Bulletin Autumn 1976

Interview with Yale-China Representativ e Dr. Douglas G. Spelman Dr. Douglas G. Spelman ， a Harvard Ph.D., specializes in History and East Asian Languages. He was Assistant Professor of Chinese History of Bucknell University in U.S. A. from 1970-72 and served as Resident Director, Oberlin-in-Taiwan, at Tunghai University of Taiwan in 1973-74. He is now Representative of the Yale-China Association at this University, Q. Why is Yale-China cooperating with the University in the development of lASP? A. Throughout its seventy-five-year history two important aspects of Yale-China's work have been education and the promotion of Sino- American understanding. Until recently, our educational efforts have consisted primarily of assisting in the education of Chinese youth. But in the last decade or so, education about China for Americans, and other foreigners, has become an increasingly prominent focus of activity. One expression of this interest was the founding, over twelve years ago, of the New Asia Yale-in-China Chinese Language Centre, now a formal part of the University. Another example is IASP, which will enable non-Chinese to learn not only language but also the history and culture of China. In short, lASP fits well with the general aims of Yale-China and thus we welcome the opportunity to participate in its development with the University. Q. How does Yale-China help IASP? A. When the idea for IASP was first born three or four years ago, it was clear that a major obstacle to having a large number of foreign students on campus was the limited number of hostel spaces. It would be unjust for foreign students to displace too many local students from those spaces. Therefore, Yale-China agreed to help by raising enough money to provide hostel accommodations for IASP participants. Happily, this goal has been accomplished. Another way in which we will help is by serving as IASP's representative in North America, which up to the present has supplied the majority of foreign students at the University. It is reasonable to assume this may well be the case in the future as well, although one of the exciting aspects of the programme is the hope that students and scholars from Asia and Europe will come as well, so that the participants will be truly "international."