College Students Should Be Allowed to Get Married
In accordance with a newly revised regulation for student record management by relevant authorities, Chinese college students are now allowed to get married whilst they are still at college if they choose to do so. However, many institutions of higher learning still stick to their traditional rules—“No Marriage on Campus”， which reflects their lack of open-mindedness. Personally I am in support of the new regulation concerning the legal rights of college students.
The 1980 Marriage Law stipulates that no organization or individual is allowed to interfere in people’s right to marry, and the current management provision, which prohibits college students from getting married, is obviously not in line with the Marriage Law. Of course, the new regulation does not encourage college students to get married during their college days, but lifts a 50-year ban on college students getting married. Many students and scholars, especially legal professionals, have hailed the new rule, saying that it gives back to the students a right they should have possessed. Of course, the majority of undergraduates and postgraduates may choose not to exercise this right, believing that degree weighs more than wedding ring.
At present, the debate over this issue goes on in many universities. I hold that this is a good phenomenon, which shows that our society has become more tolerant and an increasing number of people have come to realize that fundamental human rights should be respected and protected. And this is critical to the building of a harmonious society in this country. (252)
College Students Should Not Be Allowed to Get Married
Although a circular issued by the Ministry of Education states that China will lift the restrictions on college students’ marriage, many people, including most parents of college students, think that college students should not be allowed to get married. They do not mean to deny college students the right to get married, but worry about the problems which lie ahead if college students choose to exercise the right.
There is no doubt that college students should concentrate on their studies, which include a sound mastery of essential subjects and development of problem-solving skills, personal responsibility, right political and cultural values, etc. College students are not independent financially, and the majority of them still rely on the support from their parents and even the living allowance of the government. Marriage and childbearing are big distractions, and they are neither psychologically nor financially prepared to begin a family before they graduate and secure a permanent job.
So, in my opinion, marriage is too big a decision for college students to risk without careful thought. I admit that marriage is their right, but they had better make full use of their “golden time” at college, and I believe that more sweet fruits will await them in the future. (205)
