HNC Winter Break
Over the winter break, students from SAIS Nanjing documented their experiences
Smash for Coffee
By: KHUN NYAN MIN HTET Nanjing – “You know hips don’t lie!” exclaimed Christian Flores, a second-year MAIS student. He wasn’t referring to Shakira’s famous song “Hips Don’t Lie,” but Princess Peach’s ability to knock her opponents off the stage using her hips in Super Smash Brothers. A group of Super Smash Brothers enthusiasts came together to participate in the first ever Smash Tournament at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. With a 100 RMB gift card to the HNC coffee shop at stake, HNC smashers brought their A-game and used their favorite characters during the competition. Spectators livened up the competitive arena with fun comments such as “He plays like an economist!… Well, I mean, he did go to the University of Chicago!” and “That game between Wolf and Toon Link … is like Little Red Riding Hood, except that Riding Hood (Toon Link) has a sword and a shield!” Andrew Rankin, a…
HNC Intramural Basketball Scouting Report
By: ELI TIRK and KHUN NYAN MIN HTET NANJING – Nanjing University’s Gulou Campus Basketball Tournament is about to begin as the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s basketball team gears up for the coming fall season games. Here is a look at the HNC squad this season. It’s hard to tell this dynamic duo apart on the court given their short, average, white, male stature. They can both run a 3.3” 40-yard dash and they average a 37.3 inch vertical jump between the two of them. Unfortunately, their crippling addictions, Sam 1’s gambling and Sam 2’s staring at himself in the mirror for hours on end while whispering “who is the prettiest,” may end up hurting the team. Hopefully, they find help early enough to propel the team to victory this season. Averaging 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists a game in college, Luke was planning on playing in the CBA after…
The American and Chinese Leadership Transitions: Perspectives from Nanjing
By CAROLINE YARBER NANJING – The Chinese Communist Party held the 19th Party Congress this month in Beijing. At the Party Congress, a new leadership was chosen. This leadership will set the path for China and guide the next five years. At the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, SAIS students gained an unique perspective on this major event. Significantly, the 2018 MAIS class experienced the leadership transitions of both China and the United States. Last year, students watched as the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election results rolled in, and this past week they had a front-row seat to the 19th Party Congress. However, reactions to these two events varied significantly at the Center. Before the U.S. Presidential Election, the Center hosted several speakers and roundtable discussions about the candidates and the merits of American democracy. Students gathered in the auditorium, sometimes skipping morning classes, to watch the livestream of the Presidential debates. In the weeks…
Alumni Continue Giving Back to the HNC by Transitioning to Staff
by: Caroline Yarber NANJING–The Hopkins-Nanjing Center provides a unique opportunity for SAIS students. Not only do students receive an immersive perspective on US-China relations, but also become a part of a tight-knit community of likeminded people. A significant portion of the current staff are former students of the Center who wish to remain a lasting part of this community. We spoke with two young alumni of the Center to find out why they chose to start their careers at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and what they have learned about the Center from the staff perspective. Niu Xiaohu (left) and Lauren Syzmanski (right). Source: author Lauren Szymanski and Niu Xiaohu both joined the HNC staff in 2012. Based in DC, Szymanski is the Deputy Director for the HNC Washington Office. She graduated from the HNC Certificate program in 2012 and joined the admissions side of the Center two weeks after graduation as…
Playing with Power
BY JONIEL CHA The United States, Russia, and China have entered a new era of “power grabs”. Smaller regional powers are emerging and flexing their muscles in anticipation of expansion like dogs impatiently waiting under the dinner table. North Korea, South Korea, the Philippines and Japan consider themselves among the contenders in Asia. Dr. Victor Cha is an impressive figure and notable expert on Asia. He serves as Professor of Government and International Affairs at Georgetown University, Korea Chair at CSIS and former Director for Asian Affairs on the National Security Council. Dr. Cha made an appearance at SAIS with his books in tow when the Sejong Society and the U.S.-Korea Institute hosted him on October 14, 2016. Why did Asia never have its own form of NATO? Unlike Europe, Asia is a combination of large landmass and separate islands. During the Cold War, Europe’s bipolarity was clearly defined, even…
D.C. Live Election Blog
Follow along with SAIS D.C. to get all the latest thoughts, opinions, and commentary related to Election Night 2016! November 8 @ 22:32 EST The SAIS Election Event ends – but the election still goes on! #SAISElectionNight November 8 @ 22:27 EST Ohio announced to Trump. Groan audible. November 8 @ 22:26 EST DOW Futures fall below 600 in light of the current election results. November 8 @ 21:13 EST Asian markets plummet at the prospect of Trump presidency – Nikkei, Hong Kong take hit November 8 @ 22:09 EST Down Future down 500 points? Why yes, that’s real! November 8 @ 22:07 EST There is more yellow on the map than red/blue. November 8 @ 22:05 EST Electoral Count: Trump – 134 Clinton – 104 Source: CNN November 8 @ 22:04 EST All we know is that we know nothing about the outcome! November 8 @ 21:59 EST ¿Díme come…
SAIS Bologna Students Hit the Phones for Hillary
BY MICHELE CHOY SAIS Bologna students gathered in the Bologna Center late Monday night to call and convince American voters to turn out for Hillary Clinton.
SAIS Europe Students Participate in ERE Trek in Vienna
BY JEHANGEER ALI SYED It is one thing to mix pleasure with business, but as earnest as SAIS students are, those at SAIS Europe managed to prioritize business with leisure. On a weekend excursion to Vienna, Austria, for the International Atomic Energy Agency Staff Association Ball, the SAIS Energy, Resources and Environment Club, the Student Government Association and students reached out to alumni and organizations working in the energy sector in Vienna. Though the overall trip to Vienna included more than 150 students who traveled to Vienna strictly for the ball, 11 students arrived a day early, on Friday. The daytrip was open to all SAIS students, but ERE concentrators — who were partially sponsored by ERE Club mini-grants — made up the bulk of the group. The trip, organized by ERE students Max Stadler and Kate Strickland, brought together students from varied backgrounds, and served as a stimulating…
SAIS Europe Visits the Hague
BY ANA VASUDEVAN On April 1, eight SAIS Europe students traveled to The Hague, Netherlands as part of a trip organized by Professor Tiffany Basciano in Washington, D.C., for students concentrating in International Law and Organizations. Often referred to as “the city of international peace and justice,” The Hague houses some of the world’s most prominent war crimes tribunals. This trip to the Netherlands gave students the opportunity to visit the United Nations, European Union and independent international organizations and meet the staff of several international criminal law institutions. As part of the visit, students attended meetings at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Eurojust. When asked to describe her takeaways from the opportunity, SAIS Europe student Kady Hammer stated, “The Hague trip solidified my passion for a career in international law. The trip was particularly insightful as we were exposed…