ASIANS

communic fall 2006

MOdern
Perceptions
of Asian
Americans
communicASIANS
fall 2006, XI issue no.1

cover graphic by Cecilia Yang

Feature communicASIANS is published

semiannually by the Asian American

6
Modern Perceptions of Asian Americans...................................................3 Activities Center (A³C). Views expressed
in communicASIANS are those of the
Introducing MTV Chi, MTV Desi, and MTV K......................................4 writers and do not necessarily represent
The largest commercialized debut of Asian American pop culture in the U.S. the opinions of the A³C. communicASIANS
welcomes all signed letters of opinion,
Stepping Up.......................................................................................6 which are subject to editing for length,
Asian American athletes on the rise accuracy and grammar.

The Interest in Asian Media..............................................................8 Asian American Activities Center

The repercussions of this interest on the image of Asian Americans in the U.S. 545 Lomita Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-3064
How the West Can Be Won.................................................................9

10
Increasing Awareness of Muslim Culture
Making a Mark in Hollywood............................................................10 Staff
APIs and the Film Industry
Editor-in-Chief
Memoirs of a Chinese American in China........................................12 Julie Kim
A Stanford student’s experiences while studying abroad in China Associate Editor
Christine Chung
The News Copy Editor
Kelvin Vuong

12
Domestic Violence.....................................................................................14
Why are Asian and Asian American women more silent about this injustice than others?
Layout Editor
Cathryn Chu
Wired Together..........................................................................................16 Contributors
Facebook, Xanga, and more: How & Why Asian Americans connect
Deland Chan
Samuel Chen
Voices Christine Chung
Linda Lee: 10 Years Later-The Status of AA Studies Today.....................18 Aram Hur
Linda Lee

20
On Campus Rich Liu
Tammy Phan
Discovering Leadership Through the API Community..............................20 Dwight Tran
Resources to help develop and implement leadership skills Jazib Zahir
Theresa Zhen
 Editor’s Letter A3C Staff
Back at the star t of freshman year, you may have
participated in an activity where you anonymously shared your Assistant Dean of Students & Director
identities, both those that are public and those that you keep Cindy Ng
to yourself. At the first overnight staff retreat in the history Assistant Director
of the A3C, the staff took part in this same activity. After we Shelley Tadaki
wrote down our public identities on pieces of paper and our
Administrative Associate
directors, Cindy and Shelley, posted them on to the whiteboard,
the descriptions we saw did not surprise us. While the words Yang Lor
“But why does this we chose, like Asian American and student, were expected, AIM Coordinator
matter to me?” it was interesting to note how so many of us associated with Diana Austria
similar ideas. Then came the second stage of the exercise.
Alumni Relations Coordinator
We wrote down the phrases that describe our hidden identities.
Linda Tran
Here, the surprise came. As Cindy and Shelley posted this new
set of words, we were surprised (and possibly relieved) to Asian American Studies
see that we shared traits, even though we would not normally Linda Lee
discuss these openly with others. This activity allowed the staff
communicASIANS
to bond and get to know each other beyond names, majors,
Cathryn Chu
and staff positions. It also allowed us to begin to consider the
Christine Chung
perceptions we hold of ourselves.
So now you may be Julie Kim
thinking, “Great. The A3C Kelvin Vuong
staff bonded. But why Community Building Coordinator
does this matter to me?” Tammy Phan
The realizations that this
exercise brought about Computer Services
highlight a broader issue. Steve Nguyen
The exercise dealt with Cultural Programming
how we, as individuals, Beijia Ma
believe others perceive
Facilities Coordinator
The A3C staff smiles ourselves and how we
for the camera at the perceive ourselves. To Marcia Lee
overnight staff retreat. extend this concept, how Frosh Interns
are Asian Americans Christie Cho
perceived and how do Asian Americans perceive themselves? Jason Jia
The feature of this issue deals precisely with this question. The Lan Le
articles in this feature are intended to provoke new thoughts Eunice Lee
and reevaluate old notions about the modern perceptions of
Andrew Pipathsouk
Asian Americans.
Perhaps (and I hope) you will love this issue of Grad Student Programming
communicASIANS. Maybe you’ll think after reading an article, Alice Siu
“Hey, I would’ve said the same thing.” Or perhaps you will Publicity Coordinator
staunchly disagree. One way or another (and what editor’s Cecilia Yang
Top photo by Alvaro Ponce. Bottom photo by Julie Kim.

note would be complete without a plug), send me your feedback

at jekim@stanford.edu. Until then… Speaker Series Coordinator
Jason Lee
Enjoy, Christian Tabing
Webmaster
Amy Yu
Julie Kim, Editor-in-Chief
2 communicasians
 W hat do you think when you hear the word “Asian?” What about the
word “American?” Now if you put the words together to form “Asian
American,” what comes to mind? Stereotypical perceptions of Asian
Americans pervade American culture. Quiet and timid. Intelligent and studious.
Over the past decades, Asian Americans have been pushing the limits imposed
upon them, redefining their role in society. They are not simply the engineers,
computer programmers, and doctors of this country. They are breaking new
ground in the entertainment industry. They are forging new destinies in the sports
sector. Asian Americans are redefining the public perception of what it means to
be Asian and American, and moreover, what it means to be Asian American.

And it’s all happening now.

From right to left, top to bottom: photo courtesy of www.pacificislandtravel.com, www.astor-theatre.com,

www.photo.net, www.artspower.org, www.image.excite.co.jp; Background: wwp.greenwichmeantime.com. communicasians 3
Perceptions

You are Cordially Invited Introducing

to the Largest Commercialized,
MTV Chi,
MTV Desi,
Mainstream Debut of
Asian American Pop Culture

and
in the U.S.—

MTV K
(Attendees are asked to bring a guest, as well as
prepare themselves for a litany of
doubt and suspicion.)

photo courtesy of www.mtvdesi.com

by Christine Chung

I
n an attempt to serve the growing demo-
graphic of hyphenated Americans (a la
Korean American, Chinese American,
etc.), MTV created another addition to the
MTV family—MTV World. The banner pro-
gram already hosts MTV Desi, MTV Chi,
and MTV K, but before supporters uncork
that proverbial bottle of wine, a close look
into MTV’s possible motivations can bring a
little damper to the celebration.
The channels target teens and young
adults who identify themselves with the
three subcultures. MTV Desi launched in
July 2005 with the goal of attracting South
Asian Americans (including Bangladeshi,
Pakistani, and Indian Americans). MTV Chi
followed suit in December 2005 and offered
viewers a taste of everything from Chinese
American hip hop, Cantonese pop, and Man-
darin pop. Lastly, MTV K was launched in
June 2006 with shows like “Hip Hop Seoul”
and “Top 10 Kountdown.” Each channel also
hosts programs co-hosted by its international
affiliates and is already available to DirecTV
subscribers.
Considering that Asian Americans, ac-
cording to the U.S. Census Bureau, tend to
be more affluent and better educated than
the rest of America, it was simply time for
media conglomerates to let go of the likes of
Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku craze (we know, it
hurts) and truly serve America’s third larg-
est and fastest growing ethnic group. Further,
because the number of Asians and Pacific Is-
landers (APIs) nearly doubled from 1990 to
2004, APIs simply grew out of the unpubli-
4 communicasians
cized likes of AZN TV, American Desi, and
Imaginasian TV. Even Nusrat Durrani, Gen-
eral Manager/Senior Vice President of MTV
World, claims that the young API community
is “a very influential audience. It’s the most
educated, it’s also the most tech-savvy, and it
is […] underserved.”
With the credibility and modern day might
of MTV, any of its subprojects easily has the
power of shaping the opinions of millions
of viewers worldwide. Likewise, MTV Chi,
Desi, and K all have the power of bringing
Asian Americans closer to the forefront of
American young adult culture.
But MTV World’s power to govern how
non-Asians perceive APIs can be easily used
or abused. If the three channels slowly aban-
don their current devotion to viewer-selected
programming, they may fall under the danger
of gravitating towards the decisions of non-
Asian forces and thus offer a misrepresenta-
Clockwise, from left: MTV Desi
fans are able to view featured
content on mtvdesi.com; MTV
tion of Chi recently aired its first
concert; a selection of features
APIs to
available on mtvk.com; MTV K
their au-
viewers voted BoA’s “My Name”
diences. the first video to win the ‘Top 10
H o w - Kountdown.’
ever, this
paranoia
becomes null when compared against the
positive influence MTV World could have.
MTV has long been considered the pulse
of young America, and to see MTV World
flourish would be a notable gain towards
Asian-American assimilation into the greater
media.
A sense of unconditional optimism almost
always follows at the coattails of any color-
fully progressive act by a well-known com-
pany, however, and the same holds true for
MTV with MTV World. To counter against
the danger of accepting MTV World too eas-
ily, consider the possible motives behind

photo courtesy of www.mtvchi.com
MTV Chi, Desi, and K, and it will seem as
if the intentions behind MTV World may not
be of the purest sort.
The talk of the 2004 Superbowl was not
about the game at all. After exposing her
semi-naked breast during the MTV-spon-
sored halftime show (she had a strategically
placed “sticky”), Janet Jackson’s songs and
music videos were banned from MTV indefi-
nitely. But viewers are easily able to watch
Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” in heavy
rotation, while Jackson’s newer releases are
still nowhere to be found.
The ethnic underpinnings of the blunder
complicate MTV’s treatment of minorities by
putting a dubious light on any of its ethnic-
ity-related projects, which questions whether
MTV World is simply one of MTV’s own
oscillating attempts to deal with the minority
issue. Is MTV World the product of MTV’s
desire to appear more politically correct and
photo courtesy of www.mtvk.com
to “make
up” for
past griev-
ances with
its African
American
viewers? Despite the temptation to suspect
the worst, more evidence supports the fact
that like any other company sensitive to its
market, MTV simply made a wise invest-
ment into a burgeoning source of profit (in
this case, young APIs).
After being accused of not representing
enough African Americans, the network de-
veloped several African American-themed
programs such as “Pimp My Ride” (2004)
and “Wild ‘N Out” (2005). MTV presented
these programs not just to ameliorate rela-
tions within the African American com-
munity, but to experiment with a bit of di-
versity with its programming. The decision
Perceptions
photo courtesy of www.mtvk.com
must have been a good one for MTV, as both
shows are wildly popular with the whole of
MTV’s viewers—African American or not.
It is highly doubtful that the premeditated
decision to create MTV World would stem
from such dubious motives, and MTV has
done a good job of dispelling the fear by al-
lowing viewers to become involved with its
programming decisions by voting for shows
online. In order to ensure its full success,
MTV will need to accept the fact that while
Asian Americans will enjoy their respective
MTV World channels, they are still part of
a larger culture that supersedes ethnicity—
young America. ■
communicasians 5
Perceptions
Stepping
Asian
American
Up
Athletes
on the
Rise
by Samuel Chen
M
ichael Chang. Amy Chow. Mi-
chelle Kwan. These names may look
somewhat familiar, but the truth is,
the current list of widely rec-
ognizable, high-profile Asian
Americans who are gracing our
nation’s athletic arenas is re-
markably short. Yet this list is
beginning to expand.
A similar truth regarding
the Latino-American popula-
tion could have been uttered
in the mid-20th century. But
just a quick glance over the
numbers of Latino-American
athletes competing in today’s
junior, collegiate and profes-
sional ranks, would tell you that
their influence and participation
in athletics in this country has
significantly changed for the
better.
While still admittedly lag-
ging behind most other large
demographics in the U.S., the
popularity of sports is rapidly
escalating within the Asian
American community. The
participation in organized ath-
letic activities by Asian Ameri-
6 communicasians
photo courtesy of www.golf8848.com
Michelle Wie, 17, was
recently named “One of
100 People Who Shape
cans is on the rise, and at the higher levels of ther. Nearly Our World” in 2006 by
competition, the Asian American population all major
Time magazine.
is making its presence felt. sports are ad-
It can no longer be said that Asian Ameri- vancing their
cans shy away from high-profile sports, ei- numbers with regards to participation by
the Asian American community.
For instance, in football, a sport
not traditionally associated with
photo courtesy of www.cungle.com
Asian American, linebacker Dat
Nguyen, quarterback Timmy
Chang, wide receiver Hines
Ward and Offensive Coordina-
tor Norm Chow are prominent
examples of the ongoing change.
This change involves the accep-
tance of the notion that no race or
ethnicity can be counted out.
Nguyen, the first athlete of
Vietnamese descent ever to play
in the National Football League,
was a star linebacker at Texas
A&M in the mid- to late-nineties.
He followed up an All-American
and award-filled collegiate ca-
reer with a solid
seven-year career
Dat Nguyen, 36, was in the Dallas Cow-
the first Vietnamese boys lineback-
American drafted into ing corp. Chang,
the National Football who is currently
League. a free agent, but
has had a number
 Perceptions

photo courtesy of www.squarespace.com

photo courtesy of www.iceskatingnation.com

of professional teams
express interest in his Above: Despite her worldwide
services, is of Chinese fame, Michelle Kwan, 36, has
descent. He holds the never won an Olympic gold medal.
current NCAA Division Right: Hines Ward, 30, with his
1-A record for All-Time mother, Young Hee Kim. Ward was
born in South Korea and attended
passing yards from his
the University of Georgia.
time at the University of
Hawaii.
Perhaps the most recent Asian American s p o r t s
football player to rise onto the big stage is m a r -
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and 2006 k e t i n g
Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Hines at the
Ward, whose mother is Korean. And of Univer-
course, intellectual contributions to the game sity of Central Florida and a native Korean. American athletic participation cannot be
are not without precedent anymore. Norm “This is why it is so important that Asian discounted either. Yao Ming, the star cen-
Chow, the legendary former-USC and cur- American athletes have to rise to the top and ter of the National Basketball Association’s
rent Titans Offensive Coordinator, has set show the general public that Asian Ameri- Houston Rockets, has inspired a great num-
himself apart from his contemporaries as one cans can also achieve excellence in sports.” ber of Chinese-Americans to pick up a bas-
of the offensive play-calling greats, at least at And this is what is beginning to happen ketball. In a similar manner, Ichiro Suzuki
the collegiate level. in the Asian American community. Profes- and Hideki Matsui, just two of the many
There is no doubt that the high-profile suc- sional golfers Tiger Woods, who is half-Thai, Asians now starring in American baseball,
cesses of even just a few Asian Americans and Michelle Wie, who is of Korean ances- have motivated countless Asian American
athletes inspire the next generation. The next try, are two prominent members of a group youths to pursue their athletic dreams on the
wave of athletes are ready to buck the preva- of movers and shakers. Their stories demon- baseball diamond.
lent misconception that Asians are inferior strate the power of Asian American athletes So while Chang, Chow and Kwan may
athletically to other races in this country. to inspire other Asian Americans. As two of be among the few Asian American athletes
And this is a very real stereotype. the most publicized golfers in the world, they that the average guy can currently name off
“It is common that coaches and teachers at are part of the movement catapulting entire the top of his head, the stage is set for Asian
schools presume that an Asian American kid populations to be enthralled with a sport. Americans to put themselves at the forefront
belongs in the science lab, not on the football The contribution of the Asian-born ath- of the American athletic community. And we
field,” says Yun-Oh Whang, a professor of letes in this country to the rising Asian can see that they are beginning to step up. ■

communicasians 7
Perceptions
Interest in
The
Asian
Media
Repercussions
Above: Hayao Miyazaki’s
on the Image of
Asian Americans in the U.S.
‘Spirited Away’; Center,
below: ‘Better Luck
Tomorow,’ directed by
Justin Lin.
by Rich Liu
A
ction packed Chinese martial arts films punch through global
sales records. Japanese anime and horror films saturate Amer-
ica. Despite this growing interest in Asian media, however,
Asian Americans are still trying to find their own place in the enter-
tainment industry.
Martial arts films from China and Hong
Kong draw large audiences around the world.
Stars such as Jackie Chan and Jet Li are
among the international box office elites. The
2000 martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hid-
den Dragon became the highest grossing for-
eign film ever released in the U.S. In 2005,
Crouching Tiger director Ang Lee became the
first Asian director to win the Oscar for Best
Director for his film Brokeback Mountain.
Japanese media garners cult following in
the United States. Hollywood takes of Japa-
nese horror films, such as The Grudge, draw
box office crowds and sequels. Japanese an-
ime is a booming multi-million dollar industry,
giving Disney enough reason to license many
of director Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning
anime films, such as Spirited Away, the 2003
Oscar Winner for Best Animated Feature Film.
TV networks are starting to show more anime
in their weekly line-up, following the success
of Pokemon and other anime series.
These examples show that there has been
an influx of Asian media but the films fall short of representing what
being Asian American really means. The media has helped Ameri-
can audiences gain glimpses into Asian culture, but the same can-
not be said for the Asian American culture. Two recent, prominent
8 communicasians
photo courtesy of www.northarc.com
and its
Hollywood films dealing with Asian American issues are Harold and
Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) and Better Luck Tomorrow (2002).
Both of these films depict Asians in a light different from the ste-
reotypically studious and socially awkward Asian, and are steps to-
ward representing Asian Americans. But these are merely two films
among approximately 8000 U.S films made in 2004 and 6000 U.S.
films made in 2002.
Next, couple these figures with the under-
representation in prime-time television. A
2005 report by the Asian American Justice
Center confirms that Asian and Pacific Is-
landers comprise only 2.6% of all characters
on prime-time television. Only 14 of the 102
prime-time shows feature even one Asian
American. Only one program, ABC’s Lost,
casts more than one Asian American charac-
ter.
Asian Americans are severely underrepre-
sented. According to the 2000 U.S. Census
figures, Asian Americans constitute 4.3% of
the total population, roughly translating to 12
million people and they are also the fastest
growing minority group. But this growth is
not paralleled in the American media.
Clearly, Asian Americans are unequally
represented in the United States media, and
the first step may be to differentiate themselves
from what is considered solely Asian. Roger
Garcia, an Asian American scholar contends
that, “Asian America is a distinct and discrete
photo courtesy of www.uwec.edu
entity--it is not a sub-set of China, Japan or Vietnam, but a constitu-
ency that has lived, breathed and contributed to the nation for over
a century. It has its own achievements, artists, stories and traditions
that have grown separate from its various Asian roots.” ■

How the West Can Be Won Increasing Awareness of Muslim Culture
E
arlier this year, an eminent Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten
courted controversy by printing caricatures of the Muslim
Prophet Muhammad. The action was condemned as blasphemy
by the Muslim community. But several prominent western institu-
tions such as The Economist and the American Presidency responded
by lauding the newspaper for its commitment to free speech.
The dust has mostly settled around this contentious issue but many
aspects of it still remain open to debate. Jyllands-Posten claims the
purpose of this exer-
cise was to initiate a
dialogue on why Mus-
lims have tradition-
ally been so sensitive
about physical depic-
tions of their revered
figures. The dialogue
“ With little knowledge of the logic un-
derpinning Islamic faith, people have
little reason to empathize with Muslims.
unfortunately
only confined to some
intellectual
was
circles.
Many more Muslims responded to the perceived attack on their faith
with fiery torches.
Personally, I think the written word would have been a more con-
ducive channel to raising awareness on this issue. It is somewhat
unreasonable to offend someone’s blind faith in the hope that he
responds in a civilized manner. But this clash of civilizations illus-
trates a deeper issue in our contemporary world. For instance, it was
revealed later that the very same newspaper had once chosen not to
print cartoons deemed offensive to Christianity. Also this very year
historian David Irving was jailed for his provocative claim that the
Holocaust may never have occurred. In fact, denial of the Holocaust
is unconstitutional across much of Europe. By the same logic used to
justify the Danish cartoons, all this could be considered legitimate on
grounds of free speech. Why the double standards? Muslims need to make movies and write books that teach the world
It may just boil down to an issue of perceptions. The West is obvi-
ously respectful of the views of the Christian majority. Minorities
like the Jews are also quite well assimilated into their society. One of
Perceptions
by Jazib Zahir
the primary reasons for this assimilation is that the Jewish experience
has been woven into western culture through films like Life is Beauti-
ful and Schindler’s List. The media has made the average Westerner
well aware of the hardships endured by the Jewish race. Consequent-
ly, the public bays at the thought of anyone disputing their history.
Conversely, western media has not positively depicted the Mus-
lim experience in the same way. More often than not, the depiction
of Muslims has been limited to terrorists in television series like 24
and the unqualified
aggressors in mov-
ies like Munich. The
average Westerner’s
perceptions of Islam
tend to be molded en-
tirely by CNN reports
on Al-Qaeda activity.
’’ With little knowledge
of the logic under-
pinning Islamic faith,
people have little reason to empathize with Muslims.
In reality, the Muslim world has a rich cultural tradition. The civi-
lization has been around since the 7th century but how many people
realize its seminal contributions to mathematics, medicine and as-
tronomy? How many people realize that the origins of many aspects
of our lives including chess, pottery, watch-making and photography
are derived partly from the Muslim tradition? Muslims need to find a
way to emphasize these contributions to the rest of the world. More
importantly, they need to communicate the message that there are
two sides to every story. Yes, some Muslims resort to violence but
to understand their motives we need to better understand Muslim
grievances generated through the situations in Kashmir, Kosovo and
Palestine. This communication needs to come through the media;
more about themselves. If the West were better educated about Mus-
lim values and experiences, it may come to regard these traditions as
sacred too and balk at the idea of outsiders questioning them. ■
communicasians 9
Perceptions

Red Doors directed by Georgia Lee

Making a
Mark in

photo courtesy of www.reddoorsthemovie.com

Hollywood
APIs and the Film Industry works such as Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain to the recent Indie
fave, Georgia Lee’s Red Doors, are breaking down the barricades
by Dwight D. Tran in Tinseltown. Lee won an Academy Award for Best Direction in
a Feature Film. Red Doors created waves on the Independent Film

V
isions of Asian actors (male and female) are no longer lim- Festival circuits and had the highest gross per screen in the nation
ited to the imports from the Hong Kong, South Korean, and during its opening weekend. What took so long for APIs to create a
“Far East” markets. Over the past few years the American marked presence in Hollywood? What is our current position and
entertainment industry underwent a greater influx of Asian presence- where should we be?
or at least a more public one. So how do we, Asians and Pacific Hollywood has mainly, if not only, provided API actors with
Islanders (APIs), confront and integrate these works in our lives? roles that involved some form of martial art, geisha-esque subser-
While the great strides are tak- vience, or more often than not,
en in the realm of Asians in as some drone worker bee in a
entertainment, we as members
of a constructed society must
decide where our own roles in-
corporate on this front.
“ APIs are not only carving out a niche
within the exclusive industry, we are
beauty salon. While Memoirs
of a Geisha, which received an
Oscar for Best Cinematogra-
phy in a Feature Film, presents

We are the nexus from which
setting records and gaining recognition.
word-of-mouth about works
spread, and we must grow to
understand the potentials and setbacks that inherently exist within
the works that are presented to the public for enjoyment and critique.
Society looks for validation from individuals who have the ‘authen-
ticity’ to comment. So go ahead, plug a film. Or not, but learn about
one and decide.
APIs are not only carving out a niche within the exclusive in-
dustry, we are setting records and gaining recognition. Specifically,
’’
problematic issues (e.g. where
Chinese Actors portray and
ultimately represent Japanese
women and culture to the masses), it is notable that the cast and plot-
line include positive API characterizations.
Many films are being made independently or with smaller studios,
providing the artists involved the freedom and luxury of vision, albeit
with a possible financial hindrance. Unfortunately, the majority of
society dictates what actually gets placed into the laps of Americans.
All three movies – Brokeback, Red Doors, and Memoirs – deal with

10 communicasians

Featured Films
Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
“Nitta Sayuri reveals how she transcended
her fishing village roots and become one
of Japan’s most celebrated geisha”
issues of sexuality and identity. These are issues which we as Asian-,
Asian-American-, or non-Asian -identified individuals contend with
daily. Ultimately, a story exists within each of us. For Georgia Lee
that story comes through her films as she integrates her own family’s
home videos into the movie. Everyone has the experience and back-
ground necessary to judge the quality of these pieces and should ex-
ercise that ability.
While Jackie Chan, Ziyi Zhang, and Jet Li continue producing
movies that gross hoardes of money and gain a public forum for APIs
in the broader society, movies such as Red Doors and Saving Face
(written and directed by Alice Wu) largely fly under the radar of the
broader society. But in some ways, maybe that’s a good position.
What is interesting, however, is that these films that poignantly por-
tray the disjoint between generations of APIs are being created by
‘converts’ – people who started out in a completely different career
track. Georgia Lee was a Biochemistry major and a consultant; Alice
Wu a Computer Science major who worked at Microsoft. Both also
attended Harvard and Stanford, respectively. Ang Lee holds a Mas-
photo courtesy of www.rottentomatoes.com
Saving Face directed by Alice Wu
Perceptions
Saving Face (2004) Red Doors (2005)
“A Chinese-American lesbian and her “The Wongs struggle to cope with life, love
traditionalist mother are reluctant to go and family dysfunction in the suburbs of
public with secret loves” New York”
ters of Fine Arts from New York University. So does it take an elite
from the ‘intelligentsia’ to break out of the stereotypical Asian mold?
Or maybe it just requires a moment of introspection and a bit of luck
at the right moment?
In the end, how do we as individuals of the API community deal
with these artistic works? Ultimately, it just comes down to the in-
dividual. I know that I have a difficult road ahead which becomes
less precarious as more API’s enter into the industry. Like so many
other career paths and with greater magnitude than others, social net-
working dominates the inner-workings of entertainment. When we
finally realize that becoming doctors, engineers, and other pre-con-
structed dreams are not necessarily our own, we can begin to explore
the “less traditional.” After all, taking a risk pays off; even if that
means you’re a starving actor, it‘s not forever. And, at least you took
the chance. ■
For more information about Saving Face or Red Doors, visit:
http://www.sonyclassics.com/savingface/ and http://www.reddoorst-
hemovie.com/.
photo courtesy of srtabonbon.blog3.fc2.com
Memiors of a Geisha directed by Rob Marshall
communicasians 11
Perceptions

Memoirs of a Chines by Deland Chan

P
rior to boarding the plane to study abroad in Beijing for the
next three months, I made a “To Do” list. Condense life into
one suitcase, check. Buy Stanford memorabilia for Chinese
friends, check. Have one last authentic Mexican enchilada, check.
Then I arrived at the bottom of my list: Become more Chinese. So
you might wonder at this point, how does one become more Chinese?
Should you practice the language so that you achieve near fluency?
(Yes!) But should you also review Confucian principles of filial pi-
ety? Or memorize important dates in Chinese history? How about
exercising your thriftiness and deferred life plan? In many ways, this
task was indicative of the nagging fear in the back of my mind. It
boiled down to one simple question. I looked the part; I walked the
walk, but was I Chinese enough to survive in China?
Originally from the East Coast, I didn’t realize so many fine
shades of Chinese-Americans existed until I came to California. My
childhood friends were also born and raised in lower Manhattan,
and we had no interest in trumpeting our “Asianness” because that
would isolate us further from the Puerto-Rican and orthodox Jewish
kids down the block. I never visited the Motherland until I was in
college because my extended family was already in New York, and
geographical proximity ensured that flights to Europe were always
cheaper. It was not until I arrived at Stanford that I developed an
academic interest in China and realized that I would like to go there
to study. But unlike someone who was born in China at an early
age and then moved to California or someone whose entire ancestry
is several degrees removed from Asia, I found myself smack in the
middle. Without the language tools and innate cultural knowledge

American
to pass as a Chinese person, I also lacked an excuse for not knowing

Born “ I looked the part; I walked the walk, but w

Chinese
how to conduct myself in a Chinese manner since my physical ap-
pearance proved otherwise. I was afraid that if a non-Asian person
said, “Ni hao”, my Chinese peers would applaud this simple effort
to speak a little Mandarin, but if I said the same thing, the response
would be, “That’s all you can say?”
Thankfully, my experience was less traumatic once I arrived in
China. Nobody could tell that I was American. Whenever I walked

12 communicasians

se-American in China
photo courtesy of http://www.cs.cmu.edu/
was I Chinese enough to survive in China?
around with my friend, who apparently looks like a Korean pop star
and speaks Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent, we became Korean.
When I asked storekeepers to guess where we were from, usually
they guessed in this order: Korea, Japan, and then Singapore, never
America until we told them. My pinnacle moment was when I vis-
ited a construction site to do fieldwork for my honors thesis. My
translator introduced me as “the American student”, but the security
Perceptions
photo courtesy of http://www.smugmug.com
Confucius, also known as Kong Zi, strongly influenced the beliefs of the East
Asian region through his teachings and philosophy.
guard looked me up and down for a minute before responding, “She’s
American? She looks Chinese!” I was extremely relieved after this
incident. As long as I did not open my mouth and sauntered down the
street, I could easily blend in. Wishful thinking dictated that if I wore
the clothes I purchased in Beijing and replaced the plastic rimmed
glasses I bought in Hong Kong, I could pass as a local. Worse come
to worse, I would still carry the foreigner label but at least from a
country somewhere in the Asian continent. However, the more press-
ing question was, “Why am I so pleased to make this discovery?”
After some pensive reflection, I realized that the benefits of mas-
querading as a Chinese person was more than just the savings I ac-
cumulated over time when bargaining and paying prices exempt from
the foreigner tax. The victory did not stem from my supposed ability
to cheat people into believing I am someone else. But I did realize
the futility of sorting out my cultural and national affiliations when I
obviously cannot claim any definitive boundaries. This experience
might vary for other Asian-Americans, but my inclination to visit
China was purely a result of geographical proximity
and my environment. It was not an explicit goal to
“return to my roots.” Perhaps if I think about it, the
costs of adopting a mismatched identity that limits
’’ one’s ability to experience something fresh, regard-
less of cultural proximity, is far higher than I am will-
ing to pay. In other words, we pick different identities
when we travel to a foreign country, and the most ideal choice would
be to do as the Romans do when in Rome. Trying to adapt to the new
environment by shedding your pre-existing identity only enhances
your experience. So when in China, I prefer to be more Chinese than
not. Or maybe in actuality, Korean… ■
For more information regarding studing abroad in China, please
visit: http://osp.stanford.edu/program/beijing/index.html.
communicasians 13
 Domestic
A
the news

Violence
“P ain is some-
thing that I
and Asian
American
must endure
for the sake of my family,
my name. If I reveal to any-

Women
one that my husband hurt
me, I might as well strip
myself bare of dignity and
honor. My neighbors – they
will speak in whispers, but
their whispers will resonate
with the strength of a thou-

Σ
sand drums. I deserved it…
I broke a sacred oath of loy-
alty by reporting him… he

Ψ
is a good man and I am now
the cause of his demise.
The government will take

Ζ
my children, my financial
security, and my home and
leave me with nothing. Will
I be saving myself if I run

“
to the authorities? Will re-
vealing my bruises save my
Domestic violence and its i
children? No. This pain is
have largely been defined by
transeient. I’ll just hold my
legal system, and is a Western
tongue now so that I may
terms of diagnosis and tr
have a chance to live later.”
14 communicasians photo courtesy of www.alg.gov.uk
 by Theresa Zhen
U
nfortunately, the voice of this vic-
tim, along with the muffled screams
of countless other women caught in a
similar struggle for freedom, is not likely to
be heard. The majority of battered Asian and
Asian American women who suffer in silence
remain paralyzed until external forces inter-
vene. And it is often only by way of these
forces that domestic violence is revealed, not
because the victims acknowledge their dis-
tress, but because medical service providers
discover suspicious wounds on their victims
and report the abnormalities. This trend is
particularly pronounced in Chinese, Filipino,
Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian com-
munities, which begs the question: Why do
Asian and Asian Americans suppress this
type of injustice more so than others? Are
Asian women just inherently submissive?
No. More often than not, they are misun-
derstood. Medical service providers, social
workers and case managers of APA (Asian
Perinatal Advocates, a nonprofit organization
that advocates for the rights of Asian Ameri-
can victims of domestic violence) report that
their victims simply do not have a compre-
hensive definition of domestic violence.
Domestic violence and its implications have
largely been defined by the American legal
system and is a Western injustice in terms
of diagnosis and treatment. It has arisen as a
Sigma Psi Zeta (SYZ) is a multi-cultural, so-
cial, educational and community service ori-
ented sorority at Stanford University. The
national philanthropy is the noble endeavor
of combatting violence against women. As
the first Asian American interest sorority to
take on this worthwhile cause, SYZ hopes to
bring awareness to each of its universities and
its surrounding communities about issues
regarding domestic abuse against women.
limb of the fem-
inist movement
implications in the Western
hemisphere,
the American
”
been condemned
in efforts to be
n injustice in politically cor-
reatment. rect in a politi-
cally charged
domestic con-
text, and addressed
by the implementa-
tion of preventive ac-
tions that only benefit
women who vocalize
their pain. Recent im-
migrants and refugees
from Asia are less
likely to fully grasp
the legalities within
this realm, and are,
understandably, more
threatened by the le-
gal ramifications of
stepping forward to
reveal their spouse’s
misconduct.
The Asian cultural
background offers a
different perspective on the husband-wife
relationship as well. By social convention, a
family is not as private as one would like.
Information travels quickly through tightly
knit communities. By acknowledging the
problem of domestic violence in one’s home,
a woman is automatically inviting the com-
munity to scrutinize the family’s internal
problems. This often leads to disgrace and
shame, even in the modern world.
Children further compound the problem.
Children who witness domestic violence
are at risk for psychological problems, and
the degree of severity is largely dependent
upon what type of help they receive im-
mediately after they are exposed to vio-
lence. Without psychological help (which
is considered taboo even in modern Asian
American families), children can grow up
in a persistent struggle with their parents
and themselves.
Advocates also note that unfamiliarity
with the English language and American
values leave Asian women feeling with-
out support. If a woman, already weak-
ened by a horrific ordeal, cannot speak the
language or navigate through the system
which promises to deliver justice, the feel-
ing of defeat is unfathomable.
How, then, do we level the playing
field? Harriet Taylor Mills, in her essay En-
franchisement of Women, speaks for women
when she says, “we deny the right of any
portion of the species to decide for another
portion, or any individual for another indi-
vidual, what is and what is not their sphere.”
But how can a woman draw the boundaries
of her “sphere?”
Education.
Advocacy groups like APA (Asian Peri-
natal Advocates) arose with a mission to pre-
A
the news
photo courtesty of www.apasfgh.org
The Asian Perinatal
Advocates was founded in
vent child 1987. Visit www.apasfgh.
abuse in org to learn more about
the Asian the APA’s programs and
Pacific mission statement.
Islander
(API) community in Chinatown, San
Francisco and the greater Bay Area. They
operate on the belief that eliminating the
language barrier is essential to educating
Asian women of their domestic rights in
America. They lead workshops for the
community in Asian languages (includ-
ing Chinese, Vietnamese, and Tagalog,
for example). They also as offer support
groups for domestic violence victims,
partner with the Filipino community to
provide direct services, and provide one-
on-one bilingual counseling.
In Chinatown, evidence shows that
domestic violence is especially prevalent
among Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese
women. Studies show no correlation be-
tween level of income and incidence of
abuse. Furthermore, of all the possible
abuse cases in Chinatown (such as child
abuse or domestic violence), 25% in-
volved Chinese women. A startling 50%
of the cases involving Filipino women
revealed victims of domestic violence.
These statistics expose a startling reality.
While domestic violence is not an issue
that is voiced prominently in the Asian-
American community, it should at least
be acknowledged as an evil that crosses
race, ethnic, cultural and class lines. After
all, violence is a race-blind injustice that
can be eradicated so long as women are
educated in a culture-sensitive manner
about their rights as human beings. Per-
haps then, women will not feel as if they
are resigned to suffering in silence. ■
communicasians 15
 A
the news

Facebook, Xanga, and more: How & Why Asian Americans connect

Wired Together
by Aram Hur

B
eing Asian has never been easier; it
is literally at your fingertips. Simply
log on to Facebook, search under the
keyword “Asian,” and instantly you will
have more than 500 different groups at your
choosing.
From official groups such as the “Asian
American Theater Project” to those just for
fun, like “You know you’re Asian when..,”
the representation of ethnicities within Face-
blogrings on the site.
While Asians as the most wired is nothing
new, the ways they are connecting are worth
nothing. The 2001 Pew Internet and Ameri-
can Life Project’s “Asian-Americans and
the Internet: The Young and the Connected”
demographic
report already
cited Asians
as having the
pride in identity.
With groups such as “Asian Invasion,”
“Chungs do it best,” and “Asian (Or I wish
I were) and PROUD of it!” gaining more
members by the day on Facebook’s global
network and perpetuating the phenomenon,
Sociology Pro-
fessor Gi-Wook
Shin, author of
Ethnic Nation-

“
book groups is unending and, apparently, un- highest Inter-
The sheer number of alism in Korea,
matched. The same search under keywords net penetra- online groups is telling of theorizes that
for other minority groups like “African tion among the reason for
American” or “Hispanic” only yield 431 and minorities – the communal nature of the prevalence
275 groups, respectively. the way they of these groups
On Xanga, a blogging service that has
always been open to any and all users, the
difference is only amplified—the 221 Af-
rican American and 629 Hispanic groups
are just meager competition to the 5889
user-created Asian
are connect-
ing is worth
noting. The
sheer number
Asian digital life...

of online groups is telling of the communal

nature of Asian digital life, and its titles are
even more revealing of a specific type of
community—one based on an over-
whelmingly shared
” stems in part
from the digital
edge that Asian
immigrants have.
“Asians not only have a strong sense of their
own national identity, but also they are the
ones who are most wired,” Shin said, “The
combination of these two features makes
them more prone to the formation of online
communities.”
In fact, expanding digital ac-
cess only in-
tensifies this
characteristic, as
increased access
simultaneously
provides more ven-
ues to stay in touch
with one’s homeland
culture by shrinking
the global village, and
more outlets through
which to express such
cultural familiarity and
pride.
Shin claims that the
other possible reason
may lie in remnants of
communitarian culture.
Traditionally, the Con-

16 communicasians
 A
the news
really identify with

Asian Americans? the group and many

of the things on the
list,” she said. “It’s
like, ‘Oh my par-
Overall Usage Daily Usage
How Connected Are

ents do that too,’ and

‘Hey, I’m not the
Percentage of American men and Percentage of Internet users, by race, who go only one!’ ”
women, by race, who go online online an average day While the mean-
Men Women ing of participat-
Overall U.S. Inter- 55% Entire Internet 52% 48% ing in such online
activity will differ
net population Population for each individual,
Asian Americans 70% Asian Americans 72% 60% Shin pointed out a
common limitation
Whites 57% Whites 55% 50% to how Asians use
online technology.
Hispanics 47% Hispanics 48% 45% “Until now, the
use is mainly for so-
African Americans 39% African Americans 38% 37% cial and cultural pur-
poses,” Shin said.
“The next step will
Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project 2000 Survey. be to question if such
activities can trans-
fucian ideals of harmony and community Indeed, Facebook actually lets users se- form into tools for political mobilization.”
outweighed individualism in Asian cultures lect the proclaimed purpose of their group, Only then would Facebook or any type of
across the board. and the majority of Asian-themed groups digital medium transcend a mere mode of ex-
“While Asian countries have changed a fall under categories such as “Just for Fun,” pression to a vehicle of change. ■
lot as more of them become capitalist, cul- “Entertainment and Arts,” and
turally they still lag,” said Shin. Although the “Common Interest.” Most of

photos courtesy of www.thefacebook.com

flourishing market increasingly emphasizes them are not intended to be se-
the individual, most Asian Americans are rious proclamations of loyalty
still trapped by a social pressure to promote and pride in one’s ethnic roots.
communitarian ideals on the surface. However, sophomore Dianna
While such historical and cultural pro- Bai says that even casual groups
jections can explain the trend in Asian on- cannot entirely be passed off
line communities, students diverge on what just as harmless fun. According
joining these groups mean. On the one hand, to her, such light-natured groups
some argue that attributing the prideful and can nevertheless be heavily
exclusively Asian nature of online groups as laden with potential for serious
characteristic of its individual members may identity formation. “One of my
be too much of a leap. friends, who was adopted from
Faris Ali Mohiuddin, ASSU Senior Class Korea by Caucasian parents, al-
President and one of the members of “I went ways felt like she lost a lot of
to an Asian High School, Bi---!” says that to her Asian identity because her
do so may be “projecting meaning where it parents are not Asian,” she said.
isn’t there.” “So she made a lot of effort to
“I don’t look at joining Facebook groups identify with Asians and Asian
as an effort to seriously connect with the peo- pride.”
ple therein,” he said. “The group, at least to Bai, herself, is part of the
me, was just a double click, not a profession Facebook group
of interest in an ethnic group.” “You know
Left: “You Know You’re Asian
Mohiuddin also pointed out an impor- you’re Asian
When...” is one of many Facebook
tant point about the nature of this particular when...,” a list of groups targeted towards the Asian
group, which extends to most online groups all the humorous American population. Right:
in general. “It’s a joke group – hence, there signs that one is Searching for “Asian Invasion” on
was nothing substantive to be hesitant about, Asian. “I joined Facebook results in 45 groups.
regardless of my race,” he said. it because I could

communicasians 17
 A
voices
2006 marks the
tenth anniversary of
the establishment of
the Center for Com-
parative Studies in
Race and Ethnicity.
Stanford Univer-
sity established the
program as a result
Linda Lee of student activism
and pledged to de-
velop the ethnic studies programs offered
to meet the need. Ten years later, what has
changed?
In the fall of 1996, Stanford established
the Center for Comparative Studies in Race
and Ethnicity. With that came the founding
of Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnic-
ity, Chicana/o Studies, Asian American Stud-
10 Years Later
The Status of Asian American Studies Today
ies (AAS), and Native American Studies—
all degree granting programs. The late St.
Clair Drake established African and African
American Studies in 1969. Following stu-
dent strikes at University of Cal-
ifornia, Berkeley and San Fran-
cisco State University in 1968,
Stanford still did not establish
degree-granting programs in
these areas, even though stu-
dents began to demand them a
year later. (The Green Library
Archives holds boxes donated
by the Asian American Activi-
“ Stanford University must
follow through with its
commitment to the development
of all ethnic studies programs.
ties Center that include these
correspondences urging the de-
velopment of ethnic studies at
Stanford.)
But, students would not let the lack of a
degree granting program prevent them from
engaging in issues and courses relevant to
their lives and experiences. Beginning in
18 communicasians
1971, through the Student Workshops on teach an excel-
Political and Social Issues (SWOPSI- pro- lent course about
nounced swap-see), Asian American un- North American
dergraduate and graduate students taught taiko, focusing not
courses in Asian American history and expe- only on the prac-
riences. Gordon Chang, then a graduate stu- tice of taiko (you
dent in the History Department, taught one can learn how to
of the first Asian American history courses play), but also on
at Stanford. Today, Professor Chang contin- the history and
ues to teach Stanford’s Introduction to Asian evolution of taiko.
American History course. Courses about
Ten years ago, Stanford made a com- South Asian ex-
mitment to developing its ethnic studies periences discuss
programs. Ten years later, not much has the intricacies of
changed. South Asian iden-
It is not to say that during the last ten years tity and experi-
nothing changed; the institution certainly did ences in the dias-
improve the ethnic studies program. With pora. This winter,
the guidance of Chang and Palumbo-Liu, there will be a
AAS has graduated a number of students who course about Southeast Asian refugee expe-
contribute to the research in Asian American riences, something new to AAS. Many great
Studies and who have gone on to work in things and great people come out of AAS,
law, teaching, non-profit sectors, and com- but the work to develop great programs is
never over.
Today, the problem is not that
we only have two professors in
AAS; the problem is that we
still only have two professors in
AAS. Those we see in AAS are
the same two professors hired
ten years ago to teach courses
that reflect Asian American
history and experiences. Visit-
”
ing academics supplement the
teaching staff on a regular basis.
While the courses taught by vis-
iting instructors are incredible,
munity organizing. People who are leading there is one major problem. Visiting instruc-
experts in their field teach courses reflecting tors and graduate students cannot and do not
Asian American experiences every quarter. stick around. Because of this, they are un-
Steve Sano and Linda Uyechi continue to able to serve as official advisors to students
 A
voices

06-07
Courses in

photo by Julie Kim

sian merican
A Studies
A
Course Title Course Number Units
Ethnic Humor AAS 175S 5

Winter
Introduction to Asian American CompLit 148 5
Cultures

Whiz Kids, Perpetual Foreigners, AAS 176C 5

and Macacas: Stereotypes and the
Contemporary Asian American
and often cannot provide the mentorship Experience
that a full-time faculty member can.
Without more faculty members and Southeast Asian Migration and AAS 185D 5
visible university support for AAS, struc- Community Formation
tured spaces to discuss issues of race and
incidents of racism will decrease. Without Comparative Fictions of Ethnicity CompLit 241 5
AAS, students will have fewer opportuni-
ties to learn about the history of racism Contemporary Dramatic Voices of Drama 169 5
against Asian Americans in a historical Color
and political context. Without AAS, there
will be fewer safe spaces to deconstruct Education of Immigrant Students Educ 177 4
representations of Asian Americans in an
informed manner that is rooted not only Writings by Women of Color English 45/145 3-5
in personal experiences but also in aca-
demia. Without the necessary faculty and Special Topics in Race and Ethnicity CSRE 10 1-3
investment into research in AAS, students
at Stanford University will not be able to South Asian Histories and Cultures CASA 74 5
fully develop a critical analysis of race and Through Popular Film: Bollywood
race studies necessary to guide the future and Beyond
of politics and policies in the United States.
Stanford needs AAS. Multicultural Issues in Higher Educ 381 4
The lack of tenure-track professors Education
teaching in all ethnic studies programs, in-
cluding AAS, reflects Stanford’s failure to Asian Americans in Film and Video 181P 5
Spring

make good on its commitment to develop

a strong ethnic studies program. In order Introduction to Cultural Psychology Psych 75 5
to build a strong academic program in the
scholarship of race and ethnicity, Stan- Comparative Ethnic Conflict Soc 147 5
ford University must follow through with
its commitment to the development of all Peer Counseling: Asian American Educ 193F 1
ethnic studies programs. To do so our uni- Community
versity must provide its students with the
faculty that is needed to sustain a program Perspective in North American Taiko Music 17Q 4
that is up to date and on the cutting edge of
research in communities of color. Stanford Topics and Methods in Cultural Psych. 217. 3
is already the best in everything else, why Psychology
not this too? ■

communicasians 19
 A
on campus
Discovering Leadership
through the API Community
by Tammy Pham
T
here are many dedicated, multi-tal-
ented, and dynamic student leaders at
Stanford. Unfortunately, there are also
students who exhibit less than inspirational
qualities, despite their good intentions. In
order to aspire towards the former and avoid
the latter, there are several opportunities pro-
vided by the university to learn about what
leadership truly is. Leadership is more than
just the ability to delegate, make decisions,
regulate, or even motivate. Leadership is the
ability to relate to others.
Participants in the Learning through
Education, Activism, and Diversity (LEAD)
program, sponsored by the A3C, BCSC, and
El Centro, differ ethnically from each other,
but together they form an image of diver-
sity at Stanford. Despite their differences,
these students apply to the LEAD program
because they share the desire to maximize
their leadership potential to make an impact
at Stanford.
LEAD gives students training in the so-
cial change model of leadership develop-
ment along with resources to implement a
two-quarter project promoting multicultural
awareness and education. The program ad-
vocates a different model of leadership – one
based on social change that challenges the
hierarchical structures of most student or-
ganizations. For example, through a facili-
A group of LEAD students participate in team
building exercises.
20 communicasians
tated exercise, LEAD participants, who were
photos courtesy of LEAD
strangers before the program, exposed their
hidden identities – such as socioeconomic
status, immigrant background, religious af-
filiations, and other definitions that one
would rarely share with others outside of the
closest circle of friends. Through discus-
sions of their personal values, participants
are able to connect with each other on a level
beyond the titles and duties that accompany
many organizations. In this way, LEAD pro-
motes the development of thoughtful and ac-
LEAD participants pose for a photo.
tive leaders who empathize with members of
their organizations and other communities.
Maintaining this empathy is easier said support, and discuss the larger role of student
than done, however, given the turbulence organizations in building community at Stan-
that most student organizations face when ford.
mobilizing volunteers and implementing Programs such as LEAD, STLS, and A3C’s
programs. Fortunately, the Haas Center for quarterly leadership retreat are designed to
Public Service, the Asian American Activi- help students make their organizations more
ties Center, the Black Community Services viable and all members’ experiences more
Center, the Graduate School of Business valuable by integrating both community
Student Life Office, the Office of Student building and skills training into leadership
Activities, and the Women’s Community practices. ■
Center initiated the Student Leadership
Training Series (STLS) this year to address
the challenges student organizations face on
an operational level. STLS takes place every
quarter, with each workshop developing a
Useful Links
specific skill set. The fall leadership training
LEAD
series took place in October and focused on
strategic planning to integrate the mission of www.stanford.edu/dept/
the organization with the skills that members elcentro/lead
bring in order to better implement programs.
Next quarter’s leadership training series will STLS
focus on how to retain membership during
www.stanford.edu/dept/
the winter quarter slump.
Programs such as LEAD and STLS were OSA/workshops/solts.shtml
created to respond to specific student needs,
ranging from cultural diversity issues to ba- A3C
sic building skills. Within the Asian Pacific www.stanford.edu/
Islander community, the Asian American Ac-
dept/a3c
tivities Center (A3C) also provides tailored
leadership trainings to student organizations.
These quarterly retreats bring representatives Visit these sites to find out more
of student organizations into one room to de- about the programs, their histo-
velop a forum through which these leaders ries, and how to get invovled!
can identify resources, look to each other for
communicASIANS fall 2006 Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
Palo Alto, CA
Permit No. 187

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Published by the Asian American Activities Center, 545 Lomita Drive, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-3064
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