Participants in the China Practicum, a four-week intensive summer program, did their part to assist in earthquake relief efforts. Associate Professor Minglang Zhou wrote to say that faculty, and students joined the host university's charity drive and made a donation of $730 to the quake victims in China. The humanitarian action was highly appreciated by the host university, which published news about it on the university website:

Students from America’s Dickinson College Contribute to Fund for Earthquake Stricken Area

Central National Minorities University News Network May 22, 2008

On the afternoon of May 22, students from the East Asian Studies Department of America’s Dickinson College made a contribution to our University’s College of International Education Fund for the Earthquake Stricken Area.  In the center of the photograph Zhou Minglang, Chairman of Dickinson’s East Asian Studies Department, represents Dickinson in making a $500 contribution.  Dickinson students and faculty also contributed $230.  Wu Yinghui, Dean of the College of International Education formally accepted the contribution.  After the formal ceremony, Dean Wu spoke with the students on the topic of national minorities in China.

It was reported that Professor Zhou Minglang and the group of more than ten students and faculty had learned news of the Min River earthquake while in the United States. Accordingly, on the day after their arrival in Beijing they took action to raise the funds needed for the contribution.  Students from Dickinson College’s East Asian Studies Department are visiting China for a month-long class and study-trip.  As part of the exchange experience they will be studying at our university for two weeks.

Update: On June 4, Dickinson College donated $5,000 to the earthquake relief efforts. “This is an initial gift to complement the efforts of our students and faculty on site,” said President William G. Durden. “More activity to assist our Chinese colleagues will take place in the fall when our students return.”