UAFS connects directly to Japan for holiday ceremony

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg

It was the 29th year for University of Arkansas Fort Smith to present a Season’s Greetings Concert and Campus Lighting and it was one few who attended will forget.

Through an optical network, Dr. Ray Wallace, UAFS senior vice chancellor and provost, introduced a group of singers from Bunkyo University near Toyko, Japan. While it was 7:25 pm in Fort Smith, it was 10:20 am in Bunkyo. Wearing UAFS t-shirts, they performed “Silent Night” in Japanese and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” in English. At the end of their performance, they wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

"With this technology," Wallace said, "imagine what we can do when we broadcast our classes all over the world."

The high-speed, real-time connection is courtesy of the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network, or ARE•ON, for short. ARE-ON is a consortium of research and education institutions and public service agencies that was formed to foster the development of Arkansas’ research, education, public service and economic development.

“As a result of this project, bandwidth to the campus will be increased fifty-fold while the speed of the campus backbone and the bandwidth accessed by faculty and students will be increased ten-fold,” noted information from an early 2009 UAFS report on the project. “This increase in speed of access, coupled with the availability of education and research resources on Internet2; National LambdaRail (NLR); and from other colleges, universities, and research facilities across the nation and internationally, provide unparalleled opportunities for our faculty and students.” (Link here for more info on ARE•ON.)

Many families with young children were out to enjoy the concert that featured all the performance areas of UAFS. Different groups presented their holiday greetings through their voices and instruments including Brass Quintet, Saxophone Quartet, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Catz, Women’s Chorus and Chorale. Ending the program was Don Bailey, director of Jazz Studies, playing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” on the saxophone.

Immediately following the concert, attendees walked to the bell tower and watched as UAFS Chancellor Dr. Paul Beran and his wife, Janice, counted down for the lights to be turned on around the campus. Golf carts were available for a quick ride around the area to tour the lights.