This article is from the archives of the UB Reporter.
News

Confucius Institute to mark grand opening

By LAUREN NEWKIRK MAYNARD
Published: April 1, 2010

The grand opening of the UB Confucius Institute on April 9 will mark a new chapter for the university’s Asian Studies Program and celebrate UB’s mission to promote Chinese language and culture in the community.

Recognizing that Americans want to better understand China’s people, language and culture, the new institute is working to promote Chinese culture in Western New York and is collaborating with area school districts on early instruction in the Chinese language. Part of a network of nearly 300 Confucius Institutes worldwide, the UB institute is a joint initiative of the Asian Studies Program, Hanban (the Confucius Institute headquarters in Beijing) and Capital Normal University (CNU), one of UB’s long-time partners in China.

Although preparations for the institute have been under way for more than a year, it will officially be opened to the public during a program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 9 in the Mainstage Theater in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

Speakers will include President John B. Simpson; Provost Satish K. Tripathi; Huili Gong, executive president of CNU; and Jianjun Cen, education counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in New York City. UB will receive a Confucius Institute plaque sent from Hanban, and architectural renderings of the institute’s future space on the first floor of Capen Hall will be on view. After the remarks and plaque presentation, there will be performances by UB students from the Department of Theatre and Dance, music and dance students from CNU, and dancers from the Western New York Chinese Culture Club.

“UB has assembled a wonderful team to lead it into the future,” says Kristen Stapleton, associate professor of history and director of the institute and the Asian Studies Program. “The opening ceremony will be a very joyous event that celebrates the institute’s mission and promise, and we welcome everyone to attend.”

In its inaugural year, the institute has invited teachers from CNU to help local schools establish or expand their Chinese language programs. The institute also has collaborated with Western New York organizations on several cultural events, including a Chinese New Year dance and musical performance in January in partnership with the Chinese language program at the Nichols School in Buffalo.