Central College is the name most often used for the liberal arts college1 which is found in Pella, Iowa in the United States. Originally it was chartered2 as Central University of Iowa3 in 1853, and it became Central College when the Central Board of Trustees4 requested the name be changed in the early 1990s. Since the time of its existence5, less knowledgeable people have referred to it as Pella College and several other unofficial names, apparently reflecting the bias6 of the persons giving the name.
When chartered, the university included a College Preparatory School7, a Liberal Arts College8 and a Conservatory of Music9. Dr. Hendrik Peter Scholte, the leader of a group of dissident10 immigrants11 from the Netherlands, offered the land to the Baptist Church12 which already existed in the area. From the beginning, the charter for Central was educationally liberal13 and an inclusive14 one for the mid-19th century. The charter stated that there was to be no bias15 in selecting faculty members or students on the basis of “race, religion, gender or country of origin16.” Any student meeting the “educational and moral” requirements17 for entry was to be admitted18. Central was also unusual in that from the beginning it had about half women and half men at a time when college education for women in the U.S. was not common. About half of the faculty were also female.
Dr. Scholte, “the dominie19” was himself a former Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. He had been persecuted20 and imprisoned for his rejection21 of some of the religious teachings22 of the State Church in Holland, and he led a group of enlightened followers23 to a holding of property which he had purchased for them in Iowa. They chose the city’s founding name Pella24 after the classical Greek “City of Refuge25,” in Macedonia26, a place of refuge, for citizens who were fleeing their tormentors27. Among the hundred or so followers were several professional families, including doctors, artists, writers, businessmen, lawyers, musicians, teachers etc. In Pella they avoided any denominational ties28 to any existing church, and in chartering the college, they insisted on the same standards29.
Central continued under ownership of the Baptist Church until 1918 when it was given over to the (Dutch) Reformed Church30 in America for financial reasons. It remained a small teaching institution—under 200 students—until after World War II when returning veterans31, along with the major efforts and new programs of administrative leaders, played a role in its growth, both financially and academically32. Further qualitative and quantitative growth33 progressed steadily; currently with an enrollment34 of about 1,700 students and a faculty of more than 100 full time teachers.
Since the 1960s Central College has become known for its International Studies Programs35 (now in France, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Wales, Yucatan, China and Kenya). About 60% of students graduating have had a foreign study experience. Other major areas of strength include; Natural Sciences, English & Linguistics, Modern Languages, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology36, Business & Economics, Math & Computer Sciences, Philosophy & Religion, Education, Physical Education and Exercise Science.
The campus itself has been greatly extended and is recognized for its beauty and efforts to utilize natural resources37wisely. Both men‘s and women‘s athletic teams are known for their outstanding performances, having won national championships38 in at least 6 sports, and having more than 80% participation in intramural sports39. Although the majority of student athletes are no longer of Dutch origin, the sports teams are still referred to as the Flying Dutchmen40, or the Central Dutch.(565 words)
Notes:
1. Central College is the name most often used for the liberal arts college: an undergraduate college intended to provide for and develop the general intellectual capacities such as reasoning and judgment as opposed to professional or vocational skills (中央学院是一所本科人文学院，旨在培养全面的知识和能力，如推理和判断，而不是培养职业技能。).
2. chartered: approved by granting of a charter from the state which permit’s a college to offer those study areas and related academic work as stated in the charter (特许设立，须经州政府批准、授意其章程，该章程明确规定该学校可以提供哪些学习领域和相关课程).
3. Central University of Iowa: the original name at the time of the granting of a charter to Central College (爱荷华中央大学，即中央学院特许成立时的校名).
4. Board of Trustees: a governing board elected or appointed to direct the policies of an educational institution (大学董事会，经选举或任命产生，是指导学校政策的管理机构).
5. Since the time of its existence: since the period of time that something has occurred (自从它存在的那天起).
6. reflecting the bias: showing the misunderstanding or orientation of the persons involved (反映了有关人员的偏见).
7. College Preparatory School: a high school which prepares a person to enter college (大学预备学校). At that time both Latin and Greek languages were usually required for entrance to college, as was true in European universities.
8. Liberal Arts College: a baccalaureate level 4-year college (一所本科四年制的人文学院).
9. Conservatory of Music: a school of music, which at that time was not considered to be part of the Liberal Arts College (音乐学院，当时并没把它当作人文学院的一部分).
10. dissident: (only before noun) 持不同政见的
11. immigrants: people coming from another country (移民).
12. Baptist Church: 浸信会
13. educationally liberal: encouraging students to develop a large range of interests and knowledge and respect for other people’s opinions (在教学上鼓励学生博学多闻并尊重他人的意见和想法)
14. inclusive: intended for all types of people (有意包括各种人的).
15. bias: prejudice or favoritism shown for some principle or idea (偏见).
16. country of origin: the nation in which a person was born (出生国家).
17. “educational and moral” requirements: 教育和道德要求
18. admitted: allowed to attend or take part in (允许入学).
19. dominie: the Dutch term for pastor or minister of a church (牧师，荷兰语).
20. persecuted: treated cruelly or unfairly (受迫害).
21. rejection: refusal to accept a given idea or concept (拒绝).
22. religious teachings: beliefs taught by a religious group which are expected to be accepted by members (宗教信仰).
23. enlightened followers: 有见识、明智的追随者
24. Pella: the name of a city in Iowa, taking its name from a city in Classical Greek Macedonia (爱荷华州的一个城市名，该名取之于古希腊的一个城市名). It was a place of refuge for people fleeing from persecution.
25. refuge: safety, shelter or protection from danger or distress (庇护所，避难处).
26. Macedonia: an ancient country in the northern part of ancient Greece (马其顿，曾经是一个古老的国家，位于古希腊的北部).
27. tormentors: people who deliberately treat someone cruelly by annoying them or hurting them (摧残、折磨他人者).
28. denominational ties: 教派的联系
29. in chartering the college, they insisted on the same standards: 在特许设立学院时，他们也坚持相同的标准。
30. Reformed Church: 归正会
31. veterans: persons who have served in the armed forces of a country (老兵).
32. academically: in terms of curriculum or course of studies (在学习课程方面).
33. Further qualitative and quantitative growth: 在质量和数量方面的进一步发展
34. enrollment: official registration in a program or course of studies (招生).
35. International Studies Programs: 国外学习项目
36. Sociology & Anthropology: 社会学与人类学
37. natural resources: 自然资源
38. national championships: 全国冠军
39. intramural sports: athletic activities within the college, not between colleges (校内的运动).
40. Flying Dutchmen: the name given to the athletic teams from Central College; which was established by Dutch immigrants in 1853 (给中央学院的体育队取的名字，该学院系荷兰移民于1853年建立的). The name was taken from the name of a dramatic mythical opera by the 19th century German composer, Richard Wagner, in which a fierce, legendary Dutch sea captain is condemned to sail the seas until Judgment Day. His sailing ship was also known as the Flying Dutchman, and in the mythical story the ship and its crew were feared for their bold and furious attacks on other sailing ships,