What on earth were the complaints?

Wang Yan actually refused to discuss details of the complaints. Details were beside the point. There was clearly something wrong with my attitude. How, she demanded rhetorically, could all the students be wrong?

And no, I couldn't get a copy of the letters. She had to protect the students from me, she said.

I'd received a hint — only a hint — of discontent shortly before the meeting with Wang Yan. A Law student who didn't know the answers to a test had instead written me a message claiming the students disliked my teaching. This had prompted me to email the whole class to inquire whether there was a problem. I received only positive responses — and they were sent only days before the same students signed the complaints. Excerpts:

Hi, Uriel:

[Your class] is very chanllenging for us, and we have to be always alert, and smart in your class, but I think that is OK, and we could learn a lot in your class.

The problem might be, sometimes our way of thinking is a little bit different, due to some culture differences, which I think is very natural. Sometimes I just couldn't figure out what indeed you are asking, but when you expained it, I think I knew the meaning, just did not know that would be the answer you were expecting. But I think I am getting used to it, and I am trying to develop my logic and knowledge as well.

Best,

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hello! Uriel,To be truth , I like the materials you gave us ,I like the way of your analysis to these materials, and i like these topices ,because those make me learn more about other culture.

best wish

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Dear Uriel Wittenberg

I can learn a lot of interesting things in [your class]. Your lesson is very good and your explain to the article is logical. I enjoy it very much.

What had happened? How could students, within days of volunteering such sentiments, sign complaints to the administration immediately afterwards? And how could the complaints be virtually unanimous (in the affected classes)?

It seemed a very emotional campaign had suddenly erupted. Until then, a large majority of students had been quite pleased with me. Then, like a school of fish, they abruptly turned. Together.

There had been groupthink. And there had been social pressure. As one involved student later told me privately, students would have "hated" a student who refused to sign the complaints. Moreover, boys were obliged to sign to "show support for the girls."

This only happened to my Diplomacy and Law students. The English students were untouched by the campaign and remained as appreciative as before — many exhibiting scarcely restrained adulation.

My meeting with Wang Yan was supposed to produce an adjustment of my attitude. Normalcy was easily attainable. The students' fever had quickly subsided following their brief orgy of grievance. Everyone wanted to forget the complaints. Everyone was prepared to move forward.