Lu Zhou wasn’t startled by Perelman’s visit, but the Jin University leadership team was almost frightened.
After all, this person was too famous.
Even people uninterested in mathematics had heard about this person that rejected the million-dollar Millennium Prize Problems award.
Many well-known universities, including Harvard, Berkeley, and Princeton, had invited him to teach there, but unfortunately, he rejected all of them.
This eccentric man, who rejected offers from universities around the world, was suddenly here in Jin Ling University, sitting in the back row of a classroom. How could people not feel spooked?
The only person that wasn’t spooked was the lecturer—Lu Zhou.
After all, Lu Zhou had met many people that were just as famous as Perelman.
Lu Zhou had clearly underestimated the impact of an internationally renowned scholar visiting Jin Ling University, especially for the Jin Ling University leadership team.
Ever since he returned to teach in China, Jin Ling University had become an influential mathematics university, purely because it was Lu Zhou’s alma mater. Lu Zhou was determined to make Jin Ling University a mathematics center of the world.
In fact, with the support of Lu Zhou and other alumni, other departments of Jin University had also grown substantially over the past few years, especially for the physics and computer science field.
However, even so, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It would take generations of scholars to build a prestigious university.
Perelman’s low-key visit agitated many people’s minds.
Director Chen from the university’s international department convened a meeting with the various departmental heads of the university. They discussed how to hire this big fish.
Dean Qin from the mathematics department spoke during the meeting.
“First of all, accommodation is the most important. Even if he wants to stay, he won’t be able to, unless he has a place to live.”
Secretary: “Do you have any good suggestions?”
Dean Qin: “The new faculty and staff dorms are pretty good, especially the No. 2 apartments. They were originally planned for talent attraction, but I think we can arrange for him to live there.”
The secretary asked, “What living conditions should we provide? What’s the equivalent title?”
Dean Qin thought and said, “Perelman is a legendary mathematician, so we should provide the standards equivalent to an academician.”
The secretary nodded and wrote down some notes.
Professor Perelman could easily go to Princeton or Berkeley and receive a US$300,000 annual salary, or as much as US$600,000, which was what Terrence Tao received. Arranging him an academician-level accommodation was more than appropriate.
If he stayed at Jin University, it would be a huge boost to the influence of Jin University on the international mathematics community.
The dean of the foreign language department said, “There’s also the food aspect. Russians have a different diet than us. We don’t have any Russian restaurants in our cafeteria, so I think we should add one.”
Dean Qin frowned and said, “A Russian restaurant? So like various types of bread?”
“Uh, yeah, but it’s more than that…” The foreign language department dean said, “Like… Borscht, Stroganoff, and Golubtsy.”
Dean Qin: “…”
Everyone: “…”
“We can consider that proposal and add an international restaurant as this will also cater to international students,” the secretary said as he looked at his assistant. “Xiao Wang, write that down.”
Director Chen from the international department felt like it was time for him to speak.
Otherwise, all of the good ideas would be stolen by others. He felt like if he did not speak now, he wouldn’t get a chance.
“I heard Perelman doesn’t speak Chinese.”
Everyone at the conference table looked at him; Dean Qin was speechless.
No sh*t, Sherlock?
Director Chen looked around the table and smiled.
“It’s not just Perelman, many visiting scholars and professors have encountered language barriers, cultural differences, and many other problems.
“We all know that Jin University serves our people, but it belongs to the world. In order to internationalize our campus and to create friendships, I suggest a strategy for our students to proactively help foreign students with their daily life problems.
“Professor Perelman is a respectable scholar and his scientific research experience can guide our students. Our students, on the other hand, can help him with daily life and cultural encounters. This will help him integrate into our society and make him feel like home.”
Everyone felt like this made sense.
The secretary nodded and thought for a second. However, he soon furrowed his eyebrows.
“… Wait a second, is that really appropriate?”
Teachers and students had a special relationship, and allowing them to communicate outside of academia could lead to problems.
The power dynamics would be disrupted.
Professors generally tried to avoid communicating with students outside of academic matters.
Director Chen smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Secretary, this won’t be a problem! The Jin University students will have the chance to learn about another culture, this is a win-win situation—”
The secretary thought about it and felt like it made sense.
However, Principal Xu, who hadn’t spoken yet, suddenly laughed.
“Director Chen, are we offering him a vacation or a job?”
Director Chen looked at Principal Xu and quickly explained, “Um… Of course we’re offering him a teaching position, but we want him to integrate into our culture, right?”
Principal Xu snorted.
“Integrate into our culture? Forget about it. Students and professors need to stay separate in their personal lives. Are you trying to find Perelman a son or a daughter?”
“Principal Xu, no offense, but you’re being too sensitive, this is for his benefit.” Director Chen sighed and said earnestly, “We’re a university in a developing country. Even though we have Academician Lu, who has helped us gain some international status, we don’t want to rely on him forever, right?”
Principal Xu suddenly laughed.
“Haha, I’m too sensitive? Funny how you bring up Academician Lu. Please, don’t compare yourself to him.”
Director Chen blushed, he was speechless.
Principal Xu looked at him and said, “I’m not going to say this again, but if we want to become a top-rated university, we have to become inclusive and not possessed by ideologies.
“How do we internationalize? Is it by measuring the proportion of foreign professors? What about judging by skin color? Are we going to hire inferior professors using racial quotas, in the name of equity? Have you ever been in a f*cking laboratory?”
Principal Xu came from an academic background, and he was even part of the 863 Program.
“But other universities—”
“No buts! How about you go to other schools then!
“We are hiring foreign scholars for research or for them to ‘integrate’ into our society! I don’t want scholars who are here for a vacation.”
The dean of the foreign language department was speechless. Director Chen shook his head without saying anything.
This was quite a preposterous proposal.
There was nothing wrong with students forming friendships with professors.
However, being forced into a friendship by the school was inappropriate.
A university was a place of academia.
This was the first time people saw Principal Xu this angry.
Director Chen felt mistreated. He only wanted Jin University to prosper.
But now was obviously not the time to argue. He lowered his head and spoke to Principal Xu.
“You’re right, this approach was wrong. I’ll go do some more research—”
“Research? Research my a*s!” Principal Xu stood up and said, “This meeting is over!”
