Chinese law professor advocating constitutional rule says he's been expelled from his college

BEIJING – A Chinese law professor says he has been expelled from his college because he refused to recant his article calling for constitutional rule in China.

Zhang Xuezhong, a lecturer at East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, says he was notified orally of the university's decision Monday and that he plans to defend himself with a lawsuit against the school once he receives written notice.

The university's Communist Party chief, Du Zhichun, declined to discuss the matter when reached by phone Tuesday.

Zhang has been banned from classrooms since the summer, following an article he wrote calling for constitutional rule. The article also was critical of the Chinese leadership's campaign to discredit such calls.