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ISSUES mm®. INSIDE MOREHOUSE. SEPTEMBER 2010 Inside Morehouse is about the people who make up the Morehouse College community. To tell those stories, WE NEED YOU to send us your ideas, comments and thoughts, along with your news, information about your new books or publications and your commentary for sections like My Word. To send us your information, contact Inside Morehouse Editor Add Seymour Jr. at aseymour@morehouse.edu For more up-to-the minute information about academic departments, adminsitration, athletics, registration, financial aid, as well as the people and activities at Morehouse College, go to www.morehouse.edu Inside MOREHOUSE Director of Public Relations Toni O'Neal Mosley tmosley@morehouse.edu Executive Editor Vickie G. Hampton vhampton@morehouse.edu Editor Add Seymour Jr. aseymour@morehouse.edu Calendar Editor Julie Pinkney Tongue jtongue@morehouse.edu Photographers Philip McCullom Add Seymour Jr. David Collins Graphic Design Ellis Design Web Services Vince Baskerville Hana Chelikowsky Kara Walker Administrative Assistant Minnie L. Jackson Inside Morehouse is published monthly during the academic year by Morehouse College, Office of Communications, Office of Institutional Advancement. Opinions expressed in Inside Morehouse are those of the authors, not necessarily of the College. ‘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.