ECNU Holds Ceremony to Commemorate Founding of Kwang Hua University.
June 3 marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of Kwang Hua University，one of the predecessors to ECNU. To recount history, commemorate predecessors, and carry forward this tradition, nearly 300 teachers and students gathered on the Zhongbei Campus to witness a flag-raising ceremony. Guests present included: Yao Kuntian, Fan Zude, Fang Yuzhi, and Zhao Xiuyi, graduates from Kwang Hua University; and University leaders including Chen Qun, Ren Youqun, Yang Changli, Guo Weilu, Sun Zhenrong, and Li Zhibin. The ceremony was hosted by Guo Weilu.
Teachers and students witness a flag-raising ceremony.
At 7 o’clock, the color guard, made up of ECNUers retired from the army, marched the flag to the flagpole and raised it as the national anthem, The March of Volunteers, was played. All in attendance saluted the flag in a serious and solemn atmosphere.
Afterwards, the Kwang Hua University graduates in attendance recited lyrics from old university songs, which the ECNU Student Choir then performed.
The Kwang Hua University graduates in attendance recite lyrics from old university songs.
The ECNU Student Choir perform the old university song.
Yao Kuntian, an 88-year old graduate, said that he was very moved by celebrating the birthday of Kwang Hua with many whose ages might be only a quarter of his own. He hoped students would bear the tradition of Kwang Hua in mind and treasure an environment from 90 years ago that can hardly be imagined today—an environment which has in part contributed to ECNU, which aims to build itself into a world-renowned high-level university. Yao said he hopes to attend the centennial anniversary of the university 10 years from now.
Zhao Yue
Zhao Yue, a student representative, said that the tradition and spirit of Kwang Hua have been integrated into ECNU, and is a part of all ECNUers. As members of the university, we should not only remember the glorious deeds of the scholars who came before our time, but also carry forward their spirit and idealism, working for the benefit of both society and country by studying and working hard.
Chen Qun delivers a speech on the ceremony.
“90 years after the birth of Kwang Hua, we gather here to remember the tradition and carry forward the spirit of the university, which became a first-class school for its time due to the efforts and unwavering will of all the teachers and students over the course of 26 years,” said Chen Qun, President of ECNU, in his speech. Chen added that ECNU could still learn from Kwang Hua’s example in the areas of governance, talent training, teaching and research, as well as social service. He exhorted all ECNUers to remember, carry forward, and put into practice the spirit of Kwang Hua.
Kwang Hua University, founded in 1925 by teachers and students from St. John’s University, was a well-known comprehensive and private university in Shanghai during the era of the Republic of China (1912-1949). In October 1951, it merged with Great China University to create ECNU. On March 10, 1985, the Alumni Association of Kwang Hua University was established at ECNU. Since ECNU’s 60th anniversary in 2011, June 3, the day Kwang Hua University was founded, has served as the latter’s anniversary date.
