The state-owned Global Times on January 8, 2017, reported that 62-year old Deng Xiangchao, Deputy Head of the School of Art at Shangdong Jianzhu University, had been made to retire for posting controversial comments about Mao Zedong online. He has simultaneously been instructed to stop any teaching-related activities both on and off campus. The Shandong government also announced that Deng Xiangchao has been dismissed from his position as a member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and as Counselor to the Provincial government. The Shandong government announcement did not give the reason for his dismisssal. Photos dated January 4, showed angry people protesting against Deng Xiangchao at the front gate of Shandong Jianzhu University and holding Mao's portrait and banners that read "whoever opposes Chairman Mao is an enemy of the people."