Clarifying APA Studies Position

To the Editors:

We as members of the Asian Pacific American Studies Committee are writing a response to last week’s article, “National Group Boycotts Sociology Position Search,” and the editorial piece entitled “College Diversity Not Reflected in Tenure.” We would like to make clarifications regarding the issues presented in the article and editorial. The pieces focus on the dissonance between the Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) and Oberlin College. However, as evidenced by the quotes within the article, the AAAS as an organization is NOT BOYCOTTING Oberlin College. Rather, several specific members have decided to sign a petition supporting the case of Antoinette Charfauros-McDaniel. The article headline portrays the entire Asian American Studies caucus as fully supporting Antoinette Charfauros. We as students are more concerned with the development of Comparative American Studies, the future of Asian Pacific American studies at Oberlin College, and the communication between students, administration and sociology department. The pieces in the Review obscure the issues that are of greater importance and ultimately oversimplify the nature of the situation.

The pending position affects more than the Sociology Department and Asian Pacific American Studies. In order for the Comparative American Studies program to function as originally constructed, it is imperative that the Asian Pacific American sociology position be filled by an informed and qualified candidate. The job description at this point does not specify that the candidate will participate in the interdisciplinary program.
Another major problem remains unresolved: the Comparative American Studies program has not been considered in the search process thus far. Because this position is fundamental to the existence of the program, we feel it imperative that CAS faculty with expertise in Ethnic Studies be involved in the search as an integral part of the decision-making process.

In addition to the lack of consideration for CAS, there is another pressing concern that the Sociology Department must address. In the interest of attaining the best pool of applicants possible, we urge the inclusion of those CAS faculty members in the search process. If determined by this integrated search committee that the applicant pool has been weakened, then we ask that the sociology department push back the deadline, which is currently set at Oct. 21. This would allow time for issues to be fully resolved between members of AAAS and the Oberlin College administration. It would also ensure that the necessary additions to the advertised job description will be heeded by prospective applicants.

We all (faculty, students, administration) are working towards the same goal: to hire the best candidate possible. We do not feel that any of these recommendations are unreasonable or unrealistic, and hope that President Nancy Dye will exercise leadership in this important endeavor. As students and as members of the Asian Pacific American Studies Committee, the outcome of this position is extremely important to us and to the future of APA Studies at Oberlin College.
–Jane Lee
(APASC liaison)
College senior

–Tracy Ng
(APASC liaison)
College first-year

–Daniel Domaguin
College first-year

–Melissa Francisco
College sophomore

–Lida Kim
College junior

–Tze-chun Liao
College junior

–Nancy Nguyen
College sophomore

–Tudo Nguyen
College junior

–Marianne Tassone
College first-year

The Asian Pacific American Studies Committee

October 11
November 1

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