The relationship between Kean University President Lamont Repollet and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has come under scrutiny, raising concerns about the influence of the CCP on American educational institutions. Repollet's recent interactions with Chinese officials, including the new Consul General in New York, Chen Li, and his past engagement with former Consul General Huang Ping, highlight the depth of these ties.

Chen Li recently praised Repollet's "warm hospitality" on social media, emphasizing the importance of bilateral educational exchange. This follows a pattern of engagement between Repollet and Chinese officials, including a recent trip to Beijing for an international conference and a letter exchange with President Xi Jinping himself.

Repollet's connection to China extends back several years, including visits to China before his presidency at Kean. His involvement with Wenzhou-Kean University, a joint Chinese-American institution, has been a focal point of this relationship. Chinese state media has highlighted Repollet's participation in various events and his advocacy for educational equity, often framing it within the context of U.S.-China cooperation.

Experts like Michael Sobolik, author of "Countering China’s Great Game," have expressed concern over these close ties, particularly given the CCP's human rights record. Sobolik points out the irony of Kean University hosting a Human Rights Institute while seemingly ignoring China's human rights abuses. The Chinese consulate in New York has dismissed these criticisms as disinformation and defended the educational cooperation as mutually beneficial.

Repollet's predecessor at the New York consulate, Huang Ping, also had extensive ties to American political figures, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer. Ping's involvement in an indictment concerning one of Hochul's former aides further complicates the picture of CCP influence in American politics.

Kean University has not responded to requests for comment on this matter. The ongoing scrutiny highlights the complex relationship between American universities and China, raising questions about academic freedom and the potential for undue influence by the CCP.