最近，從多倫多大學傳出一個令人震驚的壞消息，該校文理學院院長 Meric Gerler 決定解散該校東亞系，教職員工分別編入其他相關學系。這簡直太匪夷所思了，誰能想到，一個國際知名的老牌大學竟然如此短視，出此下策，要毀掉一個好不容易建立起來的東亞系！

多倫多大學始健於1827年，是北美最古老的大學之一，也是世界最重要的研究型大學之一。東亞研究系的前身是安大略省皇家博物館 (Royal Ontario Museum) 的遠東部 (Far Eastern Department)，該博物館1968年以前一直隸屬多倫多大學。曾在中國河南省任加拿大中華聖公會主教的懷履光 (William C．White) 1934年回到多倫多後成為博物館遠東收藏部 (Far Eastern Collection) 的負責人，並在多倫多大學開設了中國藝術與考古的課程。1968年，多倫多大學評議會授權成立中國研究學院 (School of Chinese Studies)，懷履光成為第一任院長。

多倫多大學匯集了一大批中國問題研究學者。該校東亞系經過半個世紀的長足發展，已經形成了比較完備的東亞研究和教學體系。該校的東亞圖書館藏書豐富，資料齊全，在北美名列前茅。隨着東亞特別是中國的崛起，東亞系的課程越來越受到歡迎，註冊的學生越來越多。按道理說，東亞研究，特別是中國研究應該得到進一步加強 才是，可是沒有想到竟然要遭到如此削弱，這於情於理都說不通，誰都沒有料到。

目前該系已經向全球學者發出呼籲，請求給與道義上的支持，敦促該校文理學院院長取消這個短視的決定。我在這裡也呼籲大家，給予該事件以充分關注，如果可能，請以實際行動表示支持。謝謝！

呼籲信可以寫給如下地址，同時用電子郵件發給東亞系主任, Prof. Tom Keirstead tom.keirstead@utoronto.ca
Prof. Meric Gerler, DeanUniversity of TorontoFaculty of Arts  Science
100 St. George Street, Toronto
ON CANADA M5S 3G3
officeofthedean.artsci@utoronto.ca

下面是東亞系韓國研究專業的教授 7月12日發表在H-ASIA的一封呼籲信。遺憾的是，至今仍未見該系中國研究專業教授的任何表示。

July 12 2010
Alert:  Dismantling East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto
****************************************
From: Frank Joseph Shulman
Dear Colleagues,
This may well be of immediate interest to the community of scholars and
students engaged in East Asian Studies throughout North America.
Best wishes,
Frank Joseph Shulman
July 1, 2010
Frank Joseph Shulman
Bibliographer, Editor and Consultant for Reference Publications in Asian
Studies
9225 Limestone Place
College Park, Maryland 20740-3943 (U.S.A.)
E-mail: fshulman@umd.edu
________________________________________
From: koreanstudies-bounces@koreaweb.ws [koreanstudies-bounces@koreaweb.ws]
On Behalf Of Andre Schmid [andre.schmid@utoronto.ca]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 9:39 AM
To: koreanstudies@koreaweb.ws
Subject: [KS] Request, re: Korean Studies in Toronto
Dear colleagues,
We are writing to you with some unfortunate news concerning institutional
developments at the University of Toronto, developments which threaten the
future of our Korean Studies program. Last week, it was announced that the
Department of East Asian Studies, which provides the core for our graduate
program in Korean Studies, is to be dismantled.  A small part of the
department will be reallocated to a new School of Language and Literature
while the rest of the faculty members will be dispersed among other
disciplinary departments.  This momentous decision was made without prior
notice or consultation, despite its overwhelming importance to many of us in
Toronto.   At a time when the University of Toronto has been able to develop
a vibrant and multi-faceted Korean Studies program, the home of that program
– the Department of East Asian Studies – is about to be eliminated. This, of
course, will have severe repercussions for our growing graduate studies
programme.
We are hoping to reverse this decision and in this struggle are seeking your
support.  Many of us in the department – and especially in the Korean
Studies programme – would appreciate if you assist us in expressing our
opposition to this move by writing a letter to our Dean at the following
address (with an electronic copy for our records to our current interim
Chair, Prof. Tom Keirstead tom.keirstead@utoronto.catom.keirstead@utoronto.ca>).
Prof. Meric Gerler, Dean
University of Toronto
Faculty of Arts & Science
100 St. George Street
Toronto, ON CANADA M5S 3G3
(officeofthedean.artsci@utoronto.caofficeofthedean.artsci@utoronto.ca>)
We would be most happy to answer any of your questions and would be very
appreciate of your support.
Sincerely,
Juhn Ahn
Kyoungnok Ko
Janet Poole
Andre Schmid
Korean Studies Faculty members,
Dept. of East Asian Studies,
University of Toronto

We would be most happy to answer any of your questions and would be very
appreciate of your support.

Sincerely,
Juhn Ahn
Kyoungnok Ko
Janet Poole
Andre Schmid

Korean Studies Faculty members,
Dept. of East Asian Studies,
University of Toronto