|
When a group of nearly two dozen Presbyterian College faithful took a trip together last fall to the People’s Republic of China, it affirmed once again the college’s commitment to develop for students an environment and program that is globally significant. Mixing a tour of the country with another official visit to the college’s partner, Guizhou University, the delegation no doubt began to see shoots emerge from seeds planted well before their arrival. They also served themselves to nurture the ongoing relationship as it blossoms in the years ahead.
For one member of the delegation, the man who led the group to China, last October’s journey overseas has already yielded fruit – new agreements in PC’s partnership with Guizhou University, strengthened bonds of friendship, and validation of the college’s role on the global stage. College president Dr. John Griffith has seen the potential in such a relationship for quite a while. Last fall, he witnessed much of that promise in action.
"This is very gratifying from an educational standpoint," he said. "This particular idea of a partnership with this particular institution was planted by Michael McNulty, our trustee from Ireland who is an international economic development and tourism consultant. He found in Guizhou University, the province of Ghuizhou, and the capital city of Guiyang a situation not unlike the situation of South Carolina and Presbyterian College and the cities of this region.”
Both schools are located in rural areas but are close to economic centers, he said. Both regions are somewhat unspoiled by industrial
development but are economically viable and growing. Both areas also have wrestled with issues of diversity and ethnicity. Both Guizhou University and Presbyterian College share another thing in common – presidents whose understanding of each other is growing and benefiting their respective institutions.
“I think it’s been a very, very fine relationship,” said Griffith. “(Guizhou University) President Chen (Shuping) is an excellent leader and visionary. When he visited here, I asked him, ‘Why is this partnership important to you?’ He said it’s very important, if the Chinese are to understand Americans and America, they must understand the Judeo-Christian heritage and Greco-Roman law – both of which have come together to create democracy and capitalism in a powerful and unique way.
“He went on to say that the church-related liberal arts college in America does a better job of transmitting what the Judeo-Christian heritage and Greco-Roman law is about than any other type of educational institution. So, he had a very clear understanding of why a university that now has 70,000 people would want to partner with a church-related liberal arts college that has nearly 1,200 students and about 350 employees.”
Griffith said it is ironic to find such support outside the circle of the liberal arts tradition.
“It first told me a lot about him and what he understands about American higher education,” he said. “It’s interesting because we are constant apologists for exactly that same issue on the American scene – and there are times that it is an uphill argument to make. To have someone from the other side of the world – in a culture that does not embrace the Judeo-Christian mission or Greco-Roman law – understand why (the liberal arts) is essential if they’re going to be the country that, along with America, are the world leaders for the next century is impressive.”
The trip to China was nothing if not impressive, said Griffith.
“There is wonder that everyone experiences over the depth of history in China, recognizing how old a civilization it is and how magnificent that civilization has been at times when our civilization had barely begun to get going,” he said. “I think there is amazement at what’s happening and how rapidly it’s changing. As far as you can look in some of the metropolitan areas, it looks like the best part of Atlanta – but 20 times that. In city after city, they’re just building and the people are prospering.
“We were also struck in the countryside by parts of the culture that are still pre-Industrial Revolution. There is simple life – animals for transportation, animals for cultivation of the land – and they’re maintaining traditions that are centuries old and haven’t changed.”
There were also ample opportunities for the group to be treated as guests – not just tourists – during their visit to Guizhou, especially when Presbyterian College was placed front and center before their gracious hosts. Griffith said a personal highlight was the invitation by Chen to address approximately 1,500 foreign language faculty and students on the mission of the church-related liberal arts college. Afterwards, he was engaged in a serious of astute questions raised – in English – by audience members eager to learn his thoughts on Columbia University’s invitation to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President Bush’s awarding the Medal of Freedom to the Dalai Lama, and intellectual and academic freedom at a church-related institution.
“Those were magnificent questions and, in fact, I found it to be one of the most stimulating exchanges I’ve had in a public setting like that,” he said.
Griffith’s presidential peer also earned a personal highlight – an honorary doctorate of humane letters presented by Griffith and PC board of trustees chairman Bill Shearer to President Chen.
“He was beaming,” said Griffith. “It was just a very proud moment for Presbyterian College. He told the audience that this was the proudest moment of his career.”
That same evening, Chen entertained the entire PC delegation alongside members of his own management team. Guizhou University’s president also entertained his guests with a story that is sure to become part of Blue Hose legend.
“In the toast that followed dinner, I asked President Chen if, as our newest alumnus, he wanted to know what our mascot was,” said Griffith. “President Chen speaks good English but ‘mascot’ was not a word he knew. He looked to his translator, who also didn’t know, so I knew I had to work with that and finally got around to ‘symbol.’ All of a sudden the lights went on and he said, ‘Oh, you mean Florida Gators.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, Gators.’ So I told him, ‘Your mascot is the Blue Hose.’ Well the look on people’s faces and his face – what’s a Blue Hose? So we went through the explanation of what a blue stocking was and how at some point that name was changed to Blue Hose. So, I asked if he would lead a cheer for his alma mater. We had that room of Chinese educators and representatives from Presbyterian College in a banquet hall at the Communist Party headquarters shouting, ‘Go Blue Hose!’
Click thumbnails for larger pictures
|
