ChinaGlobal Insight

Gustavus Adolphus College is pleased to introduce Gustavus Global Insight, a campus-wide program in which Gustavus students, faculty and staff will focus on one country, region or global issue during the academic year. This community project will involve invited speakers, fine arts events, special presentations, service learning opportunities, and of course, class time dedicated to discussions of the focus topic.

In 2008-2009, Gustavus Global Insight will take up the theme of China. Throughout the College, students will acquire new knowledge of this vast, 3.7 million square-mile country, and gain new perspectives on its 1.3 billion inhabitants and their pursuits. Offerings will delve into China’s history, culture, economy, environment, government, current trends, future outlook and more.

Here is a sampling of China programming already scheduled. Watch this page for updates as the planning continues.

  • Long Life Chinese Noodles at the Co-op (September 4, 2008, 6–7:30 p.m.)
  • St. Peter Reads will be at the Rock Bend Folk Festival; look for our tent (September 6–7, 2008)
  • Gustavus Faculty Teach-In (September 11, 2008)
  • Book discussion with author John Pomfret, River Rock Coffee (September 15, 2008, 10–11 a.m.)
  • Lecture by John Pomfret, Author and Journalist with the Washington Post (September 15, 2008)
  • Book discussion of Chinese Lessons, Waldo’s Coffee Company (September 16, 2008, 10:30–11:30 a.m.)
  • Reading in Common Book: Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China, by John Pomfret
  • Babies and Toddlers from Abroad: Experiences of International Adoptions - by a panel of local adoptive families - Community Center, room 217 (September 22, 2008, 7–9 p.m.)
  • Michael Meyer, author of Last Days in Old Beijing, book signing and classroom visits (Thursday, October 2, 2008)
  • Lecture by Dr. David Vikner, President of Japan International Christian University Foundation (Fall 2008)
  • History 274: Modern China (Fall 2008 course)
  • Taiwan's Position in East Asian History and Culture, lecture by Dr. Joseph Allen, Professor and Chair of Department of Asian Languages and Literature, University of Minnesota (Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 7–8:30 p.m.)
  • Concert: Orchid Ensemble (November 15, 2008)
  • Beginning Asian brush painting with Dee Teller at the Arts Center of St.Peter (November 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. & November 16, 1-4 p.m.)
  • China on Film: From the Dawn of Revolution to Today lecture by Dr. Jason McGrath, Assistant Professor, Department of Asian Languages and Literature, University of Minnesota (Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 7–8:30 p.m.)
  • China Film Series (January 2009)
  • Music 127: Music in China (January 2009 travel course)
  • Gustavus Theater Production: The Other Shore By Gao Xingjian, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2000 (Spring 2009)
  • Concert: Ying Quartet (March 14, 2009)
  • Women in China: Rural Violence, Urban Labor, and the Promises of Communism lecture by Dr. Liping Wang (Wang Liping), Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Minnesota (March 2009)
  • Exhibit in Hillstrom Museum: Digital Photography from China by Priscilla Briggs (February 16 to April 19, 2009)
  • Transfiguration Talks in Gustavus Chapel: Dr. Ted Zimmerman ’69, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong (February 2009)

Future Topics

The tentative schedule for the first four Gustavus Global Insight topics is:

  • China (2008–2009)
  • Mexico (2009–2010)
  • Food/Nutrition (2010–2011)
  • Circumpolar Year (Scandinavia, Northern Canada, Greenland, Russia) (2011–2012)

For more information, contact Phil Voight (pvoight@gustavus.edu), Chair of Gustavus Global Insight steering committee.