Just because a group is small doesn't mean it isn't strong.
Melanie Castillo-Cullather, director of Indiana University's Asian Culture Center, said the center was started in 1998 by a small group of people and has evolved so much that it is now looking to start an Asian American Studies program.
She encouraged members of Asian American Student Association at Ball State University and all students who attended her speech Monday night in Teachers College not to underestimate what a small group or individual can do.
Castillo-Cullather talked with students of every background about current issues-identity, racism in small communities and cultural awareness. She has experienced the extremes of racism since moving to Indiana with her husband, IU professor Nick Cullather, in 1993 from Davao City, Philippines.
She relived her experiences with students, explaining how each situation made her feel, the actions she took and the end result.
One experience at a grocery store in Bloomington left her dumbstruck-she said she tried to check out more than the 12 items the line allowed and a woman screamed at her, "Can't you read English? Can't you speak English? Why don't you go back to where you came from?"
This is the mentality that small organizations such as AASA hope to eradicate, AASA Vice President Emily Sandoval said.
"{The speech} was really good," Sandoval said. "It hit a lot of what we're trying to do in AASA. Some of the experiences she brought, I related to."
AASA member Carrie Allen said the speaker had a significant effect on how she could contribute to the community as an individual.
"It brought a lot of feeling-everything that was brought up I've experienced," she said. "It makes you think about how things happen and how being an individual can make a difference too."
Castillo-Cullather's mission was to assist and guide students at Ball State with the implementation of an active organization like AASA and the engagement of other students.
President of AASA Lily Tsay said, "We need to be aware of the issues. It's such a small campus that you don't feel like you can do much."
Since AASA's inception, she said more students are showing up to the events for Asian Awareness Month.
Castillo-Cullather left the group with one final note.
"Fear can never make us free from the everyday casual racism that exists," she said.
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