ADA, Okla. – The East Central University Honors Program is set to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War with a full-day program titled, “Vietnam (is not): 50” on Oct. 23 in the Estep Multimedia Center located inside the Bill S. Cole University Center.
The event is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“The Vietnam War is a forgotten war for many of our students today,” said Director of the ECU Honors Program, Dr. Steve Benton. “We want to educate them about the war, but we’re calling it ‘Vietnam (is not): 50’ because we want to emphasize that Vietnam itself is not a war. It is a country with a long history and a rich culture.”
Lectures will be delivered by ECU faculty and others from the perspectives of history, English, film studies, philosophy, political science and art, along with performances by ECU music faculty and students.
9:30-10:45 a.m.
- “Quầ Cau Gió Bay” (The Wind on the Bridge), Traditional Vietnamese Folk Song, arr. Brent Wells, directed by professor of Music, Dr. Melody Baggech, performed by the ECU Chorale.
- “The Vietnam War: The Vietnamese Perspective,” presented by professor and chair for the Department of History, Dr. Chris Bean.
- “Vietnam War, American Politics,” presented by professor and chair for the Department of Politics, Law and Society, Drs. Christine Pappas and professor, Mohsin Khan from the Department of Politics, Law and Society.
- “Vietnamese Oklahoma,” presented by Thuan Nguyen, Founder of the OKC Asian District Cultural Association
11 a.m.
- “Vietnam War, American Film,” presented by English professor and Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Mark Walling.
- “Vietnamese Art: Historical and Contemporary,” presented by professor of Art, Prof. Jenn Peek.
- “Vietnamese Music: Worldwide Impact” (highlight on Ky Nam Nguyen: “Pine Tree” - solo flute inspired by poem and “Fragments of Memories” - solo sax), presented by music instructors, Drs. Alex Aguirre and Nathaniel Berman.
12:30 p.m.
- “Do Doc Do Ngang” (Boat Song), original arrangement and direction by Director of ECU Bands, Dr. Nick Meyers, performed by ECU Band Ensemble,
- “The Vietnam Veterans Memorial,” presented by professor of English and philosophy, Dr. Jennifer McMahon.
- “The Documentary That Destroyed a Family: Daughter from Danang,” by professor of English, Dr. Joshua Grasso.
“I am thrilled that so many of my colleagues representing such a wide array of disciplines have eagerly volunteered to participate in this collective effort,” said Benton.
A screening of the Vietnamese language film “Mai (2024)” will take place at 2 p.m. The film is described as a, “bittersweet drama about an unlikely relationship between a massage therapist and a playboy became the highest-grossing Vietnamese film in the country’s history when it was released in 2024.”
During and following the screening, the Hungry Lotus Vietnamese food truck will be available for catering from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Menu items will include Pho (beef noodle soup), Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich), Com Tam (“broken rice”), and Bao Bun (pork belly steamed bun).
At 7 p.m., the event will culminate with a reading by Vu Tran, Vietnamese-American author of the 2015 novel “Dragonfish” (a NY Times Notable Book) and the director of undergraduate studies in creative writing at the University of Chicago.
“Remembering an event provides us with an opportunity to honor everyone involved by increasing our historical knowledge and expanding our cultural awareness,” said Walling.
Door prizes will also be awarded at the event, including $500 Study Abroad vouchers for ECU students.
For more information on Vietnam (is not): 50, contact Director of the ECU Honors Program, Dr. Steve Benton at sbenton@ecok.edu or call 580-559-5877.
Cutline: Author Vu Tran, headlining ECU’s Vietnam (is not): 50.
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