This year's conference, "Policy, Barriers, and Justice" seeks to examine the processes and effect of local and national legislation and policy. Through this conference we hope to highlight the invisibility and misconceptions of Asian Americans in policies regarding higher education, housing, etc., and to increase awareness on the immediate effects of laws and policies in daily life. We also strive to empower our community by providing grassroots training to address the disparities that result from such policies. As the 2008 presidential elections approach, our voices are crucial in modifying the current social and political frameworks to include the needs and initiatives of Asian Americans and other marginalized communities. We assert our right to be heard in national politics and claim our place in the fabric of the nation.
This year's conference marks the 30th anniversary of the Biennial Midwest Asian American Student Conference, which has historically served as an empowering medium by which all Oberlin students could educate themselves about issues pertinent to Asian and Pacific Americans. Thanks to the efforts of former and current students, faculty and staff, Oberlin College over the past year was able to celebrate the first Asian American studies professor to receive tenure and for the return of the tenure-track Asian American history position within Comparative American Studies (CAST). Although we now enjoy more courses on Asian America, the vast breadth of Asian American histories and experiences cannot be taught in classes alone. The conference supplements our available coursework from distinguished guests who will share their insight in order to increase awareness on the disparities that result from racial, ethnic, gendered, sexual, and economic discrimination present in local and national legislation and policies.
Formerly known as the Biennial Midwest Asian/Pacific American (A/PA) Student Conference, the 15th conference recognizes the critical analyses put forth by the 14th conference entitled "Refocusing Our Lenses: Confronting Contemporary Issues of Globalization and Transnationalism". In that 2006 conference, students challenged the nomenclature of "Asian/Pacific American" and the arbitrary categorization of Pacific Islanders within Asian America by the United States government in 1990. Our evaluation of the political implications of using this terminology led us to conclude that we must avoid misrepresenting communities that are not our own and must support them in determining for themselves how they want to be portrayed. Just how this conference was created by Asian Americans and primarily for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders should be allowed the freedom to speak for themselves through any means they wish.
As seen in the Asian/Pacific American example, the Conference continues the powerful tradition of Asian American activism at Oberlin College which began in the late 1960's. Remembering the endeavors of past students, faculty, and staff, we persist in highlighting the histories of Asian Americans and other marginalized communities and work in solidarity with all people to achieve social, political, and economic change.
The Committee:
*Cheska Tolentino '09, Co-Chair
* Shibo Xu '08, Co-Chair
* Sarah Kim '10, Secretary
* Chloe Drummond '11, Treasurer
* Maneka Puligandla '10
* Sara Boxell '10
* Tuyet Ngo '10
* Lam La '10
* Margaret Kent '10
* Lizzie Huff '10
* Daniel Tam-Claiborne '09
* Anjali Chaudhry '09
* Minh-Tam Nguyen '08
Advisors:
* Eric Estes, Associate Dean of Students, Director of the Multicultural Resource Center
* Jenny C. Lares, Asian/Pacific American Community Coordinator
Schedule of events for 2007-2008:
Registration & Late registration on site: Wilder Alcove
2:00 pm - 6:30 pm March 7th
9:00 am - 5:00 pm March 8th
Friday, March 7th:
Screening of "Second Class Veterans" with discussion to follow
Jenny C. Lares, A/PA Community Coordinator, Oberlin College
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm | Wilder 101
Opening Banquet with Keynote Speaker
Christine Chen, Executive Director, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote.org)
Tickets cost: $3 students, $5 general admission & at the door, available at Wilder Desk
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Root Room
Saturday March 8th:
The Awkward Turtle: Asian Americans in the Education Access and Equity Debate
Oiyan Poon, PhD Candidate in Race & Ethnic Studies in Education, UCLA
10:00 am - 11:00 am | Wilder 101
Workshop on Hate Crimes on College Campuses
Ron Katsuyama, Midwest District Governor, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
11:10 am - 12:10 pm | King 101
Conference Meet and Greet Lunch
Tickets cost: $3, available at Wilder Desk
12:10 pm - 1:30 pm | Third World House Lounge
Panel on Sustaining Ethnic Communities
Panelists: Arnab Mukherjea, Program Director, Health Career Connection; Marlan Maralit, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); and Charu Gupta, The Cleveland Free Times
Moderator: Shelley Lee, Assistant Professor of History and Comparative American Studies, Oberlin College
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm | King 106
Discussion on Violence Against Women
Purvi Shah, Executive Director, Sakhi for South Asian Women
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Wilder 101
Blue Scholars Concert Performance
Tickets cost: $5, available at Wilder Desk
10:00pm - 1:00am | Sco
Sunday, March 9th
Mobilizing Communities Workshop*
Mai Dang, Community Organizer, Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation (MQVN CDC) and National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agency (NAVASA)
10:00 am - 11:00 am | Wilder 112
Oberlin Asian American Student Activism*
Rashne Limki '05, Masters and PhD candidate in Ethnic Studies, UC San Diego;
Daniel Domaguin '06, Masters in Social Work, University of Michigan
11:10 am - 12:10 pm | Wilder 115
*Only open to students
Link for the website: http://www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/aaa/
14th Biennial Asian/Pacific American Midwest Student Conference
