September 2007

Welcome to e-TrueBlue: China, brought to you by the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan. Our goal is to provide you a regular communication to update you on our efforts to build a global program that benefits the University and its faculty, students and alumni.

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Michigan News

A Broadway hit hits China

As the first Broadway producer to bring a show to several cities in China, Robert Nederlander Jr., ’85, JD’89, president and CEO of Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment, is excited to be on the cutting edge of China’s cultural industry. The Tony-Award winning “42nd Street” opened in Shanghai on September 5. Marsha Yuan, a star from “My Show,” joined the American company in China, and audiences loved the show, giving it standing ovations regularly. “It’s gratifying to see a very positive response,” Nederlander said.

The first of many Broadway shows the Nederlanders will bring to China, “42nd Street” will play Hangzhou, September 27 through October 2; Nanjing, October 6 through October 13; Ningbo, October 17 through October 23; Hefei, October 25 through October 30; Wuhan, November 3 through November 8; and Beijing, November 13 through November 18. Then the show will go to Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. “This event is not only about bringing the best of Broadway to China. It’s about sharing universal themes through musical performances while fostering goodwill among our two cultures,” Nederlander said.

You can read more at http://www.nederlanderchina.com/. You can also read an actor’s blog about his experiences in China online.

Incoming students read about China

How can you create an intellectual community within a huge and diverse incoming class? A pilot program at U-M helps bring students together by giving 1,400 of them the same book to read the summer before they arrive. They then discuss the book in dorms, clubs and classes. Organizers decided this summer’s book would relate to the College of LSA’s theme year “ChinaNow: A Contemporary Exploration.” The theme year combines the resources of the internationally recognized Center for Chinese Studies, the University Musical Society and other scholarly communities to explore China through courses, lectures, a film festival and a concert series, which includes a performance by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The Summer Reads committee investigated about 90 books before agreeing on “China Shakes the World” by James Kynge. “The book ended up being extremely timely,” said Susan Gass, coordinator of academic programs. Chapters deal with environmental and human rights issues as well as financial ideas. “One student read it and said he would never look at the world the same way again.” Read more about the book online.

Alumni Association News

Stay connected with inCircle

inCircle, the Alumni Association’s online directory and networking community for U-M alumni and students, is growing. Use inCircle to connect with old friends, find people who share your interests, find a job, or create a group for U-M alumni who live and work in your region of the world. All you need to get started are a uniqname and password. Don’t have a uniqname? You can register for one online.

Update your University record

The Alumni Association is committed to keeping you informed about our efforts to build a global alumni program. Currently, more than 500 alumni from China and Hong Kong have updated their records. We are better able to meet this goal if your contact information with the University is updated. You can update your University record online at http://alumni.umich.edu/china/AAUMChinaRec.php

AAUM president video update

The Alumni Association recently sent a video update to to all U-M alumni featuring AAUM President Steve Grafton, in which he mentions his travel to China. If you missed the video, you can watch it online.

View pictures of U-M China visit

You can view pictures from the University of Michigan travel to China in June on the Alumni Association Web site.

Projects and Partnerships

A new China seminar

Among the new U-M China courses is Professor Kenneth Lieberthal’s upper-level undergraduate political science seminar that analyzes China’s grand strategy, the forces driving its rapidly growing international impact, and the unfolding consequences regionally and globally. “Never before in history has more than 20 percent of the human race increased its output of goods and services at the pace that has characterized Chinese growth since 1978,” Lieberthal notes, adding that China’s accomplishments pose challenges to governments, militaries, international organizations, multinational corporations and more. Students clamored to enroll, but Lieberthal turned away many, limiting the group to 20 to preserve a seminar format.

Professor Lieberthal was special assistant to the president for national security affairs and senior director for Asia at the National Security Council during the Clinton Administration. He is a professor of political science at U-M and an expert on contemporary Chinese political issues. He is also a Distinguished Professor of the William Davidson Institute at the Ross School of Business. His research focuses on the evolution of China's political economy, multinational corporate investment in China and India, foreign policy decision-making in China, US foreign policy and Asian security issues.

Student Spotlight

Meet Tau Zhang of SNRE

When Tau Zhang arrived at U-M, not long after graduating from Sudan University in Shanghai with a degree in biology and environmental science, he discovered something that would change his life: landscape architecture.

The field mixes his interests in ecology and biology with what had been side interests in art and design. “Normally these programs are in architecture or urban design," he says, noting that the U-M program in the School of Natural Resources and Environment emphasizes ecology and sustainability.

Read about the internship he did last summer in the Poyang Lake Region of Nanchang, the two degrees he is pursuing at UM, his interest in music, and his commitment to a healthy and beautiful environment.

Alumni Spotlight

Henry Tang, chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong

Henry Tang, '75, became chief secretary for administration of Hong Kong on July 1, 2007. The former textile tycoon, who had served on various government boards and public policy, officially joined the government in 2002. He earned rapid promotions from secretary for commerce, industry and technology to finance chief in 2003, then acting chief executive of the Central People’s Government in 2005. A steward in the HK Jockey Club, Tang recently struck the ceremonial gong at Sha Tin Racecourse. Read more about Tang online.

Club News and Events

Local events/contacts

• The Hong Kong Alumni Club invites alumni to bimonthly luncheons at which the young alumni group announces additional upcoming events. For information about upcoming dates, contact umalumni.hkluncheon@gmail.com.
• Ross Business School alumni host monthly happy hours in Shanghai, and all are invited. For more information, visit http://www.shmba.org/.
• For additional alumni contacts in China, please feel welcome to call upon alumni listed at http://alumni.umich.edu/china/contacts.php.

Did You Know?

U-M’s Asia Library collection

The collection of the University of Michigan Asia Library is an extension of the Graduate Library's research collections for humanities and social sciences? As of June 2006, it boasts:

• 712,249 volumes of books
• 44,147 reels of microfilm
• 32,243 sheets of microfiche
• 3,764 CD-ROMs
• 2,483 current serial titles
• 79 newspapers, of which 399,881 volumes, 30,908 reels and 24,151 sheets are in Chinese

As the Chinese Relations program continues to evolve, our goal is to update you on our efforts to build a global program that benefits the University and its faculty and students. If you would like to be on the permanent eTrueBlue: China mailing list, please send an email request to cjspiess@umich.edu.

If you prefer not to receive the enewsletter, please send an email to mailto:MAlumni@umich.edu?subject=REMOVE ETRUEBLUE CHINA with a subject of REMOVE ETRUEBLUE CHINA. If you would prefer to receive the text-only version of this newsletter, send email to mailto:MAlumni@umich.edu?subject=text-only eTB China.

Alumni Association of the University of Michigan, 200 Fletcher St., Ann Arbor, MI, 734.764.0384, 800.847.4764, m.alumni@umich.edu