UA News

The Asian American community's heterogeneity is one of the central themes of this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month events at the UA.

International musician Magdalen Hsu-Li and Brown University researcher Evelyn Hu-Dehart are among those who will present on campus during this month's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The University of Arizona Center for Student Involvement and Leadership's Social Justice Programs and Asian Pacific American Student Affairs are co-sponsoring the month's events, which kicks off April 1.

"While the Asian Pacific American population itself is small on campus, there are different issues within groups that need to be highlighted," said Alyssa Ego, the UA student coordinator for the heritage month.

Ego said part of the problem is that Asian and Asian American populations are often viewed as a homogenous group and are forced to adhere to the "model minority myth," which suggests that all people of Asian heritage perform best in math and science and are typically more socially reserved and meek.

"A lot of times we don't talk about these issues, and it is especially difficult in the Asian Pacific American community because there are so many diverse groups," said Ego, who is also a UA Honors College student studying physiology.

Those groups include people of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean and Indian descent, among other populations.

Hu-Dehart, who is director of the Brown University's Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America, will address such issues during her keynote address.

Hu-Dehart will speak about the emergence of new Asian American identities in the 21st century, particularly given the election of Barack Obama to the U.S. presidency. Her address will be held at 1 p.m. April 16 in the Gallagher Theater, which is located at the Student Union Memorial Center, 1303 E. University Blvd.

Hsu-Li, an internationally-known musician and artist, will speak at Gallagher Theater April 27 at 5 p.m.

During her lecture, "Redefinition of Identity," Hsu-Li will talk about cultural identity and issues related to stereotyping, homophobia and disability. She will also perform some of her music during the event.

Ego also said that organizers will spent he month passing out custom made fortune cookies with facts and statistics about Asian Pacific Americans printed inside to help "dispel myths about the community," she said. "We think it's a great way to educate the University community and to increase awareness."

For a complete schedule, visit the UA Social Justice Programs

Web site. Some of the month's events include:

April 1

The UA student-run Women's Resource Center is screening the film "Daughter from Danang" at 7 p.m. at the Gallagher Theater, located in the Student Union Memorial Center, 1303 E. University Blvd. The film is about the orphans and Amerasian children brought to the United States as part of "Operation Babylift" during the Vietnam War.

April 7

The workshop, "Micro? What? Identifying and Overcoming Microaggressions and the APA Experience" will be held Room 104 of the Robert L. Nugent Building, 1212 E. University Blvd. The 5 p.m. workshop will cover topics related to subtle and overt instances of discrimination.

April 8

"Killing of a Chinese Cookie" will be screened at the Gallagher Theater at 7 p.m. The film is about the emergence of the fortune cookie in North America.

April 9

The ONE Love Multicultural Show will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 100 of the Social Sciences Building, 1145 E. South Campus Dr. The Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority is presenting the 7th annual show, which features people of all ethnic, cultural, religious and social backgrounds.

April 13:

The film "A Dream in Doubt" will be screened at Gallagher Theater at 7 p.m. on April 13. The film is a documentary about Indian immigrants and a stream of violent crimes that hit the Sikh American community in the Phoenix area after Sept. 11.

April 14

The Asian Pacific American Student Affairs Center will host a day-long food tasting, featuring dishes made by members of the Vietnamese Student Association. The students will serve food from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to raising money for Hepatitis research.

"It's All in the Mix: Interracial Relationships in APA Communities" will be held at 5 p.m. in Room 104 of the Nugent Building. The panel discussion will explore issues around interracial relationships and marriage.

April 18

The Filipino American Student Association is hosting its FASA Fiesta at Mansfield Middle School, 1300 E. Sixth Street. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door for the 6 p.m. event, which will showcase educational skits and traditional dances. Food will be served. To learn more, contact Christeen Leal at crsteen@email.arizona.edu.

The South Asian Students Cultural Association is holding its second annual Charity Culture Show at 6 p.m. The event will be held in Room 100 of the UA Social Sciences Building and will include cultural performances from the south Asian region, including music, dance, and skits. All proceeds will go to ASSET India, a Tucson-based non-governmental organization that provides education to the children of sex workers in major Indian cities. Too learn more, e-mail sasca08@gmail.com.

April 24

The Asian American Cultural Association is hosting a talent show at 6 p.m. The event will be held in Room 100 of the UA Social Sciences Building. For information, contact Tony Tran at ttran@email.arizona.edu.

April 25

The Aileen Primero Endowment Scholarship Fund basketball tournament will be held 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bear Down Gymnasium, 1428 E. University Blvd. The event is meant to raise funds in memory of Primero, a UA engineering management alumna who was killed in 2007 when she was hit by a vehicle while working on a roadside. The cost to register a team is $75. The registration deadline is April 17. Primero's sorority, Alpha Phi Gamma, is hosting the event. To learn more, e-mail APhiGbballtourney@gmail.com

April 28

The "Expanding Inclusion: Marginalized Identities within the APA Community" panel discussion will be held at 5 p.m. in Room 104 of the Nugent Building. Panelists will discuss the diversity within the Asian Pacific American student population at the UA.

April 30

A town hall, "Finding OUR Future," will be held at 5 p.m. at the Student Union Gallery, which is located on the third floor of the Student Union. Attendees are encouraged to speak about their ethnic and cultural experiences.

May 2

Asian Pacific American Student Affairs is hosting its 16th annual Lotus Laureate Convocation at 6 p.m. The event will be held in the South Ballroom of the Student Union. The event recognizes personal achievement of students within the Asian Pacific American community who are set to graduate this year. To learn more and to register to attend, visit the Asican Pacific American Student Affairs Web site.