Campus Asian Groups Abound

When the Harvard Asian American Association (AAA) tabled in front of Widener Library against Proposition 187, it seemed to many that Harvard's Asian-American community was speaking out on a controversial issue with a strong, singular voice.

But that strong political voice, it seems, did not speak for everyone.

The California ballot initiative, which passed last week, requires doctors and teachers to inform authorities of suspected illegal immigrants and denies public education and non-emergency health care to illegal immigrants.

To AAA education and political chair Veronica S. Jung '97, the legislation is "a sign of the wider tide of anti-immigrant sentiment." It is an issue that Asian-Americans at Harvard should be concerned with, she says.

But to some of Harvard's Asian-Americans, the real controversy is not about the legislation. The real controversy, say some like Daniel Lee '95, is about who claims to speak for whom.

"They don't know what all Asians think," Lee says, responding to the AAA's recent political efforts. "It's pretty irresponsible."

With events like last week's tabling and a recent forum on violence against Asian-Americans, AAA's leaders say they are trying to give Asian-Americans at Harvard a political voice.

AAA's growing political activism is an attempt to reverse the organization's decline as a social and cultural force, leaders say.

In recent years, other Asian-American student groups, like the Chinese Students Association (CSA) and the Korean Student Association (KSA), have increasingly taken over these roles, some say.

But like Lee, other students counter that no single group can represent such a diverse community. They say AAA cannot resolve the tension between uniting all Asian-Americans and taking partisan political stances.

By virtue of its name, AAA has a responsibility to try to encompass almost 20 percent of the student body, says Paul K. Kim '96, who ran unsuccessfully for AAA's presidency last year.

"If AAA truly represents Asian-Americans, they can't come out on positions in that way," he says.

Kim and others say that if AAA is to be political, it must offer an open forum and serve as an unbiased educator. AAA can also provide an organizational base for its sister groups, some students say.

"It's great if they foster dialogue and dissent without imposing an agenda," says Daniel H. Choi '94, who is now a graduate student in the government department.

Roots in Activism

The organization had its foundations in political activism 16 years ago when Asian-American students were not allowed to participate in minority events during Freshman Week, says AAA Co-president Alex H. Cho '96.

"As the number of Asian students was small, there was a real sense of unity," says AAA Co-president Jennifer Ching '96.

Soon, the group took on a social role as well.

"Because it encompassed everybody, it became a social powerhouse," Cho says. "Token membership grew, and all Asian-Americans could agree on and participate in AAA as a social and cultural outlet."

As the Asian-American population became more diverse, different ethnic segments clamored for more representation within AAA, causing friction between some sister groups.

AAA's leaders are now focusing on being more open to all Asian-Americans.

But many students think it is no longer an issue that needs attention.

"Before, a lot of people were unhappy with AAA, and that has changed a lot now," says Jean M. Ou '95, CSA co-president. "Now, the smaller groups are able to have more of an identity of their own, growing and maturing, and finding their own niche."

Sister organizations targeted at specific ethnic groups, like CSA, KSA and the south Asian Association (SAA), have grown in the last few years, students say.

For instance, leaders estimate that CSA now includes 200 members, 75 of them active. SAA has more than 200 people on its mailing list, and between 40 and 50 people attend the group's weekly meetings, says co-president Anurima Bhargava '96.

Cho says just 100 people voted in AAA's presidential election last year, though the organization's social events often still draw hundreds of students.

"Within the last five years, CSA, KSA, and SAA have grown so large in numbers and resources, that they have enough members and funds to sponsor their own events and activities," says former SAA president Pankaj Tiwari '95, who was last year's publicity chair for AAA. "People would rather put the time and energy into their own ethnic group."

And as the sister groups' member ships have burgeoned, they have supplanted some of AAA's former roles.

Abbas A. Hyderi '95-'96, SAA's liaison to the Boston area and former AAA social fundraising chair, says he feels that South Asians no longer feel they need representation in AAA.

"There's less friction than in past years," Hyderi says. "It doesn't bother most South Asians that AAA doesn't touch on South Asian issues, because they're easier to address in SAA."

In fact, some Asian-American group leaders say they are more likely to work with sister groups other than AAA in organizing larger events. Ou defines the relationship between CSA and AAA as a business one, but says there is little overlapping of interests.

"We're more likely to coordinate events with other smaller groups," she says. AAA is mostly useful in coordinating events "when all the groups are willing to come together," she says.

Despite its popular dances, AAA is even losing its cohesion as a social organization for Asian-Americans at Harvard, Cho says.

"The sister groups have become more of a social focus," he says. "There more to connect with and more commonalities."

A New Role

As AAA's social and cultural importance gives way to its sister groups, Cho and other leaders say they have to define a new role for the organization.

"I think it was never meant to be permanent because you can't lump everyone together as Asian," Tiwari says. "AAA is declining as small groups are on the rise. It's a natural process, but you are left with the question, where does that leave AAA?"

Kim says the organization can't continue without a clearer mandate.

"Alex [Cho] is right," he says. "AAA has to change its role."

But while leaders agree there is a need for change, there is no consensus about where AAA should go.

Cho believes AAA's future lies in actively working towards a political agenda shared by all Asian-Americans, regardless of their ethnic origin.

"Last and this year especially, we're consciously wanting to steer toward being more focused and more issue oriented," he says.

Earlier this year, AAA sponsored a workshop on anti-Asian violence, and co-sponsored a discussion about workers in the garment industry.

Several members of AAA are currently working in conjunction with the Ethnic Studies Action Committee (ESAC) for courses in ethnic studies, including Asian-American studies, Jung says.

Difficult Shift

Shifting AAA back to its original identity, as a united political group, will not be easy with such a large and diverse population.

"Alex [Cho] and Jen [Ching] have a really tough role," Tiwari says. "Working to keep an organization that in the past has had a lot of political power and to revolutionize that role is really tough for any student leader."

The problem with Cho's vision, some students say, is that no single political stance can ever represent the entire Asian-American population of Harvard.

"Asian-Americans are just too broad a group to say this is what Asian-Americans believe," Kim says.

Choi agrees.

"I think it's a far greater offense to be lumped together for what I think," he says. "There are many Asians like me who don't agree with their views. It's frustrating when they purport to be an association for all Asian students at Harvard. It's true that we're perceived as a group, but there's a big cleavage among Asian concerns."

There is not necessarily a common Asian-American identity at all, Choi says, beyond that imposed by members of outside groups who lump different Asian ethnicities together into one "race."

"Most Asian-Americans have only been here for 20 years, came here as babies or our parents came here," Choi says. "We're from all different social and economic backgrounds, some came over as professionals, some as political refugees."

"Yes, there's a white misperception that lumps us all together," he says, "but is that enough to create a common bond? I don't think so."

A Common Voice?

But AAA leaders say there are issues that all Asian-American students can come together on.

"Being Asian-American, there's definitely some sort of link, because people have trouble figuring out where they fit in culturally, being American or Asian-American," says SAA Co-president Rheena R. Lawande '96.

Several Asian-American group leaders say there is, in fact, a political role for AAA.

"There are definitely still issues that need to be addressed as a minority, and it's a lot harder for CSA or KSA to do that on its own," Ou says.

Cho says even if a common Asian-American identity is imposed from outside, it still exists.

"We're treated very much as a group," he says. "In terms of the experience of Asians in America, there are a lot of important commonalities."

Ching agrees.

"Whether it sprung out of American misperceptions, it is its own free-standing identity now," she says.

Democratic Structure

AAA leaders say they seek to acknowledge the diversity among Asian-American opinion by including a broad range of outlooks in discussing political issues.

AAA cannot be a monolith, Jung says. There will always be debate over political stances within the Asian-American community, she says.

But AAA must still take an active political role, she says, even if it doesn't represent every single Asian-American student.

"It is a fact that Asian Americans as a whole don't participate politically. It's an important priority for AAA not to shirk from addressing political issues," she says. "Of course there will be disagreement, but we need to be careful not to continue that passive stance. I don't think disagreement should be a reason not to deal with political issues."

AAA leaders say their way of choosing the organization's political stances takes into account the broad range of opinion among Asian-Americans.

Ching characterizes the organization as "extremely open."

AAA's political stances are determined by the steering committee, comprised of elected and appointed officials. The meetings are open to the public, Ching says.

"AAA definitely wants people to come," says Sheila N. Swaroop '97, AAA's representative to the Minority Students Alliance and the social and cultural chair of SAA. "They're totally open to you coming and sharing your perspective. If you want your views represented, come to meetings."

But critics of AA complain that the organization should be more democratic and attempt to make sure that it is actively representing the range of Asian-American opinions.

Despite the leaders efforts at inclusion, and although some events draw large numbers, most of the general membership does not regularly attend planning meetings.

Lee says the small gatherings of students that decide AAA's stances cannot speak for all Asian-Americans, as the organization's name claims.

When AAA takes a stand, "it's logical to infer that all Asians feel that way," Lee says. AAA is "using the name, without having earned that right."

Choi says AAA debates need to be more inclusive.

"Before they take a position on an issue, that should convene a general meeting and raise it," he says.

Cho says he feels that it would be impractical to take a general vote on every issue.

An Open Forum

Other students counter that AAA should, instead of claiming to offer a political voice, simply serve an educational purpose as a forum for debate.

"It's great if they foster dialogue and dissent without imposing an agenda," Choi says. "That broadens minds, respects Asian Americans more as people capable of forming their own opinions."

To Jung, that is already the organization's purpose, even as it takes a stand on political issues.

"There's a difference between how we're perceived and what we are," Jung says. "There's a tendency for the general population to look at a group as a voice for the whole minority. We're just a group of individuals who are interested in Asian-American issues."

For instance, in the tabling against proposition 187, Jung says AAA was serving an educational purpose.

"We're not ramming our view down anyone's throats," she says. "The tabling stimulated discussion. We welcomed the opportunity to have that debate."

To critics, however, the tabling against Proposition 187 shows how impossible it is for AAA to both take a stance and engage all 1200 Asian-American students.

"Granted they had a few pamphlets of facts, but they educated the about what's bad about it," Lee says. "Their agenda was clearly political."

"There is a danger in that whether people like it or not, we might be viewed as representative of all Asian-Americans, when we are really an organization that's for Asian Americans who want to be politically active," Jung says.CrimsonJoel SawadyMembers of the Asian American Association protest against Proposition 187, the controversial California ballot initiative.

In recent years, other Asian-American student groups, like the Chinese Students Association (CSA) and the Korean Student Association (KSA), have increasingly taken over these roles, some say.

But like Lee, other students counter that no single group can represent such a diverse community. They say AAA cannot resolve the tension between uniting all Asian-Americans and taking partisan political stances.

By virtue of its name, AAA has a responsibility to try to encompass almost 20 percent of the student body, says Paul K. Kim '96, who ran unsuccessfully for AAA's presidency last year.

"If AAA truly represents Asian-Americans, they can't come out on positions in that way," he says.

Kim and others say that if AAA is to be political, it must offer an open forum and serve as an unbiased educator. AAA can also provide an organizational base for its sister groups, some students say.

"It's great if they foster dialogue and dissent without imposing an agenda," says Daniel H. Choi '94, who is now a graduate student in the government department.

Roots in Activism

The organization had its foundations in political activism 16 years ago when Asian-American students were not allowed to participate in minority events during Freshman Week, says AAA Co-president Alex H. Cho '96.

"As the number of Asian students was small, there was a real sense of unity," says AAA Co-president Jennifer Ching '96.

Soon, the group took on a social role as well.

"Because it encompassed everybody, it became a social powerhouse," Cho says. "Token membership grew, and all Asian-Americans could agree on and participate in AAA as a social and cultural outlet."

As the Asian-American population became more diverse, different ethnic segments clamored for more representation within AAA, causing friction between some sister groups.

AAA's leaders are now focusing on being more open to all Asian-Americans.

But many students think it is no longer an issue that needs attention.

"Before, a lot of people were unhappy with AAA, and that has changed a lot now," says Jean M. Ou '95, CSA co-president. "Now, the smaller groups are able to have more of an identity of their own, growing and maturing, and finding their own niche."

Sister organizations targeted at specific ethnic groups, like CSA, KSA and the south Asian Association (SAA), have grown in the last few years, students say.

For instance, leaders estimate that CSA now includes 200 members, 75 of them active. SAA has more than 200 people on its mailing list, and between 40 and 50 people attend the group's weekly meetings, says co-president Anurima Bhargava '96.

Cho says just 100 people voted in AAA's presidential election last year, though the organization's social events often still draw hundreds of students.

"Within the last five years, CSA, KSA, and SAA have grown so large in numbers and resources, that they have enough members and funds to sponsor their own events and activities," says former SAA president Pankaj Tiwari '95, who was last year's publicity chair for AAA. "People would rather put the time and energy into their own ethnic group."

And as the sister groups' member ships have burgeoned, they have supplanted some of AAA's former roles.

Abbas A. Hyderi '95-'96, SAA's liaison to the Boston area and former AAA social fundraising chair, says he feels that South Asians no longer feel they need representation in AAA.

"There's less friction than in past years," Hyderi says. "It doesn't bother most South Asians that AAA doesn't touch on South Asian issues, because they're easier to address in SAA."

In fact, some Asian-American group leaders say they are more likely to work with sister groups other than AAA in organizing larger events. Ou defines the relationship between CSA and AAA as a business one, but says there is little overlapping of interests.

"We're more likely to coordinate events with other smaller groups," she says. AAA is mostly useful in coordinating events "when all the groups are willing to come together," she says.

Despite its popular dances, AAA is even losing its cohesion as a social organization for Asian-Americans at Harvard, Cho says.

"The sister groups have become more of a social focus," he says. "There more to connect with and more commonalities."

A New Role

As AAA's social and cultural importance gives way to its sister groups, Cho and other leaders say they have to define a new role for the organization.

"I think it was never meant to be permanent because you can't lump everyone together as Asian," Tiwari says. "AAA is declining as small groups are on the rise. It's a natural process, but you are left with the question, where does that leave AAA?"

Kim says the organization can't continue without a clearer mandate.

"Alex [Cho] is right," he says. "AAA has to change its role."

But while leaders agree there is a need for change, there is no consensus about where AAA should go.

Cho believes AAA's future lies in actively working towards a political agenda shared by all Asian-Americans, regardless of their ethnic origin.

"Last and this year especially, we're consciously wanting to steer toward being more focused and more issue oriented," he says.

Earlier this year, AAA sponsored a workshop on anti-Asian violence, and co-sponsored a discussion about workers in the garment industry.

Several members of AAA are currently working in conjunction with the Ethnic Studies Action Committee (ESAC) for courses in ethnic studies, including Asian-American studies, Jung says.

Difficult Shift

Shifting AAA back to its original identity, as a united political group, will not be easy with such a large and diverse population.

"Alex [Cho] and Jen [Ching] have a really tough role," Tiwari says. "Working to keep an organization that in the past has had a lot of political power and to revolutionize that role is really tough for any student leader."

The problem with Cho's vision, some students say, is that no single political stance can ever represent the entire Asian-American population of Harvard.

"Asian-Americans are just too broad a group to say this is what Asian-Americans believe," Kim says.

Choi agrees.

"I think it's a far greater offense to be lumped together for what I think," he says. "There are many Asians like me who don't agree with their views. It's frustrating when they purport to be an association for all Asian students at Harvard. It's true that we're perceived as a group, but there's a big cleavage among Asian concerns."

There is not necessarily a common Asian-American identity at all, Choi says, beyond that imposed by members of outside groups who lump different Asian ethnicities together into one "race."

"Most Asian-Americans have only been here for 20 years, came here as babies or our parents came here," Choi says. "We're from all different social and economic backgrounds, some came over as professionals, some as political refugees."

"Yes, there's a white misperception that lumps us all together," he says, "but is that enough to create a common bond? I don't think so."

A Common Voice?

But AAA leaders say there are issues that all Asian-American students can come together on.

"Being Asian-American, there's definitely some sort of link, because people have trouble figuring out where they fit in culturally, being American or Asian-American," says SAA Co-president Rheena R. Lawande '96.

Several Asian-American group leaders say there is, in fact, a political role for AAA.

"There are definitely still issues that need to be addressed as a minority, and it's a lot harder for CSA or KSA to do that on its own," Ou says.

Cho says even if a common Asian-American identity is imposed from outside, it still exists.

"We're treated very much as a group," he says. "In terms of the experience of Asians in America, there are a lot of important commonalities."

Ching agrees.

"Whether it sprung out of American misperceptions, it is its own free-standing identity now," she says.

Democratic Structure

AAA leaders say they seek to acknowledge the diversity among Asian-American opinion by including a broad range of outlooks in discussing political issues.

AAA cannot be a monolith, Jung says. There will always be debate over political stances within the Asian-American community, she says.

But AAA must still take an active political role, she says, even if it doesn't represent every single Asian-American student.

"It is a fact that Asian Americans as a whole don't participate politically. It's an important priority for AAA not to shirk from addressing political issues," she says. "Of course there will be disagreement, but we need to be careful not to continue that passive stance. I don't think disagreement should be a reason not to deal with political issues."

AAA leaders say their way of choosing the organization's political stances takes into account the broad range of opinion among Asian-Americans.

Ching characterizes the organization as "extremely open."

AAA's political stances are determined by the steering committee, comprised of elected and appointed officials. The meetings are open to the public, Ching says.

"AAA definitely wants people to come," says Sheila N. Swaroop '97, AAA's representative to the Minority Students Alliance and the social and cultural chair of SAA. "They're totally open to you coming and sharing your perspective. If you want your views represented, come to meetings."

But critics of AA complain that the organization should be more democratic and attempt to make sure that it is actively representing the range of Asian-American opinions.

Despite the leaders efforts at inclusion, and although some events draw large numbers, most of the general membership does not regularly attend planning meetings.

Lee says the small gatherings of students that decide AAA's stances cannot speak for all Asian-Americans, as the organization's name claims.

When AAA takes a stand, "it's logical to infer that all Asians feel that way," Lee says. AAA is "using the name, without having earned that right."

Choi says AAA debates need to be more inclusive.

"Before they take a position on an issue, that should convene a general meeting and raise it," he says.

Cho says he feels that it would be impractical to take a general vote on every issue.

An Open Forum

Other students counter that AAA should, instead of claiming to offer a political voice, simply serve an educational purpose as a forum for debate.

"It's great if they foster dialogue and dissent without imposing an agenda," Choi says. "That broadens minds, respects Asian Americans more as people capable of forming their own opinions."

To Jung, that is already the organization's purpose, even as it takes a stand on political issues.

"There's a difference between how we're perceived and what we are," Jung says. "There's a tendency for the general population to look at a group as a voice for the whole minority. We're just a group of individuals who are interested in Asian-American issues."

For instance, in the tabling against proposition 187, Jung says AAA was serving an educational purpose.

"We're not ramming our view down anyone's throats," she says. "The tabling stimulated discussion. We welcomed the opportunity to have that debate."

To critics, however, the tabling against Proposition 187 shows how impossible it is for AAA to both take a stance and engage all 1200 Asian-American students.

"Granted they had a few pamphlets of facts, but they educated the about what's bad about it," Lee says. "Their agenda was clearly political."

"There is a danger in that whether people like it or not, we might be viewed as representative of all Asian-Americans, when we are really an organization that's for Asian Americans who want to be politically active," Jung says.CrimsonJoel SawadyMembers of the Asian American Association protest against Proposition 187, the controversial California ballot initiative.