Cross-cultural communications to be the focus of new scholarship program at SU’s Newhouse School

Cross-cultural communications to be the focus of new scholarship program at SU’s Newhouse SchoolMarch 03, 2003Nicci Brownnicbrown@syr.edu

A new scholarship program at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications aims to increase global awareness among future leaders in the communications industry. The Liu Multicultural Scholarships will benefit graduate students with a history of, or interest in, cross-cultural communications. The scholarships are the result of a $500,000 gift from the Liu Foundation, a family foundation established by media entrepreneur and Newhouse alum Arthur Liu and his wife, Yvonne.

“Multiculturalism is a cornerstone of the University’s Academic Plan, so this is precisely the type of opportunity that we want to encourage at SU,” says Deborah Freund, Vice Chancellor and Provost of Syracuse University. “With these types of opportunities SU students will distinguish themselves in the workplace and in life through their multicultural literacy.”

The $10,000 awards will be made to Newhouse students over the next several years, with the first five recipients to be named later this semester. Criteria for selection include proficiency in a foreign language, extensive travel or participation in a study abroad program, an undergraduate program that emphasizes cross cultural or global studies, or relevant career aspirations.

David M. Rubin, dean of the Newhouse School, says the scholarships send an important message to today’s communicators and to those of the future. “The dangers of continuing to think about an alien ‘other’ around the world are obvious,” Rubin says. “The United States is now permanently intertwined with the affairs of practically every country around the globe, and their welfare inevitably affects ours. It is, therefore, increasingly important that our students cultivate an appreciation for, and an understanding of, other cultures. Arthur and Yvonne Liu and the other members of the Liu Foundation Board recognize this. The Liu Multicultural Scholarships will encourage graduate students at the Newhouse School to engage in the exploration of other cultures, and to use their communications skills to educate a media audience desperately in need of a worldwide perspective. It is no exaggeration to say that our future depends on it.”

A native of China and longtime resident of Taiwan, Arthur Liu graduated from the Newhouse School with a master’s degree in public communications in 1966. He then built a media empire that now includes more than 30 radio stations, three cable networks and a weekly publication. Liu’s Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc. broadcasts daily in dozens of languages and has stations across the U.S., including major cities such as New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and Seattle. Yet Liu remains cognizant of the challenges faced by those starting out. “I am basically a very simple man and a practical one,” Liu says. “I know only too well that without financial support, a good education and therefore, a rewarding job, can be difficult to attain. I had to work 60 hours a week to support my graduate studies; now I seem to be in the position to help others devote more undivided time to their studies.”

In 2001, the American Advertising Federation named Liu as an inaugural honoree of its Mosaic Awards. The awards were created to recognize industry trailblazers who have contributed significantly to the evolution of multicultural marketing and advertising, as well as celebrating extraordinary achievements in diversity.

The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University is one of the largest and most respected professional communications schools in the nation. Its faculty includes industry leaders and internationally known scholars and researchers. Its degree programs are consistently ranked amongst the best in the U.S. and include advertising, broadcast journalism, magazine, newspaper, public relations, television-radio-film and visual and interactive communications. The school is also recognized for its prominent and highly successful network of alumni.