Spring 2009 Vol XXII Issue 2
Asian Outlook 20th Anniversary Edition
Ghosts of Editors Past...
Words of wisdom from those who came before...
From the archives of AO... Reprints of articles that are still relevant today...
Common Sense Strikes Again...
A2 O
A rebuttal.
T H
And much more inside...
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Letter from the Editor...
A2 O
Dear Readers, As all of you likely know, on Friday, April 3, 2009, an Asian-American man walked into the Binghamton Civic Center and opened fire, killing approximately fourteen people (including himself ); many of his victims were immigrants studying for the citizenship test. In the wake of this event, and the violence which has hit the Asian community here in Binghamton especially hard, we ask all of you to reflect on this terrible tragedy—and particularly to think of the ways in which you can help the families of those involved, not to mention the city at large. Contact information for the Southern Tier Red Cross, the Catholic Charities, and the Broome County Council of Churches will be included in this page, so please feel free to either leave a donation with these groups, or to contact them with any questions as to how you can provide further assistance. The thoughts and prayers of all of us here at Asian Outlook go out to the victims and their families. On another note, this semester marks Asian Outlook’s 20th Anniversary; for this important milestone, we have contacted previous editors and asked them to submit their reflections and thoughts regarding their time here at AO. Additionally, for the rest of this semester, we will also be revising and reprinting old articles from years past, works which we found to be relevant even today; in this issue, we began with two pieces, one from 2004 regarding the role of ASU, and another one, from 1998, titled “12 Tips for Activists.” Needless to say, the second article should be self-explanatory; while it may be the case that aspiring activists may be few and far in between on campus, we hope that, should someone suddenly decide, in a moment of clarity, to discard his/her apathy and pick up a cause, then he/she will find this work useful. Certainly the presence of this article in an old issue seems to speak to the changing times; it would be hard to imagine anyone writing such an article for an issue today—though if someone did, we would most likely print it. So in conclusion, I hope that all of you will find this issue of AO an interesting one, particularly when you contrast the ideas and concepts of former editors and prior features of AO then with the themes, trends, and works of AO now. If you would like to explore Asian Outlook’s past issues, please contact me, and I will be happy to let you into our archives, which at present, consist of one massive, overstuffed binder. Best wishes to all the members of AO, past and present, as well as all their hard work over the years. Will To Asian Outlook 2008-2009
T H
Contact Information Broome County Council of Churches 3 Otseningo Street Binghamton NY 13903 607-724-9130 Catholic Charities 232 Main Street Binghamton, NY 13905 607-729-2062 Southern Tier Red Cross 620 East Main Street Endicott, NY 13760 607-778-3911
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Editorial Policy Asian Outlook is the art, literary, and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and AsianAmericans; further, Asian Outlook serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orintation. All matter contained within these beautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submission. Articles may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com, all artistic and literary pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail. com. Contact Policy Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under pain of punishment. Please direct all questions, comments, and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com.
Letter t ot he Edit or
C
ongratulations on the 20th Anniversary of Asian Outlook! I am honored to have had the opportunity to edit both Asian Outlook and Conscience as a student at Binghamton so many years ago. I was amazed when I read some of the recent issues that the long tradition of activism and creativity that we established two decades ago has remained strong and vibrant. Back in the day, we covered a wide range of critical issues facing our community -- publishing articles that raised awareness on growing levels of socioeconomic inequality, incidents of anti-Asian violence, and struggles for political empowerment -- and Asian Outlook played a key role in educating and mobilizing students to take responsibility for a better world. Many of the themes we explored then still have relevance today and have been revisited in recent issues of Asian Outlook. For example, I found Jarucha Jiradacharoen’s article “The Revolutionary Portrayal of Homosexuality in Asian Media” (Mar 08) to be an fascinating analysis of contemporary narratives that document our shifting perspectives on gender and sexuality. Calvin Prashad’s articles “Asian Sexploitation: Why Is It Being Tolerated?” (Oc08), “Politicians’ Attitutdes towards the Asian-American Community Due for a Change” (Dec 08), and “The VPMA Situation” (Feb 09) provide valuable insights into controversial issues directly affecting our agency and the role(s) we play in this society. I found many of these and other stories in Asian Outlook to be well-written, relevant, and accessible. While it’s heartening to see that the original spirit of Asian Outlook is alive and well, I do have some suggestions. (1) Take a stand; have a perspective; push
the envelope. One of the problems with mainstream media is that it tries to be “all things to all people” under the cover of “objectivity” (think: USA Today). Thankfully, Asian Outlook isn’t hobbled by such nonsense, but you can do more to provoke and incite your readers. (2) Ground yourself; rediscover your roots. Community media requires deep understanding of your audience as well as knowledge of your own history. Don’t reinvent the wheel; review previous issues and build on stories with fresh ideas and perspectives. Create partnerships with groups outside campus. (3) Connect with readers; become more interactive. Encourage reader feedback. Go online. I commend all the editors, writers, and artists as well as the readers and sup-
porters of Asian Outlook for your commitment, energy, and creativity. If I can be of any assistance in your endeavors, please let me know. I wish you much success and look forward to reading Asian Outlook for the next twenty years!
John Choe | Chief of Staff Office of Council Member John C. Liu The Council of the City of New York
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T Words from Editors past... ontents A Features... B L E O F Editorials... C O Blast from the Past... N T E Conscience... Columns... pages 30-39 N T S Letter to the Editor 3 John Choe
Life on the Outside: An Alumnus’ Experience 6 Katherine Lam Confessions of an AO Editor... 8 Melissa Chan
Celebrating Asian Outlook’s 20th Anniversary! 10 Peter Lam Congrats to AO! 12 Elaine Lin
A2 O T H
Study Abroad: What to’s and How-to’s... 13 Jennifer Fang KT Tatara’s World of Stand Up Comedy 14 Jarucha Jiradacharoen Asian Designers at NY Fashion Week 16 Jing Gao Asian American Heroes Coming Soon 18 Wilson Chen
Why Robert Menje is Wrong... 24 Calvin Prashad and Will To
That Nagging Feeling: Slumdog Millionaire 26 Calvin Prashad
Make ASU Yours: An Open Letter to the Asian American Student Body 27 Calvin Prashad
Featuring the creative works of... Kaming Cheung Emil Carlo Rafol aka Shift the MC Alyssa Alimurung Ainsley Martin David M. Sweeney Kelvin Chan Adam Lang Kari Tam
Panther: The Life and Times of Richard Masato Aoki 20 Devek Singh
The A Files: The Role of ASU 21 Caree Zhang (Spring 2004) 12 Tips for Activists 22 Errol Schweizer
(1998)
Asianese: Surviving the Economy... 29 Lali Ha, Fan Chen, Karina Rodrigues Front Cover Design by Will To Chris Ng
Back Cover Design by Jay Chuang Shot on Location in Hongkou, Shanghai, China
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Studying Abroad: What to do, and How to do it...
Advice from a Binghamton student currently studying in Shanghai. Part 1 of 2.
Special Thanks to All Our Contributors! Kari Tam Alyssa Alimurung Kelvin Chan Ainsley Martin Calvin Prashad Emil Carlo Rafol aka Shift the MC David Sweeney Jennifer Fang Peter Lam Elaine Lin Katherine Lam Melissa Chan Chris Ng Chris Lu Jing Gao Kaming Cheung Adam Lang John Choe
Editor-in-Chief Will To Treasurer Wilson Chen
Secretary Alyssa Alimurung Writers Calvin Prashad Chris Lu
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An Editor’s Tale: Former AO Editor-in-Chief Melissa Chan’s hopes and dreams...
Staff... Conscience Editor Kari Tam Publicity Linda Su Kaming Cheung Webmaster Sophia Lin
Assistant Editors Victor Chan Jarucha Jiradacharoen Karina Rodrigues Devek Singh Layout Editors Lali Ha Fan Chen Elliot Won
March 2009
A S I A N O U T L O O K
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LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE: AN ALUMNUS’ EXPERIENCE
One year, seven months, and 22 days ago...
M
y eyes open to a sea of white. Cracked. Chipped. Blink once. Still white. Blink twice. Still cracked and chipped. It costs four hundred seventy five dollars a month for an 8’x10’ room in a Williamsburg apartment. And I don’t even have doors. I’ve learned to appreciate heavy curtains. My alarm hasn’t even gone off, and I can already hear my roommate preparing her lunch for the day through my doorless room. Pork cutlet and rice is not a bad smell to wake up to. What time is it? I roll over on my wobbly Ikea loft bed to find my alarm clock. It is
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“I’d love to smash the head of my two-faced incompetent Japanese boss [...]” buried underneath my pillow and Snoopy plush. 6:48. Good. It’s early. Maybe I can turn off my alarm. Maybe I’ll be early to work. Maybe I can have a real breakfast and skip the grande-frappucino-withnon-fat-soy-milk-but-straight-to-thehips-Krispy-Kreme-chocolate-glazeddevil’s-food-donut routine today. Or I could sleep some more. Or I could call in sick. Or I could quit my job. You can’t! There’s rent to pay, groceries to buy! It’s the price of freedom! Right. Freedom, in the form of a
by Kat Lam
doorless prison cell, paid for by my miserable salary earned by drafting and redrafting four-page ads for the newest text on the complexities of New Zealand maritime law. I’d love to smash the head of my two-faced incompetent Japanese boss because it wouldn’t hurt her anyway since she has nothing but cotton balls in that gigantic fat head of hers.
“Maybe I can have a real breakfast and skip the grande-frappucino-with-nonfat-soy-milk-but-straightto-the-hips-Krispy-Kremechocolate-glazed-devil’sfood-donut routine today.”
This was the reason I graduated early? I left the confines of BU Brain, my friends, my portfolio of unfinished AO articles, my last Barrio, Bar Crawl... I wished someone had warned me that I would be leaving all of this to suck up to my boss for a measly paycheck that can barely pay my rent. Crap, I wish some nice alumni would have warned naïve little me about the dangers of working! I should have worked on an AO alumni outreach program. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe life would be better. Maybe I’d be smarter. Maybe I’d succeed in life!
“You’re asking too many inane questions. You’re stupid. You’re a big stupid fat head. I would like to punch you.”
Right, but highly unlikely. Fortunately, there’s always happy hour. Lesson learned: I really like doors and alcohol
Ten months, 12 days ago... My eyes open to a sea of white. Cracked. Chipped. Blink once. Still white. Blink twice. Still cracked and chipped. It is still four hundred seventy five dollars a month for an 8’x10’ room in a Williamsburg apartment. There are still no doors. My alarm already rang four times. I roll over on my wobbly Ikea loft bed to find my alarm clock. It is still buried underneath my pillow and Snoopy plush. 11:20. I will be severely 40 minutes late to work. But, I can’t skip the obligatory stop at the orange Mud coffee truck outside Astor Place before stepping into the restaurant office. Addiction? Definitely. Dealing with New York City diners is an excruciating pain. Why can’t they just do
what they’re asked? Christ. And these are people of the higher working echelon --MBAs, PhDs, CEOs!
“I feel the sudden need to warn all last term seniors that the world is a horrible reality, No, I cannot guarantee you a table if and that they should fail all you do not confirm. Yes, it’s necessary their classes on purpose just to confirm. Why? Because if you don’t, to stay in school. I swear I will cancel your reservation? Why? It’s another semester of loans is restaurant policy. completely worth it.” At this point, I really miss intelligent people in the world. I feel the sudden need to warn all last term seniors that the world is a horrible reality, and that they should fail all their classes on purpose just to stay in school. I swear another semester of loans is completely worth it. And I suppose this is why I never started the AO alumni outreach program. I would completely scare any and all students into psychiatric therapy. There’s another phone call. No, I do not know what the soup of the day is. No, I do not know if the pasta is made from semolina or durum. No, I do not know if Gina will be working tonight. No, I do not know what vintage wine you drank three weeks ago at your bachelor party. No, I did not find your black umbrella among all the other black umbrellas every other New Yorker and their mom brought into the restaurant last night when it rained.
I roll onto the icy floor, looking for my cell phone. There’s a new text message from Alix. “I miss you, when will we see each other again?” Right. Unimportant. What time is it? 10 am already. Wonderful. Enough time for coffee, but did I do my lesson plans? Yes, they are on my desk in the green folder, photocopied and ready to go! It will be an excellent day today. My French high school kids will think I’m awesome. They’ll learn about De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and the underground hip hop movement. Excellent.
You’re asking too many inane questions. You’re stupid. You’re a big stupid fat head. I would like to punch you.
Life is good. If only people could know that life can be good. Sometimes, it just takes a little change in location or a move across the Atlantic Ocean. And perhaps, a shift in who you work with... for example, lazy high school students as opposed to incompetent adults. The world can be a great place...
But I don’t. I am the most patient person in the world.
Hey Will, would now be a good time to start that AO alumni outreach program?
Yesterday... My body jerks up in alarm before my eyes have a chance to adjust to the light. My roommate is banging around in our ghetto kitchen, looking for a frying pan and eggs. Even though I have doors this time, our walls are paper thin. And damn it, it doesn’t smell anything like pork cutlet.
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s n o i s s e f n Co
of an
AO Editor
by Melissa Chan, Class of 2006 4 AM. Last minute layout editing on Quark. Coffee percolating in a pot. And I don’t even like coffee. I used to dread nights before print day, but now I look back upon them with the utmost fondness and nostalgia. I was AO editor from 2005-2006. I kind of fell into the position, actually. The previous Spring, I decided that I wanted to make my mark on campus. I wanted my college memories to consist of more than just studying (haha) and partying. Having written just one article for AO that semester, I was eligible to run for a staff position. I ran for assistant editor. I almost didn’t even show up for the election. But for the urging of the previous AO editor, I would have spent that evening napping in my dorm room. The following Fall, AO was a ghost of a group because the previous year’s AO staff was made up almost entirely of graduating seniors. Many staff positions had yet to be filled and we lacked writers. I eventually ran for editor unopposed. Together, the few staff members we had and I began recruiting members. We aimed for freshmen and sophomores to ensure that AO survived beyond our year. I even returned to Binghamton a week early to table at the incoming freshmen student activity fair. Yes, I was that scheevy girl pushing freshmen to join our
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mailing list. Though I realized I was pressuring poor newbies into signing up, I was utterly frustrated with their false promises of participation. Ultimately, it became a numbers game; if I could get ten people to sign up and one came to a meeting, that was a huge success. I often reminisce about my sad attempts to lure the freshman with various gimmicks. The first was origami. I cut squares out of gift wrap and advertised origami instructions at our table. The freshmen were not impressed. Our next selling point, bubble tea, was much more successful. Who doesn’t love a refreshing cup of bubble tea? It was plain chilled Lipton with sweetened tapioca balls. Sure it wasn’t K & K’s Old Tea House on Bun Hill Road, but it was cheap and on campus. In retrospect, the most effective way to recruit members was simply word of mouth. People who came to our meetings and liked what they saw brought their friends, who in turn brought their friends. As a result, we quickly became a very cohesive group. Another method AO used (and still uses) to build stronger bonds among its members and to gain visibility on campus was the performance. During my year, our reenactment of
OkGo’s “A Million Ways” music video at Asian Night turned a few heads. While some members of the ASU staff furrowed
“I saw AO as a potential mouthpiece for the entire Binghamton community.” their brows because our performance wasn’t “Asian enough,” it at least got people talking about us. We also performed a, might I say, highly entertaining “Karate Master” skit at Japan Night. I was really happy to see that following AO generations continued this tradition of performance with a rendition of “The Algorithm March,” and the original videos “Peking Duck” and “The Five Lives of Chris Lu.” I saw AO as a potential mouthpiece for the entire Binghamton community. Though AO is an Asian interest magazine, I was afraid it would become too exclusive if I weeded too many submissions out. As a result, we printed some controversial and/or irrelevant articles, to say the least. At the time, I was looking to increase participation; I was not as concerned with the topics of the articles. I did, however, use AO to further the Asian American agenda. Namely, we brought the ASU groups together to ask the administration at Binghamton for a holiday on Lunar New Year. I felt awkward and somewhat uncomfortable in my activism because I do not celebrate the holiday. However, many students agreed that this was a particularly important cause. I was perhaps overly optimistic in our quest. We were backed by the SA and the VPMA (who doesn’t want a day off, right?), but getting the Asian and Asian American Studies Department’s support was not as easy. We used the campus’ large Asian American demographic (roughly 20%, I believe) to support our claim that Lunar New Year should be a school holiday. The Department correctly counter-argued that the entire Asian American demographic at Binghamton does not celebrate Lunar New Year; it’s difficult to ascertain exactly how much of the student body is affected by having class on
Lunar New Year. I was very proud to see the quest for the Lunar New Year holiday successfully continue the following year. While it is not yet a school holiday, through the efforts of the succeeding AO editor and his staff, Lunar New Year is now at least recognized on the campus calendar. I had hoped to see the Lunar New Year quest continue beyond that, but so far it seems to have come to a halt. I have been pleased to see that the articles printed in subsequent years have taken a much more journalistic focus. Following AO editors have raised the standards when it comes to content and writing ability. Not to mention, when succeeding editors proudly mailed their issues to me, I was so excited to see better quality paper and color on the pages! Our progress seems to have warranted a larger budget from the ASU and SA each year. I’ve also noticed on Facebook (yes, I see you there!) that the same camaraderie that staff members and contributors had during my time with AO still exists today. I am absolutely thrilled that AO has thrived for 20 years. Congratulations! With that, I encourage current and future members of AO to pick up the Lunar New Year quest, or any other quest, if they so desire. The challenge of figuring out how many students really celebrate Lunar New Year (and not just the number of students who’d like the day off) is but a small obstacle in reaching the ultimate goal. If Lunar New Year is important to you, then please do not let our efforts go to waste. The difficulty with trying to shape a college campus to the needs of its students is that the students leave. If you don’t like something about your campus, then do something about it. Don’t let apathy get in the way of what’s really important to you. Sources: Asian Night 2005 AO performance, available at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=JAGwJViIKiA. What is “Asian,” anyway? The Asian Diaspora in America consists of Asians and Asian Americans alike. Our performances don’t always have to be costumed, chingchong novelty acts! But I digress. Japan Night 2006 AO performance, available at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=R35x5WumHdw Asian Night 2006 AO performance. Asian Night 2007 AO performance, available at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BILDUNeP5mo. Asian Night 2009 AO performance.
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Celebrating Asian Outlook’s 20th Anniversary by Peter Lam I was sitting in a tiny therapy room at a particular graduate school, doing an interview for a spot in their clinical psychology program. My interviewer, a graduate student originally from the UK, had run through the standard questions you’d expect from one of these sessions, and I had supplied my rehearsed answers. The interview wasn’t exactly going well. It was clear from the rapidly deteriorating tone that neither of us was particularly interested in the other. I knew pretty early on that this program wasn’t for me, and I’m sure she was just as aware of how much of a mismatch this was. We were getting to the end of the tortuous courtesies that made up the session, when she asked me if I had anything I wanted to talk about. I had already dismissed the likelihood of being accepted, so I figured I would bring up whatever I felt like talking about and enjoy that. This program I was interviewing for emphasized studying psychopathology and treatment in the fame of social justice, which was pretty much where I was going in my studies (but with a significantly different theoretical orientation), and figuring it would be a relevant topic) I casually asked if the interviewer was familiar with the cartoon show, “Avatar.” She wasn’t, and I went on explaining the cultural context of the show and the terrible casting decisions of the impending live-action movie adaptation. “Avatar” is a hugely popular cartoon that is deeply influenced by Asian and Inuit culture, and addresses them respectfully. It’s never explicitly stated that the main character is of Asian decent, but most viewers would agree that it’s a valid conclusion. Naturally, once Hollywood decided to make a movie of the series, they hired white actors to play the principle roles. An Asian actor was cast as one of the major villains, with casting calls going out for Asians to play extras, encouraging those auditioning to wear “authentic” ethnic garb. It was another case of Hollywood “whitewashing,” if you prefer the pejorative term. I tried to express my frustrations about this trend in mainstream media, and by extension, the role of Asians in mainstream American culture, but I realized pretty quickly that she was only marginally interested. It was the lack of confirmatory responses (“Oh,” “Yes,” “I see,” “Uh huh.”) and that blank stare that cut my exposition short. Needless to say, the interview ended soon after that. There’s another school to cross off the list. The current Editor-in-Chief (EIC), Will To, asked me to write something for this issue of the magazine since it’s about the time for its 20th anniversary. It’s naturally a time of remembrance, and having been an EIC myself (2005-2006), it was apropos that I at least reflect a bit about my own time as a part of the tradition of social activism. I’m sure other alumni and current staff will cover the colorful history of the weeklynewspaper-now-quarterly-magazine better than I could from my fuzzy memory, so I’ll stick to my esoteric perspective. AO was a huge part of my final year at Binghamton. It was one of the few roles I took very personally – partly because it was a serious responsibility, and partly because -- well, it was a bit of a power rush being the leader of any organization for the first time. I was fantastically lucky, inheriting a strong core of veteran staff and drawing some wonderful new talent, who I’ve
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been told make up the current veteran staff. It made the work, which was extensive, that much easier. I was also fortunate enough to be part of the board of directors of the ASU that was composed of other members entirely new to their respective leadership roles, and we got along swimmingly. The work was hellish, to be blunt, but it was also incredibly satisfying: meeting all those supportive people and bonding outside of the office, too. There were few conflicts that I could remember or even care to complain about (and if there were, it was most likely something I instigated). It was a big enough part of my life that I still relate it in my personal statements to graduate schools and include it in my CV. But what did it all mean after leaving the microcosm of college? Historically, college campuses have been major breeding grounds of social activism and civil disobedience, but for
reason, the training sure doesn’t feel like it lasts long. I admit that I was part of the staunchly apathetic crowd before my time as EIC, and I also have to admit that I was not the most “socially aware” EIC either. My own moral outrage didn’t kick in until after I left Binghamton. College students tend to take for granted that there will always be other people around to whip up the fervor and organize the collective uproar of the community. It’s not until you leave college altogether that you realize that most people aren’t so easily “agitated,” or whatever demeaning term that the media prefers. The nascent social awareness that I’ve managed to cultivate was forced to grow simply because most people don’t care. I have to care, because most other people won’t. I can’t fault people entirely for losing their drive. Depending on their situation, they may fall into the trap of an everyday routine. It’s soul-crushing to follow a pattern of long commutes, repetitive work, and early bedtimes. Normal issues like paying bills, eating regularly, and not getting fired suddenly overwhelm the other concerns on your personal list of priorities. I’m almost tempted to say that things related to AO are luxuries outside of college. But it makes no sense to dismiss ubiquitous issues for something entirely isolated and selfish. How can someone say that the misery of one group doesn’t affect them in any way when we’re forced to function together as a society? Of course, in this current era, we have “bigger” issues to worry about – like the economy. But saying that social inequality doesn’t affect you is just as ridiculous as stating that the economy only affects those in the middle-class. Like it or not, we’re all linked together in one way or another. Of course, those of us who consider ourselves to be “socially aware” have to be careful not to become narrow-minded. Just as the daily grind can force blinders onto our perspective of the world around us, focusing exclusively on one particular issue runs the risk of ignorance. I was occasionally embarrassed by my lack of awareness of many of the issues pertaining to race relations in the US and abroad. Instead, I was nearly exclusively focused on issues dealing with Asians and Asian-
Americans. It’s tricky to balance your own personal concerns with other concerns before becoming overwhelmed. My interviewer, whose clinical interest was on urban youth, could not relate very much to my frustrations in the case of the “Avatar” movie and certainly didn’t seem to care – this, coming from a student in a program with heavy emphasis on social justice and community activism. In practical terms, being unable to relate to concerns -- aside from your own -- can only detract from your ability to influence others. If the issue is simply too narrow, it is labeled as “radical” and dismissed by the majority. However, we need to enlighten that majority. We begin to influence others and present our own concerns only when they realize how fundamentally similar we all are. Acting on social injustice is different from preaching its rectification. I have to admit: I have failed on the former since my time with AO. That only makes the existence of the magazine -- and organizations like the Asian Student Union and its subgroups -- that much more important. They offer the opportunity to act upon our concerns as a whole, be they cultural celebration, personal expression, or issue elucidation. Finding such groups of people who share our concerns will become incredibly difficult once the convenience of a college campus is gone. Still, I’m not using the “lack of convenience’ excuse. I’m simply explaining that I haven’t made enough time and effort to be a part of these groups since my Binghamton days, and have let petty concerns get in the way. I’m sure that many of us who have graduated feel the same way. The decision to be aware of these issues, to connect them, and then to act upon that knowledge ultimately falls upon the individual. Appreciate all the opportunities available to you, realize that people can and do care if they understand, and don’t let your own personal drudgeries get in the way of your passion.
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Congrats
C to O Asian Outlook! N G R A T U L A T I O N S by Elaine Lin (2003-2004 Editor)
Congrats to Asian Outlook, the original founders, past contributors and the current year staff, who made this 20th anniversary issue possible. I only hope that future generations will keep the spirit of the magazine alive, and continue to move its readers towards being proactive citizens of society. It has been four years since I tossed my cap into the air with the Class of 2005. Even after I’ve graduated, I’ve still felt a sentimental connection to the magazine. I requested a subscription which new editors had graciously honored by mailing each issue to me. I joined the AO fan club on facebook, and watched the youtube videos of past AO performances during cultural shows. It was exciting to see more and more color pages added, and to see how the magazine evolved under each new editor. There is an undeniable bond between the editor and the magazine. Asian Outlook thrives because it’s young, it’s idealistic, it resonates with its audience, and it remains this way because the make up of staff members shifts with each graduating class. Although I continued to receive each new issue, I could hardly keep up with the different matters important to college students. I’m now a twenty something young urban professional in New York City, out of the loop from Bing life. I get up at 6, get into work at 8:15 and work about 10- 11 hours a day. I only wish I could go back to the days of being Asian Outlook editor, and being able to write inspiring words about something I whole-heartedly believe in. These days, my
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most pressing matters are work deadlines, getting on the train before rush hour traffic, surviving office politics, paying the bills, paying off loans, wondering when I will reach the sense of achievement that I feel programmed to chase. Living in New York City, I never notice my “Asian-ness.” I’m more concerned about having the right skills for the job as opposed to being judged for being Asian. I’ve hardly noticed the model minority concept. It’s strange how the views that I once had in college rarely apply to my current stage in life. I still find it hard to believe that four years have passed. At such a milestone, I reflected on my experiences, and found that the majority of it was spent at work (I work at a Big Four public accounting
“Asian Outlook thrives because it’s young, it’s idealistic, it resonates with its audience...” firm). I didn’t have much by way of savings, didn’t have enough experience to change jobs, and overall, I didn’t have quite as many significant life changing experiences to boast of. Although my ideas have changed, I still believe in the purpose of Asian Outlook: to encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone, break stereotypes, and to take note of their surroundings and make it better. Asian Outlook serves as a vehicle of change, but I strongly feel that the organization should go out and be the change that it advocates. Theodore Roosevelt once said “Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.” This philosophy and approach to life can easily get lost in the daily rat race. Sometimes I need to remind myself to step back, and do something that really leaves an imprint-rather than just talk about it.
Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kGbtWO9FFUI/SYedobSLXSI/
A S I A N
O U T L O O K
Study Abroad: What to’s and How to’s by Jennifer Fang
This is my last semester of college and I am currently studying abroad in Shanghai, China. Most people choose to study abroad in their second or third year but because I transferred to Binghamton University and chose my major late, I had no choice but to settle on my last year in college. I am an Americanborn Chinese and studying Chinese was always emphasized in my family. Studying abroad in China was first brought up by my mother, who believed it would be a great opportunity to further my study in the Chinese language, as well as get in touch with my heritage. The more I read about study abroad, the more I realized that this could be an once-in-a-lifetime experience. The study abroad application process is not one which you can start last minute. It requires quite an amount of preparation: essays, recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. My original plan was to study abroad in the Fall semester of senior year but the program of my choice cancelled last minute. It would definitely be wise to read up on programs that you may be interested in and apply to several instead of just one. This
way, you can have a backup, just in case the unexpected happens. I also recommend those who are interested to attend a study abroad orientation. You will definitely need to visit the study abroad office a few times and your advisor to consult on class credit transfer. Many people think that studying abroad is very expensive but that's not always the case. Financial aid can be applied to your study abroad program and there are many different types of scholarships that you can apply to. However, I recommend students to try to apply to programs that are affiliated with SUNY schools, since it would be easier to have your financial aid applied. Binghamton students can apply for the Dr. Israel J. Rosefsky scholarship, which is a language and culture scholarship for students who study abroad. Students who are receiving Federal Pell grant can also apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. I was fortunate enough to be a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, and it definitely helped with my financial costs and was one of the factors in
my decision to study abroad. There are numerous other scholarships that you can apply to, depending on your financial needs, the country you want to study abroad in, your ethnicity, and more. Finally, I would like to emphasize deadlines. Deadlines for applying to study abroad programs vary but they will usually fall around the same time frame. It also depends on whether you apply for the Spring semester or Fall semester. Some programs accept applications on a rolling basis while others do not. Definitely be familiar with the deadlines and start on your applications well ahead of time. This goes for scholarships as well. Each scholarship has their own deadline and some may include interviews as well. Applying for scholarship also usually requires transcripts, recommendation letters, and essays. I would like to encourage everyone to consider studying abroad. It is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There are so many programs and different countries to choose from. I chose Shanghai, China not only because the city is becoming more and more prominent in the world, but also because I felt
it will definitely help me when I am applying for jobs. Chinese is a language that is becoming more and more popular and there is no better way to learn a language than by visiting the country. Sources: http://www.ccisabroad.org/china/shanghai.jpg http://www.switzerland-trips.com/imagesBlank/MainImages/Switzerland-Mountain-Lake.jpg
March 2009
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KT Tatara’s World of StandUp Comedy by Jarucha Jiradacharoen
M
any students missed a good opportunity to unwind when KT Tatara came to perform on February 20th at Late Nite. Tatara is an up and coming stand-up comedian who starred in Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” Unfortunately, the show began at 1 in the morning which may have explained the lackluster number of attendees (fifteen to be exact). Of course, it could have also been the bitter wind and cold which deterred students, but nonetheless, KT joked about everything from sex and relationships to being biracial. Before he started, he first explained how in a real show, the lights would be dimmed, which would create an atmosphere where people would feel free to laugh without being self-conscious. Although there was a considerable amount of tension when KT cracked a line and no one responded, the audience became more receptive as the show progressed. Personally, I have never cared much for comedians, so KT’s performance was the first stand up show that I had been to. I ended up leaving an hour later with my face aching from smiling and laughing so much; it was liberating, to say the least. Prior to the show, I did some research and watched two clips of KT online. I was curious to see an Asian comedian since there are very few in mainstream America. According to the biography from his website, he has been on radio shows on XM and Sirius Satellite radio. He also was featured on AZN Network’s “Asia Street Comedy” and ImaginAsian TV’s “Comedy Zen.” Surprisingly, his talents
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also extend to acting. He was in FX’s Dirt which starred Courteney Cox of Friends’ fame and ABC Family’s Greek. In addition, he was featured in the Just for Laugh Festival in Montreal, Canada where he was hailed as one of the “New Faces of Comedy.” Although he resides
“I ended up leaving an hour later with my face aching from smiling and laughing so much; it was liberating, to say the least.” in Los Angeles, he does shows throughout the country and at colleges. KT is definitely in tune with the perspectives of those in their twenties, and his set reflects this. In one instance, he interacted with the audience and asked
us why we were sitting there on a Friday night. He even joked about a group of Asian girls who were sitting in the corner of the food court, clueless to the show that was going on. Although KT tried to talk to them, they were oblivious to their surroundings, and by the time they finally realized the situation, it was too late, since the audience already had some laughs at their expense. KT was not afraid to delve into potentially offensive topics. According to him, Asians have the worst reputation on the planet, being nerds in math and science, poor driving, and, in the case of males, poorly endowed. He further joked that “Comics are making fun of Asian people. It’s not right. They know I’m going on the show. What’s up with that? We’re the only minority that gets made fun of while we’re still in the room.” He said that it is totally different with Black jokes. He’s probably right, which shows that Asians may be more passive towards racist comments. Furthermore, KT is not afraid to poke fun of his appearance or talk about sexuality. When it comes to his looks, girls are always complementing him for being pretty. In one case, after being complimented, he asked the girl whether she wanted to do it; her response was “I want to do your makeup. You’re pretty.” On the other hand, he admitted that, “It’s better than being ugly.” Previously, people have thought he was so young that he couldn’t sit in the emergency exit row in the airplane. The worst, however, is when he has been mistakenly for a girl. If you see his picture, you’ll understand how the mix-up can occur. He said most non-Asian girls
“According to him, Asians have the worst reputation on the planet, being nerds in math and science, poor driving, and, in the case of males, poorly endowed.” a fetish or want to rebel against their parents. He acknowledged that women are surprised when they see him naked, as--since he’s not that tall and he’s half Asian--they set low standards for him. In another section of his routine, he talked about waiting three days to call a girl-only to find out she had given him a fake phone number. Apparently, girls can’t come up with a totally new number right away so the last digit is usually the one that has been changed. He also has some tips for guys when it comes to picking up girls and even better--the art of pulling a girl’s hair. If you want to know how to do it, just look up KT’s video on YouTube. KT also pointed out an interesting tidbit about the tendency of Asians to suppress their laughter which is evident with girls covering their mouth: it does not make much sense to do this, since no one should be ashamed to laugh. Besides, stand-up is suppose to poke fun at things that people are afraid to talk about out loud.
On the issue of being biracial, Tatara explained how he is never “Asian” or “White” enough, and that people usually want him to pick a side. He states that mixed people are, despite America’s reputation as a melting pot, not fully accepted . At times, people have asked him “Can you speak Japanese? Have you been to Japan?” and criticized him for not being in tune with his culture. Therefore, Tatara retaliated by asking “Can you speak Czech, Slovak, German...[the language of] wherever it is that your grandparents are from?” Mixed people can probably agree with KT on the difficulties of not having a specific racial group or culture to base their identities on. It’s a bit disappointing that, in the 21st century, mixed-race people are still subjected to this kind of scrutiny. Perhaps it’s just a tendency for outsiders to view them as part of a minority group, rather than to associate them with being Caucasian. Although KT may seem brash and presumptuous with his comedic material, he approached politics and gay rights with the same amount of fearlessness and humor. It is impressive that KT has already established himself as a stand-up comedian at the relatively young age of twenty-eight. When a group of Asians told KT that they came to see him because he’s Asian as well, he thanked
them warmly. I agreed, and thought that Asians needed all the support they can get in the entertainment business. Plus, KT definitely deserves praise for dispelling the misconception that Asian guys don’t get a lot of girls when he quipped that he was “the Poon Sensei.” How can you resist cracking up over that--especially when it goes against KT’s pretty image? Article sources: http://www.kttatara.com/ http://comedians.comedycentral.com/kt-tatara http://www.youtube.com/user/KTTatara Picture sources: http://www.kttatara.com/ http://www.myspace.com/kttatara http://www.ulv.edu/ctimes/041307/041307_images/ kt_tatara.jpg http://www.dsicomedytheater.com/pix/shows/ STANDUP_NIGHT.jpg
March 2009
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Asian Designers at NY Fashion Week By Jing Gao
F
ebruary and March are two of the busiest and most exciting months in the world of fashion. Famous designers present their fall/winter collections to the world, waiting for their work to be critiqued. Although fashion weeks take place in major cities across the world, only those in New York, Milan, and Paris garner the most attention. Part of the reason for highly publicized fashion weeks in these cities lies in the celebrity of the designers/labels that present there. Milan, for instance, is home to iconic labels such as Gucci, Prada, and Versace. Meanwhile, legendary fashion houses such as Chanel and Dior present their collections during the Paris Fashion Week. Of course, New York also has its own elite group of designers such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. However, we must not forget the one thing which New York is known for: multicultural diversity. New York has not only witnessed the influx of people from various ethnicities into the city itself, but also into its culture. While most Asian immigrants lacked the opportunity to attend school and ended up working in restaurants, a few manage to prosper as fashion designers in New York, who present their collections during fashion weeks. The success of designers can be measured in many ways, particularly whether or not if they present their collections during fashion weeks in major cities. So who are these successful Asian designers presenting in the New York Fashion Week? Below are short profiles of some of them:
commands when it comes to bridal wear. Born on June 27, 1949, in New York City, Wang grew up in a rich household of Chinese descent. After failing to become the editor-in-chief of US Vogue, a fashion and lifestyle magazine, the position Anna Wintour has held since 1988, Wang turned to designing bridal gowns, the success of which gave her worldwide fame. A few years later, she launched her ready-to-wear collections. Instead of presenting in Bryant Park this year, Wang erects a presentation in her boutique in New York to showcase her fall/winter collection. Also deviating from her previous collections is her minimal use of embellishments. Coupling that with a mostly muted color palette typical of most fall/ winter collections, Wang’s collection appears more severe and austere than usual. But severity does not mean deficiency, for her collection still exudes refined elegance.
Doo-Ri Chung
Vera Wang
“You don’t alter Vera to fit you; you alter yourself to fit Vera.” This funny line is used more than once in the movie “Bride Wars”. While I do not subscribe wholeheartedly to this idea, it nonetheless conveys the esteem and respect Wang
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Born in 1973, Chung is a Korean-American fashion designer. She attended Parsons School of Design and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1995. In the early 2000’s, Chung presented her first collection, featuring the jersey dresses for which she is now known. Since then, Chung won many prestigious awards, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. In her collection for this season, she presents her beautifully executed long dresses and her signature jersey dresses again. In accordance with other fall/winter collections, her color palette is also quite muted, with black and white taking the center stage. A little bit of purple fills the supporting role and adds a vibrant dimension into the collection.
Thakoon Panichgul
tailoring is superb, and the pieces are mostly sleek and bodyconscious. The asymmetrical one-shoulder mini dresses and those with revealing cuts exude tasteful sexiness. When the models strut down the runway, they ooze nothing but the right kind of sex appeal; the kind that is sensuous but not vulgar, evokes sophistication but not contrived The success of these designers brings honor to not only the designers themselves but also to the Asian and AsianAmerican communities at large. I am proud of their success and of the fact that they have Asian heritage. Even though the world of fashion is highly volatile and unpredictable, these designers have demonstrated their talents and staying power. As in the words of Project Runway host Heidi Klum, these designers are still “in”. And they certainly will not hear “auf wiedersehen” anytime soon.
Panichgul is a Thai-American fashion designer who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. Born in 1974 in Thailand, Panichgul moved to the United States when he was 11 years old. Like so many other up-and-coming young designers of his generation, Panichgul also attended Parsons School of Design from 2001 to 2003. Then, in September 2004, he presented his first spring/summer ready-to-wear collection in New York. For his fall/winter 2009 collection, he will present many tailored, and as well as, draped pieces. Unlike many other designers’, his color palette is much more vibrant. While black and white are still present, other colors, such as red, yellow, blue, orange, and green are deftly incorporated into the collection. These dynamic colors render his collection slightly less somber than other collections.
Alexander Wang
Alexander Wang is a Chinese-American fashion designer from California. When Wang turned 18, he moved to New York City and enrolled in Parsons School of Design. While in school, he interned at many places, including Teen Vogue. In 2007, he presented his first women’s wear collection in New York, garnering much appreciation and support. He received the coveted Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund Award in 2008, thus confirming his success in the fashion world. Wang’s fall/winter 2009 collection is nothing short of perfection (to me at least). The color palette is predominantly black with a sprinkle of white and gray. Pieces in the collection are executed with masterful skills: the cuts are precise, the
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Wang http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2009RTWVWANG/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doo-Ri_Chung http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/ F2009RTW-DOORI/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thakoon_Panichgul http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/ F2009RTW-THAKOON/ http://www.alexanderwang.com/ http://www.style.com/fashionshows/complete/slideshow/ F2009RTW-AWANG/
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Wilson Chen Even though the industry was full of notable Asian American artists and writers behind the scenes, the strongest reason that they voiced for being a part of the book was the visible lack of Asian American superheroes in comics. Furthermore, the disconnection between Asian American fans and the superheroes that occupied the pages of their comics only compelled them more.
A
s the movie business revs up in 2009, a group of Asian American comic artists, writers and public figures are hoping that the budding interest in comic book movie adaptations will bring attention to a new comic anthology about the Asian American experience.
“...the staff was concerned with avoiding long-standing stereotypes, like the dragon lady or the effeminate nerd...” The impressive idea of an anthology focused on Asian Americans came across my path at the NY Comic Con, one of New York’s biggest fan conventions for comics and everything comic-related. I sat in on a discussion panel that was part-promotion/part-seminar on Asian Americans and comics, where the staff of Secret Identities: The Asian American Superhero Anthology (as the comic is titled) offered their thoughts on the book and the motivation behind the project. The staff panel included the book’s editor-in-chief Jeff Yang, its editor-at-large Keith Chow and two of the more prominent artists from the book, Greg Pak and Jef Castro.
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It was precisely those sentiments that sparked Jeff Yang and Keith Chow’s initial inspiration for the comic. Without professional comic experience, their considerable zeal and excitement with help from comic veteran Jerry Ma, they couldn’t have taken the book from a pipe dream and turned it into reality. They eventually brought together many artists, writers and other contributors over the course of two years, including some very notable Asian American artists in Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine) and Bernard Chang (X-Men) and also actors Sung Kang (Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, The Motel) and Kelly Hu (X-Men 2). Managing editor Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow) is another noteworthy Asian American actor because he actually started in the Marvel Comics editorial section before moving onto the silver screen. For the 66 contributors who made the final cut for the book, “Secret Identities is a passion project for everyone involved,” Editor Keith Chow notes in an interview with comic interest magazine “The Pulse”. In total, those 66 contributors produced 52 original super heroes for 26 stories. The panel at NY Comic Con made it clear that they intended to showcase the diverse spectrum of Asian American experiences via the superhero genre’s drama and artistry. Part of that wide-reaching directive called for tapping into the creativity of those not in the comics business and enriching the plots with authenticity that only a real melting pot of ideas could bring about. The diversity of experience was also accompanied by a range of different art styles and techniques. That was evident in the promotional videos and previews showcased and subsequent Internet follow-ups on their website (http://www.secretidentities.org). More importantly to the staff was ensuring the stories presented Asian American heroes stripped of the stereotypes that have constrained Asian Americans for so long, such as the dragon
lady or the effeminate nerd. However, the heroes weren’t going to be saints either. As one artist put it frankly, the point was not to introduce role models as great as they are because that is simply uninteresting. The most fascinating characters are ones who are flawed individuals that do stumble and are conflicted. They offer the most reasonable comparisons for readers but in the fantastical approach that superhero comics use. Without an actual copy of the book (the release is set for April 15, 2009), I can’t say for sure what to expect in regards to the types of stories being told. Curious readers can do a quick pass of Secret Identities’ preview website (http:// www.secretidentities.org/Site/Previews.html) which gives motion comic videos of three stories that are in the book with voice-overs for the characters. They include an origins story for the creative beginnings behind the book (as remembered by the editors Yang and Chow) along with “9066,” the story of a Japanese superhero who is interned during World War II and “You Are What You Eat,” a Chinese girl’s struggles with an eating disorder and the magical scarf she inherits from her grandmother. If the previews are indeed representative of what readers can expect, the book will be an excellent read for anyone who is interested in comics, of Asian American identity or both. Sources: •
http://www.secretidentities.org/Site/Secret_Identities_Homepage.html
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NY Comic Con
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http://secretidentitiesbook.blogspot.com/
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http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/secret.jpg
•
http://secretidentities.org/preview.pdf
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Panther: The life and times of Richard Masato Aoki... by Devek Singh
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ichard Masato Aoki, one of the first members of the Black Panther Party, passed away in Berkeley, California on March 15th at the age of 70. His legacy as a political and social activist will not be forgotten. It wasn’t until the early 1990s, though, that Richard Aoki’s pivotal role in the Black Panther Party came out. Of the six official Asian-American members of the Party, only Aoki held a formal leadership position. He was a field marshal, a leader of the Third World Liberation Front, and an educator. Aoki, born in San Leandro, California in 1938, was just four years old when he and his family, along with 120,000 other Japanese and JapaneseAmericans, were forced to relocate to an internment camp during World War II. After the war, his family moved to the largely African-American community of Oakland. These experiences during his formative years laid the groundwork for his future beliefs and activism. After serving eight years in the US Army as a medic and member of the infantry, he enrolled in Merritt College, where he became close friends with the leaders of the Black Panther Party, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. Transferring to U.C. Berkeley right around the time of the Party’s formation, Aoki found himself in the middle of both African-American and Asian-American civil rights movements in the late 60s. With the Black Panthers, Aoki helped advocate social programs for AfricanAmerican and minority communities, providing food for underprivileged children, education, better living conditions for the community as a whole, and more respect from the country at large. Some of the Party’s actions
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remain very controversial, particularly with regards to their use of violence, but that’s a whole other debate. As one of the leaders of the Third World Liberation Front, whose protests at Berkeley resulted in 168 arrests, Aoki’s efforts helped result in the development of the school’s ethnic studies department. It remains at the forefront of the American academy, both for its commitment to high standards and continued social and political activism. Aoki continued to work hard in the decades to come, serving as a councilor, administrator, and educator in California, and an enduring proponent for civil rights. Richard Aoki did not marry or have children, but his legacy continues through his cousins and extended family. He will be remembered as a dedicated man of strong principles. Hopefully, his efforts towards providing better conditions and more respect for minorities and Third-World solidarity will inspire and encourage our generation, as well as those to come.
Article sources: http://www.mercurynews.com/ breakingnews/ci_11942438?nclick_check=1 http://www.asianweek.com/2001_04_27/ feature_richardaoki.html http://www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Our_ Stories/Chapter3/Richard_Aok\BlackPanthers-Led8oct06.htm http://www.insidebayarea.com/ oaklandtribune/ci_11953825
A S I A N O U T L O O K
THE
A
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Editor’s Note: Originally published in Spring 2004, issue 2, this article was chosen because, sadly, not very much has changed; the conditions that Caree Zhang speaks of are still prevalent amongst the Asian American student body on campus...
From various IM conversations I’ve gleaned this much about how much our Asian community knows about its representative, Binghamton University’s Asian Student Union, and what we think it does: Me: what do you think the Asian Student Union does? Person A: nothing Person A: it organizes events Person A: and oversees the asian student groups Person B: ASU…asian student union Person B: I feel that I do not have enough information on the club to give a good enough answer Person B: I think that about sums up how I feel and what I know and what I think it represents Me: yes. Complete apathy Person B: almost shamless too Person B: shameless apathy Person C: I don’t think it does anything Person C: haha Me: NOBODY knows. Person C: it gives ppl something to do Person C: ie. Banquetsm shows etc Person C: other than that, not much Me: so its for socializing? Person C: and u grow tired of the same stuff every year Person C: so then u stop caring Person C: not even Person C: I wouldn’t say I met ppl through asu or anything Person C: its more like social events Person C: not really socializing To be honest, I had no idea what ASU’s role on campus was either. Aemi Yoo, President of ASU, was eager to answer all of my questions, and informed me of what ASU does for our campus: ASU is an “umbrella organization”, an organization that both overseas and represents six Asian sub-cultural groups: BUJA, CASU, KASA, PAL, TASC and VSA. It is devoted to promoting Asian cultural awareness and represents all of these groups, allowing them to work as long as they don’t violate any Student Association guidelines or rules outlined in their individual constitutions. ASU also advocated for more Asian studies courses available to the
student body. Asian art and cultural history were both glossed over very briefly in the past, but are covered in more depth by specific classes right now. ASU also sponsored a speaker series during Asian Empowerment Week in 2001, which brought speakers like Helen Zia and Frank Wu to our campus It is unfortunate to note here that these speakers came to visit our campus only after a hate crime was committed again an Asian student in CIW several years ago. Not much else has been accomplished by ASU afterwards – last year, no speakers made the trip to our campus during Asian Empowerment Week. ASU also holds social events in collaboration with its subgroups, both as fundraisers and outlets for students that want to participate in something to take their minds off classes. The one large event that ASU organizes is PanAsian Night, which did not start until two years ago. It features performance from all of its sub-groups (including this publication). It also flexes its philanthropic muscles this year, with a goal to donate money to three charities this year: Project Rescue, National Disaster, and the local area Holiday Drive to provide toys for needy children and their families. To quote the ASU website: “ASU accommodates multiple conceptions of community and acknowledges that its strength comes from the cooperation and mutual support of students, faculty and staff committed to supporting Asian/Asian American initiatives” Then, why is it that ASU performs all of these functions yet students are still reluctant to get involved in the Asian community and with ASU? While there are the limited few that actively participate, there are some Asians on campus that just see no point in getting involved because they feel that it doesn’t represent them. It is only because of the similar thoughts and misconceptions that I’ve gotten form people online? Its probably not quite so simple. While the ASU’s goals and objectives sound great on paper, its true test came when its principles were applied to reality. The recent controversy with CASU’s reelections may have been a significant factor in influencing student’s perceptions of ASU to get involved in the particular situation when it has always had a strong belief of not interfering with their subgroups unless they violated their own constitutions?
March 2009
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Why Robert
Menje is ... Wrong
by Calvin Prashad & Will To From the same writer who brought you an article in last and non-Asians alike. Nowhere in our charter, nor the charsemester’s Binghamton Review claiming that students should ters of any of our subgroups, is there a clause that excludes be able to carry guns on campus (in case of another Virgin- people of non-Asian descent; additionally, there are no rules prohibiting the election of exia Tech) comes his latest work: “Collective Racism: “ I especially took offense at his sugges- ecutive board members whose is not Asian. We are Don’t let race play a factor tion that Asians use “racism” in deter- ancestry not some secret society, an exin whom you do and do not mining their friends, as well as his broad clusive club, or a minority-only socialize with.” Indeed, this assertion that all Asians belong to the cult as the Binghamton Review article is written in a patronizing tone that smacks of Asian Student Union. This claim, in and would have you believe. In its twenty plus years of existence, both hypocrisy and veiled of itself, is pretty racist.” the ASU has collaborated racism; it is a masterpiece on numerous occasions with of sensationalism and irreother student groups, and can claim membership from—and sponsible journalism, and should be included in every journalism class--as an example of what aspiring writers should stay e-board positions filled by—students of all ethnicities. Speaway from. Indeed, not only does Binghamton Review contain cifically, in the case of Asian Outlook, multiple contributors, as well as various assistant no original content of its editors and layout staff, have own, it consists of, essenbeen of non-Asian descent. tially, summaries of arFrankly, this is one achieveticles from The National ment that the minority-free Review, the granddaddy zone known as the Binghamof all conservative rags. ton Review cannot claim. To begin, the entire I especially took offense premise of Menje’s arat his suggestion that Asians ticle—not to mention the use “racism” in determinrationale for the contining their friends, as well as ued antagonism of Binghis broad assertion that all hamton Review against Asians belong to the Asian the cultural groups on Student Union. This claim, campus—is based upon in and of itself, is pretty racthe notion that the culturist. Certainly, it speaks volal groups are responsible umes as to how he perceives for the self-segregation this campus, and perhaps the of the various ethnicities world in general; when he on campus. Segregation? sees a group of Asian stuWhere do you see segredents, he blames the cultural gation? In the case of the groups for preventing them Asian Student Union, we from “making friends” with have always been open non-ethnics like himself. and welcoming to Asians
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I’m compelled to ask, what have students like Robert Menje of the ASU sub-groups. However, that is not a bad thing; after and other members of the Review done to reach out to other all, problems only arise when these “last conservatives on camstudents? The Review promotes, indeed, relishes the fact that pus” embark on a single-minded vendetta to subjugate freethey are despised and I know Menje doesn’t care about making thinking students and force others to accept their will. Also, if “friends”. Therefore, by sitting we applied Menje’s logic to other on their asses, doing nothing to “Menje is going above and beyond groups, then the College Demoreach out to students of noncrats, Republicans and Libertarthe call of hypocrisy.” white ancestry, and then going ians should be merged to form so far as to blame Asians for a “Politics Club” since one holdsupposedly not reaching out to others (namely arrogant ass- ing certain values or views could potentially feel unwelcome holes like themselves), Menje is going above and beyond the in the opposing club. Should Menje and crew ever come to call of hypocrisy. Further, to link scattered instances of Asian our meetings and feel unwelcome, it won’t be because of race. students hanging out with other Asian students on campus is a Instead, it will be because they’ve consistently rallied against sweeping generalization. After all, it’s no secret that these guys our very existence on this campus, and also because they are hate the cultural groups and want them disbanded. I’m sure against pluralism and inclusiveness, namely every single thing Menje thought he had a good point; he just had a hard time that we stand for. Let it be clear that if you continue to harass articulating it without sounding like a douchebag. our subgroups and our members, we are not afraid to defend Let’s discuss Menje’s bashing of ASU’s smallest group, the them. That is why we became a union, and why we remain a Vietnamese Student Association. It would appear from his ar- union to this day. gument that he believes that there is some quasi-racial agenda Lastly, we at AO have been called “rabid multiculturalists” by behind the existence of the group, and that its very existence the Binghamton Review. But what is the dictionary definition exacerbates the problem of “segregation” on campus. People of “multiculturalism”? join student groups to gain something from them. No part A philosophy that recognizes ethnic diversity within a soof VSA’s mission statement mentions any conditions for par- ciety and that encourages others to be enlightened by worthticipation or requirements for joining, particularly any ethnic while contributions to society by those of diverse ethnic backrequirements. In fact, unbeknownst to Menje, the president grounds. of VSA, Kirk Keel, is actually half-white and half-Vietnamese; I wonder if half of Kirk feels excluded and unwelcome at VSA Sources: meetings. Here’s the problem with Menje’s argument: the Binghamton answers.com http://www2.binghamton.edu/student-affairs/student-life.html Review prides itself as the “last refuge for conservatism on h t t p : / / w w w. p p c c . e d u / m e d i a / i m a g e s / p h o t o - l i b r a r y / s m a l l - s q u a r e campus”. Just that part alone makes it more exclusive that any format/275x275mixed-group.jpg
I think they’re complimenting us, but I’m not sure. I’m not really sure why they consider us sharing the rich culture and heritage of our backgrounds and experiences such a bad thing. Another BR writer, Ian Swan asserts that people like us try to “make him feel ashamed of his white heritage”; unfortunately, like the rest of BR, Swan does not care to define what “white heritage” is. Still, Calvin feels that Menje and Swan shouldn’t feel this way. We also agree that if he feels such sentiments, it isn’t our fault, and that’s an issue that he’s going to have to deal with himself. Our advice? Do a little soul-searching, and find out about your illustrious history. Do some research, talk to relatives; maybe host your own “white pride” day on campus. We just want you to get better. On the other hand, Will would like to thank you, Robert Menje, for talking down to every single Asian person on campus, for lumping all Asians together into one, big, faceless mass, and for trying to infect the rest of campus with your poorly disguised, intolerant and bigoted attitudes. I’ll remember to “not let race play a factor in who I do and do not socialize with”; I will also remember to value and search for common sense, tolerance, and intelligence in both myself and potential friends, traits which you—and those who think like you—clearly do not possess. March 2009
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By Calvin Prashad DISCLAIMER: This article contains spoilers. If you still have not seen Slumdog Millionaire, do not read this. s I watched Slumdog Millionaire this past week, I honestly enjoyed it. Despite that, something started to nag at me. Looking at this film as a whole -- a film that so expertly blends kinship and betrayal with love and savagery -- something seemed off. Near the end of the movie, I realized what it was. Aside from Jamal and Latika, there is not a single other Indian character in this movie that is not an incredibly evil person. From the abusive police officers at the beginning of the film, to gangsters, to pimps and even the game show host that feeds Jamal the wrong answer, everyone seems hell bent on making Jamal’s life miserable. At one point, I lost count of the number of times Jamal and his brother were beaten by various adults in the film. By no means was I expecting this to be a Disney-esque rags to riches tale, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but be appalled by the raw amount of evil this movie would lead us to believe resides in the Mumbai slums -- and by extension -- in Indian people in general. My ancestors left India at least four generations ago, so I won’t pretend to be an expert on the situation over there, but I do feel that the poor conditions in Slumdog may be greatly exaggerated with its Western audience in mind. It is not a stretch to assume that most Westerners have preconceived notions about poverty and destitution in India. This film serves to reinforce these perceptions, as filthy children sleep in piles of garbage, rivers of excrement flow like water, and religious rioters run amok while police refuse to keep order. On a recent interview with The Daily Show, host Jon
A
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Stewart asked actor Dev Patel if the people in the Mumbai slums were “angry” about their situation. Surprisingly, Patel noted that the people were not quite angry, and in fact lived peacefully with one another. This is not the impression that the film gave. In trying to make a movie that was “gritty” and “real”, director Danny Boyle turned the Mumbai slums into a postapocalyptic nightmare, with very little chance of survival for those who live there. Frankly, I felt the modern and rapidly developing side of India was largely ignored, even when
The day when a realistic movie will be made about Indians in India seems very far away. Jamal and Salim move back to Mumbai near the end of the movie. It is essentially like shooting a film about New York and showing nothing but tenement buildings, drug dealers and pollution. While all of these things exist in New York City, such a film would be limited in scope, ignoring the big picture. This is not a new trend, either. As example, I cite the two films House of Flying Daggers and Hero, both films that were popular with Western moviegoers. These films feature exaggerated Chinese flare with actors flying around the screen and engaging in mortal combat through exotic acrobatics, all while bastardizing the art of wuxia. They are also similar in that both stray from the traditional style of Chinese wuxia films by focusing less on plot and more on action. Even if the director, Zhang Yimou, is Chinese, a serious argument cannot be made in favor of these films representing Chinese
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/406580602_dd12ccab5a.jpg?v=0
That Nagging Feeling: Slumdog Millionaire
culture. To Western audiences, these films serve to reinforce preconceived Western notions of China as a mystical and magical place with exotic women and kung-fu warriors leaping through forests of bamboo. Likewise, Slumdog Millionaire reinforces Western notions of Indians being dirty, brutal savages. The day when a realistic movie will be made about Indians in India seems very far away. Until a director, Western, or Indian, steps out of their comfort zone and takes a frank look at life in the slums, movies will continue to either be over-thetop Bollywood fare or films where every character is violent, barbaric, and evil. That said, Slumdog Millionaire was a thoroughly enjoyable film deserving of every Oscar it won. The roles were filled with talented and very capable rising actors that I hope to see in future films. This really was an enjoyable film, but as I said before, I just couldn’t ignore that awkward, uncomfortable feeling when it came to how India was portrayed.
Make the ASU YOURS: An Open Letter to the Asian-American Student Body I can’t even count anymore the number of people that have complained to me about ASU on this campus. said.
“Asian Night really sucked this year,” one person
“I can’t believe I paid to go to this,” another whined. “ASU is full of Greeks! Why should I get involved? I’ll just be ignored!” yet another grumbled. While these whiners and naysayers usually have spent no time working within ASU, it seems to me that their negative perceptions of our group are based on their misunderstanding of the situation. People do not realize that the ASU is an umbrella organization; there are seven sub groups under this umbrella, all of which are always hungry for new members and new ideas. Additionally, I believe that we have forgotten the whole purpose behind the existence of ASU, not to mention the dark days which provided the impetus for the creation of ASU in the first place. Asian Student Union was founded with the intention of providing a body that would collectively advocate for the needs of the Asian and the AsianAmerican student body. Indeed, prior to its establishment in 1988, Asian student groups found themselves fighting amongst each other for funding; not only did groups such as CASU or KASA have to compete with each other, their funding requests were also compared alongside those of other Asian groups. For instance, if KASA needed $1,000 for Korean Night, then CASU would have to explain why they needed $1,500 for China Night. Needless to say, the obvious disadvantage of this system would have reached deeper than just money matters; by pitting the various Asian groups against one another, the SA virtually ensured that pan-Asian unity and cooperation would have been nil. However, the birth of ASU put an end to these problems; now, instead of multiple groups fighting it out amongst themselves for money, ASU is able to go
Calvin Prashad
before the Financial Council and secure funding for all the groups. The new ASU structure allowed these groups to work together for a larger share of funding, and then discuss the division of such funds behind closed doors, rather than in front of other students, or even the administration. If any of our groups needed extra funding or worse, fell into debt, we would be able to cooperate to help them find the necessary funds. Was this spirit of cooperation and brotherhood thrown out twenty years later? Of course not; while it is true that the ASU rarely reaches internal consensus, it is also the case that we aren’t quarrelling all the time either. The fact that the group leaders can still meet every Monday and discuss issues and concerns shows that we are more committed than ever to working to achieve the goals in the ASU constitution. However, keep in mind that we cannot do it alone. We NEED more involvement. In particular, AO is always in need of more writers, artists and graphic designers. Now, if you go to another subgroups meeting, you will most certainly be welcomed with open arms and smiling faces. It saddens me that people hold these negative opinions without trying to remedy the situation—or even help in any way. Besides, it only takes a little time out of your schedule to give your input, and it will be much appreciated by those of us working within ASU. Make this student union yours, because after all, it is yours, as it is here to serve you. In conclusion, we aren’t just a theatre troop that puts on performances once a month. We are a diverse and complex organization that deals with AsianAmerican rights—on and off this campus—as well as any other issues and interests that students may find pertinent. We also explore, promote, and, most importantly, share our cultural heritage and experiences with the entire university community. We only want to give, and the family can always get larger. Personally, I’m surprised that a campus with such a large Asian population can have so few people involved in ASU. Hopefully, that will change soon.
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ASIANESE Is Your Bank Balance Going Down the Hole? Learn How to Survive in Today’s Economy with Asianese! by Victor Chan and Fan Chen Translated by Victor Chan, Fan Chen, Takuro Johnny Hotta, & Lali Ha
Boss, can I OT my break?
K: 사장님, 제 점심시간 초과 해도 되지요? Sajang-nim, jeh jumshim shigan chogwa hehdo dwejiyo? C: 老板, 我的休息时间可不可以加 班啊? Lǎo bǎn, wǒ de xiū xi shí jiān kě bù kě yǐ jiā bān a? J: 社長、休憩をオーバータイムし てもいいですか。 Shacho, kyuukei wo oba- taimu sitemo iidesuka?
I’ll trade my big shiny penny for your little dime.
K: 너의 조그만한 dime 을 내 반짝 거리는 penny 하고 교환하는거 어 때. Nuh-eh jogeumanhan dime-el neh banchakuhrinun penny hago kyohwan haneunguh uh-teh. C: 我愿意把我的又大又亮的一分钱 跟你小小的一毛钱交换. Wǒ yuàn yì bǎ wǒ de yòu dà yòu liàng de yī fēn qián gēn nǐ xiǎo xiǎo de yī máo qián jiāo huàn. J: このキラキラしたペニーとお 前の小さいダイムを交換してやる よ。 kono kira kira sita penny to omae
Korean Hi, I was wondering if I can get a bailout too?
K: 저도 비상 구제 해줄 것 인가요? Juh-do bisang gujeh hejoolgushin gayo? C: 你好, 请问我也可不可以受到紧 急财政援助呢? Nǐ hǎo, qǐng wèn wǒ yě kě bù kě yǐ jiē shòu dào jǐn jí cái zhèng yuán zhù ne? J:こんにちわ、私も緊急援助して もらってもいいですか。 Konichiwa, watashi mo kinkyuu enjyo site moratte mo iidesuka? Should I sell my kidney or my liver? K: 내 신장을 팔을까, 간을 팔을 까?. Neh shinjang-el paleur-kah, gan-el paleur-kah? C:我该卖我的肝还是我的肾? Wǒ gai mài wǒ de gan hái shì wǒ de shèn? J:腎臓と肝臓どっちを売ったらい い？ Jinzou to kanzou docchi wo uttara ii?
Hi, can I get a free Big Mac with free large fries and a free drink?
K: 저기요, Big Mac 주문 할테니 무료로 French fries 랑 음료수 주 세요. Jugiyo, Big Mac Ju-moon halteni mooryoro french fries rang Umryosoo juseyo. C: 你好, 我可不可以要一个免费巨 无霸跟免费大薯条和免费饮料呢? Nǐ hǎo, wǒ kě bù kě yǐ yào yī gè miǎn fèi Jù wú bà gēn miǎn fèi dà shǔ tiáo hé miǎn fèi yǐn liào ne? J: どうも、タダのビッグマックー つ、タダのポテトとドリンク付き で。 Doumo, tada no Big Mac hitotsu, tada no poteto to dorinku tsukide.
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Sudoku Level Hard
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St. Patrick’s Day Word Search SAINT PATRICK IRISH BLARNEY BLESSING EMERALD ELVES LEPRECHAUN GOLD GREEN IRELAND LIMERICK MAGIC PARADE RAINBOW SHAMROCK LUCK WISH DUBLIN BELFAST
Math Puzzle
Math Puzzle
In the picture above is an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle. Given that the radius of the circle is 1 what is the length of a and b?
Matchsticks Puzzle
You will need matchsticks or pencils or whatever you have handy to do this puzzle. Place your matchsticks as below. Move three matchsticks to make three identical squares. Remember you can’t move more or less then 3 matchsticks.
Look for the answer in the Next Issue of Asian Outlook.
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Featured Artist
Interview by Kari Tam
Hi, Everyone! Due to his many contributions (all exceptional work, by the way) we’re going to dedicate this section of Conscience to Emil Carlo Rafol. We will be getting an inside look on this very talented artist in an exclusive interview, only available through Asian Outlook!
more consistent. Wanting to get back into rhyming, I took part in a Performance Hip Hop class at Binghamton in Fall 2008, started submitting stuff to you guys (Asian Outlook), and performing at any open mic/poetry events on campus. I’ve also been recording whenever I find the time.
Q: What’s your school major? A: Industrial & Systems Engineering. I have also taken S.O.M. classes in Finance.
I’ve played piano since the 4th grade. I play classical, neoclassical, and jazz. Jazz is really fun. I started learning how to improvise a couple years ago and want to start learning chords and chord progressions this summer. I was on the borough-wide band in middle school for clarinet too, though I haven’t played since then. Remix recently let me borrow his guitar; that’s the next instrument I want to learn.
Q: When and how did you first become interested in music? A: I guess I’ve been interested in music ever since I was a child. I got my first rap cassette tape when I was in Pre-school. It was MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This.” I brought that and my boom-box to school and danced in front of the class for show and tell. I love music, whether it’s listening to it, playing it, dancing to it, kicking rhymes. Music is one of my passions.
Q: What influences or contributes to your rapping? A: Almost anything that happens in my life influences me, from choices I
Emil Carlo Rafol In regards to writing/rapping, I wrote my first rap in 4th grade. It was a rap about Cinderella for a creative project. It was so deep… just kidding! I actually tried looking for it recently because I was interested in what I wrote but I couldn’t find it.
almost every day. I stopped writing as much as I did in high school once I got into college, and devoted my time to other things. I kept performing yearly though, at on-campus shows such as Asian Night and Lunar Banquet.
Q: How long have you been playing music or rapping? A: As I said in my last response, technically I wrote my first rap in 4th grade. In middle school, I started messing around and wrote something to “Quiet Storm” by Mobb Deep and some other mainstream hip hop songs.
Last summer I spent a good amount of money on a home recording studio setup because I wanted to get back into recording. Now that I had more experience (and more money), I wanted to be able to make decent quality recordings. Looking back upon it, I really regret not writing as much throughout college. The time I wasted over the years and not constantly pushing myself to write just makes me wonder sometimes at what level could I currently be at if I was
It wasn’t until my sophomore year at Bronx Science that some of my friends encouraged me to seriously write something. It was at that point when I seriously started writing and recording
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make to things that just occur. My current mind state and how I’m feeling whenever I’m writing also contributes to my songs. Listening to other artists definitely influences me too, as well as events that happen throughout the world. I listen to a lot of Hip Hop, but I also like listening to other genres, such as rock, house, techno, classical, jazz, etc. I’m open to all types of music. Q: Tell us one of your favorite singer or rapper and why it’s your favorite singer or rapper and if it has any special meaning to you. A: Damn, there are so many artists to pick from; it’s really difficult to choose. One of my favorites is definitely Kanye West. A lot of people aren’t fans because he
can be extremely arrogant, but no one can deny his abilities and true talent. He is pretty much a self-made artist, producing his own beats, and bringing a whole new style to music, which sometimes can’t even be classified as just “hip hop” anymore. His live performances are usually extravagant, and he killed it at the “Glow In The Dark” concert tour last year (along with Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D. and Rihanna). Kanye is a real soulful artist, and has definitely been an inspiration to me. Yeah, he’s talked about diamonds and gold-diggers, but he’s also put out music talking about family, his mother and even Jesus. Q: Are you planning to have a future in the music industry? A: I would be living the dream if I ever made it in the music industry. If I don’t make it as an artist, I would be interested in producing beats or managing artists. In the end, it’s all about having talent, and most importantly meeting the right people at the right time. For now though, I’m just going to continue promoting myself by performing on campus, keeping up with the submissions, putting up videos online and performing at hip hop open mic events back home in the city. Q: What’s your inspiration? A: I love Hip Hop. Music is a major part of my life. I write for myself, it’s how I choose to express myself, and if people listen to my music and enjoy it too then that’s great. Q: What kind of style would you categorize yourself? A: If there is one thing that I would pick to be proud of myself on in regards to my music, it would have to be my flow. When I first started, I tended to be really lyrical and complex, but now I’m trying to mature more with my content. I want to put out music that people can relate to. I ain’t really on that gangsta sh-t, but I’m down to kick some deep lyrics. I can’t categorize myself because I’m just being me. Listen to my music and maybe you’ll understand where I’m coming from.
Bottom line, I’m just trying to have some fun with it. Q: What are some methods you have when you write your music/rap? A: There really is no set method. If I’m really feelin’ a beat I usually just pick a topic that would go with it and just write. Some days it takes 20 minutes to finish something, while other tracks could take a couple hours. Sometimes my friends will also pitch an idea or concept to me, or ask me to write about something and I’ll just start from there. Q: Do you have a favorite rap that you wrote? Does it have any special meaning to you? A: Nah, I can’t say I have a single favorite rap that I wrote, though I really do like this one track I wrote, which Asian Outlook published last semester called “Empty.” It was influenced by Common’s “I Used To Love Her” and spoke about a girl, a girl who turned out in the end to be Hip Hop. Other than that, I usually don’t like listening to or watching past performances/songs. I try to keep looking forward to continually improve, and to keep putting out new material.
Q: Anything else you would like to say? A: Yeah, I would like to give a shout out to everyone who has given me a chance and listened to my music, even if you didn’t like it. Thank you to those who have also come out to watch me perform. Thank you to Asian Outlook for publishing my submissions and interviewing me! I would also like to thank Buzz & Remix for always pushing me to continue writing and keep performing. Look out for more music from them in the future! As well as other collaborations with other artists and singers! We just launched a YouTube page, where you will find new and old music we have all recorded. Check it out at www. youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC Remember the name, they call me SHIFT the MC.
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SHIFT the MC With you One day I hope to meet a girl who will make me feel like this. [Intro] I just wanna make it clear ma, get everything straight We can make certain choices but we can’t change fate So I had to do this remix and spill my guts 9-8-5 on the track, yeah we’re mixing it up [Verse 1] When I’m with you, my minds right, you and I are so right Forget about spending a day, we’ll spend the whole night The sunshine in my day, you’re my guiding light Ill always keep fighting to stay, though we might fight There’s No more spending our days all alone at home Because now its you and I, and we’re a happy home I only want you girl, and only you Forget about them other girls, you’re my only boo Other women don’t compare to you, girl you’re something special Maybe it’s the way you walk, you’re on another level Maybe it’s the way you talk, you have the sweetest voice I wouldn’t pick anyone else, cuz you’re my only choice [Verse 2] I can’t compare you to no one else Girl you hold your own I love spending time with you Even on the phone You know that I can’t deny How much you mean to me I told you that you’re special Yeah, you mean the world to me It’s either you or no one else I’ve never felt like this before My heart just melts in awe So just know I would never deny You and I, you’re so fly You make me wanna touch the sky This is the remix with Nu Alpha Phi I hit the track runnin, my name is SHIFT So you know this hits bumpin I spit raw, my rhymes spill There ain’t nothin better I’m with you girl through the good times and bad weather
Bywww.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC Emil Carlo Rafol
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Follow My Lead
By Emil Carlo Rafol www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC
[Verse 1] Musics been a major part of my life Way before I even made the choice to pick up a mic I guess the music’s been inside of me deep in my heart Cuz even as a child the beats they moved me (they moved me) I didn’t have much used spam cans as building blocks The music kept me warm on cold nights my whole life I always had a thing for hip hop and rap So now I’m focused on my music it moves me (it moves me) I wanna be me, I’d rather be free Than some sell out other people in time turn to be So I turned to beats, the beats turned to me So precise with the mic, performing open mind surgeries So take a walk with me, and have a talk with me This is the start of what ought to be Forget what your thoughts should be, and what you’re taught to believe And let the music just carry your soul thoughtlessly [Hook] I’m on my way to the top, got the tools to succeed Cuz where I’m at’s kinda crowded, I’m just trying to breathe You gotta aim past the stars if you’re shooting at me So make space for my name, and just follow my lead [Verse 2] I got a lot of moves to make before I die I almost lost my life back in two thousand five Doing 80 on the highway, in a turn I hit black ice I couldn’t steer straight and swerved across three lanes Then the car crashed into the ditch and flipped over Landed on the roof and skid for almost 50 feet Broken mirrors and glass were everywhere The car was totaled, turned off the ignition, then unbuckled my seat All the items in the cabin were all over the place The whole accident was quick took about fifteen seconds It was there I learned my place, that no man’s invincible And now I consider that an essential life lesson The driver’s side was blocked so I crawled out the back door I didn’t have a single broken bone or a scratch I know I have an angel guarding me right by my side Cuz if I didn’t then that would’ve been my last car ride [Bridge] (They say the streets hungry) I’m just tryin to eat (They say the games changed) I’m the last of a dying breed I won’t give up till I die I’ma live it up I won’t give in spitting rhymes to the very end [Hook] I’m on my way to the top, got the tools to succeed Cuz where I’m at’s kinda crowded, I’m just trying to breathe You gotta aim past the stars if you’re shooting at me So make space for my name, and just follow my lead
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SHIFT the MC
Addiction Freestyle www.myspace.com/SHIFTtheMC
Aiyo I’m Fresh to death and I be reppin’ for the east I’m here to save hip hop they say that I’m a beast On the mic, on the streets, in the bed I’m a freak So step to me, I’ll murder you, I ain’t ever heard of you “Welcome to rap, my name is SHIFT, ill be your ‘waiter’ tonight” I don’t need ‘tips’, cuz the way that I be flowing is nice So pass the mic I’ll spit a couple lines with a smile Or maybe a track I have no problem serving with style Its Been a while since anybody spit heat Now I’m kicking suttin NU yeah I spit Greek I’m the ALPHA I started this shit I spit PHI-re the way I keep burning these kids I can’t be touched ain’t no way that could fuck with me Cruising in my whip doing about buck sixty I’m so shifty switching gears and moving up I spit so hard like getting hit by a moving truck
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My movements nuts, haters wanna see me die But I’ll stay reppin’ hard for the 9-8-5 Fuck a 9 to 5 bitches say I’m fly In the clouds but I ain’t that high
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SHIFT the MC
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Things Will be
Emil Carlos Rafol
Ha (ha) y’all haters make me laugh The same kids who said im wack man they know my raps Aww (aww) yeah you know I’m ill Fevers past a hundred degrees my flow just kills
March 2009
I know at times that life isn’t easy But In the end things will be OK Everything will be OK, I promise Now I know that lately, things have been getting kinda hectic A lot of things have happened and you don’t know where you’re headed No one’s life is perfect, don’t get all caught up in the rush Stop to take a breath of fresh air, don’t ever give up Just keep on living your life, and keep on doing what you’re doing And don’t ever give in, keep on pushing keep on moving Keep your head held high, even though ya might be feeling down I know that times are rough but that’s only just how you’re feeling now Forget the grey skies, the rainy days and bad weather Things have fallen apart, now it’s time to get it together Things can only get better, so keep on heading forward don’t look back Invest some time in yourself, you’re beautiful and that’s a fact Don’t listen to people that only bring in negativity Opposites may attract, but you got that positive energy So let your mind be free of any nervousness or worries You’ve made it this far, so just relax, what’s the hurry? www.youtube.com/SHIFTtheMC
What You’ve Been Waiting For By Alyssa Alimurung
You’ve opened this before Viewed a poem that didn’t relate But heartbroken continued to read & assumptions you started to create It may not matter now But I’m sorry for what I’ve done All the shit I’ve said & how I’ve acted But I’ll give you what you want I’ll take off and run & we’ll go our separate ways Down two different paths That will no longer cross I’ve been real selfish Tryin to keep this connection While saying “friends don’t do this” But in the end it was more like “ex’s don’t do this” You were right No more affection, no more objection No more hits, just one big miss Time to move on & I’m sure we’ll be just fine Cuz you & I both know It’s only for the good & we gotta stop crossing that line & we gotta commit Mark it with a permanent marker & stop tryna to erase it Know that I’ll miss you sincerely & I hope we meet at the crossroads sometime When we’re both ready to see A smile, a heart entwined
Winning Lottery By Kaming Cheung
Well thank gosh for caller I.D. Sooner or later I know you’ll forget me And I kindly will do the same. So if we ever pass on the street I’ll only hear the faded steps of your feet But there won’t be anybody left to blame. Better than finding me settling and alone Having no happy place that I’ve never known You’ll beat yourself up for being too late. I’ll wring and hang my soul out to dry And dance and laugh and force deep sighs Dream a world where love will translate. Maybe I had something good in my hand Wonder years from now where will we land Because you won’t catch me around anymore. The love I believed in was just a phase I built it up with pieces left from bygone days Now I forget what these objects were for. It will fade away like that bite mark you had And that time when you thought I was mad It never really mattered at all. There are jealous things you shouldn’t say But you threw them to me anyway They made me laugh, yet I felt so small. But you always come back to haunt me Always coming back to haunt me Like the lost ticket of a winning lottery A winning lottery.
March 2009
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What lurks
Photograph by Kaming Cheung
Woe, the Poor Heart’s Fate Woe, the poor heart’s fate When heart and mind are ‘twain torn Caused many times to die By Ainsley M.
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March 2009
Peace What is peace? Who are the peaceful? How do they speak? What names do they go by? Does peace need a language? Can any moral code, law or social values constrain peace? Would peace want to hide and shelter itself within a stronghold? Could peace fight for itself or would peace be asleep? What would it fight for? Would it be conniving, convincing and seductive? Would it hide from the reality, be afraid to make rational decisions, a dream of greed, and a life of grief? Is peace a thought, god’s imagination, a belief or a love of self? Is it suspicious or is the only peace death? Could it be a blind fate, the acceptance of the pain and complexity of life and the truth of pacifism? Would this faith in fate obscure the truth of temptation, contemption, vanity and hate? I think peace is simplicity, achieved through wisdom and truth, so think softly and use no weapons save the truth. I think peace is slow, humble, charitable and gentle. And I think the old sayings that silence is golden and do onto others as others would have done onto you still ring true. Can freedom be at peace? To speak and declare yourself peaceful is a reasoning and a choice and a force. To the individual hearing this voice, only understanding will confirm this truth and in turn make you at peace and therefore a speaker. Then to you who would understand, please be free and spread the peace. By David M Sweeney
We’re Content We’re happy. Not overly happy, But content in the heart. Like your first snuggle into bed After a productive day. Holding your hand That’s delicate and soft, Like the pillowcase That’s cool to the cheek. Embracing you at the doorway, I am the blankets You pull to your neck On this cold night, Cozy and safe From the unforgiving weather. And in each other’s heart, we are content.
By Kelvin Chan
March 2009
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March 2009
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