The University of Victoria provoked a brief and vigorous row when it decided that it would offer an honorary degree to China's President, Jiang Zemin. The decision was made by the Senate in a 26-9 vote. By offering a degree to the Chinese President, Victoria clearly hoped to cash in on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in British Columbia. The President was destined to receive the degree in November when he was attending the summit.

University of Victoria students immediately protested. "We're outraged, we're stunned" said student union president Anita Zaenker. The students argued that President Jiang had been involved in the ongoing arrests, deaths, and disappearance of students and journalists in China. More particularly they regarded him as one of the architects of the massacre of students in Tiananmen Square. The student leadership promised demonstrations and walkouts if the university persisted in its offer.

David Strong, the university's president, defended the decision. He said that the university was recognizing the economic and civil reforms made by President Jiang, and he argued that the action of the university would advance human rights in China.

The media were especially hostile. "What possesses the Senate of the University of Victoria," said the Vancouver Sun. "Let Uvic show real guts. Let it confer an honorary degree in absentia on a brave democrat in Mr. Jiang's wretched prisons ... Let it ponder the irony -- or the parallel? -- that the young student leaders on its campus, like the young at Tiananmen Square, exposed ... moral shabbiness."

President Jiang has refused the honorary degree.