Newsletter No. 276

Enhancing Scholarly Dialogue of Global Dimensions There is nothing better than literature to show that we are connected by timeless universal human truths transcending the ideas and assumptions of our age and background. Fulbright Scholars Present Literature of the American South For fiv e days , postgraduat e students hailin g fro m mainlan d China an d Hon g Kon g gathered a t CUHK t o intensivel y discus s an d analyse writer s o f th e America n South unde r th e guidanc e o f Fulbright Scholars . Th e Fulbrigh t Southern Writer s Semina r i n Hon g Kong wa s organize d fro m 20t h t o 24th Marc h b y th e Hon g Kong-Americ a Cente r (HKAC), th e CUH K Departmen t o f Englis h an d th e American Studie s Collection o f the Universit y Library . The aim o f the semina r wa s to promot e th e stud y o f literature o f the American Sout h i n Hon g Kon g an d China, an d t o highligh t th e University' s America n Studies collection i n Wu Chun g Library . The reading s included Faulkner , Souther n poet s Rober t Warre n Perm, James Dicke y an d Dav e Smith , an d Flanner y O'Connor an d Ralp h Ellison . Despite Faulkner' s libera l us e of Southern speec h traditions — sometimes accompanie d b y strea m o f consciousness — the student s from CUH K an d fou r other Hon g Kon g universities , a s wel l a s Su n Yatsen Universit y (SYSU ) i n Guangzho u and Shantou University, surprisingly, did not hav e a hard time graspin g the real issues behind his sometimes convolute d rhetoric, showin g that literatur e points belo w cultura l difference s t o th e huma n condition. Guidin g th e semina r wa s Prof . Ernes t Suarez, Fulbrigh t Schola r an d chai r an d professo r o f English a t th e Catholi c Universit y o f Americ a i n Washington, D.C. , wh o i s currently base d i n SYSU . 'During m y visi t t o CUH K in Novembe r 2005 , I was brought t o see the Faulkne r Collection i n W u Chun g Multimedia Library . I t must be th e bes t Fau l kne r collection i n Asi a an d I wondered "How can this be used?'" sai d Prof . Suare z whose classes and seminars on contemporar y writer s o f the America n Sout h hav e bee n extremel y wel l received i n this par t of the world . Other contributor s t o th e semina r include d Dr . Dennis McCann , Fulbrigh t Schola r a t CUHK , wh o spoke o n religio n i n the American South , Dr . Marc o Antolin o f Millersville State University, who dealt with issues i n translatin g Souther n America n writer s int o other languages , an d Prof . Rei d Mitchell , Fulbrigh t Scholar, wh o gav e a special sessio n o n writer s fro m New Orleans . Outstanding American Studies Collection at ULS Dr. Glen n Shive , directo r o f the HKAC , laude d the research collection on American literatur e and culture a t Wu Chun g Library as 'very distinctiv e in all o f Asia'. He said, 1 have wanted for a long time t o highligh t th e collectio n and brin g i t to young scholar s o f American literatur e in Asia, so that they can do researc h her e rathe r than having to go to the US . The Departmen t o f Englis h i s very welcoming towards the idea. ' Dr. Shiv e i s lookin g t o hol d th e semina r agai n next May. The HKAC i s also exploring the possibilit y of producing , j o i n t l y wi t h th e Departmen t o f Translation, a publication o f modern American poetr y translated int o Chinese . Othe r programme s planne d for thi s yea r includ e busines s student s exchang e between th e U S and China , a meeting o f America n and Asia n scholar s o f religio n an d society , an d th e study of the history and culture of coastal South China by American professors . Dr . Shive hopes that through these activities , scholarl y exchang e betwee n Chin a and th e U S wil l b e steppe d u p an d Hon g Kong' s academic atmospher e wil l b e internationalize d a s it is increasingl y see n a s a destination fo r America n students an d scholars . Piera Chen The American Studies Collection of the ULS The American Studies Resource Library (ASRL), administered by the University Library System of CUHK, was originally part of the former Hong Kong United States Information Service (HK USIS) Library and was transferred to the Hong Kong-America Center in 1993. The library was moved from the basement of the University Library to the ground floor of the United College Wu Chung Library in September 1995. In the summer of 2001, with the re-establishment of the Wu Chung Library as the United College Wu Chung Multimedia Library, the ASRL was relocated to the 2nd floor of the library to facilitate a better use of the collection. With further donations from the USIS, a special William Faulkner Collection from Prof. James Merriwether, and the American Studies Collection, the ASRL now boasts one of the finest collections on American Studies in Asia. (From left) Dr. Glenn Shive, Prof. Ernest Suarez, and Dr. Marco Antolin Chung Chi Celebrates Second Christian Festival T hemed The Splendour of Beauty in His Land', the 2nd Chung Chi Christian Festiva l was hel d from 15t h Marc h t o 2n d April . Programme s include d a n exhibition , a lecture serie s which addresse d the relationship s amon g religion , art , culture an d th e community, a concert and film appreciatio n sessions . Keynot e speaker s include d Mr . Yu Jie, celebrate d outspoken writer from Beijing, Prof. Ho Sung-him, specialist in religion and aesthetics, and Dr . Denni s McCann, well-known ethicis t and Fulbright Scholar . During the festival, a visual art exhibition sponsored by the Tao Fong Shan Christian Centre, the Association o f Christian Art and Orthodox Metropolitanat e o f Hon g Kon g and Sout h Eas t Asia, wa s hel d a t the Esthe r Le e Building . Ther e wer e screening s o f Jesus Christ Superstar, The Last Temptation of Christ, an d The Passion accompanie d by discussions hoste d b y Prof . Kun g La p Yan o f the Divinit y Schoo l an d Mr . Hard y Tsoi, art s administrator o f the University . There wer e als o an Intercollegiat e Praye r Meeting , a Hostel Cell s Celebration , and a Youth Rally . A concert hel d i n the chapel of the college wrapped u p the festival. More informatio n i s available a t www.cuhk.edu.hk/ccc/chaplaincy . C o n f e r e n c e a n d W o r k s h o p ‧ Workshop on Hybrid and Embedded Systems: Technologies and Applications Organizers: Departmen t o f Automation an d Computer-Aided Engineering , and Hon g Kon g Science and Technology Park s Corporatio n Supporters: Cente r for Hybri d and Embedded Softwar e Systems, U.C. Berkeley; Institut e for Softwar e Integrate d Systems , Vanderbil t University; ESCHE R Research Institute ; and Embedded Systems Institute and Departmen t o f Computer Science , HKUS T Date: 21s t and 22nd Februar y 200 6 Venue: Hon g Kon g Science Par k ‧ The China Research Conferenc e Organizers: Centr e for Institution s an d Governance an d the Schoo l o f Accountancy Date: 24t h an d 25t h Februar y 200 6 Venue: Ch o Yiu Conferenc e Hal l Three Self-access e-Learning Programs to Improve Engl ish T he Independent Learning Centre (ILC) has acquired three e-Learning programs for use by staff and students of CUHK. Five users are allowed to use each program concurrently. Use the programs to improve your business writing skills, reading skills and to prepare for IELTS. Find out more at http://www .ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/english/. ILC counsellors w i ll be happy to advise you on how to use the programs to improve your English, or, if you prefer to learn w i th other people, you are welcome to join their workshops (http://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/english/activity.htm). 3 No. 27 6 4t h Apri l 200 6