When you start shopping for classes in the Spring 2001 Course Offering Directory, you will not find any of the following options: "Asians in the United States," "Literature of the Asian Diaspora" or "Asian American Economics." But a group of students and faculty are hoping to add them soon.
These course titles are just a few of many potential classes for the proposed Asian American Studies Program at the University.
The student-led group working towards an Asian American Studies Program, established in the spring of last year, has been pushing for the creation of an interdisciplinary program that would explore the common experiences of Asians in America.
Interest in this initiative is not new. Students and faculty have renewed their commitment to the project because of an increase in the enrollment of Asian American students and an intellectual interest in the study of Asian Americans, said Assistant Dean of Students Glenna Chang. The class of 2004 is between 14 and 15 percent Asian American, she said.
AAS Programs now are offered at about 50 American colleges and universities, including the University of California at Berkeley, Cornell University, Columbia University and New York University.
The difference between existing Asian studies courses at the University and the proposed program is that classes now focus on Asian languages and cultures in other parts of the world, said Director of Asian Studies Gilbert Roy. Roy is also the faculty advisor for an Asian American independent study course.
"We want to make the distinction between being Asian and being Asian American," said Leah Kim, AAS co-chairwoman in the Asian Student Union.
The program would be designed to "promote a better understanding of the contributions of Asian Americans" to American society.
Courses in the program would stress the importance of Asian American identity, which "has stemmed from [a] common experience as a racial minority in American society" as well as the inclination of other groups "to treat all Asian Americans as foreign-born outsiders," according to a brochure for the program.
Roy's independent study group is working on four major components of the proposed program, including finding faculty, promoting student interest, obtaining funding and developing a basic curriculum, Kim said.
"We are researching similar programs at other schools," she said.
The short-term goal is to increase the number of Asian American related classes offered and to provide more diversity of options, Chang said. Eventually, the program may become a major.
Currently, "Asian American Experiences" and "Asian American Literature" are the only Asian American related courses offered at the University.
"An Asian American Studies Program would bring a different picture of our history and social fabric. It would bring a richer understanding of what it means to be an American," Kim said.
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