“China and Globalization” is Augustana’s International Theme

Designed to increase students’ understanding of global issues, Augustana introduced the International Theme during the 2009-10 academic year by studying and supporting issues related to Guatemala. For the 2010-11 year, amid the College’s sesquicentennial, the theme was Norway. For the 2011-12 year, the theme was World Hunger and Poverty.

“By taking time to explore issues and support causes related to our International Themes, we will all be better suited to appreciate and understand important topics that extend far beyond our local, state and national borders,” said Sam Ogdie, instructor of Spanish and Augustana’s Co-Curriculum Theme Year Coordinator. “We are hopeful the Augustana community, including students, faculty and staff, will participate and engage in the ‘China and Globalization’ programs and activities we have planned.”

“China and Globalization” programming efforts include:

• The Department of Modern Foreign Languages coordinates an annual "Celebration of Cultures" series that offers a variety of events related to world languages, cultures and literature. This year, the series features presentations by students, faculty and guest speakers on their experiences in China.
  • At 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, in Humanities 301, Shu Li, a piano professional, will present the topic of “Chinese Music and Culture Exchange and Expansion” and share some musical experience with the audience. Since founding International Music Exchange Association (IMEA), Shu Li has been working closely with many organizations and academics for international music/culture exchange programs (festivals, lectures, and seminars) over the past few years. She is also a Doctor of Music Arts student in Piano Performance at The University of Kansas.
    Presenting with Shu Li will be Delta David Gier on "Classical Music as a Universal Language." Gier is a dynamic voice on the American music scene. His longtime association with the New York Philharmonic led to many fruitful collaborations, including several seasons of Young People's Concerts. He has conducted many of the world's leading ensembles such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and Chicago Symphony. As Music Director of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, his programming innovations have included the highly acclaimed Lakota Music Project (side-by-side with Native American musicians), and highly impactful collaborations with Arab musicians such as oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen and Ghanaian Gyil artist Bernard Woma. Accolades have come from many sources, including seven ASCAP awards and the John S. Edwards award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music.
  • At 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, in Humanities 301, Dr. Robert Wright will describe China's economic history over the last two millennia through the prism of the Growth Diamond Model of economic development, which emphasizes the incentives of individuals to work harder and smarter. Acclaimed writer and economic historian, Wright is the first holder of the Nef Family Chair of Political Economy and established the Thomas Willing Institute for the Study of Financial Markets, Institutions, and Regulations at Augustana to promote the public’s understanding of the financial system.
  • At 3 p.m. on Friday, April 12, in the Back Alley, Augustana's Multicultural Affairs presents New York Times best-selling author Da Chen, who will give the audience a look into China during the cultural revolution. Da arrived in America at the age of 23 with $30 in his pocket, a bamboo flute, and a heart filled with hope. He attended Columbia University School of Law on a full scholarship and, upon graduating, worked for the Wall Street investment banking firm of Rothschilds, Inc. His first memoir, "Colors of the Mountain," is a New York Times bestseller.
  • At 10 a.m. on Friday, April 12, in Humanities #123. Dr. Emily McRae, a recipient of the "China and Globalization" Theme Year Mini-Grant, will be giving a talk entitled "Metabolizing Anger: A Solution to the Problem of Moral Anger.” McRae is a professor of philosophy at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in ethics, feminism and Asian philosophy — particularly Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and Confucian philosophy.
  • At 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, in Humanities 301, Doug Anderson spoke on China. "I traveled to China twice a year for 12 years, eventually accumulating enough time in China to say I have spent a year of my life there." Other cross-cultural experiences and travels have included 9 months of schooling in Israel during his seminary days, travel to places like Egypt and Costa Rica, and numerous and ongoing trips to the Rosebud Reservation just a few hours from home. Since 1992, Anderson's been employed at Sioux Falls Psychological Services and Sioux Falls Seminary where he's Director of Counseling Education and Clinical Services and Assistant Professor of Counseling.
  • The first of these speakers was at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, in Humanities 325, when Shihan Li, a Sioux Falls Seminary student from China gave a talk titled, "The Drastic Changes Experienced in China in the Last 20 Years."
• The Boe Forum on Public Affairs, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Elmen Center, featured Jared Cohen, former advisor to Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, author, member of the Council on Foreign Relations and director of Google Ideas. His address, “The Relationship Between United States Foreign Policy and the Technological Revolution,” was free and open to the public.
• On Friday afternoons (at 3 p.m. in the Back Alley) our international students give Rendezvous Program presentations on their respective countries. The Sept. 21 talk was on Hong Kong, and Friday, Jan. 25, featured a presentation on China.
• Almost 80,000 girls have been adopted from China by American families since 1989. The stories of four of those girls are the focus of "Somewhere Between," an award-winning documentary receiving its five-state premiere in a special showing at Augustana beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct 26.
• November 12-16 is International Education Week (IEW) and Augustana focused on China with a Thursday, Nov. 15, speaker event, presented by the Augustana International Club. Nationally known writer and linguist Deborah Fallows shared lessons on life, love and language in a special presentation at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, in Augustana's Chapel of Reconciliation.

In addition to the planned events and activities, Augustana students, faculty and staff are also encouraged to develop additional ways to support the International Theme. “Mini-grants” of up to $500 are available to assist students, faculty and staff in developing and implementing programs in support of “China and Globalization.” There is no deadline to apply; however, early submission is encouraged.

Did you know?
Facts about China on campus-wide posters:
► The world's largest population and third largest area.
►The world's fastest growing economy for the last 30 years (10% or more per year).
►Greatest altitude difference of 9,002 m. (29,534 ft.) With Mount Everest at 8,848 m. (29,029 ft.) to the Turpan Depression at -154 m. (-505 ft.) That's the world's highest point all the way down to the world's third lowest point.
►Ice cream was invented in China around 2000 B.C. when the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in the snow.