Past Asian Studies News
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China in Depth - In May, 2010, a group of Furman alumni and friends traveled with Dr. Kate Kaup for an insider tour of China, particularly focusing on Furman's programs in China and Furman's approach to Asian Studies. This intrepid group traveled in and around Suzhou, Shanghai, Tibet, Xi’an and Beijing. During their time in China, they were hosted by dignitaries from Soochow University, Furman's partner university in China, and represented Furman at Soochow's 100th Anniversary Celebration.
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They also visited hospitals and monasteries, attended university lectures, spent time with a host Chinese family, saw the Dalai Lama’s Potala Palace and Xi’an’s ancient terracotta warriors, climbed the Great Wall, and many things in between. The group included Kate Kaup, David and Frances Ellison, Ron and Kathy McKinney, Jason and Marie Richards, Coleman Shouse, Richard and Carrie Tucker, and Tom and Diane Triplitt.
Lauren Thompson (Sr.) presented her research findings on Japanese and American Otaku at the SCICU Research Program Symposium on February 18 in Greer as well as at the 24th National Conference on Undergraduate Research on April 15-17 in Missoula, Montana.
2009 AS Seniors go out with a SPLASH! CLICK HERE!
Two AS Majors to Present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Two Asian Studies seniors, Kimberley Ghany and Mallory Nystrom, presented their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2009 at University of Wisconsin- La Crosse on April 16-18, 2009. Mallory's paper "Shocks to the Systems: Visual Kei's Use of Image and Identity in Japanese Popular Culture" is based on her fieldwork in Japan supported by a SCICU (South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities) fellowship. Kimberley presented her paper in Social Psychology titled, ""Preschoolers' Ability to Override the Names and Functions of Objects.
Student Conservation Association Awards AS Major First Place
Asian Studies Major Daniel Balo and six other Furman freshman were awarded first place by the Student Conservation Association (SCA). In February,2009, the group of seven received a regional award for a film they made about maintaining a "green" lifestyle on campus. In April they were honored with the national award earning them a $15,000 prize. Congratulations Daniel and great work!
Study Abroad Photos Exhibit Talent from our Majors!
Japanese Radio Show
The Furman radio station (
WPLS 95.9 FM) has featured a Japanese radio show hosted by 2009 Furman graduate Mallory Nystrom since 2005. j-DIVE was Furman University's weekly radio plunge into the world of contemporary Japanese music. Listeners were exposed to a wide variety of genres, including, but not limited to, pop, rock, visual-kei, indie, and anime soundtracks; occasionally a Chinese or Korean song may sneak its way onto the show. You can visit the
show's website to find more information including a two minute sample of some of the genres found on the show.
Dr. Kate Kaup attains to National Committee for United States-China Relations
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Dr. Katherine Kaup, a Political Science professor specializing in the politics of Asia, and chair of Furman's Asian Studies Department, was chosen along with 19 others "of the best and brightest from among the younger generation of American China scholars" for the 2008-2010 Public Intellectuals Program by the National Committee on United States-China Relations.
"Fellows [of the program] are required to commit to attend an annual conference to be held in Washington, D.C. this year and next, a weekend meeting in San Francisco in between, and a group trip to China at some point in the next two years. In addition, each participant is required to organize a public education program in his/her geographic or professional community and may have the opportunity to accompany a National Committee-sponsored delegation (either from or to China) during the next three years."
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"This ambitious, multi-year program is designed to identify outstanding members of the next generation of American China scholars, enrich their understanding of policy-making processes in both the United States and China, help them establish useful relationships with their academic colleagues and with policy practitioners, and nurture their ability to engage in public policy debates, on a national, regional and local level. PIP (Public Intellectuals Program) is implemented through a series of interlocking programs, including Washington policy seminars, study tours of China, participation in National Committee delegations as scholar escorts and support for public education initiatives."
2009 Asian Studies Majors Honored
The following Asian Studies Majors were awarded the Phi Beta Kappa: Beverly Claire Carlton; Katie Barnhill; Jacqueline Marie Kent; Mallory Regina Nystrom; Brandon Todd Reeser and Travis W. Sago, Jr.
These students were inducted into the Japanese National Honor Society: Jacqueline Marie Kent, Phillip Martin and Mallory Regina Nystrom.
Chinese New Year - The Year of the Ox Celebration
The Asian Studies and Modern Languages and Literature Departments co-sponsored a Chinese New Year Celebration on Monday evening, February 2, 2009 in the Watkins Room at University Center. The well attended celebration featured authentic Chinese cuisine as well as performances by several Furman students.
Students Teaching Students about Asia (STSA)
Students Teaching About Asia wass a student led volunteer initiative funded by the generous Jones Grant that allowed a group of Furman students to enter into high school, middle school, and elementary school classrooms to share their experiences in Asia with both students and teachers. Founded by 2009 graduate, Katie Barnhill, the club's goal was to stimulate greater interest in a vastly little known part of the world that is gaining influence in the international community and marketplace. Furman students offered a variety of lessons including Ancient and Modern history, introductory Chinese and Japanese language, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Japanese philosophy, modern Chinese and Japanese Society, Chinese and Japanese art, and geography. They provide green tea samples, Aikido demonstrations, Tai Chi
demonstrations, meditation, music, and anime.
Asian Studies Majors Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa
The Asian Studies Department is pleased to announce the induction of 4 of our majors into Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest undergraduate honors organization in the United States. The society has pursued its mission of fostering and recognizing excellence in the liberal arts and sciences since 1776. Congratulations to Mo Campbell, Lauren Corbitt, Ke Ji and Martha Kimmel.
New Student Exchange Begins with Suzhou University
The Asian Studies Department began a new exchange program with Suzhou University in the fall of 2007. Suzhou University student, Yang Liwei, spent the '07-'08 academic year engaged in American Studies at Furman. Furman student Blaine Scott spent the fall term studying intensive Chinese in Suzhou, followed by four Furman Asian Studies classmates in the spring. Additional Chinese students attended Furman in the Spring, as well.
Furman Offers Intensive Chinese Summer Institute
Funded by a major federal government grant, Furman has successfully run a nine-week Intensive Chinese Summer Institute in Suzhou, China for the years 2007 and 2008. Overseen by the U.S. Department of State and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, in conjunction with the Associated Colleges of the South, the institute provided twenty students from across the nation with full scholarships to study intermediate-level Chinese. More information about the program is available at the
CAORC’s official website. For more information regarding Furman's role see our web page,
FSIS.
Suzhou University Dean of Foreign Languages School Accepts Invitation as Visiting Professor
Suzhou University's Dean of the Foreign Languages School, Xu Qinggen, served as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Asian Studies during the Spring 2008 term. Dean Xu offered an AS 95 course on Suzhou History and Culture and was a valuable resource to Furman faculty and students both in and outside of the classroom. His contribution of Tai Chi Instruction was captured on video by AS Major, David Bruggink (2009). A limited number of DVD's of the presentation are still available. E-mail
Becky Duckett if you are interested in a copy.
India Study Abroad in '08
Co-sponsored by the departments of Asian Studies, Economics and History, Furman’s much anticipated India Study Abroad program ran in the winter term 2008. Kailash Khandke, Assistant Dean for Study Away and International Education, and Savita Nair, history professor, were co-directors of this new program. History A95, “Power and Privilege: Issues in Indian History,” and Economics A95, “Issues in Indian Political-Economy” comprised the academic coursework. Participants had summer and fall reading assignments and are strongly encouraged to take Hindi 10 this fall term to assist in enhancing the cultural experience. From January 10-25 the group will visited Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Bangalore, Mysore and Cochin. The rest of the experience (through February 20), a residential study, took place at Madras Christian College, Chennai (Madras). Furman students had an opportunity to engage in an intellectually rigorous manner and experience the world’s most populous democracy. With over one billion people who are diverse in language, religion and cultural practices, it was a journey into a rich and complex history and political economy.
The Dragon and the Palmetto: A Symposium on China and South Carolina in the 21st Century
On April 23, 2007 the Department of Asian Studies at Furman University, with the co-sponsorship of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, hosted a public symposium geared to highlighting major political and economic issues in the U.S.-China relationship and how they might be considered from our South Carolina vantage point. Two of the most prominent American experts on China affairs and U.S.-China relations, Professor David M. Lampton of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and Nicholas Lardy, Senior Fellow at the Institute for International Economics addressed the symposium. Following each of these presentations, a panel of experts with South Carolina-ties and varied backgrounds commented on the issues raised. These panels featured professors from the University of South Carolina at Columbia, Clemson and Furman, as well as representatives from the South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Office of Senator Jim DeMint, and an experienced business executive who has represented the Shanghai American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.
Professor John Berninghausen Visits Furman
On February 23, 2007, John Berninghausen, Truscott Professor of Chinese at Middlebury College, met with members of the Asian Studies Department to discuss plans for the new Furman-Suzhou Intensive Chinese Summer Institute. Berninghausen, founder and leader of
Middlebury’s prestigious Chinese Language Department, offered insights and suggestions for the new, grant funded initiative, affirming the foundation Furman has laid in its recent expansion of Chinese studies.
Fall in China '06 Integrates Internship Components
Seventeen students who studied at Suzhou University during the Fall ’06 Term added internships to their schedules. Although previous Study Abroad in China has offered optional internships, the new arrangement required internships and tied them to a required course in culture studies. Under the leadership of Professor Jan Kiely, students participated in a variety of internship assignments that allowed them to get out of the college classroom, off campus, and into Chinese life. Internship locations included Chinese businesses, US corporations doing business in China, banks, schools, orphanages, law offices and the kitchen of a five-star hotel. Favorable student response to having these opportunities has affirmed Asian Studies’ commitment to pursuing internships as an ongoing vehicle for engaged learning abroad.
James B. Leavell Asian Studies Collection Expands
The Department of Asian Studies has successfully raised funds to add to the generous gift of 130 Chinese language books, tapes, and CD's from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington D.C. These additional funds are being used to increase Chinese, Japanese and South Asian materials available in the Asian Studies Reading Room. The Department continues to accept donations to further expand the collection in honor of emeritus Asian Studies professor, Dr. James B. Leavell. Gifts of $100 or more are recognized on a permanent plaque located in the Asian Studies Suite. Donations and queries should be directed to Becky Duckett.