"When I first came to Ohio University to undertake this position, President Nixon had just visited China and the opening up of trade and exchange relations between our two countries had begun. A few PROC students began to arrive on campus. They were welcomed not only by the U.S. community, but also by the already established Chinese community, which consisted of students from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and other Asian countries.
In the first few years, we celebrated one Chinese New Year. But as the number of mainland Chinese increased, someone decided that there should be two celebrations and so it was. That has continued to this day. The number of PROC students and scholars has steadily increased since those early days. For the last five or so years, mainland Chinese students have been the largest group of international students on our campus. We have had Chinese students in almost every department. Musicians and dancers have entered us at celebrations and we have enjoyed Chinese food at dinners, receptions and at the International Street Fair.
We have had the opportunity to make many friends among the PROC students. We have enjoyed the good relations we have had with the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, and we look forward to longer-term relations with the members of the OUCAS.
As relations between our countries continue to warm up, we expect there will be even more Chinese students and scholars in Athens. I am sure they will contribute to our lives in the same way our graduates contributed. We can only look forward to making new friends and to enjoying the presence of hundreds more Chinese students at Ohio University."
Dr. Alan W. Boyd2009-12-03 01:51
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