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Columbia University Closes Chinese Student Organization

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One of the largest Chinese student organizations in the United States has been shut down due to violations of financial and organizational policies.

A short statement on the official website of Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association, CUCSSA, said the student organization had been “de-recognized” and that the organization no longer is engaging in any activities.

A spokeswoman at the university in New York said in an e-mail that the disciplinary action became unavoidable after several warnings.

"The number of students from China enrolled at Columbia exceeds any other group of international students by a substantial margin, a fact we celebrate and take pride in. In this matter, the Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CUCSSA) has been treated in the same manner as other student groups.”

“Unfortunately, the ongoing violations of multiple financial and student organizational policies by CUCSSA persisted after the organization had been placed on probation, making the recent disciplinary action unavoidable.”

“The University recognizes the valuable function served by student groups such as CUCSSA and will consider future re-recognition of this group in accordance with University policy."

Founded in 1996, the CUCSSA student organization is today one of the largest overseas Chinese organizations on the east coast of the United States. Its mission, stated on its Linkedin page, is to enhance political and cultural exchanges between China and the US and to project positive Chinese influences into the American society.

The CUCSSA recently amended its constitution, the Linkedin page said, and added a mission of “facilitating the perceptions of China's peaceful rise,” with the aim to safeguard a “peaceful and harmonic political environment” where Chinese people live.

The issue is a hot topic on Sina Weibo, China's answer to Twitter , with speculation ranging from infighting and corruption to the student group being used to recruit spies. None of these theories were confirmed by the writer.

The New York metropolitan area is home to the largest ethnic Chinese population outside of Asia, and a large-scale immigration continues from China. Today, Chinese students account for almost one-third of New York State's international students.

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university located in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It’s among the most popular universities for foreign students.