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INSIDE MOREHOUSE. SEPTEMBER 2010
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Inside Morehouse is
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‘I anticipate that we’ll see the
Morehouse Renaissance intensifying’
The 2010-11 academic year
is underway, and Morehouse
College is pleased to have added
more than 720 freshmen and
transfer students to its commu
nity of scholars. Included
among these first-time students
are residents of 43 states and 17
countries, including, South
Africa, Japan, China, and the
United Kingdom, among oth
ers. Each one of us brings spe
cial talents and gifts to
Morehouse, and all are respon
sible for upholding our tradi
tion of producing thought lead
ers and change agents for the
global community.
Morehouse has earned an
international reputation for
academic excellence and a
widely celebrated track record
of producing graduates who
serve the public good. But
another of our noteworthy
achievements, often over
looked, is our longstanding tra
dition of fostering global
awareness, appreciation for
human diversity, and encourag
ing students to experience the
amazing kaleidoscope of cul
tures, thought, food, languages,
literature, music, and lifestyles
here and around the globe.
This year, in addition to
the opening of our modern
Ray Charles Performing Arts
Center and Music Academic
Building, I anticipate that
we’ll see the Morehouse Ren
aissance intensifying. It has
already begun with students
through their service to the
local community. And little
by little, we’ll see it broaden
ing to impact communities
across the globe.
I believe Indian Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
said it best when he defined
culture as “the widening of
the mind and of the spirit.” As
the leader of an institution
that is doing both, I encourage
you to engage yourself in at
least one of the many wonder
ful opportunities we offer to
broaden your knowledge and
expand your spirit. ■
Sincerely,
Robert M. Franklin '75
President
MY WORD
China Gives Morehouse Students Up-Close Lesson
on Importance of Global Awareness
By Charles Corpening
I have wanted to go to China
ever since 1 began studying
the language in the 11th
grade. I have always had a skill at
picking up languages and
Chinese was no exception.
So for my senior year of high
school (the 2009-2010 school
year), I was part of the School
Year Abroad Program, which was
based out of Beijing. They placed
me with a host family. My rela
tionship with the host family gave
me a valuable insight into the
world of a Chinese adolescent.
Originally, I went to China
just to learn Chinese and experi
ence the life of an average
Chinese high school student.
But later I realized that I had a
great opportunity to learn even
more and having such narrow
minded views would ruin that.
My host mother and her kind
ness probably had the most pro
found effect on me. She took
care of me as if I were her birth
son. She was stern, yet kind,
and was quick to help correct
my mistakes. I found that she
reminded me of my grandmoth
er — a very strong woman, but
still with an inviting aura.
The life of a student in Beijing
is very fast-paced and is often
hard for foreign students to com
prehend. I was very blessed by
being able to have an escape from
this hectic existence with my host
family. They were able to explain
cultural implications of certain
actions and how to adjust to the
environment of China.
I believe Morehouse students
would not only benefit from
spending time in China, but
would bring a different perspec
tive to the Chinese culture. The
African American culture, espe
cially our family culture, has
many parallels to the Chinese, as
we both have wonderful, rich,
diverse histories. I believe that
Afro-Sino unity is something in
which both communities would
benefit.
The African-American cul
ture and identity is something
that people of the world identify
with, although it is a unique
experience. The Chinese family
or more important the emphasis
on family relationships is some
thing that the African American
community and Chinese com
munity have in common.
Charles Corpening is a freshman
business major and Chinese stud
ies minor from Newtown, Penn.
By Jerry Hoagland
M y experience studying
abroad in Shanghai,
China, for five months
left me with not only a far greater
understanding of the Chinese
language and culture, but also a
better understanding of myself
and my position as a citizen of
the world.
Before leaving for China, I
expected to stand out and have a
hard time fitting in or making
new friends. While I did stand
out, I could not have been more
wrong about the friendliness of
the Chinese people.
For instance, I was hopelessly
lost on my first day on my univer
sity’s campus and my Chinese
wasn’t nearly good enough to
explain my situation. That is
when, to my salvation, I met a
Chinese student who knew basic
English and was kind enough to
direct me to where I needed to be.
He also helped translate when I
had problems registering. He was
happy to help out a foreigner and
excited to personally meet an
American. The only thing that he
asked in return was that I helped
him practice his English. 1 glad
ly accepted. I not only made a
new friend, but it also shattered
my previous expectations of
Chinese culture.
It took me traveling half-way
around the world to truly under
stand the importance of Amer
ican influence outside of
America, and also see places that
have been completely untouched
by American influence.
Another gratifying experience
was when our university held a
culture festival to go along with
the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. I
was asked by some of my
American classmates to help run
the American booth and bring
anything “American” I could
think of. I didn’t have much that
I considered American, but I
managed to bring a few dollar
bills, loose change and an Indiana
Pacers T-shirt. It was hard to
believe how well a dollar bill
went over with the Chinese visi
tors to our booth.
It is vital, especially for
African Americans, to go abroad
at least once in order to branch
out from what we already know
and are accustomed to. As we
break down our own assump
tions and stereotypes, we will
find out more about where we
stand as Americans with a global
perspective.
jerry Hoagland is a senior interna
tional studies major and econom
ics minor from Indianapolis, Ind.