Last Tuesday (November 6) when a cold front was engulfing Tamsui, we saw Pres. Chang Horng-jinh leading senior-level staff and students busy sweeping the campus ground and surrounding areas, and each of them with shining foreheads seemed to be enjoying their physical labor enormously; their spirit was implacable and undaunted.

That day was declared the “Cleaning-up” day. The designated area ranged widely, from “College Town” (dah-hsueh-cheng), “Difficulty-Overcoming Steps” (ke-nan-po) down to “English College Road” (ying-chuan-lu); everywhere you are familiar with was there to be swept clean and spick and span.

Not just Pres. Chang, Dr. Feng Chao-kang, V.P. for Academic Affairs, also rolled up his sleeves and joined the work force. Asked if he considered what he did as a chore, Dr. Feng denied vehemently, saying that at home, his children often rated him the “best sweeper” in the family.

Pres. Chang also reminisced his student days when he often climbed the “Steps for Undaunted Heroes” not just once, or twice, but four to five times. Now he is experiencing the same thing with younger generations, he feels rejuvenated and reinvigorated once again.

Students were inspired by their teachers’ spirit. They are indeed their role models, they all declared in unison.