not discovered by his roommate until two days later.
Bed circumference usually encloses the bed tightly, resulting in poor air circulation, which is easy to breed harmful substances such as bacteria and mites, posing a threat to students' respiratory system and skin health. Especially when heating or air conditioning is used in winter or summer, bed circumference can hinder the even distribution of hot and cold air, resulting in uneven temperatures in the dormitory. When the bed is hung up, the ventilation and lighting in the dormitory will be affected. Being in such an environment for a long time is not only not conducive to physical health, but may also cause psychological depression. If the material and design of the bed circumference do not meet safety standards, there may be risks such as strangulation and suffocation, especially for sleeping students.
"The dormitory is not only a place to rest, but also an important place for students to exchange feelings and build friendships. The article said that the existence of the bed fence has invisibly erected an "invisible wall" in the dormitory, hindering the communication and communication between students. Some students reported that because their roommates hung up their beds, they felt that there was less communication between them, and the dormitory atmosphere became indifferent. In the long run, this kind of estrangement can lead to interpersonal tensions and even conflicts in the dormitory.
Dormitory life is a key scenario for college students to exercise their social skills, and a moderate shared space helps students to open their hearts, respect each other, and understand and tolerate each other. Hanging bed fences may make students pay too much attention to personal space and ignore the collective interest, which is not conducive to cultivating students' teamwork spirit and sense of public responsibility. In the absence of beds, it is easier for students to interact face-to-face and participate in group activities in the dormitory, which leads to closer team spirit and friendship.
"Imagine, if everyone lives behind the bed curtain, I wonder if there will still be a 'brother who sleeps on my top bunk'-like feelings?" On March 20, the College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering of Xinjiang Agricultural University released the article "Closed the Bed Curtain, "Blocked" Safety" The article said: In recent years, more and more college students like to hang bed curtains, but hanging bed curtains in the dormitory has serious safety hazards, affecting the cleanliness and lighting of the dormitory, affecting the physical and mental health of students, and is not conducive to the communication between students. The feeling of being out of place affects the dormitory relationship. Comprehensive Southern Network, North Youth, etc
College students say!
The bed curtain guards my privacy needs
Who would have thought that the matter of college students pulling bed curtains in the dormitory would become a hot discussion. Netizens are arguing endlessly, but what do the college students in the middle of it think? A commentary article published by The Paper is quite representative.
I am a college student, and I would like to say: why do college students need bed curtains, and even bed curtains have become the "just need" of our collective life?
In my school, it's up to everyone to choose whether or not to hang a bed curtain. However, on the first day of school, the roommates placed orders one after another, and the next day between classes, everyone even chatted warmly about the style of the bed curtain. The layout of the dormitory is "up and down the table". Therefore, the "bed curtain" in our context actually includes the curtain around the desk.
Hanging the bed curtains was originally to reconcile the work and rest time difference of different roommates. For example, I made a pact with my roommate that whenever someone was sleeping, we had to turn off the headlights. However, some people go to bed early and wake up early, some people go to bed late and wake up late, and some people are used to taking a nap. So, the headlights were turned off all the year round, and everyone hid in a small space surrounded by bed curtains and turned on the small table lamp.
In addition, the small bed curtain also implies "territorial awareness". The size of the bedroom is not large, and if two people are side by side, it is difficult to pass through the aisle between the beds. The bed curtain is a silent reminder that personal belongings should not go beyond the bounds of the curtain.
Gradually, the bed curtain became a tacit hint: when it was closed, it meant that it was doing business, so do not disturb, and when it was opened, it was gathered together again and laughed. Sometimes when I go back to the dormitory and see a few bed curtains down, I consciously gently close the door. Everyone's "business" is also different: some people are coding papers on their computers, some are doing planks, and some are anxious about math problems. The bed curtain bears witness to these reluctant efforts to be humane.
According to Article 1032 of the Civil Code, privacy refers to the tranquility of a natural person's private life and the private space, private activities and private information that he or she does not want others to know. "Privacy" is the inherent right of every citizen, even in a "public place" such as the dormitory, there should be a reasonable expectation of privacy, and students in the dormitory also have "private activities and private information that they do not want others to know", which may be their own household chores, emotional disputes, frustrations in learning, and indecent physical display that they do not want to mention to others......
According to my observations, such a "bed curtain" culture is expanding, and has even become a symbol of young people in the new era. A few days ago, the popular "train bunk hanging bed curtain incident" originated from two young people hanging curtains on their lower bunk beds, and as a result, there was a "collision of concepts" with the elderly. It has been pointed out that young people are more likely to conform to a pattern of behaviour with a clear sense of boundaries, which is also more in line with today's social perception.
I think that the bed curtain reflects the general expectation of college students for privacy in the dormitory, and it is also the sense of boundary between people that young people pursue: even if they share a room, they expect to have a "small" space of their own, rather than showing their roommates in a 360-degree way, which is not hypocritical. As for the fire hazards that may be caused by bed curtains, they can actually be solved through fire drills, education and publicity.
The bed curtain guards the privacy needs of college students and the sense of boundary of college students, and I hope that colleges and universities can pay attention to the legitimate needs of college students when they launch management measures. Guo Sihang (according to The Paper)
Spicy review!
Once banned, it makes some sense and reason
Recently, many college students have been "a little annoyed". In the past, some colleges and universities mailed transcripts to parents, which caused a lot of complaints, and then many universities issued regulations prohibiting students from hanging bed curtains in dormitories, which caused heated public opinion.
Although the reasons given by these universities are "righteous and strict": bed curtains are flammable and a safety hazard, the air is not well ventilated, bacteria breed, the dormitory is clean and light, and it hinders the emotional communication between roommates. But as expected, this was widely questioned: "Bed sheets are also flammable, why don't they be banned together?" "What if four people live in one room and want to have some personal privacy?" "If the roommate doesn't fall in love, 'pressing the head' will only be more embarrassing"......
Why such a big reaction? To some extent, in today's college dormitories, bed curtains can be said to be a kind of "standard", almost everyone has a set. Its most important function is to create a private space in the context of collective living. When you stay up in bed at night to study and watch dramas, you won't disturb your roommates. At the same time, for people who are sensitive to light, blackout bed curtains can also provide a comfortable sleeping environment.
It can be said that roommates with different living habits can live in harmony under one roof, and the role of bed curtains cannot be underestimated. Some universities have banned it on the grounds of fire hazards, which is a bit unreasonable.
The problem is not only that, but the phenomenon that should arouse vigilance and reflection is that in recent years, the management of some universities has become more and more simple and blunt, and there is even a trend of high school. From lights out and sanitation to parent groups and report cards mailed, some universities seem to be becoming more and more worried about students.
People can't help but ask: Is it necessary for college students, as adults, to "report everything to their parents"? As institutions of higher learning that advocate free development, is it necessary for universities to "discuss achievements in science"?
For some schools, this kind of patriarchal style of "good for you" style of regulations everywhere seems to be conscientious, but in fact it is suspected of "lazy government". The foundation of university education lies in "adulthood". Independent thinking, acting and taking responsibility are the basic qualities of an adult. Colleges and universities are mainly engaged in education, and counselors are not nannies, once they forget their own positioning, colleges and universities will inevitably "dwarf themselves".
We have ushered in the era of artificial intelligence, and Sora can make videos. Our education must also adapt to the changes of the times. Nowadays, college students are in school, some are married, some are entrepreneurs, some travel around the world, and they have a lot of experience and knowledge, and it is really unnecessary to take others as high school students or even junior high school students. According to CCTV
Adu: We didn't have a bed curtain at the time, and we used to want to have our own space, but now we miss the excitement of our roommates chatting together.
Prince: A bed curtain is actually a manifestation of social fear.
YM: It's a sense of security between square inches, why not?
Peach: Why can't it be hung, proper privacy is still needed, and the safety hazard is not a bed curtain problem.
Streamer Flying: Hanging bed curtains is really full of security!
White Orchid: College students are adults, and adults have the right to decide whether their beds are hung with curtains, and the school can advocate whether it should not be banned. The introduction of relevant regulations involving the interface between public and private should also be a convention reached through discussion by all students, rather than a school word.
Luo Xue Tingmei: When I was in college, we didn't have bed curtains in our dormitory, so we didn't have much concept of privacy.
Eternal timestamp: Who said that bed curtains must be combustible, because choking is not advisable to waste food.
Drink: It's the first time I've heard of hanging bed curtains in the dormitory, and now I think back to school at that time, I still think it's a very good day, my generation really doesn't have so much personal space and personal privacy, and after graduating for more than 20 years, we still keep in touch like relatives, and I think it's the foundation laid by getting along day by day at that time......
A shrimp ball: Our dormitory is hung with bed curtains, whether to chat or chat, usually play has no impact. It's just that sometimes you go to bed early and sometimes you go to bed late, hang a bed curtain to block the light, and take what you need without disturbing each other, isn't this also a kind of respect?
Alain: Actually, it's just to make it easier to check.
Guardian: Fire hazards objectively exist, and protecting privacy is also a practical need. Any policy is only a suboptimal solution, because there is no optimal solution at all, and the lesser of two evils must always be chosen. Universities are institutionalized free worlds, and freedom is subject to institutions.
VV: In the event of a student's illness episode or other emergency, the bed curtain may hinder timely detection and rescue.
Porridge: Universities should be open, freedom-loving places.