Many people are unaware of the fact that, at UIC, April is Asian American Awareness Month. However, the goals of AAAM reflect the need for an increased appreciation for the struggles, the successes, and the overall spirit of the Asian American community - at UIC and across the country.
One of the central concerns that Asian American students have regarding the way they are perceived by other people is "invisibility." But, one might ask, why would Asian Americans feel invisible on a campus like UIC, when they represent anywhere from 20 to 25 percent of the student body?
That question does not yield a simple answer. There are many issues - both inside and outside the Asian American community - that contribute to the current state of affairs.
First of all, it is interesting to note that the Asian American Studies department is the newest ethnic studies department at UIC.
This recent development of an Asian American studies program is not unique. All across the US, Asian American students and faculty have been pushing to establish a stronger presence within the LAS community - especially in regards to disciplines such as sociology and history. Other ethnic programs came into being much earlier at UIC, such as the African American Studies Department, created in 1971, and the Latin American and Latino Studies Department, created in 1972. Native American Studies and Jewish Studies both offer minors, while the Asian American Studies Department has yet to offer any sort of degree.
Karen Su, associate professor of English and the director of the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center said, "Generally there needs to be more awareness raised at universities in terms of the value of Asian American Studies, and that it really is an integral part of being able to understand the United States."
The creation of a degree in any discipline requires more faculty members and despite efforts in the last few years, there still aren't enough resources at UIC to allow for a degree. However, the future is hopeful. As of last semester, there are now seven professors teaching Asian American Studies courses at UIC; and there is a new AAS coordinator, appointed last November.
"Institutionally it's been challenging to create programs in AAS," added Su. "Faculty is hired into traditional departments and then teach as affiliated faculty in the program."
Another area regarding Asian American students that needs clarification is the "model minority" stereotype.
A model minority is a non-white group that is "naturally" intelligent, diligent and assimilates easily and readily into the "American model of success."
The model minority stereotype emerged in late 1960s and early 1970s after the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 and alongside the American Civil Rights Movement. Ashvin Kini, a graduate student and WC teaching assistant at UIC, asserts, "The selection of eligible candidate was highly organized along class lines" ("America's Next Top Model Minority," Kini).
Roughly 83 percent of the Indian immigrants who came to the US between the years of 1966 and 1977 were scientists, doctors or Ph.D.s.
Researchers believe that the model minority concept was developed in order to provide a strong counterexample to the existence of (institutional) racism in the United States.
If Asians and Asian Americans can come here and succeed, it was suggested, then obviously racial discrimination is not a real problem for those other ethnic groups (especially African Americans) who are complaining of bigotry and bias. Furthermore, the initiation of the Asian American model minority helped to ensure that non-white Americans would keep from uniting.
"Perhaps the most glaring flaw in the model minority argument is its reductive assumption of pan-Asian identity and experience. While immigration policy allowed a large number of educated Asians to come to the US at relatively the same time, the model minority stereotype ignores any and all signs of economic, cultural, educational, religious, linguistic, gender and sexual difference within and amongst Asian communities" (Kini, 2).
To learn more about the model minority stereotype, come hear Stacy Lee, Ph.D. at Lecture Center A1 from 11:00 a.m. to noon on Apr. 22. She'll be presenting "The Continuing Significance of the Model Minority Stereotype."
For information on other AAAM events, stop by the AARCC or visit their website.
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