It's time for Asians and Asian Americans to stand up as a group and stop being so silent, Lily Tsay, president of Ball State University's Asian American Student Association, said.
AASA's month of events this November is a key step toward strengthening that voice.
"The main purpose of Asian Awareness month is to spread awareness of Asian culture and bring in another perspective," Tsay said. "It can become an open forum and just an open dialogue between Asian culture and western culture and show there is a middle ground."
AASA, along with the Asian Studies Committee and Office of International Education, has helped to sponsor events for the overall Focus on Asia and Asian American Awareness Month.
"They all offer different aspects of Asian culture," Emily Sandoval, AASA vice president, said. "They all bring something to the table."
Sandoval said the events, which are free and open to the public, will help students to become more aware of the world around them.
"I believe that it's really good for people to know about Asian American culture because on campus we're a minority," Sandoval said. "Like the month says - awareness - make ourselves more known on campus as an organization and as a culture."
The month will focus on issues such as Asia's influence on western society and vice versa, the theme of identity and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in the Asian community, Tsay said.
Events will begin today with an opening ceremony at 5 p.m. in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center's Cardinal Hall.
Other key AASA events this month include a martial arts demonstration on Nov. 12 and a fashion show on Nov. 19 in which students will model clothes from a variety of Asian countries including India and Indonesia. Keynote speaker Melanie Castillo-Cullather, director of the Asian Culture Center at Indiana University, will also speak at Ball State on Nov. 14. A speaker panel on Nov. 17 will allow students to discuss issues such as the model minority stereotype, interracial dating, Asians in the media and gender issues in society.
Other Focus on Asia events this month include an Asian Studies roundtable on Nov. 21 focusing on topics such as how Asia is connected to America. Other highlights this month include a game show, cultural videos, informational sessions on the East Asia Summer Program, a presentation on Field Study opportunities in Asia and a teleconference with National Chengchi University in Taipei.
Nihal Perera, Ball State director of Asian Studies, said he hoped this month's events will not only raise awareness about Asia, but also encourage more students to participate in the Field Study programs and undertake the Asian Studies minor. Overall, he said he hoped November's events get students thinking about issues in Asian culture that they are not always familiar with, he said.
"Unfortunately, we have a very limited knowledge here at Ball State," Perera said. "I think we live in a multicultural society. I think it should be interesting [and] important for anyone who is interested in diversity."
Tsay said handing out fliers and co-sponsoring some events with Amnesty International, University Program Board and Spectrum has helped to get the word out.
"We just want everyone to have fun," Tsay said. "We want everyone to laugh, to become aware of these issues, to be culturally sensitive."
But overall, Tsay hopes this month of events will help to promote unity, she said.
"It gets dangerous when people feel they have to stick with their certain groups to identify because then that creates bolder boundaries and that intimidates other people," Tsay said. "I really hope students step outside their comfort zones and realize it's not so bad trying something new, trying something different. You don't have to be Asian to enjoy Asian Awareness month."
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