From: wangl@pumpkin.Princeton.EDU (Wang Lihe)
Subject: Open Letter
Organization: Princeton University Mathematics Department
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 15:04:44 GMT


               **************************************
               *       Open Letter to Alumni of     *
               *     the Department of Mathematics  * 
               *         of Peking University       *
               **************************************


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--------   Calling for donation for "Alumni Foundation"   ----------


So far we have received a total of $935 from (in alphabetic order, numbers
in paratheses indicate signee's grade at Beida Math, U=undergraduate, 
G=graduate, V=visiting):

DAI Xianzhe(U79), Institute for Advanced Study
HU Bai(VG82), Notre Dame University
HU Xiaoqiong(U79, G85), University of Waterloo
JIN Shi(U79), Institute for Advanced Study and Courant Institute
LI Tong(U79, G83), Courant Institute
QING Jie(U79, G83), UCLA
TIAN, Gang(G82), Courant Institute
WANG Lihe(U79, G83), Princeton University
XIN Xue(U81), Institute for Advanced Study
YUAN Wei(G83), Cornell University
ZHONG Jiaping(U81, G85), Princeton University


---------- Enclosed Open Letter -----------------

Dear Colleagues,

	It was more than ten years ago when China first opened its 
gate to the West. Since then we have taken this historical opportunity 
to come to the US as students or scholars. Many of us have completed
our graduate studies and started careers in academics or other areas.
Those still in graduate studies are doing pretty well too. 
We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone
of you great success in this new world.

  No matter what we are studying and working on, we have one thing in
common, that is, we are all from Department of Mathematics of Peking
University--a place many of us are so proud of, a place many of us
set our tone for our future, a place many of us loved or being loved,
a place many of us shared our happiness or sadness, a place many of us
spent the most memorable golden moments in our whole life,
a place many of us laid the foundation of our career.

  It is because we are so proud of our Alma Mater 
and we benifit so much from our Alma Mater, we feel obligated to
do whatever we can to make it better. For many known reasons
we know that the situation at Peking University is not as satisfactory as
it should be, our colleagues back there are not as lucky as many of
us are, although they are still working as hard as ever. It is the time
for us to show our concern toward them and to make our efforts to help
them. 

  While there are many things can be and need to be done, we initiate
the establishment of an "Alumni Foundation". The purpose of this fund
is to set up several visiting scholar positions (titles are being 
negotiated and numbers depend on the amount of the fund) in
the Institute of Mathematics of Peking University.
Distinguished professors from other universites or institutions
will be invited to give lectures, seminars or even courses
at the institute. It is aimed at promoting academic
interactions and cooperations between our colleagues in China.
It will also help our Alma Mater to build up a more influential 
position in academics and in the society.

  We hereby call our alumni to donate to this foundation. Our number
in North America is in hundreds. If everyone is willing to make some 
contributions, altogether we can do a big thing.

Basic Guidelines

(1)The fund is deposited in a bank account at US under the name
of Ding, Shi-Sun (the ex-president of Peking University) and Lihe Wang 
(Assistant Professor at Princeton University and Treasurer for 
the foundation, class of 79). Only the interests of this foundation will 
be used as the salary of the selected visiting scholars.

(2) The academic committee of the Institute of Mathematics at Peking  
University (currently directed by Prof. Zhang Gongqing) is granted the 
right to choose the visiting members and the usage of the foundation.

(3) Jin Shi (A member of the Institute for
advanced study, class of 79)  is the comptroller for the foundation. He will
keep the record of all the transactions of the foundation.
 
(4) A committee composed of five alumni in U.S. will be formed to 
monitor the work of the treasurer and the secretary and to help raise
the fund. Every year the treasurer is responsible to
make an annual report to the committee and the committee will disclose
this financial statement to all donated alumni. 
A list of donators (not the amount) will be issued in computer 
network unless he or she indicates his or her objection.

(5) Friends of the department of Peking University are
welcome to make their donations. 
Those will be titled as 'honorable alumni'.

(6) Please make your check payable to Ding, Shi-Sun and 
mail it to 
 
Shi Jin 
School of Mathematics
Institute for Advanced Study 
Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

e-mail jin@math.ias.edu

Please also include your name,
institution, years at BeiDa Math., email address. 

Suggested Donation

Employed Alumni members:
$100 plus $5 (serve as 'interest' for the first year).

Students:
$50 plus $2.

Currently, we have the following committee members:


Han, Zhenchao, Stanford University, han@cauchy.stanford.edu.
Tian, Gang, Courant Institute, tiang@cims.nyu.edu.
Xu, Jinchao, Penn State University, xu@math.psu.edu

Yours Sincerely,

Signed by (in alphabetic order, numbers
in paratheses indicate signee's grade at Beida Math, U=undergraduate, 
G=graduate):

CAI, Xiaochuan(U80), University of Kentucky
CAO, Lihong(U79), National Institute of Health
DAI, Xianzhe(U79), Institute for Advanced Study
HAN,Zhenchao(U80), Stanford University
HU Xiaoqiong(U79, G85), University of Waterloo
HUANG, Ying(U81), University of Minnesota
JIN Shi(U79), Institute for Advanced Study and Courant Institute
LI Tong(U79, G83), Courant Institute
QING Jie(U79, G83), UCLA
TIAN, Gang(G81), Courant Institute
WANG Lihe(U79, G83), Princeton University
XIN Xue(U81), Institute for Advanced Study
XU, Jinchao(G81), Penn State University
YUAN, Wei(G83), Cornell University
ZHANG Wen(U79)Southern Methodist University
ZHANG Wenping(U84, G87), Princeton University
ZHANG, Yue(U80), University of Kentucky
ZHONG, Jiaping(U81, G85), Princeton University



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