Chicago Flame: March 4, 2003

Asian American Awareness Month: Serving Up More than Fried Rice

By Sunny Hu

Several Asian-American groups at the University of Illinois at Chicago are uniting this month for Asian American Awareness Month.

The Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Asian Americans, the Asian American Coalition Committee and other groups are planning a month's worth of events, designed to recognize the community and educate others about it.

"We've invited professor Elaine Kim, who is one of the pioneers of Asian-American studies, the field, to serve as the keynote speaker on March 4," said Kyoko Inoue, co-chairwoman of the chancellor's committee.

Other events include a film series, panel discussions and a food festival.

"For $6.25 we're going to give you a whole menu of Asian food items which you will not get anywhere else. We're also going to have two food demonstrations. People who are interested in how Asian foods are prepared can experience it for themselves," said Aruna Jha, member of chancellor's committee and head of the planning group.

Sae-rom Chae is student coordinator of the planning committee for the monthlong celebration. She said the committee concentrates on educating the UIC population about not only Oriental or southeast Asians, but also those from south Asia and the Middle East, which society often fails to recognize as being a part of the Asian-American community.

Panel discussion topics include Interracial Dating and Sex, Asian Americans, and HIV or AIDS: The Impact of Misinterpretation.

"For me, I definitely believe there is Asian-American culture. For people like us, the second generation, there's a very distinct culture we have and very separate identities we hold, which influences and shape who we are, our culture and identity," Chae said.

The planning committee said this year will be a landmark because it is the first time the chancellor's committee has participated. Other organizations signed on to help include Asian American Students in Alliance, Filipinos in Alliance, Chi Sigma Tau, Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, the Indian Students Association, the Hindu Students Council and the Bhakti Yoga Society.

Members of the planning committee hope Asian American Awareness Month will prompt a greater unification of Asian-American organizations on campus and encourage organizations to get involved in making the voices of Asian-Americans heard.

"Many students here at UIC feel disenfranchised and alienated. AAAM, for Asian-American students, is one big step forward to changing that experience to participation and recognition," Jha said. "It's very important that the voices are heard, not only in the Asian community. We all are responsible for our realities and we are the only ones that can change it."

Events planned throughout the month will be posted in most high-traffic areas on campus and weekly newsletters published by Chi Sigma Tau will be distributed.

Staff writer Sunny Hu can be reached at shu@chicagoflame.com