When we say memorial, it tends to mean that the person has died. Our Solomon Chao (former PC member or something), however, is alive and kicking somewhere in Cali, while we celebrate the legacy of study room take-overs in the But in his absence.
We're not gonna say where it is... 'cause this is technically against Butler policy. All we will say: this is the third semester in a row this has happened. It's a little bit distracting, but all are welcome - if you find out where we are, that is.
And so we descend back into finals hell.
A message of solidarity from AAA to AAA.
A Harvard Crimson article describes the ways that campaigns for Asian American Studies at Harvard University have over 20+ years risen and fallen, while actual programs in AAS at other schools such as University of Pennsylvania and Cornell have thrived. (UPenn is even bringing in Kal Penn as a visiting professor in the spring of '08. Damn, that's impressive.)
While we hope that Harvard comes around soon concerning what should be an anachronism in the lack of ethnic studies (or in this case Asian American) course offerings, we support fully the progressive endeavors that students there (including their AAA, the Asian American Association) are taking to instate such a program/department.
Whether or not students there are ready to undertake such activist measures such as hunger strikes (as we did in '96 for both Latino and Asian American Studies following similar successes at schools all across the country), the AAA of Columbia is willing to aid this and all campaigns for Asian American Studies in all ways possible. (With two of our senior advisers as chairs of NAASCon and more of our members and constituents as activists in this cause, we're more than happy to offer help! Just let us know...)
And for all students wishing to bring about Asian American Studies at their respective institutions, take a look at this NAASCon student advocate's guide to campaigning for Asian American Studies.
P.S. Whooa, history professor Mae Ngai apparently turned down Harvard for our ethnic studies program... We're eternally grateful, 'cause I hear she's a kickass (and hardcore) teacher.
(photo ripped off Fernandez Lab's website)
Arun Wiita was photographing the NYC subway rails for his 10-day summer project. While on 207th St and 10th Ave, an NYPD officer stopped and asked him what he was doing. Listening to Wiita's explanation, the officers then asked to see the photos and some ID. Wiita complied by presenting the photos, a New Jersey driver's license and a Columbia University ID.
According to Wiita on Gothamist, "[the officer] said that since I didn't have a NY State ID he couldn't run my information over the radio, and he would have to take me into the station at 145th St to check it out "in front of his peers". He then asked me to turn around and put my hands behind my back and then he handcuffed me." Wiita was detained for 30 minutes.
According to Metro, "police sources said officers question people photographing the city’s rail infrastructure on rare occasions, citing instances in which law enforcement officials have identified men taking photographs of city bridges and subways as Iranian intelligence agents and suspected Pakistani terrorists who were stopped by police while taking pictures of the Brooklyn and Williamsburg bridges."
I Google stalked Wiita, finding out that he works at the Fernandez Lab and hopes to receive his MD/PhD by 2009. The dude's now working with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in filing a lawsuit against the NYPD, who he believes detained him for his "South Asian or Middle Eastern appearance".
Laura, our Social Chair who sent us the articles, made this comment: funny how the cops didn't even take up his columbia ID or call the school to verify or anything of that nature..? even though i bet he could check an out-of-state id. MMMM, (channeling phil yu) thats racist!
But after the last run-in with the NYPD, how can we be surprised?
* Do you identify as South Asian and Queer?
* Are you interested in participating in a study....or know someone who might be?
Pamela Roy, Residence Director at University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Raja Bhattar, Assistant Director of Diversity Affairs at the University of Redlands are conducting a qualitative study about the experiences of students, staff, administrators, and faculty on college campuses in the United States who are members of multiple communities, specifically in the South Asian and Queer (LGBTQQIA) communities.
Criteria to participate in the study include:
1. Must be a current graduate or undergraduate student, staff,administrator or faculty member at a U.S. college or university
2. Must identify as South Asian (familial/cultural roots in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives Islands) or South Asian by Diaspora (familial/cultural ancestry in South Asia)
3. Must identify as non-heterosexual
The data gathered in this study will be presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) in Boston, MA in March, 2008. NASPA is one of the leading international student affairs organizations and we are excited to be presenting at this conference. This presentation will be sponsored by the Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Pamela Roy or Raja Bhattar at saqstudy@gmail.com to learn more information.
Try this out for size...
AALDEF SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIPS 2008
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is the first organization on the East Coast to protect and promote the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy and community education. For more information about AALDEF, please visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups. AALDEF also provides trainings in housing law, naturalization procedures, and immigration law. The summer program is ten (10) weeks, beginning approximately June 9th through August 15th. The position is unpaid. However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding and work-study funds may also be available. Academic credit can be arranged.
Voting Rights Intern: Responsibilities include coordinating voter registration drives, researching the Voting Rights Act, anti-Asian voter discrimination, bilingual ballots, and Asian American political opinion; advocating on state and local election reform proposals; developing reports and organizing forums on the Asian American vote. Students from schools in MI, MA, PA, VA, DC, MD, HI, who are also willing to help in coordinating Asian American Election Protection efforts in Nov. 2008 after they go back to school are especially encouraged to apply.
NJ Asian American Legal Project Intern: Responsibilities include conducting community outreach and presentations with Asian immigrant workers and community members in New Jersey ; performing client intake and legal interpretation, and; coordinating client referrals. Bilingual ability in Gujarati, Hindi, or Korean is highly preferred.
Youth Rights and Educational Equity Intern: Responsibilities include community outreach and presentations with Asian American youth groups, public education policy research, assistance with client intakes and general support for projects on educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, and post 9-11 hate violence and racial targeting.
Office Assistant: Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings, answering phones, doing mailings, assisting with fundraising and other events, and performing general clerical duties. Other responsibilities include providing support for community education and outreach projects and acting as an interpreter/translator. Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs are helpful. Bilingual ability in an Asian language is desirable but not required.
Requirements: Candidates must be detail-oriented and possess strong writing skills. Spoken and written knowledge of Korean, Bangla, Chinese, or another Asian language is a plus.
Qualified applicants should indicate which internship they are applying for and send a resume and cover letter by Friday, February 15 to:
Summer Undergraduate Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York , New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303 or email: info@aaldef.org
If you are and feel like killing yourself, then watch this:
The parts where the long-haired dude goes "MOOOOMMMM" and then dances in the background are absolutely hysterical.
Happy birthday to one half of the editing team! Our little David has become a man, turning 35. Or perhaps 12. No one knows for sure.
His party tonight will be intense. Among the invited guests is TI. And TI never turns down a good party.