Press Release: February 7, 2002

To the Chicago Flame Editors

To the Chicago Flame editors:

On behalf of the Asian American Coalition Committee, I disagree with the February 5th feature editorial against the coming establishment of the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center.

The main issue is money. The editorial mentions that Asian American students have been pushing for a center for ten years unsuccessfully. During those ten years, the UIC administration has always been saying that a tight budget is the central reason that prevents the establishment of such a center - every single year through good economic times and bad.

I agree that the recent budget cuts are troubling for UIC, and a smaller start would be appropriate. However, no, we are not pushing for immediate construction of a "new building" to house the center; space for it can begin in a currently unused space on campus. This already greatly cuts down on initial costs of the center. Our focus, though, instead of being on space for the center, is rather on staffing the Center and hiring the Center's director, as these actions are most important. The director will also serve as a UIC faculty member who will teach classes.

The existing cultural centers only get a programming budget of $20,000. This amount has not increased a penny since it was first allocated two decades ago. However, each center's own private fundraising supports most of the programming for these centers. The Latino Cultural Center fundraises about five to six times its allocated amount. In other words, these units are fairly self-sufficient and occupy a speck in the University's large multi-million dollar budget.

Provost Tate herself has reassured students and faculty saying that she has some funds set aside for this center. Since spring 2001 she has been anticipating a development of such a center. Having it does not mean that our favorite professors are going get a pink slip.

If you recall, part of last year's tuition increase was meant to support the development of the Asian American Studies program; it is specifically listed in the "Benefits to UIC" document produced to substantiate a tuition increase. Yet this year the search in History for an Asian Americanist was pulled back and postponed for AY 2002-3. We are already waiting. Faculty is already being trimmed. Tell me, if UIC has raised tuition to try to diversify our education, why is it not becoming a reality?

In spring of 1999 Provost Hoffman had extended her support for the center, but she left that summer, and the movement to create this center halted and had to be re-established; the movement took many steps backwards. UIC is in a similar position today with our interim provost leaving. This circumstance compounded with casual dismissal of the center due to seemingly ever-present budget issues might just seal the fate for the center. We have been through ten years of waiting already. A better time might never arrive. If a center had already been established at UIC, would anyone dream of shutting it down along with other cultural centers for budget reasons?

AACC recognizes the reality of the budget cuts and is, and has been, negotiating with administrators. We are meeting the Provost again on February 28th with various options. We cannot compromise UIC's ideals for the sake of budget cuts. UIC as an educational institution has a responsibility to provide its students with the best education possible. Some of the best education we have received has been outside of the UIC classrooms.

Sincerely,
Rena Patel
Catherine Kuo
Wen Chen
AACC