Students Meet to Discuss Potential Ethnic Studies Program

An open discussion of Ethnic Studies was held last night at Leverett dining hall, with about 15 students in attendance.

"The reason for the meeting was to see how much interest there really was," said Ethan Y. Yeh '03, who coordinated the meeting.

Although Yeh said he e-mailed information about the meeting to the mailing lists of several ethnic clubs, from the Asian American Association (AAA) to the Black Students' Association, the attendance was less than ethnically diverse.

"Notice we're all Asian," said Sophia Lai '04, Vice President of AAA.

The attendees were divided in their goals, with about half of the approximately 15 interested in specifically Asian-American studies, while half wanted to pursue a more general program of Ethnic Studies.

"There's definitely a need for an Asian-American studies program," said Aram Yang '02.

But other students at the meeting said there might not be enough interest in an Asian-American program to make the idea viable.

"Traditionally at Harvard, the support hasn't been there" said Yeh.

Those in attendance wanted more classes, visiting professors, and eventually full professors, with the distant goal of a department to focus on Ethnic or Asian American studies, they said.

"We've got to take baby steps" said Yang.

The meeting resolved with attendees taking on different tasks, primary among them talking to faculty,

"You have to get faculty on your side" said Sam Sterling '01.