|
Congratulations to Wendy Abraham for the
launch of Spectrum. I know she has been eager to start
a newsletter like this ever since she took over as Associate
Director.
Wendy has asked me to use this space in
Spectrum to reflect periodically on the trajectory (the
arc?) of the ARC initiative and related topics.
At the moment, it is perhaps South Asia
that is most on our minds. Over
the past year, ARC has been working with the School of Humanities
& Sciences to begin exploring the possibility of a South
Asian studies program at Stanford.
For
far too long, "Asia" at Stanford has mostly meant China
and Japan. One of the major missions of ARC has been to expand
this meaning, through programming in other regions -- to lead
the university back, as it were, along the Silk Road through
Central Asia and down into Tibet, India, and Southeast Asia.
| Now, encouraged
by the administration's new expressions of interest, we are starting
to plan for a more robust and, we hope, more permanent set of
programs focused on South Asian religions and cultures. Although
still in the exploratory stage, the programs could include faculty
appointments, library and course development, and a fund for
continuation and expansion of the types of public events -- symposia,
lectures, performances, and exhibits -- currently being sponsored
by ARC. |
 |
We are thinking of calling this new venture
the arc/india initiative. We figure it will cost in the neighborhood
of $250,000 a year to run the set of substantial and attractive
of programs we have in mind.
Obviously,
such a major initiative will require the assistance of those
outside the university with interest in the development of South
Asian studies at Stanford. We will be trying to put together
a team of advisors in the community (our "arc angels"?)
who could help us turn our India dream into a reality.
If
you are interested in working with us, please let Wendy know.
You can reach her at wabraham@stanford.edu. She
will be delighted to hear from you.
Carl
Bielefeldt
|
