The following is an interview with Zhengyang Feng, an Olin exchange student from the University of Michigan – Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute.

Zhengyang comes to Olin with a solid foundation in Computer Science and is in his senior year. His hope for studying at Olin was an experience that would challenge him, help him build new skills under project-based education, and broaden his perspective on engineering.

Tell us about how you found Olin and why you wanted to study here?
I found Olin on the list of Global Engineering 3 website – GE3 is a consortium of elite engineering colleges and universities all over the world. I knew I wanted to study in the United States, and the description of Olin was very appealing. I was also familiar with a computer science faculty member from his books.

Can you tell us a little about your university in China?
Jiao Tong University was started by the Chinese (Qing) government. “Jiao Tong” means “transportation” and it was the Department of Transportation that created the school. Joint Institute is an engineering school founded by both University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Can you tell us about your academic experience at Olin?
It has been very positive. I am taking mostly computer science courses. Unlike at my university, the projects are designed with the user in mind and the group work is better organized at Olin.

What about life outside the classroom? Have you felt welcome at Olin?
People have been very friendly. I really like the living accommodations – the dorm is nicer than my housing in Shanghai.

Have you done any traveling?
I have visited New York City, which is like Shanghai only bigger! I have never seen a park in a city like Central Park. I also love the diversity of food there!

What has been your favorite meal in the US?
I had oysters at one of the coolest restaurants in Boston. Neptune Oyster is located in Boston’s north end. They have big delicious lobster rolls and oysters. It’s a very popular restaurant. I also went to a good Japanese restaurant in Natick, MA.

When you think about why you came to the US to study, have you achieved what you set out to do?
Yes, my courses are what I was looking for at Olin and I think my English has greatly improved. I will be coming back to the U.S. for graduate school in August.

When you think about American culture, is there anything you find weird or hard to understand?
I don’t understand names in the United States. Names have no meaning. In China, parents combine Chinese characters to make names that express their hopes and dreams for their child’s future. And names have so many meanings [here] – one example is Washington. Washington is a last name (of a U.S. president), a street in many different cities and towns and also a state. It’s confusing!

Is there something in Chinese culture you would like to share with your fellow Olin classmates?
Monkey King is a fictional character from a very popular novel in China called The Journey to the West. I think Monkey King (whose Chinese name is 孙 悟 空 Sun Wukong) is like Superman in America. He is very famous! In this picture of him, can you find the 3 characters of his name?

Would you encourage your classmates to visit you [in Shanghai]?
Yes, definitely. I can show them all around Shanghai where I go to school and also my hometown Wuxi – a city not far from Shanghai. They will need to come for one or two weeks. I live near a large scenic lake called Tai Lake, and it’s very beautiful.

Can you find these Chinese characters in this picture of Monkey King?
孙 悟 空

I was prompted to write this article when I happened to hear a Candidates’ Weekend tour going through the mailroom area a few weeks ago. The tour guide was highlighting the fact that everyone leaves their mailboxes open because our community is built on “Respect for Others” – one of the pillars of the Honor Code.

It struck me as something sad to be talking about with pride. Not being a thief has a really low activation energy. What kind of world do we live in when it’s cool that people don’t steal from each other?

But that’s a little too big picture for me. I’ll stay focused on Olin. What it really made me feel is that I don’t think not stealing is enough to say we have respect for each other here. If not being a bad person is “Respect for Others” at Olin, we are setting the bar way too low.

Admittedly, I’m getting on a soapbox here. I am aware of it, and I hope you’ll come talk to me or publish a similar article in response if you disagree (or even if you agree). It’s not my place to claim my opinion on this is correct. However, the issue is one that’s important enough to me that I want to start a more public conversation about it.

Olin students are admitted – in part – based on the value they might add to our campus culture. I believe that truly engaging with the concept of Respect for Others is one of the key ways we can do that. Right now, I don’t think we are doing enough. At a basic level, Respect for Others is considering other people as you conduct yourself as a part of a shared community. When you leave a common area do you leave it exactly the way found it? What if you left it better than you found it?

We’re a small community. We should be able to take things way further than that.

Let’s all make active efforts to respond to HelpMe emails. Let’s clean the spaces we use regularly.

Let’s spend time organizing things for the benefit of other Oliner’s lives. Let’s take responsibility for important roles or tasks when no one else wants to or even shows up.

Let’s spread information about and try to solve the issues that are meaningful to us in order to improve the level of openness and quality of life at this college. Let’s talk to each other before making assumptions that fester and break down relationships. Let’s reach out to resolve long-standing conflicts with or even simple dislike of each other.

When we can say that we, in general as a student community, actively participate in those activities (and many more in the same vein), I’ll happily tell candidates about how Oliners have a deep Respect for Others.
It doesn’t take much as an individual, but as a community, it’s very difficult. It’s easy to feel your actions are anonymous and insignificant when part of a large group.

It takes very serious and conscious effort to consider Respect for Others in the small actions you take in everyday life at Olin; this is especially hard when being overloaded with work is a valid excuse.
I’m a culprit just like nearly everyone else. Like many things in life, it’s made easier when we hold each other accountable. I hope you’ll push me to strive for a higher standard, and I hope to push all of you.