In what was one of the most eventful and significant weekends for the campus' Asian Pacific American community this academic year, students and faculty explored their cultural identities this past weekend at a Midwestern regional conference and Generation APA cultural show.
More than 550 students from across the Midwest gathered in Ann Arbor to discuss prominent issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community and to take part in the ninth annual Midwestern Asian American Student Union Spring Conference.
The theme of this year's conference was "Destination APA," which encouraged Asian Pacific Americans to discover their own paths in life.
"You choose your destination. It can be whatever you want it to be," said Emily Hu, MAASU spring conference social co-chair. "Hopefully, at this conference we've given them these roadmaps. ... Whatever they want to do, they can do."
Generation APA, the largest student-run cultural show in the country, drew more than 1,500 people to the Michigan Theater on Saturday night.
The conference featured a wide array of speakers from across the country, including keynote speaker Eric Liu, a commentator and columnist for MSNBC and speechwriter for President Clinton. Liu, a Harvard law student, gave the address at Friday's APA banquet.
Liu discussed Asian-American identity in the United States, and urged the audience to "ask what it is that we're trying to do when we create an Asian identity."
"Asian Americans really need to stake a full claim as full Americans. ... Asian American identity is still something that is very much a work in progress."
The MAASU spring conference drew about 250 students from other colleges and universities to the University's campus for the weekend.
"Any time you can bring a group of people together with inherent commonalities is a tremendous opportunity," said Ball State University senior Peter Chen.
The conference also featured more than 20 workshops that focused on a variety of issues of concern to the APA community, including leadership, activism and religion.
One of the most popular workshops, "Primary Colors," dealt with how APAs fit into the black and white race paradigm. It was facilitated by Lui and David Chai, spokesperson for President Clinton's Initiative on Race Relations Committee.
"The seminars epitomize what we have to struggle for and what we have to achieve," said LSA sophomore Ankim Shah, president of the Indian American Student Association. "You gain a sense of pride, a sense of unity."
Social activities included a carnival in the Michigan Union on Friday night, which featured games and activities by more than 15 APA groups.
"The entire APA community came out to educate and entertain," said LSA senior Andrew Wong, the MAASU spring conference co-chair. "It was a great mix of people."
Ann Arbor City Council member David Kwan issued a Mayor's Proclamation recognizing April as APA Heritage Month in Ann Arbor.
The conference began with a welcome address by University President Lee Bollinger and Dean of Students E. Royster Harper, along with a flag procession involving representitives from various universities across the country.
Many students said that the conference was an opportunity to network and meet new friends.
Engineering senior Rudhir Patel said the weekend was a chance to "build this network of Asian American friends across the Midwest."
The Generation APA show, hosted by the United Asian American Organizations, was intended to increase APA pride, unity and cultural awareness and coincided with the conference.
"Instead of viewing the APA community as separate cultures, it shows us as a united Asian community," Generation APA co-chair Heh Shin Kwak said.
The show incorporated traditional and modern elements and included a variety of skits, dances and historical imagery.
The acts included a step dance by Lambda Phi Epsilon, an Asian American fraternity, a Taiwanese folktale skit and a traditional Filipino courtship dance to a modern hip-hop song. More than 300 students worked to put the show together.
The audience responded to the dances with loud cheers and displays of enthusiasm.
The acts showcased different cultures, with students wearing authentic costumes depicting the specific time periods.
LSA senior Khoa Nguyen, who coordinated the Vietnamese Student Association in one of the acts, said he based the group's performance on a Vietnamese folktale that takes place in central Vietnam during the 18th Century.
LSA senior Jeanah Hong, a performer in the Korean Students Association's traditional court dance, said the show was an opportunity to learn about her heritage.
"I am a graduating senior and I really wanted to learn the traditional dance," Hong said. "It lets me keep in touch with my culture."
04-06-98
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