As protests in Hong Kong continue to escalate, Carleton students and faculty came together for a complex and nuanced discussion last Thursday. Collaborating with the History Department and the Dean’s Office, the Peace and Conflict cohort helped put together a panel on the recent events in Hong Kong funded by the Herbert P. Lefler speaker fund. Six professors and two students participated in a panel on the topics of identity, democracy, and social movements, giving voice to a variety of perspectives on the relationship between the Chinese government and Hong Kong and its implications for the future of Hong Kong and Chinese communities all over the world.
I spoke to Peace and Conflict Fellow Win Wen Ooi ‘22, who not only helped organize the event but also participated in the panel, offering her perspective concerning the Malaysian Chinese diaspora. Having heard some discussion of the events in Hong Kong in small group settings around campus, Win Wen sought to bring these discussions into the light, raising awareness of international issues among the student population. “International issues rarely get attention and space in the discussion when everyone is so caught up in American domestic politics,” says Win Wen. She hoped the event could be a space to think through controversial ideas together and contextualize the events in Hong Kong with faculty insight.
If the goal of the event was to bring diverse perspectives on the events in Hong Kong to Carleton’s campus and to generate conversation, then it was certainly a success. The panel included professors from St. Olaf, Macalester, and Carleton, each of whom examined the events in Hong Kong from different perspectives, including historical, political, social, and personal. Presentation topics ranged from changing national and cultural identities to social movement theory to the historical context of China and Hong Kong. Adding yet another dimension, two international students shared their perspectives. Lydia Chau ‘21 recounted her experience participating in a protest while she was at home in Hong Kong over break, while Win Wen helped those in attendance to better understand the perspective of Chinese diaspora communities in response to the Hong Kong protests. Despite their diverse perspectives, all presenters emphasized the gravity of these events and the undecided future of Hong Kong within China’s “one country, two systems.”
With a huge turnout, the event provided a space for students to engage with current events, differing opinions, and their own positionalities, expressing their concerns and learning from one another. Personally, I learned something new from each of the panelists and was reminded of the importance of thinking globally, not just locally. Given the number of people in attendance, events such as this are in high demand considering their relevance to students’ lives. Future collaborations between the CCCE and academic departments addressing both international and domestic issues affecting students can be expected as these conversations continue to circulate on campus.
Panelists: Seungjoo Yoon (Carleton), Adeeb Khalid (Carleton), Kent Freeze (Carleton), Katherine Tegtmeyer (St. Olaf), Chuen Fung Wong (Macalester), Wayne Soon (Vassar), Win Wen Ooi (Carleton ‘22), Lydia Chau (Carleton ‘21).