About the Author
Dr. Cristina Zaccarini is an associate professor with the
Department of History. She is also the Co-Director of Asian Studies and Chair of the Committee for Academic Honesty.
Exciting News for Asian Studies: Chinese Classes and T'ai Chi Martial Arts Demonstration
Cristina Zaccarini
There are some exciting new developments in Asian Studies this fall 2006 semester.
Welcome Professor Lin!
The program, which offers students the possibility of a minor in this field, welcomes a new professor of Chinese, Lixue Lin, whose impressive teaching background includes Chinese courses at the United Nations and the development of instructional Chinese video clips for students. The videos are available on her Web site at http://unclp.org/video/video.html.
A World-Class Event
In keeping up with the program’s tradition of fostering inter-cultural awareness, Asian Studies is sponsoring a demonstration by nationally acclaimed gold medalist and grand champion in T’ai Chi Chu’an and “push hands,” Michael Pekor.
Join us for this extraordinary event on Wednesday, October 18th, 5:00–6:00 p.m. in the University Center, Room 313.
Pekor’s presentation will illustrate how T’ai Chi Chu’an, originally created in China for self-defense purposes, can bring Westerners a means to attain better health and mindfulness. What many perceive today as a gentle series of exercises done by senior citizens has for centuries been an effective method of combat. Today it is a competitive, exciting martial art with health benefits that are both physical and mental. Pekor’s demonstration about these physical manifestations of the Taoist philosophy emphasizes the Asian Studies program’s goal to educate about Asia and its diverse culture. For more information about Michael Pekor and on this event, please go to http://academics.adelphi.edu/artsci/asianstudies/events.php
The Program
The Adelphi Asian Studies minor was established in 2003 for the purpose of providing students with a broad-based, multidisciplinary minor in Asian Studies whereby Adelphi undergraduate students would examine the politics, economics, history, geography, language, and other issues pertaining to this region. Whereas specific disciplines, such as history, may submit a multitude of regions and historical eras to disciplinary study, Asian Studies, like all regional or geographical-based area studies (e.g., Latin American, Western European, American studies), views one region from a multitude of disciplines. Faculty within the Asian Studies program are those whose research interests motivate them to offer courses that are centered in significant part on Asia, broadly defined as:
- East Asia
- China, Japan, and Korea;
- Southeast Asia
- Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Cambodia;
- South Asia
- India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; and
- Southwest Asia
- Iran and Iraq.
These regions remain the focal points of the courses which comprise the program.
The Asian Studies program allows students to major in a specific discipline, such as history, political science, anthropology, or international studies, and still, by virtue of ‘double-counting’ the appropriate classes, achieve the necessary 21 credits mandated to fulfill the minor. A good background in Asian Studies can offer students alternative means of understanding their roles in society and their cultural choices. More practically, a background in Asian culture and society can be invaluable for students wishing to work in education, journalism, government, intercultural activities, and business, and Adelphi’s program can be the foundation for advanced master’s and doctoral degrees in international relations and Asian Studies (http://academics.adelphi.edu/artsci/asianstudies/).
The Faculty
Since 2003, the program has been enriched by the extensive contributions of Adelphi faculty. Professor Helen Stritzler, who offers communications courses on Asian film and Asian directors, hosted a Shanghai film festival. Professor Richard Olson offers courses on the history of India, Buddhism, and meditation and has hosted Asian Film discussions. Professor Mariano Torras offers “Economic Development,” and Anthropology Professors ProfessorsJudith Johnston and Anagnostis Agelarakis contribute “Cultures and Religions of India” and “Special Topics: Asia in Global Prehistory," respectively, to the program. The program continues to grow as new Adelphi faculty such as Professor Abdin Chande join the Asian Studies program, offering such courses as “The history of Islam,” which centers upon the spread of Islam in Indonesia.
The impressive array of Asian Studies courses is the direct outgrowth of faculty research. Co-director, Lawrence Sullivan, a distinguished scholar of Chinese politics and society, was co-translator and editor of such influential publications as Tiananmen Follies: Prison Memoirs and Other Writings by Dai Qing, (EastBridge Press, 2005), as well as China’s Water Crisis by Ma Jun (Eastbridge, 2004). Professor Agelarakis has published on West Asian anthropology; his latest publication The Proto-Neolithic Cemetery in Shanidar Cave was released in 2004 (Texas A&M).
Mark your calendars for Wednesday October 18, 2006 at 5:00 (U.C. 313)!
Faculty and students interested in finding out more about Asian Studies can contact Professor Sullivan at
lsulliva@adelphi.edu or Professor Zaccarini at
zaccarin@adelphi.edu. 
◆ 49444 visits. ◆
