There are many misconceptions about AAA. Some think AAA is an organization that excludes anyone that isn’t Asian American. Many find AAA intimidating and do not show up to any of the functions AAA holds. The one misconception I find most bothersome is that AAA officers do not talk to anyone outside their clique. I do not know where these assumptions of AAA started but I can see why they are.

AAA has become more powerful and political within the last four to five years and has lost the intimacy that it once had, but that does not mean it has become less friendly. Most people find the officers more intimidating than anything else, but give it a try. Go up to any AAA officer and they will be more than welcome to talk to you about Asian American issues or just anything else for that matter.

As an executive officer, I do not want people to feel scared to talk to me. AAA officers don’t always talk about AAA stuff. Sometimes, I like to talk to people about nothing, we’re not monsters who think they’re on pedestals above everyone else. They are students who are like everyone else, they have interest like everyone else and, above all, they are not perfect. If you see me sitting around, stop by and we will talk.

Greetings and welcome to the bigger and better Asian American Association at Indiana University. For returning students, we promise a dynamic and fun filled year with exciting events, educational programs, detailed discussions on the existential philosophy of neo-classic colonialism (maybe not that one) and hip-hop parties where the house will be jumping and the dj will be cutting def jams.

As for all freshmen, in order to join our organization you must first undergo an initiation process where you will be paddled and asked to do strange things with farm animals. I’m just joking, about the paddling part. Anyway, I know that IU can be a pretty intimidating place, so we will do all that we can to orient you to the fabulous word of college life.

The reason why I’m saying AAA is bigger and better is because it’s bigger and better.Duh! For example, we are one of the fastest growing organizations on campus, and now with the establishment of our new and improved web page and the opening of our office, our services are more accessible to you, the members.

You will have online access to an updated calendar of events, test files, internships, jobs, networking opportunities, and a bunch of new friends. And that’s not all, tell them what they get Joon…”A brand new membership card,” which can be used to check out books and movies from the AAA office. With this card you will feel better about yourself.

Well I’m not sure if I’ve sold you yet, but I promise a fantastic year where you’ll meet a bunch of people and have a great time. So don’t be bashful to ask questions or visit us in the office. Otherwise we get really bored.

A coalition of IU minority students voiced requests for expanded academic and advocacy during the IU Board of Trustees’ Campus Community Committee meeting Friday in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Georgian Room.

Representatives from griot, Latinos Unidos IU, the IU Black Student Union and the IU Asian American Association addressed a number of issues facing minority students at IU, and they focused on the shortcomings of the Chicano-Riqueno Studies program, as well as the need for an Asian-American advocacy dean.

Members of the coalition announced their intention to circulate a petition requesting the creation of a Latinos Studies program. The University offers courses in Spanish and Latin American Studies under the Chicano Requeno Studies program, but LUIU member Cristina Rocha said the program doesn’t meet with the needs of Latinos or the student body as a whole.

“If I wanted to get a minor in the Chicano-Riqueno studies program, it would take me an awfully long time to complete it because, of the courses that are offered each semester, there aren’t that many,” Rocha said, “None of (the Spanish or Latin American studies courses) has to do with social or economic problems that face Latinos in the United States today.”

Griot co-editor junior Ryan Vertner said Afro-American Studies courses have allowed him to understand what it means to be African-American as well as American, and Latino students deserve the same opportunity for self examination.

“(The Trustees’) names should be the first names on the petition to show that you want to give a growing minority the opportunity to forge a consciousness out of a university education, which is essentially what a university education is all about,” Vertner said.

The Trustees also heard concerns from the Asian -American community. Junior Joon Park, president of Asian American Association, discussed his proposal for an Asian-American advocacy dean as part of the Strategic Direction Charter. He said the advocacy office would help combat stereotypes of Asian Americans.

“IU has never supported the Asian American community. The only reason the Asian-American community is still active on campus is solely because of student activists.” Park said. “This proposal will give us, for the first time, the opportunity to create our own identity, instead of having an identity created for use by others.”

The coalition’s appearance was part of what was originally scheduled as a “town meeting” by Trustee officials, and was to be held in the IMU East Lounge. Trustee and IU law student Frank Otte chaired the committee, and he apologized for the limited time the group received because of discussions of problems with Halls of Residence.

“I appreciate your support and activism that we’ve seen here today,” Otte said. “I would encourage each and every one of you, since we seem to have a plate full all the sudden, to pursue them and remind the Board of Trustees as well as administrators of your efforts.

“Ignorance, arrogance, and racism have bloomed as Superior Knowledge in all too many universities.” – Alice Walker

Last Friday’s town meeting with the Board of Trustees was a farce, especially to students of color.

Several students and I attended last Friday’s meeting to voice our support for three pending proposals that call for the restructuring of the Office of Afro-American Affairs, the creation of Asian-American Advocacy Dean and Asian Cultural Center, and the establishment of a Latino Studies department.

As we walked into the Georgian Room, we were greeted by the IU Board of Trustees, who, at first glance, conspicuously resemble the jury in the first Rodney King case – all white. After waiting patiently for our turn to speak, I was shocked by the Board’s attempt to adjourn without hearing our concerns. Finally, after the Trustees were reminded of our presence, we were given a few minutes to speak, but our voice seemed to fall upon deaf ears. While we spoke, whispers along the with the sound of rustling papers smothered the room, suggesting that Trustees were ready to go and didn’t give a damn about what we had to say.

Considering our experience with the Board of Trustees, it is no surprise this campus is incredibly hostile toward students of color – not only are many of IU’s students racist, but many of its administrators are as well.

“Top Story: February 14th, 1990. Today a woman was assaulted in a laundry room at Redbud Hill apartments. After identifying her assailant as an Asian male, IU police obtained a list of Redbud residents whose names “looked” Asian, and proceeded to interrogate and harass several residents, recklessly subjecting them to a callous questioning process and a dehumanizing strip search.”

Responding to the pervasive racism – both individual and institutional – on this campus, several students, many of them present at the Trustees meeting, have formed a coalition. They draw their membership from the Black Students Union, the Asian American Association, Latinos Unidos, the Asian Student Union, Conscious Oppressed Unified Peoples and Griot. The Coalition’s main purpose is to see to it, through activism, the injustices inflicted upon students of color are rectified, and the administration no longer marginalizes students of color.

“Top Story: October 7th, 1993. Today several IUSA Senators launched racist remarks at members of Latinos Unidos. The LUIU members were asking IUSA for assistance in funding the LUIU Parents Weekend banquet when one Senator suggested they hold it at “La Cucaracha.” Both comments incited boisterous laughter within the nearly all-white assembly.”

Edwardo Rhodes, associate vice-chancellor for academic affairs, said IU “has one of the worst undergraduate minority percentages in the Big Ten.” This comes as no surprise. Why would students of color want to attend IU? There are no forms of institutional support. We do not have a Latino Studies Department. We don’t have an Asian Cultural Center or an Asian-American Advocacy office. And our Office of Afro-American Affairs is nothing but a token office – powerless – set up for failure.

“Top Story: October 4th, 1995. Today, as students scurried to their morning classes; they were greeted with racial epithets chalked on the sidewalk in front of Beck Chapel. Commenting on the recent O.J. Simpson verdict, the sidewalk read, “OPPRESSED MY ASS. ANOTHER NIGGER BEAT THE SYSTEM.”"

Facing racism is an everyday reality for students of color. They are an intentional numerical minority on this campus: African Americans represent less than 4 percent of the student population, Asian Americans represent 3 percent, and Latinos comprise about 2 percent. Separated, we have little power, but together, students of color can change the face of this institution.

It is painfully obvious positive change won’t come at the hands of the Board of Trustees or from the IU administration. To many of them, we are invisible, or better yet, non-existent. Progress won’t come without a price. We must struggle, we must fight, we must pressure the administration to act on our concerns. In the words of A. Phillip Randolph, “Nothing counts but pressure, pressure, and more pressure, and still more pressure through broad organized aggressive mass action.”

“Top Story: 1996 (near future). Broad-based massive student protests continue for the fourth day in a row. Tension is high, and it appears the students will not back down.”