Remarks by Patricia de Stacy Harrison
Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State
American Corner Opening Ceremony
February 17, 2005
Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus

Thank you very much.

It is a great pleasure for me to be here this morning to officially open the American Corner here in Pattani at the John F. Kennedy library.

I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this official opening, but I ’m very happy that you waited an entire year for me to have a chance to come back to Thailand for a visit so that I could be the one to help open it.

I hope most of you have been here to the American Corner before. But, if this is your first time, you may be thinking: What is an American Corner? An American Corner is many things; most importantly, it’s a place where users may learn more about American society and culture. An American Corner is a resource center and a meeting place.

Over one hundred American Corners have opened throughout the world already – from Rwanda to Russia to Malaysia. Each of these Corners is a partnership between an American Embassy and a local institution.

Here in Thailand, other American Corners have already opened in Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, and soon a 5th American Corner will officially open in Yala.

We think Prince of Songkla University Pattani is an ideal place for an American Corner because this university has shown extraordinary support for the American Corner initiative, and has many complementary programs already in place.

For instance, PSU Pattani has an active American Studies program. PSU Pattani also works frequently with our English Language Fellow, Daniel Ringold, who interacts extensively with students and English teachers throughout this area.

Your personal connections with the United States are also very strong. I understand that many of the faculty are graduates of American universities and some are even Fulbright alumni. Even the John F. Kennedy library is named in honor of one of America’s Presidents.

This keen interest in America, coupled with the strong support of the administration, faculty, and library staff, made PSU Pattani a natural choice for an American Corner in Thailand.

Yet the American Corner exists not only for the students and faculty of PSU Pattani, but also for the community at large. The Corner will serve all the people of Pattani and the surrounding provinces, including university and high school students, and any community member who wants to gain a better understanding of the United States, its culture and society.

I trust that you will tell your colleagues, families, and friends about this resource and encourage them to visit here.

This American Corner has much to offer. At its heart, it is a resource center. It offers an extensive book, periodical, and video collection, covering topics as diverse as English teaching, student advising, fiction, business, and government.

The American Corner offers internet access, as well as the capability to conduct digital video conferences. This exciting conferencing technology allows users of the American Corner to dialogue with counterparts and experts throughout Thailand, the United States, and the world.

In fact, the American Corner here in Pattani has already taken full advantage of DVC technology and in the past two weeks there have been two DVCs here; one a monthly series on English Language Teaching and another on problem-based learning in the social sciences held with students from the Faculty of Education.

The American Corner is also a natural focal point for graduates of American universities and programs to stay in touch with each other and their friends in America.

I encourage all alumni of American exchange programs, such as the Fulbright program and the International Visitor Leadership program, to name just a couple, to take an active role in this Corner. I also encourage you to sign up at the State Department alumni website, which links alumni of U.S. exchange programs worldwide.

The American Corner can also be the site of lively public programs featuring speakers and other guests. Although it’s housed in a library, the American Corner is not meant to be a quiet repository of books.

Ms. Raweewon Khampol, the extremely productive and knowledgeable director, and her American Corner staff here, are wonderful partners with the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. They work together to arrange programs featuring speakers from the U.S., or staff from the U.S. Embassy, or local American and Thai Fulbright scholars, to name just a few.

Other public events at the American Corner might include an American film series, video screenings, or book and movie discussion clubs. The American Corner can even be used for educational advising or for presenting exhibits.

I am confident that this American Corner will continue to be a fun, friendly, and lively place that promotes dialogue and mutual understanding between Thais and Americans. All of us will work to strengthen Thai-American relations through the programs of this American Corner.

The American Embassy is committed to supporting activities at this Corner. Ultimately, its success will depend on the users. This American Corner is yours to build and grow, and will go wherever your imagination and initiative take it.

Thank you very much for being here this morning and I look forward to officially opening the American Corner in Pattani with my distinguished hosts.

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