Nanjing University held the Opening Ceremony and Military Training Mobilization Meeting for over 3,200 undergraduates of 2017 Class at Xianlin Campus Indoor Stadium on the afternoon of September 4 when the freshmen celebrated the beginning of a new journey of their lives.
Attending the ceremony were university leaders, academicians, senior humanities-and-social-science professors, parents of freshmen, heads of colleges and departments, and alumni representatives.
Liu Hongjian, vice chancellor of Nanjing University, presided over the meeting.
A view of the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
The ceremony began as all present stood up and sang the National Anthem.
A view of the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
On behalf of the faculty and returning students, President Chen Jun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, welcomed the new undergraduates of 2017 class and delivered a speech on From Green Campus to Green University.
As 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of the construction of Xianlin Campus, Chen recalled the changes over the past ten years: how barren hills and wetlands were transformed into a campus of greenery with a unique integration of great minds, great buildings, great ideals and great students.
The beauty of Xianlin Campus, Chen said, lies in our goal of constructing “green campus,” in adjusting measures to local conditions, in striving for energy-saving and environmental protection, and in emphasizing biodiversity.
Chen also recalled how the university initiated the green university alliance jointly with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and National Central University in Taiwan.
President Chen Jun gives a speech (Photo: She Zhijun)
The construction of a green campus, Chen pointed out, answers the call of our time. To lead social development, universities should set the standards in response to global ecological and environmental problems.
The construction of a green campus also answers the call for strengthening moral education and talent cultivation because it provides such education with a more pleasant natural environment and brings teachers and students together to build a harmonious cultural environment.
A view of the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
Building a green campus should not be the only goal. We should also build a green university, Chen continued, not only with a green campus, but also with practical and innovative research that contributes to environment protection, with a positive and rigorous academic atmosphere, and most importantly, with excellent students who bear in mind the idea of environment protection and who can bring benefits to the Chinese people.
To build such a university, said Chen, requires the joint efforts of all the professors and students of Nanjing University, especially the freshmen sitting in the stadium.
A view of the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
President Chen made suggestions to the new students on their campus life and study:
First, having a transquil heart; that is, students should concentrate on the study, read as many books as they can, and constantly improve themselves.
Second, holding a long-term goal; that is, they should have aspirations, shoulder up their responsibilities, make efforts at research in green sciences, promote ideas of environment protection, and try to become individuals with ideals and with a sense of responsibility.
Third, acting with prodence; that is, they should carry forward the university’s long tradition of working hard and living a thrifty life.
Fourth, striving for perfection at work; that is, they should put ideas to practice, push forward the study of green sciences and make explorations and innovations with dedication and perseverance.
Chen hopes that students will bear the ideas of green sciences in mind, apply those ideas to the practice of life and study and make their own contributions to our goal of building a green university.
The university leaders, guests, academicians and senior humanities-and-social-science professors put university badges on the chests of freshmen representatives and gave them university guide books and new students’ study guide.
A view of the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
Huang Geng, president of Nanjing Biancheng Corporation of Sports Goods who graduated from Nanjing University in 1995, spoke on behalf of the alumni.
He shared his own working and entrepreneurial experiences and gave his best wishes to the new students.
He hoped that in four years’ time, all the students will become people who are interesting, reliable and thankful and will constantly improve themselves as they strive towards a bright future.
Huang gives a speech (Photo: She Zhijun)
As one on the “10 Thousand Talented Youth” project, Associate Professor Tong Ling from the School of Liberal Arts spoke on behalf of the faculty.
He recalled his eighteen years at Nanjing University, first as a student and then as a teacher.
He also briefed the audience on the history, motto and anniversary of the university since the days when it was Liangjiang Normal School.
Tong expressed his hope that the new students will cultivate their potential and create a history not only of themselves, but also of the university and of the nation.
Associate Professor Tong gives a speech (Photo: She Zhijun)
Vice president Wang Zhilin introduced to the audience the leaders of the military training, and university Chancellor Zhang Yibin conferred the ensign of the training to the student brigade.
Vice President Wang introduces the leaders of the military training (Photo: She Zhijun)
University Chancellor Zhang confers the ensign (Photo: She Zhijun)
Taking charge of the military training is Unit 73096 of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Commissar of the Unit senior colonel Liao Wensheng introduced the history and achievements of his army unit and recalled the history and achievements of their cooperation with Nanjing University.
On behalf of the army unit, he pledged to complete the training tasks and hoped that all freshmen will make high achievements both in training and in future studies,
Senior colonel Liao gives a speech (photographed by She Zhijun)
Gao Yudi, a student of the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, spoke on behalf of all the new students.
She said entering this university is a new start for all freshmen. Together with all of them, she aspires for a bright future and will begin her new life on campus as determinedly as a soldier.
Gao gives a speech (Photo: She Zhijun)
After the speeches, all the new students took an oath, following the lead of Ji Yuhao, a freshman of the science class.
Students take an oath (Photo: She Zhijun)
Students take an oath (Photo: She Zhijun)
Vice Chancellor Liu Hongjian presides over the ceremony (Photo: She Zhijun)
Other specialists and university leaders present at the ceremony are Chen Yong and Fang Cheng, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wang Shouren, senior humanities-and-social-science professor, Tan Zhemin and Wang Zhilin, vice presidents of Nanjing University, Wang Mingsheng, standing member of the university CPC committee and director of the publicity department, and Pu Lijie and Sun Yedong, assistants to the president. (The News Center)
