Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1991

Donation o f Books by the Australian & Canadian Governments Both the Australian and Canadian governments donated books to the University recently to augment its library collections on Australian and Canadian literature. Such books include novels and poems written by eminent writers in Australia and Canada, some of whom are Asian migrants. Book presentation ceremonies were held on the campus on 4th and 20th November respectively. Prof. Charles K. Kao received the gifts from the Australian Consul General and the Commissioner for Canada on behalf o f the University. The University's Department of English has plans to introduce to students literary works from different parts of the English-speaking world. Apart from English and Amercian literature courses cur­ rently offered, a new course in Canadian literature w ill be introduced in 1992. The department w ill also consider offering a course in Australian literature in the near future. Wei L un Lectures Prof. Immanuel Wallerstein, distinguished pro­ fessor of sociology, State University o f New York, visited The Chinese University in November 1991 as Wei Lun Visiting Professor and gave two public lec tures on the theme of capitalist civilization. The two lectures entitled ‘A Balance-Sheet' and 'Future Prospects' took place on 19th and 21st November respectively. In the first lecture, Prof. Wallerstein examined the virtues and shortcomings of capitalism as it had existed for the past 500 years. In the second lecture, he analysed the likely develop­ ment o f the world system in the next half century, and pointed out that capitalism, like all other historical systems, would eventually come to an end someday. Prof. Wallerstein is the founder o f the 'world- system' approach to sociological and political econ­ omic theories. Professorial In a u g u ra l Lectures Three professorial inaugural lectures were given between October and November 1991: * Prof. S.J. Oppenheimer, professor o f paedi atrics, delivered his inaugural lecture entitled 'Myth, Migration, Mutation, and Malaria in Melanesia' on 1th October. * Prof. Robert Li, professor of information engi neering, delivered his inaugural lecture entitled 'Evolution of the Switching System' on 15th Novem ber. * Prof. Andrew Parkin, professor o f English, de livered his inaugural lecture entitled 'English and the Place o f Poetry' on 29th November. Professorial Appointments The University has appointed the follow ing new professors: NEWS 27