Help Promote Asian American Studies!

Dorothy Young Contribution

Why do we need Asian American Studies courses, majors, and departments on our college campuses?

• Because without it, a key link is missing in the history of the United States and its people.
• Because an understanding of the contemporary political, social, and economic issues facing the Asian American community is integral to providing students with the appropriate knowledge and tools to improve their own communities.
• It is necessary for students to learn about the history and issues of this significant population of the US in order to have a complete understanding and image of the people, history, and demographic makeup of the nation.
• Black/Latino/etc history is offered at this school. Why is the racial category of Asian Americans then excluded?
• Many elite schools, or schools in the tier with which this university competes, offer AAS. (see directory of schools/institutions that offer AAS to check for appropriate institutions to name)
• AAS is becoming a new academic trend, and more and more universities are beginning to offer courses in this area. There are currently over 50 colleges across the country that offer AAS as an official program or department.
• Asian Americans make up nearly 4% of the US population, and are the “fastest growing ethnic category” in the country today (according to the 2000 US Census). It is important to learn about the issues affecting this increasingly important population.

Taken from the NAASCon Guide to Asian American Studies - http://dbnoc.com/docs/naascon/naasconaasguide.pdf
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Who here has an AA Studies major on their campus? Who is working on getting one? (I know we are at UCSD!)

Share your stories and struggles, as well as your own personal convictions on the importance of having these classes and learning our own history!