NIU will celebrate Asian-American heritage

NIU will mark Asian American Heritage Month with more than 20 events in April, including lectures, foreign films, a fashion show, career workshops and a "Taste of Asia."

Festivities kick off with a student, faculty and staff reception Tuesday, April 1. For a complete calendar of events, see http://www3.niu.edu/ptaa/april.htm on the Web.

Throughout the month, activities will highlight Asian and Asian-American cultures, heritage and accomplishments. Asian Americans represent the second largest minority on campus at NIU.

"The events we have planned represent a great opportunity for people to celebrate and learn about Asian and Asian-American culture," said Michelle Bringas, program coordinator for NIU Asian American Resources. "We have a balance of activities planned, from educational events to social gatherings."

The Brown Bag Lecture Series will be held on Fridays in April.

Four films highlighting Asian culture - "Apocalypse of Love," "Beyond Rangoon," "Green Dragon" and "Suriyothai" - also are on tap for the month. Career workshops will be geared for students, as well as for faculty and staff working with Asian-American students. The Asian American Fashion Show will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb.

Alice Y. Hom, director of the Intercultural Community Center at Occidental College, is among the speakers visiting campus in April. Hom is co-editor of the book, "Q & A: Queer in Asian America," a collection of 26 essays and fiction pieces that discuss the complex intersections between the identities of "gay," "Asian" and "American." Hom will lecture at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Room 405 of Holmes Student Center.

Hom's discussion will link academic arenas to community-based activism as she talks about racism, sexism, homophobia, Asian-American feminism and Asian-American lesbian and gay cultural activism. (Hom also will be available earlier that day for an informal discussion from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room 706 of Holmes Student Center.)

The month's final event, the "Taste of Asia," will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 at the Newman Catholic Student Center, 512 Normal Road.

"The Taste of Asia is always one of the most popular events," said Shabna Asmi, a student member of the NIU Presidential Task Force on Asian Americans. "We'll be serving Asian delicacies, but there will be more to do than just eat."

Visitors to the "taste" will be treated to demonstrations of food carvings and the making of sushi and spring rolls, as well as demonstrations of origami, henna painting and Chinese calligraphy. The event also will include presentations by winners of the Asian and Asian-American Essay Contest.

For more information on Asian American Heritage Month, contact NIU Asian American Resources at (815) 753-1421.

3-31-2003