JAPAN UNIVERSITY, SOUTHEAST SIGN PACT

The presidents of Southeast Missouri State University and Aichi University in Aichi, Japan have signed an agreement designed to foster student, faculty and academic program exchanges between the two schools.

Kala Stroup, president of Southeast Missouri State University, and Yoshiro Makino, president of Aichi University, shook hands on the deal following a signing ceremony Monday evening at the Cape Girardeau Holiday Inn.

"This is truly a momentous occasion in the history of Southeast Missouri State University," Stroup said. "We are very pleased to begin working with Aichi and are committed to cooperating with the university to bring about student and faculty exchanges in the near future."

Hidenori Naruse, a member of Aichi's international committee and coordinator of exchange programs, and Marvin Swanson, director of Southeast's Center for International Studies, chiseled out a draft agreement that would implement the pact and that would begin faculty, student and academic program exchanges.

Upon returning to Japan, Naruse will present the draft to Aichi officials for consideration.

"I am pleased in that this is a magnificent historical event for both universities," Swanson said.

This marked the first time that Aichi had signed a formal agreement with an American university, and the first time Southeast had entered into one with a Japanese university.

"Dr. Stroup and Dr. Makino came together on the agreement in a very short period of time," Swanson said. "It's an historical event for both institutions."

The seed for the agreement was planted by Yoshihiro Takase, a longtime friend and supporter of the university whose son, Shigeomi, graduated from Southeast in 1984. Yoshihiro Takase recently suggested to Makino that he consider such an agreement with Southeast, Swanson said.

Yoshihiro Takase also recently donated $150,000 to Southeast for an international business center that would be housed in the proposed new College of Business Administration building. Takase, a native of Oita Prefecture, Japan, attended Aichi University and is chairman and supervisor of operations for the Japan-America Academic Advising Center (JAAC). JAAC has a counseling center in Cape Girardeau at 733 Watkins Drive.