Students and faculty packed Center Hall’s largest classroom Monday and Tuesday to hear lectures by professors from China’s Fudan University, the College’s newest partner in its efforts to provide students with opportunities in Asian Studies.

Professor Lizhu Fan, Dean of the School of Social Development and Public Policy, spoke on Monday about “Religious Revival and Development in Contemporary China” to an audience which included faculty colleagues from DePauw University, the College’s partner in the $750,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to help both schools establish the Asian Studies program.

On Tuesday, Professor Na Chen of Fudan’s School of Communications delivered a lecture that took a close look at some of the cultural differences between China and the West that can lead to our misunderstanding one another. Professor Chen ended his talk, titled “Created Equal or Born Equal,” stating his own personal determination to promote intercultural understanding.

The talks were among the highlights of the first visit to the College by Fudan University since Wabash President Pat White, Dean of the College Gary Phillips, Qian ZhuPullen, the College’s first tenure-track professor in Chinese language and history, and Economics Professor Kay Widdows visited Fudan and East China Normal University in mid-October.

"After enjoying the hospitality of Fudan University in Shanghai last October, we are very glad to be able to welcome Dean Fan and Dr. Chen to Wabash College,” President Patrick White said on the eve of the visit. “Fudan is one of China's greatest universities, and we are glad to have the opportunity to share the Wabash experience of distinguished liberal arts education for men with our colleagues from Fudan

“Wabash has found in Fudan University a partner with a great interest in the Wabash mission to educate men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.”