Dr. Handy Williamson, Vice Provost at University of Missouri-Columbia, Visited Peking University

On the morning of November 11, Dr. Handy Williamson, Vice Provost of International Programs at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Dr. Wen Ouyang, expert of the Vice Provost’s Office, visited Peking University. Vice President Li Yansong of Peking University met with the guests in Lin Hu Xuan.

Vice President Li Yansong warmly welcomed Dr. Handy Williamson and his colleagues, and briefly introduced the basic information about American students studying at Peking University. Dr. Handy Williamson thanked Vice President Li Yansong for the reception and gave a brief introduction to the history and disciplines of University of Missouri.

The two sides subsequently recalled the contributions made by the famous American journalist and writer Mr. Edgar Snow to the exchanges between China and the United States. Dr. Handy Williamson said that he deeply respected Mr. Snow’s dedication, and expressed his hope to further promote the exchanges between Peking University and University of Missouri, and facilitate the mutual understanding between Chinese and American students.

Xu Hong, Executive Deputy Dean of School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, briefed the guests on the close exchanges between the School of Journalism and Communication and the School of Journalism of University of Missouri, and expressed his wish to further promote the cooperation between the two sides under the framework guided by the university. Dr. Handy Williamson agreed with Xu Hong. He said that he looked forward to the closer ties between the two sides, and would like to see more PKU students at Mr. Snow’s alma mater for study and exchanges.

After leaving Lin Hu Xuan, accompanied by Xia Hongwei, Executive Deputy Director of Office of International Relations, Peking University, and Sun Hua, Deputy Director of Office of Undergraduate Education and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, Dr. Handy Williamson and his colleges visited Snow’s tomb to pay their respects.

At 1:00 pm, Dr. Handy Williamson and his colleges held a lecture themed “Cooperation in Education: Building a Bridge of Interactions between China and the United States” at the School of Journalism and Communication. Sun Hua, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, attended the lecture. Others present at the lecture included members of the Presidium of the Student Union of the School of Journalism and Communication and dozens of PKU students.

Dr. Handy Williamson elaborated on the achievements of educational cooperation between China and the United States from the early years till now, the historical connections between the School of Journalism of University of Missouri and the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and the establishment of the Confucius Institutes in the United States.

As the oldest university on the Mississippi River, University of Missouri-Columbia is not only the first public school established in Louisiana, USA, but also the origin of American universities’ Department of Journalism. The purpose of Dr. Handy Williamson’s visit to Beijing is to co-host the student exchange program with Peking University to promote the interaction between the outstanding talents of the two universities.

Later, Dr. Handy Williamson had a Q&A with students on issues such as study in the United States. The lecture went on in a relaxed and amiable atmosphere. After the lecture, the two sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo.

Attachment: A letter to PKU students from Missouri International Student Council

Missouri International Student Council

Novermber5, 2010

Greetings from the west-The University of Missouri International Student council (MISC)

The Missouri International Student Council extends cordial greetings to the students of Peking University.We do so in recognition of the bridge extended by MU students in 1921, in the letter conveyed by Dean Walter Williams. That letter expressed the desire that students look forward with anticipation that the people of China and the US would word together in efforts carried out for the betterment of humanity. Today as these nations stand on the brink of unprecedented progress and change, it is important that the call for mutual cooperation be renewed. That is the sole intent and purpose of this greeting. we hope that it will be received in the spirit as intended.

Regards,

Li Tang

President of Missouri International Student Council

Background:

When University of Missouri-Columbia was established in Columbia City in 1839, it was the only university on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It has now developed into the University of Missouri system, including four campuses, namely, Columbia, Rolla, Kansas City and St. Louis. The University of Missouri is the largest university in the state and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). It is known as one of the “Public Ivies”.

Edgar Snow, a famous American journalist and writer, was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and graduated from University of Missouri. From April 1933 to June 1935, Snow served as a lecturer at the Department of Journalism, Yenching University. He used to teach at Lin Hu Xuan. In June 1936, Snow visited the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and wrote a large number of news reports, becoming the first western reporter to cover the CPC-governed Zone. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he served as a war correspondent in China for the Daily Herald and the Saturday Evening Post. After the founding of the PRC, he visited China three times. He died of illness in Geneva, Switzerland on February 15, 1972. As requested by his will, some of his ashes were buried by the Weiming Lake, Peking University.