On the morning of March 22nd, a ceremony to mark the dispatch of USTB’s “Youth Commandos” was held on campus. Prof. YANG Renshu, President of USTB, Prof. DAI Jinggang, Vice Chancellor, Prof. XUE Qingguo, Vice President, and other university leaders as well as the volunteer student Youth Commandos from various schools attended the ceremony.

In order to support Beijing in the administration and care of overseas travelers entering China during the COVID-19 outbreak, USTB dispatched a team of 30 Youth Commandos, being made up of two teachers and 28 students from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Automation and Electrical Engineering, School of Computer & Communication Engineering, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and School of Foreign Studies. Their goal was to help provide quality reception services at the transfer and distribution center for overseas passengers located at the China International Exhibition Center New Venue.

During the ceremony, Prof. YANG delivered a speech and presented a flag to the student volunteers. He began by expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers on behalf of USTB. He stressed that USTB attaches great importance to the quick response and efficient organization of its departments in times of need. He praised the relevant departments for taking the lead to select 28 students from six schools to assist on the front line of the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic. Their actions shows the merits of USTB’s teachers and students for being fearless in the face of danger and willingness to take decisive action.

Prof. YANG spoke of how President XI Jinping wrote in a letter to the members of the Peking University’s medical team that had volunteered to work in Hubei province that: “A country and its people will always have hope as long as its youth have lofty ideals, skills, and sense of responsibility.” The Youth Commandos should carry forward the spirit of “being devoted, kind, helpful, and progressive” while being careful to protect themselves, uphold the honor of USTB students, and assume the “spirit of Lei Feng” by shouldering greater social responsibility. Prof. YANG repeatedly emphasized that all the Commandos must protect themselves and pay attention to their own health. The whole university looks forward to their safe return!

Prof. XUE then formally announced the formation of the USTB Youth Commandos. Mr. SU Dong, representing the team, led them to take an oath to uphold their duties. Prof. DAI then presented materials to the Commandos. Afterwards, the Youth Commandos immediately went to the transfer and distribution center for overseas passengers located at the China International Exhibition Center New Venue to begin their work there on the same day.

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