This can be considered a live blog - Gary Okihiro just gave us this link to a petition decrying the proposed budgets cuts of Asian American Studies at University of Pennsylvania. These budget cuts are university-wide, but disproportionally affects smaller departments and programs - thus, threatening to effectively shut down the Asian American Studies program. So take a look, read the petition, and sign it!

The petition at www.petitiononline.com/saveasam

To: The University of Pennsylvania

We, the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as other interested members, believe the 25% budget decrease by the School of Arts and Sciences to Asian American Studies is outrageous. Asian American Studies, and more broadly Ethnic Studies, are integral components to a college curriculum and should not be viewed as simply supplementary knowledge. We DISAPPROVE of the School of Arts and Sciencefs decision to cut funding for Asian American Studies. We URGE the administration to reverse the decision and fully recognize Asian American Studies as an essential component of campus diversity.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Recently, the University announced that the Asian American Studies program will receive a 25% decrease in their budget. Because the program is already so poorly funded, these additional cuts would ultimately terminate Asian American Studies at Penn.

If this University is indeed committed to diversity, it must display that passion through sufficient funding and support of Asian American Studies.

In an effort to address this issue to administration, the Asian Pacific Student Coalition and the ASAM Undergraduate Advisory Board have started a petition to document the student and faculty interest in Asian American Studies.

Petitions will be available in PAACH (3601 Locust Walk) as well as at the Asian American Studies Office (166 McNeil Building).

PLEASE STOP BY AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY SIGNING OUR PETITION!

HELP US SAVE ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES AT PENN!