Students celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the prestigious Tsinghua University in many unique ways on Sunday, despite fears of SARS.

"Salute the medical staff who work at the frontline of the fight against SARS!", "Please write down your blessings and make them fly with the paper crane" were some of the slogans, together with colorful paper cranes hanging along the main road of Tsinghua, drawing many passers-by to write their blessing and making paper cranes themselves.

The "paper crane action" was jointly launched by the university's volunteer team and Love-Heart Association to encourage every student to make a paper crane to express respect and blessings for medical staff. Within the past two days, nearly 3,000 paper cranes were sent to the organizers.

As all grand celebration ceremonies have been canceled due to the SARS virus, students from the university's art troupe volunteered to perform beside the No.10 dining hall.

Folk dancing, drum shows as well as cross talk performances all received enthusiastic applause.

It was very obvious that the SARS panic was dispelled from the campus as students were at every corner of the university, in corridors, study rooms, libraries and gardens to continue their study, exercise and academic discussion.

On the university's website, many students left their sincere words at this special day, saying that when they grew old, this sunny spring, together with the face masks, soaps and the SARS panic as well as their optimism would remain in their memories.

Some students also expressed their great confidence in conquering the potentially lethal disease, saying Tsinghua students would build a bright future for the motherland with their knowledge, wisdom and good health.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2003)