On the morning of September 9, the Opening Ceremony for 2013 Freshmen was held at SMU stadium. Mr. XU Zuyuan, Director of China Institute of Navigation, Curator of China Maritime Museum as well as former Vice Minister of Ministry of Transport of PRC; Prof. Yu Shicheng, Chairman of SMU University Council; President Huang Youfang, Vice President Kong Fancun, Vice President Jin Yongxing, Vice President Xiao Baojia, Vice President Yang Wanfeng, Deputy Secretary Men Yanping, Vice President Wang Haiwei along with leaders from relevant of departments and colleges attended this ceremony. More than 4,000 freshmen, 80 postgraduate representatives and parents of the freshmen participated in the ceremony.
Mr. XU Zuyuan first delivered a speech, expressing that as an old sea-captain, head of China Institute of Navigation, Curator of China Maritime Museum and a parent of SMU graduate, he, with profound sailing feelings, encouraged the freshmen to be earnest and down-to-earth, look towards the future, identify their responsibility, and strive to become qualified maritime talents.
On behalf of all the faculties of SMU, President Huang Youfang extended his warm welcome to freshmen and sincere gratitude to the teachers and parents who have made strenuous efforts to educate the freshmen in his address. He introduced to the new students SMU’s long history, its running features, advantages of disciplines and the prospects for development. Then he elaborated on the “SMU Dream” of becoming a high-level university. He said, there’s no limit for such pursuit, SMU would persevere in the efforts towards the direction of “SMU Dream” so as to cultivate more talents that are highly appreciated and fully affirmed by the society, making them feel proud of being SMU students.
2012 postgraduate Xiao Ling from Logistics Engineering of Science Research Academy and Gao Tianhao from College of Economics and Management respectively represented the old students and the new students for a speech.
SMU symphony orchestra, choirs, dance troupes, calisthenics, semaphore team, wushu team and student associations present the audiences a wonderful performance, winning a round of applause.
