Gifted Chinese student rejected by top university for past history of killing, abusing cats

The student was rejected by Nanjing University for his past cruelty against cats. (Representational)

A highly gifted Chinese student has faced rejection from a prestigious university in the country due to his disturbing history of extreme cruelty to cats. Xu, who achieved the highest scores in the entrance test to pursue a major in nuclear physics at the School of Physics, Nanjing University, found himself barred from admission following revelations of his past actions.

Despite his academic performance, Xu's dreams of studying at Nanjing University were shattered when the school released the results of the admission test in late March, indicating his failure to progress beyond the second phase. While the university remained tight-lipped about the specific reasons for his rejection, an official hinted at the underlying cause, citing numerous complaints regarding Xu's egregious mistreatment of cats.

According to the university's admissions guidelines, applicants are evaluated not only based on academic merit but also on their "moral and political qualifications." It appears Xu's reprehensible conduct fell afoul of these criteria, prompting the institution to withhold his admission.

The saga of Xu's downfall began to unfold at the onset of March when he, a fourth-grade student at Southeast University in Nanjing, became the subject of widespread condemnation on social media platforms.

Disturbing videos surfaced, depicting Xu engaging in acts of cruelty and violence against cats in his dormitory premises. In one particularly distressing clip, Xu was captured mercilessly trampling on a cat's head after confining it within a bucket.

The footage sparked outrage and prompted intervention from the Nanjing police, who launched an investigation into Xu's actions. Despite his offenses, Xu received only education and counselling from law enforcement authorities, escaping legal repercussions.

In a statement issued by the police, Xu expressed remorse for his actions, penning a letter of apology and vowing not to repeat his transgressions.

Undeterred by his rejection from Nanjing University, Xu sought admission to Lanzhou University in northwestern China, where he was extended an opportunity for a face-to-face interview. However, he declined to engage with media outlets, citing concerns about exacerbating the public outcry surrounding his case.

Xu's narrative has ignited a firestorm of condemnation across mainland social media platforms, with netizens expressing vehement disapproval of his actions. While some advocate for stringent punishment, labeling Xu as a dangerous individual, others contend that his academic potential should outweigh his past misdeeds.