8-28 Corporate sponsorship of universities in the United States and the United Kingdom is commonplace; the sponsored universities have attracted millions of dollars.

Chinese universities are following suit. However, this process was strongly criticized following the sponsorship of a building at Tsinghua University in 2011.

The No. 4 Teaching Building was adorned with big gold letters proclaiming it to be the Jeanswest Building.

Within days of the sign going up, it was defaced with spray paint. Students at the university believed the institution had “sold out” and that it was a laughing stock across China. The sign was eventually taken down. The university was trying to raise $114 million in sponsorship and had offered the naming rights for 14 of its buildings. Had Tsinghua University crossed the line and brought the institution into disrepute?