As the new semester gets underway, the issue of the gap between student haves and have-nots has once again become a hot topic of discussion. Polarization of wealth has created a polarized campus. For example, some affluent university students drive to school in their own cars, while their destitute peers earn their living by doing odd jobs here and there.

In fact, the rich-poor disparity permeates every aspect of students' lives. This semester, over 50 Yangzhou University students have moved into a dormitory specifically to accommodate poor students. The dormitory is rather poorly equipped, but the rent is only 500 yuan per year.

However, this move designed by the university to lighten the burden on impoverished students has sparked controversy between those who praise it as a humane approach and those who believe it will place further psychological strain on impoverished students.

Even the impoverished students who have benefited from it have divided opinions. Some say that the "dormitory for poor students" helps them to cope with financial hardship, whereas others feel annoyed and pressurized because "it's like putting a label on us."

How should the "dormitory for poor students" be viewed? First of all, wherever there are masses of people, they are invariably divided into the rich and the poor. And so it is with university students. The growing polarization of university campuses is a true reflection of the widening wealth gap in Chinese society. And we should understand that it is impossible to eliminate polarization or bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in a short time.

It is unrealistic to ask rich students to love the spirit of poverty and live as the poor. On the other hand, poor students cannot afford the lifestyle of rich students, if they try to live as rich students it would only make them worse off.

The most important thing is that poor students should learn to face reality and deal with their situation as well as they can.

After all, college students are teenagers and young adults whose mindsets and personalities are yet to be shaped and the widening wealth disparity on campus could have a negative impact on their values, attitudes and beliefs. This may seem a bad thing but, given the proper guidance, it could be a blessing in disguise.

Reality is cruel and merciless. A proper understanding of this social reality would prepare students to adapt to a society where there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor.

And besides, wealth disparity on campus can to a certain extent motivate students to work harder and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. A certain psychological shock is sometimes necessary in the course of a person's development, and unpleasant experience is sometimes a far more effective spur than mere encouragement because "unpleasant stimulation" is more of an incentive and has greater effect in spurring individuals to make every effort to change for the better.

Poverty is a good teacher. Poverty is not a vice, just as wealth is not an evil. Don't make much fuss about wealth disparity on campus, nor turn a blind eye to it. Cultivating sound personality in students is a major challenge to colleges and universities today.

Do not try to keep wealth disparity out of school. Do not deliberately block out everything in reality which we don't like, but instead bring students face-to-face with a situation close to reality so that they can learn to adjust to the mainstream of society. This can help students to develop their emotional quotient and social consciousness.

Education must not simply impart knowledge of the various disciplines, but should also assume responsibility for preparing students for life, for the latter is even more meaningful than the former.

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