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Visit piques interest in exchange

John Huffer (left), a professor at the Law School’s Encino campus who recently returned from a trip to China, chats with Zhang Jianyi (right), president and professor at Yantai University in China, and the school’s director of international studies, Sun Ye Xiao (center) at a reception Sunday evening hosted by Dr. Louis J. Chatagnier. / photo by Brian Murphy
John Huffer (left), a professor at the Law School’s Encino campus who recently returned from a trip to China, chats with Zhang Jianyi (right), president and professor at Yantai University in China, and the school’s director of international studies, Sun Ye Xiao (center) at a reception Sunday evening hosted by Dr. Louis J. Chatagnier. / photo by Brian Murphy

by Christie Reed
Staff Writer

Desires for a student and faculty exchange program to stretch national boundaries were discussed Sunday at a welcoming reception for two Chinese delegates from Yantai University.

Zhang Jianyi, president and professor at Yantai University, and Sun Ye Xiao, the director of international affairs at Yantai, are visiting United States universities, trying to pique an interest in making student and professor exchanges between cooperating U.S. and Chinese universities.

The small reception was hosted by Dr. Louis J. Chatagnier, and his wife, Li-ping Chu, in their La Verne apartment.

When the couple heard of the delegates two-day visit to the University of La Verne, they were excited to have the opportunity to host the event.

The reception included a feast of French and Chinese food, and small discussions between approximately 20 guests, including family and friends of Dr. Chatagnier and ULV faculty.

Dr. Chatagnier, a retired faculty member from many universities, spent seven years teaching in Chinese universities.

“It was nice to see them [the delegates] visiting here from China and it was nice for Louis to open up his home,” said Dr. Xiaoyan Liu, assistant professor of mathematics at ULV.

Liu also served as translator for the two men, who spoke very little English.

“They must have an awful lot of energy, because they have visited seven universities already in about 10 days,” said Liu.

Zhang and Xiao started their travels in Toronto, then went on to New York, Washington, Georgia, Arkansas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

They spent Monday and Tuesday at ULV and met with President Stephen Morgan on Monday afternoon to discuss possibilities of the international exchange.

“They also want to arrange conferences with faculty to talk about benefits of continuing relations with China, including demonstrating the free market system and discussing investment options,” said Dr. Bill Cook, vice president of academic affairs.

“I think it is prestigious of them [China] to send professors to the U.S., especially since China has been opening up to the West over the last decade,” said Don Pollock, associate professor of communications and a guest at the reception.

Zhang and Xiao view La Verne as a good prospect for international exchange because ULV already participated in its first exchange with China last year.

Between February and June 1994, ULV sent John Huffer, a law professor from the Encino Campus, to teach classes in Contract Law and tour China.

In exchange, China sent Zhou Ji, a television producer in Shanghai, who taught one semester of Chinese Media at ULV.

“He [Zhou] enjoyed his stay in La Verne so much that he stayed an extra six months,” said Dr. Cook.

“Part of the University Mission Statement is to expose students to different cultures and this is the perfect opportunity,” said Pollock after discussing with the delegates their desire to maintain correspondence with La Verne.

Zhang and Xiao left Wednesday to visit San Francisco State University.

Christie Reed, Editor in Chief
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