Mainland China universities ban students from hanging curtains; Criticized as “neurotic”.

On April 23, the topic of “Multiple Universities in Mainland China Ban Students from Hanging Bed Curtains” appeared on the trending lists of several social media platforms. The reason given by the universities is that bed curtains are flammable and hanging them affects the emotional exchange between students. People have been leaving comments questioning and refuting the universities’ actions and reasons, saying that this move is “neurotic and utterly ridiculous.”

Reports indicate that Xinjiang Medical University recently required students to not hang bed curtains in dormitories, citing potential fire hazards and the flammability of bed curtains.

Aside from Xinjiang Medical University, other institutions such as Northwest University for Nationalities, Gansu Institute for Nationalities Foreign Language Department, and Hebei Zhangjiakou College have also recently prohibited students from hanging door curtains and bed curtains (fabric curtains) in dormitories.

On March 28, Henan Nanyang Normal University’s website also published an article by a counselor stating that aside from safety hazards, the presence of bed surroundings invisibly erects “invisible walls” in dormitories, hindering communication among students.

Comments from the public have been varied, with many questioning this practice.

“Some wrote for two reasons, one being the fire hazard of the flammable bed curtains, which is obviously baseless, since blankets are also flammable, why not ban those too? The other reason being it affects emotional bonding among students, what a ridiculous idea… Prohibiting hanging bed curtains is truly a particularly foolish… method, as people absolutely need a space that belongs entirely to themselves in order to rest mentally.”

“Suggestions to not stay in dormitories anymore, with all students and teachers sleeping and resting on the playground without blankets, promoting interaction between people and ensuring everyone’s safety. I mean, hanging bed curtains can provide privacy space to do your own thing without disturbing others, and sometimes the light is really bright right above you.”

“Neurotic, utterly ridiculous, then the bed boards are also flammable, so should they be dismantled as well? The doors block too, should they be removed, affecting evacuation too. Originally, because the light was too bright to sleep, hang a little bed curtain for privacy and all this fuss. Why bother so much?”

“Beddings are flammable materials too, maybe everyone should just sleep on the bed boards from now on.’ ‘Bed sheets, curtains, bed curtains, what’s the big difference?’ ‘Bed sheets, blankets, mattresses, clothes, pants are all flammable materials, maybe we should just ban all of them.’

“Today’s university students are truly miserable, just wanting to change clothes without being seen by others, is a bit of personal space not allowed… for those who highly value privacy, constantly facing each other, living every day of the 24 hours with everything on display, could lead to psychological problems.”

“Neurotic, four or eight people living in one dormitory is for social interaction? Wouldn’t it be even more disadvantageous for social interaction if international students were placed in single or double rooms?”

“Nonsense, we all hang bed curtains in our dormitories, whether we chat or make noise, it has no effect. Sometimes we sleep early, sometimes late, just hanging a bed curtain to block the light, everyone getting what they need without disturbing each other, isn’t that also a form of respect?”

Some netizens have refuted point by point: “If it’s said that ‘the presence of bed curtains in dormitories poses a certain fire safety hazard,’ then, to extend it further, for absolute fire safety, can dormitories be made of wooden beds, should bedding be placed on them? What’s more, can books even be placed in dormitories?

“Some have said that bed curtains in dormitories become an invisible barrier to interpersonal communication. How many people need to communicate in bed? If such reasons are valid, then shouldn’t universities after all not build these small dormitories, but rather build large rooms where hundreds can live together, just like the makeshift hospitals during the epidemic, wouldn’t that be more conducive to everyone interacting?

“Living in a collective dormitory is initially an unavoidable choice, with various inconveniences, including a lack of personal privacy, it’s obvious. Hanging a bed curtain provides oneself with some level of privacy, yet such a need is being interfered with, truly unimaginable.”