APA adresses curriculum

For the past 27 years the push toward a viable Asian American Studies Department has been full of ebbs and tides.

According to Michelle Shim, Asian American community coordinator in the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), "The Asian American Studies committee has reaped short and somewhat unstable benefits for the community."

Several classes have been offered sporadically. Linda Vo, visiting professor of Sociology, taught a class that studied Asian American Communities. Last semester, Assistant Dean of Student Life and Services Shilpa Davé taught a course in Asian American Literature.

Students have also taken it upon themselves to direct their own education by teaching Experimental College (ExCo) classes. In recent years ExCos have been offered in Asian American Women's history, Asian American Art, the History of Asian in North America and much more.

Davé said the hesitance to hire a tenure track professor and the continued use of visiting or adjunct faculty to teach courses shows a specific lack of commitment from the institution.

Visiting Lecturers Antionette Charfauros McDaniel and Karin Aguilar-San Juan will present a workshop specifically addressing these issues during the 10th Biennial Midwest Asian Pacific American (APA) Students' conference.

Their workshop is entitled, "Strategizing for Asian American Studies." The workshop will be divided into two sections. Examination will be a comparative approach to Asian American Studies within the Framework of Ethnic Studies. Lecturers will specifically question where the Asian American Studies struggle fits into the "black/white" paradigm that current shapes a considerable amount of dialogue surrounding race relations in the United States.

Plans for sustaining a progressive Asian American Studies department, along with permanent and tenured professors, has been a dream of the Oberlin Korean Students Association (OKSA), South Asian Students Association (SASA) and Asian American Alliance (AAA) since the late 1970's.

"The struggle for a reputable department has been going on here at Oberlin for 27 years," said junior Sara Lam, co-chair of the AAA.

Several different committees worked on the production of a packet entitled the "Oberlin College Asian American Studies Movement Packet." The packet included articles, letters, descriptions of courses and ExCo programs, student papers and minutes from previous meetings.

Assistant Dean of Student Life and Services Shilpa Davé said that she, Lam and Asian American Community Coordinator Michelle Shim will work to produce an addendum to the packet. This addendum will include descriptions of the addition of the Asian American advisors from the Multicultural Resource Center (MRC), sociology and history departments as well as a new description of the future of Asian American Studies here at Oberlin.

"There is a push to really get an Asian American Studies department. The idea of Ethnic Studies is also a concern. We need to promote awareness and visibility on campus," Davé said.