Chapter 31: Academy Staff Meeting

Friday afternoon, the college conference room.

The dean and department heads sat around a long table, while most of the graduate supervisors and faculty sat along the walls, each clutching a small notebook, though it was unclear what they were recording.

The atmosphere of the meeting was not particularly formal. Being a weekly routine, it usually amounted to little more than the department heads reporting on their work, followed by the dean offering a few words of guidance for upcoming arrangements.

Dean Lin looked down at the notebook in front of him, verified that nothing had been missed, and looked up at the group. "Are there any other questions? If not, shall we conclude today's meeting here? After we adjourn, I ask that everyone promptly implement the matters we discussed."

"Just a moment," Deng Yonghua cleared his throat. "There is a matter concerning student life that I would like to take a few minutes to discuss."

Dean Lin nodded. "Professor Deng, please go ahead."

"A couple of days ago, a new student in my research group raised an issue with me. He mentioned that there are some unreasonable charges for the air conditioning in our school dormitories. I wonder if any of you are aware of this?"

Most people looked blank, clearly unaware of any such problem. Only Vice Dean Zhang, who was in charge of logistics, narrowed his eyes imperceptibly.

Deng paused, adjusted his glasses, and continued: "Based on his account and what I have briefly gathered from a few senior students, the newcomer's claims are largely consistent with reality. Let me summarize: in addition to the standard electricity fees, students are required to pay two extra charges. The deposit is understandable, and everyone accepts it. But there is another fee—a so-called 'service fee.' And this fee is quite substantial; it amounts to over a thousand yuan per room. The students feel this is a bit excessive. After all, if I am not mistaken, a new air conditioning unit costs about two thousand yuan, doesn't it? This really shouldn't have been brought up in a college meeting, but because he is a new student, he didn't know the proper channels to report this to the school, so he came to me. I also believe this is not a trivial matter."

As he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

Dean Lin’s expression turned serious. "There is no such thing as reasonable or unreasonable when it comes to problems. Our weekly meetings are meant to address issues within the college. Student concerns are legitimate issues—major ones, at that—and we cannot shy away from them."

"Dean Lin is right, of course," Vice Dean Zhang interjected. "However, the air conditioning billing is handled by a service company we collaborate with. I am not entirely clear on the specifics, but the pricing standards should have undergone market research and received approval from the relevant school departments."

Deng Yonghua, however, was not buying it. He wasn't about to let Zhang brush it off with a few vague sentences; after all, he didn't reach his position in research by being gullible.

"Vice Dean Zhang, I am not privy to the approval process, but as the paying users, the students' experience is what matters most to our school. Regarding the service fee, if the service truly justified such a cost, the students would not have come to me. Speaking for myself, I find the fee quite high. The air conditioner in my own home only cost two thousand yuan, and it has worked for five years without any major issues."

Vice Dean Zhang’s expression stiffened. Just as he was about to offer an explanation, Dean Lin interrupted him.

"The situation Professor Deng has raised is important; we cannot ignore the students' opinions. This air conditioning billing model is indeed questionable. Vice Dean Zhang, since you also serve as the director of the school’s logistics department, I would like you to take the lead. Organize the logistics and finance departments, as well as that service company, to thoroughly review the contracts, pricing standards, and service details—especially the composition and justification for this 'service fee.' Provide me with a detailed written report within a week. If the situation is as described, this goes beyond just our college and will certainly need to be reported to the university leadership."

"Understood, Dean. I will handle it as soon as possible," Zhang replied, having no other choice.

"Meeting adjourned."

Deng Yonghua picked up his notebook and thermos and left the room calmly. He had reported the matter, but there was little more he could do; the final outcome depended on how the school handled it. After all, he was only a vice dean in charge of research.

After the meeting, Vice Dean Zhang returned to his office. He sat in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk, his brow slightly furrowed. He quickly organized his thoughts: the process itself was technically sound, but the key was to prevent this "small spark" from starting a fire—especially preventing it from fermenting among the student body, and ensuring Dean Lin did not perceive any negligence in logistics management. That way, the issue could be contained within the college.

*A new student?* he thought. *Classes haven't officially started, so there shouldn't be many freshmen yet. A student under Professor Deng? Probably that student who submitted to NeurIPS.* He recalled Dean Lin mentioning him at a previous meeting.

This student was the source of the problem, and also the key to its resolution. If he could appease the student and provide Dean Lin with a detailed, self-consistent report, the matter could be put to rest.

He tidied his thoughts and contacted Zhou Yun’s counselor, asking him to have Zhou Yun come to his office for a "brief chat."

An hour later, Zhou Yun knocked on Vice Dean Zhang’s door.

"Student Zhou Yun, right? Please, have a seat." Vice Dean Zhang greeted him warmly and even poured him a glass of water. "Don't be nervous. I just want to understand the details of the dormitory air conditioning charges you reported to Professor Deng. Dean Lin takes this very seriously and has personally instructed us to handle it properly."

Zhou Yun restated the situation briefly.

Vice Dean Zhang listened intently, nodding from time to time, his face showing an expression of understanding. "I see. I understand your concerns. Students are often not well-off, and it is natural to be sensitive about fees. Especially with this service fee, it is easy to have questions at first glance. The school has always been striving to reduce living costs for students."

Suddenly, his tone shifted. "However, Zhou Yun, this billing model is the result of a rigorous bidding and approval process, under a formal contract with a partner company. The contract clearly states the service content and pricing standards. This 'service fee' covers more than just the unit itself; it includes installation, maintenance and upkeep throughout the usage cycle, cleaning and disinfection, rapid response to failures, and even the final dismantling and recycling. The company invests significant labor and resources, so the costs are indeed high. From a procedural and contractual standpoint, the charges are compliant."