To commemorate International Labor Day on May 1, a large-scale activity dubbed "Greeting the Workers" was held in front of the Tsinghua Auditorium. Hundreds of students expressed their gratitude and respect for the faculty, staff and medical workers from Tsinghua who are engaged in the frontline fight against SARS.

Little did the students know that Beijing Acting Mayor Wang Qishan would show up to surprise them.

Acting Mayor Wang delivered a brief but heartfelt speech to the crowd, saying he hadn’t planned to come to Tsinghua on Thursday, but while he was nearby at the Student Apartments in Universiade Games Athletes' Village, the idea came to him to drop by Tsinghua to show his support during the tough battle against SARS.

In his speech, he had high praise for the work done by Tsinghua in the anti-SARS campaign. "I have learned that serious measures have been taken at Tsinghua and proved very effective. Classes are continuing and the faculty and students are living their life as usual. I’d like to reemphasize that we have to protect ourselves against infection," he said.

He also highlighted that good ideas should be put into practice, such as the infrared thermometers developed by Tsinghua University which are being installed at the University’s main gates. He said these devices would contribute greatly to the battle against the deadly virus.