Mercury 关于Tina的相关报道更新

Death casts shadow on state

LINDA SMITH

July 01, 2009 09:16am

TASMANIA'S reputation as a safe place to study could be tarnished by the death of Chinese student Zhang "Tina" Yu.

About a quarter of students at the University of Tasmania are from overseas and the institution prides itself on providing quality education in a safe location.

The university's website entices foreign students with the promise of attending "a special university located in a special place" in Tasmania: "Australia's beautiful island state".

"The university is a nice size -- not too big and not too small," the website for prospective international students reads.

"People are friendly and have time to help you.

"Students have the opportunity to excel and go on to achieve things they never thought possible."

Premier David Bartlett said all Tasmanians would be "greatly shocked and upset at the death of student Zhang Yu.

"On behalf of Government members and other members of Parliament I express deep sympathies to the family and friends of Ms Yu," Mr Bartlett said.

"She had come so far away from home and was in our care.

"We recognise the terrible impact this would have on all international students.

"They are very much welcome here and we will do all we can as a Parliament and a Government to ensure their safety and sense of place is well respected and well looked after."

Tasmanian Liberal MP Rene Hidding said international students were an important part of the state community and it was important to reassure students and parents that Tasmania was still a safe place to study.

"Tasmania has a proud reputation of being a safe and stable home away from home for thousands of international students," Mr Hidding said yesterday.

"These international students are highly valued in Tasmania, bringing a cross-cultural richness to our society.

"It is important that the Parliament of Tasmania sends a strong message to international students and their families that despite the awful news, we do in fact remain a safe destination for students who are setting themselves up for life with a high-quality Tasmanian tertiary education."

He and other politicians planned to contact the university's international student support unit to offer their support and reassure them that Tasmania had a firm commitment to tough law and order measures.

Last year, about 2900 international students were at UTAS, accounting for 23 per cent of all students, with similar numbers this year.

Overseas students contributed $109 million to the Tasmanian economy last year and supported 1086 local jobs, and the sector continues to grow.

Each international student contributed an average of $28,921 annually in value to the economy and generated just under 0.3 of a full-time job.

Tasmanian University Union president Robert Meredith said it was likely some students would now be concerned about their own safety.

"It's terrible," he said of Ms Yu's death.

"Obviously, it's the most unimaginably bad thing that could possibly happen.

"It's pretty hard to imagine that that kind of thing can happen in the place we're living.

"It will have a pretty dramatic impact on people."

University acting vice-chancellor David Rich yesterday extended his condolences and those of the broader university community to Ms Yu's family and friends.

He sent an email to university staff, students and parents to notify them of Ms Yu's death and offer counselling for those affected.

Counselling services are available for anyone contemplating suicide.
Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or access the internet on www.reachout.com.au

http://www.themercury.com.au/art ... _tasmania-news.html