Spring Break
Confucius Institute hosts Moon Festival
Jeff Sullivan
Issue date: 9/16/08 Section: News
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"This event is a time to celebrate the Chinese Moon Festival, the equivalent of the American Thanksgiving, where families gather for reunions," said the institute's director and URI professor Yan Ma in a press release. "Our festival also celebrates the first anniversary of URI's Confucius Institute and welcomes students and faculty to URI, especially those … who come to the university for its Chinese programs."
URI President Robert L. Carothers was presented with a leadership award, named in his honor, for his involvement in the creation of the institute. Professor Ma remarked on the president's administration practices before he accepted the award.
"President Carothers has a special attraction for leaders," she said.
Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts also spoke at the event, praising the Confucius Institute's many accomplishments during its first year at URI. She also congratulated Ma for her involvement in the festival and the institute's continued progress towards cultural understanding.
"What a wonderful evening, and I look forward to coming back year after year and celebrating this tradition, the Moon Festival," Roberts said. "A tradition not familiar to most Americans, and one of the great things about the Confucius Institute is that it brings a connection to Chinese culture and history … to this university and therefore, hopefully, to many of us throughout the state."
Performances at the festival included a traditional Lion Dance from the Rhode Island Association of Chinese Americans Kung Fu Club, during which intense drumming filled the room as children fed lettuce to the dancing lion. This was believed to help bring about good harvests in the fall.
Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Dougan introduced some of the new Chinese students and faculty to the audience, giving a brief description of each teacher and student's academic accomplishments.
