UIndy greets year of the rat
By Sarah Haefner
Staff Writer
The University of Indianapolis ushered in the Chinese New Year 4705 in the Schwitzer Center Atrium on Feb. 7. The event was hosted by Asian Programs and the Chinese Student Union.
The celebration highlighted many customs and traditions familiar in Chinese culture, including food, dancing, music and a lion dance. Students participated in the event, which lasted approximately three hours.
Dr. Phylis Lan Lin, director of Asian Programs, had high hopes for the celebration and UIndy student involvement.
“I call it a fusion: Chinese students retain most of their Chinese heritage but are assimilated to American culture—eating American food, seeing American movies, going to church,” Lin said. “But the Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate and welcome a new life perspective, deities of earth and heaven and a lot of prayers.”
For the approximately 92 students from China on campus, the celebration was meant to create a sense of belonging.
“There are three reasons why Asian Programs co-sponsored the event. We would like to have all of our Chinese students feel that the university is their home away from home,” Lin said. “Second, we would like to encourage and provide an opportunity for our international students to share their traditions and cultural heritage with our American students and the university community. Third, we would like to remind our international students to appreciate our university’s endless efforts cultural diversity on campus.”
The Chinese Student Union also had an instrumental role in the celebration. President Weining Chen said he believed the occasion not only celebrated Chinese culture, but the global community as well.
“The whole world is a country,” Chen said. “The most important part was that everyone came together, and I appreciate everyone working with me.”
Thousands of miles from home, Chen couldn’t help thinking of his family during the special season.
“I hope every member of my family is okay this year,” he said.
Different from American customs, the Chinese New Year is a profound celebration of family. On New Year’s Eve, or Shou Sui, family members stay up late in hopes that it will increase the parents’ longevity. Instead of gifts, parents place money in a red envelope, Ya Shi Qian, and give it to their children. The color red symbolizes good luck and blessing, and the money is meant to ward off the evil beast, Nien.
The beast in Chinese culture symbolizes turbulence and destruction, and the lion dance is meant to scare the beast away. Traditional ceremonies also include firecrackers or loud drums and noises to scare off the beast.
A typical celebration features symbolic food. A whole, uncut fish represents an abundance of food for the new year, freedom and conjugal happiness. Uncut noodles represent longevity. Chicken is served because the word “chicken” in Chinese has the same pronunciation as the word “family”. Mandarin oranges bring blessing and fortune, and red tanyuan, or dumplings, represent harmony, family reunion and blessing.
The year 4705 is the year of the rat, which is said to bring fortune to the family. Those born in rat years are said to be leaders and pioneers.
The presence of Chinese exchange students on campus stems from UIndy’s connection with the Ningbo Institute of Technology. Students study for two years in China and then enter UIndy their junior year.
“UIndy is a good fit for these students because it’s small and provides personal attention with small classes and faculty and professors who can help with language and cultural adjustments,” said International Division Assistant Director Geri Watson.
Watson said student organizations find it important to create such cultural celebrations for various reasons.
“They want to promote their culture and plan events on campus, as well as educate their fellow students,” she said.
Such celebrations also allow UIndy students to become acquainted with different cultures.
“These celebrations broaden our horizons. We are living in a global village—the era of isolation is over,” Lin said. “We are blessed to have so many international students on campus, and they receive an American education, which provides a diversified learning environment with other cultures. They build and establish life-long friendships.
