For the first time in more than 50 years, Cornell will host the Japan America Student Conference (JASC), from July 27 to 31. JASC is a student-managed 30-day forum intended to deepen ties between the United States and Japan.

The theme of this year's conference, "Examining the Future of the Japan-America Relationship Within a Global Framework," features keynote speaker Gordon Lankton, M.Eng. '53, sponsor of the Ithaca event. Lankton's talk on the conference theme is slated for July 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Robert Purcell Community Center's Multipurpose Room.

Lankton is chairman of the board of Nypro Inc., one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States. Lankton credits the JASC program for expanding his view of the world and said it continues to play a significant role in his social and business life today.

Founded in 1934, JASC brings 36 American and 36 Japanese university students together each year for one month to live, travel and study together. The delegates collaborate with leaders in business, academia and government on contemporary social, economic and political issues that face the United States, Japan and the world.

The JASC was suspended during World War II and revived in 1947 by Japanese and American students, then living in Japan. The program remained in Japan until 1953, when Lankton first attended the conference. Due to his efforts, the conference was hosted at Cornell the following year and has alternated between the two countries ever since. It was suspended again the early 1960s and revived in 1964, again under Lankton's stewardship, and has continued without interruption ever since.

For more information about the program, contact Gina Cesari, (607) 255-8343, or David Patt, (607) 255-8366, in Cornell's East Asia Program.