Asian Outlook | Spring 2017 Issue 1 by Asian Outlook

ASIAN OUTLOOK Vol. XXXII, Issue 1

The Obama Legacy • President Trump’s Ban on Foreign Travel • SASE Christina Chen

Volume XXXII, Issue 1

contents ASIAN OUTLOOK 2

ASIAN OUTLOOK

arts & entertainment 12 | Spotlight on Christina Chen | Angeles Yeung

conscience 22 | Tracy Liu 23 | Abbie Yabel Sagastume Isaula Tiffany Lam

letter from the editor...

ASIAN OUTLOOK EXECUTIVE BOARD SPRING 2017 editors-in-chief

Dear Readers,

conscience editor

In the first two months since Trump’s inauguration, the President has already signed executive orders to temporarily stop immigrants from predominately Muslim countries from settling in the United States. As a child of Chinese immigrants, it is unsettling not just because he could do it to Chinese immigrants as well, but also because it goes against the core belief of America as a place of opportunity for all. As the poem on the Statue of Liberty says, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Furthermore, the President and Republican leaders have continued to regress in other areas as well. The Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, said that historically black colleges and universities are “real pioneers when it comes to school choice,” even though these schools were established to give African Americans educational opportunities during the eras of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Tom Pruitt, is unconvinced that carbon dioxide is responsible for climate change, and seeks to slash the agency’s budget. The President meanwhile, has had to deal with questions about his administration’s ties to Russia, including the now former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, who lied to officials when asked if he had spoken to any Russian officials. It was later revealed that he had spoken the Russian ambassador before Obama had left office. However, the most problematic event that has occurred since Donald’s Trump’s inauguration was when Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, did not hold a regular press briefing. Rather, the White House held an off-camera press briefing with handpicked media outlets, which coincidently left out liberal-leaning outlets (including the New York Times, BBC, and Politico), while allowing conservative ones (Breitbart, One America News Network) access. Of course, it does not seem like a coincidence when these are the same outlets that continuously criticize the Trump Administration, and that Trump has repeatedly proclaimed such outlets to be, “the enemy of the American people.” This is dangerous territory. Preventing the press from obtaining information from the administration is what prevents the truth from ever being written, which leads to politicians lying and manipulating the public. Furthermore, such vindictive acts are beneficial to no one- it is a childish grudge. Of course, I hope that you don’t just read what I say. News consumption should not come from one single source, and there are many resources that you should read to become more knowledgeable on the issues mentioned above. If you are convinced of the mess of a situation we are in, I suggest writing to your Congressional Representative. Since the inauguration, there have been fierce protests and confrontational town hall meetings, and I urge you to participate. But please do so in a lawful and nonviolent fashion.

copy editors

layout editors

business manager publicity manager

Alex Ching Airi Kojima Angeles Yeung Brian Kang Nina Ocampo Amy Zhang Alyssa Boyle Benny Louie Alicia Kam Tram Duong Justina Liaw Kana Prasertchoang Tiffany Tung Ava Hunt

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 Asian Americans, Asian Outlook also serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orientation. 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 submissions. 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.

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Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 3

The Obama Legacy By Amy Zhang

2008 presidential election was a historic moment in American history, for the first African American was elected president. Barack Hussein Obama served as Senator of Illinois from 2005 to 2008 prior to running for president. His presidential campaign revolved around change and hope for the country that was incorporated in his slogan “Change We Can Believe In” and the chant “Yes We Can.” Obama appealed to a large demographic, especially among the African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, and young voters. His optimism and ability to connect with Americans’ wishes came as a breath of fresh air after the economic recession and the Iraq War. The Obama presidency did fulfill some of the promises of change, but there is still work to be done. The Economy The U.S. economy was in a recession after the housing market crashed and millions of Americans lost their jobs. The unemployment rate was at 10 percent in 2009 when Obama took office, the highest since 1983 under Ronald Reagan. In early 2009, the economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month, the Dow was under 7,000 and big corporations were laying off workers as they were struggling to make a profit. One of the first acts Obama signed was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, an $832 billion stimulus package designed to save existing jobs and create new ones. The stimulus saved an average he

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of 1.6 million jobs a year for four years, raised the nation’s economic output from 2 to 3 percent from 2009 to 2011, improved 42,000 miles of road, fixed or replaced 2,700 bridges, and bought more than 12,000 transit vehicles. Unemployment rate decreased to 5 percent, budget deficit fell by roughly $1 trillion during his two terms, and banks and corporations that were bailed out eventually rebounded and made profits. Although the economy has improved, there is still the problem of ever increasing economic inequality. Corporations and the upper class still hold most of the wealth despite economic improvements which lead many to feel left out of the equation. This is a possible explanation for how Americans who have been ignored time after time took actions that led to the rise of Donald Trump. His brazen rhetoric of “Making America Great Again” speaks to those who feel unheard. In the end, the numbers have improved but living standards did not see a significant change. Same-Sex Marriage President Obama had flip-flopped on the issue of samesex marriage over the course of his political career. In 1996 when he was running for Illinois State Senate, he filled out a questionnaire saying he was in favor of legalizing same-sex marriages and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages. Then, in 2004 when he was running for

the U.S. Senate, he declared that he was not a supporter of same-sex marriages. During his presidential campaign in 2008, Obama said he believed that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. “For me as a Christian, it is a sacred union. You know, God is in the mix.” His earlier statements regarding same-sex marriage showed how he was not whole-heartedly supportive of it because he believes it is against his religious beliefs. However, in 2012 President Obama became the first president in office to explicitly support same-sex marriage. President Obama allowed for his beliefs to change and said that he doesn’t believe the Bible is a static text. In June 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in all fifty states. The legalization of same-sex marriage was a momentous event during the Obama presidency that garnered extreme attention. President Obama supported the decision saying it “affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts.” This was considered a victory for the administration and President Obama made an effort to enforce the laws to promote equality for all couples. Race As the first black president, President Obama gave minorities hope that racial relations were improving. However, the many instances of police violence against unarmed black Americans proved otherwise. The shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager by a white officer in August, 2014, set off a storm of protests and riots in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael Brown’s death was not the first instance of police brutality, but it was the one that led to the largest and most forceful response. Two years earlier, another unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin, was shot by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Tanisha Anderson, Freddie Gray, Akai Gurley, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and many more are victims of police violence against black Americans. The outrage that sparked riots and protest across the nation not only stemmed from the disproportionate number of black victims, but also from the lack of police officers who were indicted for committing these injustices. The Black Lives Matter movement enhanced the racial inequality in the nation and exposed white supremacists who refused to support the cause. However, President Obama did little to address the issue of race and police brutality. He stayed relatively on the center and stated statistics on how blacks are disadvantaged, but did not call for police officers to be held accountable. He did not do enough to let the black community know their voices and concerns were a priority that must be addressed. Obamacare The Affordable Care Act also known as “Obamacare” is President Obama’s iconic legislation that was enacted on March 23, 2010. It was designed to make healthcare accessible to every American and decrease the number

of those who do not have health insurance coverage. It imposes tax penalties for those who do not sign up for health care coverage and made it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against existing conditions, banned lifetime limits and made birth control free. The Census Bureau reports that the number of uninsured Americans has dropped from 16 percent in 2010 to less than 9 percent today— a decrease of 23 million people. A recent report estimated that 24,000 lives have been saved from premature deaths because of the ability to get health care access. The Affordable Care Act was a major victory for President Obama, and the Supreme Court upheld the regulation after the ruling that the government can require citizens to buy health care. Foreign Relations During President Obama’s campaign, he said he would withdraw troops in Iraq, and he announced a month into his presidency that American forces would be entirely out of Iraq by the end of 2011. However, the withdrawal has led to the rise of the terrorist organization, ISIS, which is responsible for many terrorist attacks around the world. President Obama turned to the use of drones to fight ISIS. Drone warfare is a method which precisely fires a missile to take out a building or vehicle. However, the drawback of drone warfare is that innocent civilians are killed in the process. One of President Obama’s major successes came in 2011 with the killing of Osama Bin Laden, the founder of al Qaeda, the terrorist group that carried out the 9/11 attacks. He also reopened relations with Cuba in 2014. The U.S. and Cuba relaxed travel restrictions, came to trade agreements, opened up commercial flights between the two countries, relaxed restrictions on cigars and rum being taken back to the U.S. for personal use and even reopened embassies. President Obama was also the first sitting president in nearly a century to visit Cuba in March 2016. Although some of his policies are widely contested, President Obama inspired Americans and was a personable president. He has cried with families who lost their children in school shootings and sang a rendition of Amazing Grace at a memorial. President Obama had his challenges working among a divided nation and Congress that was against his policies. He worked to improve the U.S. after assuming office with the country in a poor state. Ultimately he made improvements, but there isn’t a president who can accomplish everything. Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/what-the-stimulus-accomplished.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/magazine/president-obamaweighs-his-economic-legacy.html http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/deepdive/obama-legacy-promise-hope-44597110 https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/us/supreme-court-same-sexmarriage.html https://www.buzzfeed.com/nicholasquah/heres-a-timeline-of-unarmed-black-men-killed-by-police-over?utm_term=.ms6ynlG8DN#. fpD9MmnVWY

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 5

President Trump’s Ban on Foreign Travel By Alyssa Boyle

January 2017, President Trump signed an executive order travel ban that would temporarily keep refugees from seven different countries from entering the United States. The federal court blocked the executive order travel ban issued on Jan. 27, but Trump has been preparing to issue a new ban that will have the same policy outcome. These seven “countries of concern” are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan. As of March 2017, Trump has signed a revised foreign travel executive order that exempts Iraq from the ban. President Trump’s reasoning for passing this order was to protect the United States from the “threat of terrorism under radical Islam” by keeping “radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America.” The seven countries listed under the travel ban all have a majority Muslim population. However, the hijackers who attacked the Pentagon in the September 11 terrorist attack were from countries n

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not included in the travel ban, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Lebanon. If Trump’s primary goal is to protect America from the terrorism that took many lives in 2001, it is a wonder why these three countries were not listed under Trump’s foreign travel ban. All of the countries included in the travel ban are also countries where the ban would not create any conflicts with Trump’s business interests. In fact, countries important to Trump’s business seem to be exempt from this executive order. For example, a recent travel warning issued by the State Department to Americans visiting Turkey noted that “an increase in anti-American rhetoric has the potential to inspire independent actors to carry out acts of violence against U.S. citizens.” However, Trump has made millions of dollars from his business operations in Turkey within the past year; he has recently licensed his name to two luxury hotels in Istanbul, and he has a home

The countries listed in Trump’s travel ban.

furnishing line being manufactured by a Turkish company. Naturally, Turkey was not included in Trump’s foreign travel ban in order to protect his personal business interests. This executive travel ban also influenced the war against ISIS. Before Trump removed Iraq from his travel ban, 5,000 military personnel were in Iraq fighting ISIS. However, when Trump signed his original travel ban listing Iraq as one of the “countries of concern,” Iraqi parliamentarians discussed the idea of placing a reciprocal travel ban on U.S. citizens. Additionally, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demanded the expulsion of U.S. troops from Iraq. As a result, a lot of distrust and animosity soiled the relationship between the United States and Iraq,

which has been an important ally to our country in the fight against terrorism in recent years. Many people are protesting these travel bans signed in Trump’s personal interests. Since the original travel ban was first signed, there has been a drastic increase in donations to human rights organizations. The American Civil Liberties Union has raised $24 million since January, as opposed to just $3.5 million in 2015. The money was raised by about 356,306 online donors, two-thirds of whom are thought to be first-time donors. This spike in the public’s financial support of humanitarian groups shows the people’s overall disagreement with Trump’s actions and policies.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/28/politics/text-of-trump-executive-order-nation-ban-refugees/ http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/20/politics/trump-new-executive-order-immigration/ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/02/28/donald-trump-new-travel-ban-majority-muslim-countries/98541052/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/countries-where-trump-does-business-are-not-hit-by-new-travel-restrictions/2017/01/28/dd40535a-e56b-11e6-a453-19ec4b3d09ba_story.html?utm_term=.e86c20cba69d https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/30/us/aclu-fund-raising-trump-travel-ban.html?_r=0 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/us/politics/travel-ban-muslim-trump.html

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 7

ALE Japanese Startup

Tokyo startup ALE is trying to make ‘’space entertainment’’ a reality. Photo courtesy of Austing Green via Flickr.com.

he skycanvas will be just one of countless man-made

meteor showers that are set to debut in early 2018 and display at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This breathtaking display will be visible to an area of over 120 miles and is expected to garner over 30 million viewers, but who is behind this futuristic vision? Meet Lena Okajima, founder and CEO of ALE, a Japanese startup that describes themselves as a business of entertainment utilizing outer space, artificial shooting stars, and satellites. Before pursuing her vision for ALE, Dr. Okajima previously worked as an associate at Goldman Sachs, founded her own consulting business, and obtained her degree in astronomy at the University of Tokyo. Okajima describes her vision for the startup using the term “swing-by:” as satellites pass alongside planets, gravity increases its speed and alters its path. As a result, they have the ability to travel much longer distances at much higher speeds than they are designed to do. Okajima stated, “Together, we will explore the possibilities of the aerospace industry and increase its value to society. We

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By Ava Hunt hope to repeatedly swing-by and build a company that can fly further and achieve increasingly greater goals.” Behind the scenes, the project is spearheaded by Shinsuke Abe, ALE’s research director and aerospace engineering associate at Nihon University, where these pellets are tested. In order to begin the process, microsatellites containing 500-1000 pellets are first launched into Earth’s orbit, which can take up to several months. After traveling a third of the way around Earth, the pellets will enter the atmosphere and begin emitting plasma, which makes it ignite and gives these particles their glow. These pellets are roughly 2 centimeters in diameter, around half that of a ping pong ball, but cost the company 1 million yen (almost 9,500 usd) a pop. Regardless, the team thinks that this steep price is worth the invaluable benefits that it provides. “We want people to look up, not down at the ground,” says Abe. “People in Japan are so busy every day and they need more culture and science in their lives to bring them closer to nature, and to relax.” Many similar Japanese space startups are beginning

to attract attention and investment at this time. Some barriers to success include limited knowledge of meteors (speed, unpredictability, burning out before reaching the ground). Developers of this technology also need to correctly determine specifications of factors including optimum orbit, trajectory, and entry angle into the atmosphere. Currently, ALE is still in the process of developing the technology to launch these microsatellites from zero gravity. So what is the difference between these artificial showers and the real deal? In regards to visibility, these meteoroids are up to 70 times brighter than natural ones. This allows it to shine through and be visible in major cities with immense amounts of light pollution like Tokyo. On nights with less than ideal weather conditions, they can be called off 100 minutes before their launch. They are also much slower than shooting stars (5 m/s compared to 42 m/s). This way, spectators have no doubt that they are

seeing an ALE star, and can also appreciate the display for much longer periods of time. Taking it up a notch, they can also glow in different colors. At the moment, the available colors are orange, blue, and green light, but ALE expects to expand this color range soon. This invention is much more than just a bunch of pretty lights. After its introduction, with further innovation and improvements, this technology will be able to aid in scientific advancements. For example, the process will help scientists better understand the mechanisms of natural meteors and shooting stars, satellites, and the behavior of Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s atmosphere. In addition, these microsatellites can eventually be used to collect data regarding unused satellites and the ISS to dispose of them safely. Although the public will need to wait a couple of years before they can enjoy this technology, the wait will definitely be worthwhile.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/23/asia/on-japan-artificial-meteors/index.html http://www.wsj.com/articles/man-made-shooting-stars-in-eyes-of-japanese-startup-1465295009 http://www.techtimes.com/articles/160020/20160521/startup-to-create-man-made-meteor-shower-for-2020-olympics.htm http://global.star-ale.com/

(AFP) (From left to right) Dr Lena Okajima, CEO of Ale, Teikyo University lecturer Takeo Watanabe and Tokyo Metropolitan University associate professor Hironori Sahara speak about their artificial meteors (the pink balls on the left).

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 9

Dogs and Pigs By Sungwon Kim

hile having dinner at a restaurant in Seoul in July of

2016, the former South Korean education policy maker, Hyang-wook Na said to journalists, “The People are like dogs and pigs. I think that South Korea should bring back a hierarchical social class system. It is only natural and inevitable that people are not equal, and it should be realistically acknowledged.” This statement from a government official who lives off taxes paid by the people enraged the general public. However, this was only a sign for things to come. What transpired in October 2016 was an aggrandized manifestation of the secretive disrespect and disdain for the ordinary citizens disguised by the ephemeral hope and promises made by the superficial faces of the current South Korean regime headed by the conservative Saenuri Party. An old tablet PC was found outside of Choi Sunsil’s former office, containing evidence that she was given confidential government files that contained information about upcoming presidential speeches with signs of it being edited and government policies regarding national security matters despite Choi not holding a position in the government. There was more evidence from files and witnesses that suggested that Choi had complete control and influence over the South Korean president. Up until early 2016, Choi had rewritten Park’s speeches and arranged her outfits for public national engagements. It does not end there. Choi led a select elite group of eight to secretly hold meetings to control the nation and make decisions for President Park. It is speculated that they held these meetings in a government building. It was further revealed that Choi has been strong-arming Korean chaebol conglomerates into “investing” or donating billions to her foundation (Mir Foundation, K-Sports Jaedan), threatening them with government policies that

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would harm their businesses if they did not comply. The donated amount was most likely pocketed by Choi, Park and the select group of eight. It does not end there. Choi’s daughter, Jeong Yura, despite missing a total of more than 120 days throughout her current semester as an undergraduate at a prestigious woman’s university in Seoul, was receiving excellent grades and passing courses. Jeong Yura had been getting special treatment from the university, such as getting first-class seats in a class trip to China, and reservations at five-star hotels while the rest of the class slept collectively in a cheaper room. There are serious allegations arising whether Jeong Yura’s entry in the Korean national equestrian team was fair. It was also revealed that a private chaebol had bought an entire equestrian racing facility in Germany for Jeong to practice in. Amidst this media frenzy, public outrage and confusion, Choi and her daughter, Jeong fled to Germany to get away from the scandal. President Park has apologized; however, she has offered nothing more than empty words except to say that she has leaned on Choi only from pureness of heart to seek help from an old friend. Park offered no solutions as to how she will resolve such an embarrassing and unthinkable occurrence on a global level and how she will lead the nation from here on out. Tens of thousands of Korean citizens are taking to the streets to demand the impeachment and resignation of President Park. Additionally, political parties are demanding that she step down. Even her party, Saenuri party is demanding that she exit the party and step down from her post. There are investigations being conducted on Park’s past relationship with Choi Sun-sil after this national scandal. It all began when Park’s mother was killed in an assassination attempt on Park’s father, the former

authoritarian military dictator of South Korea, Park Chung-Hee. Choi Sun-Sil’s father and pseudo-Christian cult leader, Choi Tae-min approached Park Geun Hye saying that he could reconnect Park with her mother who was no longer alive. Choi Tae-min succeeded and gained unlimited influence over Park. He earned huge sums of money to gain access to her and the dictatorial regime. Park Chung-Hee was assassinated in 1979, and the military general installed a dictatorial regime in 1980. Choi lost his influence in government; However, he still had a firm grasp over Park Geun Hye. In 1990, Park’s sister wrote to the South Korean government asking them to save Park from Choi Tae-min’s influence. Choi died in 1994 and his daughter, Choi Sun-sil assumed her father’s influence over Park. In 2007, when Park ran for President but lost her party’s nomination, the U.S. embassy alerted the U.S. government of Park’s history with the cult leader. In 2012, Park won the Presidential election and Choi arranged and produced the inauguration ceremony. Throughout Park’s presidency, her behavior has been erratic. She was reluctant to give press conferences and her lack of coherence in speeches has been deemed unusual and strange. After uncovering such an outrageous corruption, her presidential decisions and years as president are being reevaluated. There are several questionable actions in her presidency such as the forceful disbanding of the progressive party (who warned the public of Park’s corruption with those close to her prior to the election), her seven hours of absence during the sinking of Sewol Ferry that led to the death of three hundred people, complete severance of economic and peace talks with North Korea, and much more. This stemmed from the prevalent disrespect and disdain for the citizens and working class people by government officials of the so called “Democratic” government. The mentality that one views his or her own people as “dogs and pigs” is exactly why this corrupt government was allowed to exist.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 11

Spotlight on

Christina Chen SASE President

Interviewed & Transcribed By Angeles Yeung

Angeles Yeung (AY): Why don’t you tell us about yourself? Christina Chen (CC): My name is Christina Chen. I’m a senior studying computer engineering, and I’m staying for my 5th year of my MBA in the 4+1 program. AY: Tell us about what the Society of Asian Scientists & Engineers (SASE) does. CC: SASE is a professional and social club. We do a lot of events for the professional development of students such as resume workshop, national conferences, and regional conferences, so that they can socialize and network with people all across the nation who are in SASE. We also do a lot of interview reviews, and we have companies come in from the nearby Binghamton area to talk about their company and potentially hire. On the social aspect, we highlight our community service, social, and cultural events. We have bi-annual paint night and kimbap-making to name a few. AY: How did you come to be involved in SASE? CC: I was previously cultural chair for Chinese American Student Union (CASU), so I was very vocal about wanting to spread Asian awareness and be part of this Asian culture. And I really like Asian culture; that’s why I was cultural chair, but something I really wanted was a more professional aspect. People say all the time that college students graduate and have no jobs. And that’s how I first became

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Photographed by Alyssa Boyle

involved. My friend Lucy was on the e-board, and so I was like, “let me just join this club and see what’s so different about it, and how I can improve myself professionally.” AY: What skills does SASE teach? CC: Professionalism. For people to come out of their shell and to set higher expectations, but also for them to believe in themselves so that they can achieve it. Something that was different to me about SASE is that we’re both a professional and social club. We’re the only one on campus where we have social events and professional ones as well, which is why I really wanted to join SASE. AY: What new projects are you most excited about? CC: So this past fall, we had our first ever SASE banquet professional luncheon. Where we had different companies such as PNG, and companies nearby like BAE and IBM, and all the professors within the engineering department and science departments come to the Mandela room for a banquet, and you network and socialize with them. We did icebreakers and such. So at the end, you get to talk to them, make the connections, and potentially get an offer. And so we really want to have a second annual one. It is our biggest project for next semester. And we anticipate it to be twice as big. AY: Why do you think it’s important to empower Asians and other minorities? CC: Because a lot of times our voices, I feel like, are not heard as often as other races. We’re known to be more shy and smart but not known for socializing. That’s what they say about us a lot of the time. And

I really want to change that. I really want others in the Asian community to know that networking is one of the most important things. You can get a lot of places just by networking and making those connections with people, and this is what we are lacking. We’re just so shy that I want people to come out more to these events and know that you’ll make connections with people in these national/regional conferences. AY: How has SASE prepared you to be an Asian American leader in the workplace? CC: It has definitely taught me to be more outspoken as an Asian American in the workplace. Even at my internship this past summer, I feel like I was able to talk to my boss more, to be more vocal, and to be able to connect with others more; because I am so used to doing it at national and regional conferences, meeting all these new people from across the nation. It teaches me these skills that I didn’t have when I was younger, going outside my shell, going outside of the Asian circle and celebrating diversity, which we do a lot. AY: What does SASE specifically do to promote diversity on campus? CC: We had a mini-triathlon collaboration last semester with National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) where everyone competed to build the tallest tower, the strongest web, and the most powerful catapult. We reached out to engineers of that community. We always advertise that we are not Asian-exclusive because we accept everyone. We want everyone to come out, and we noticed the difference in our e-board as well. A lot of other people come

out to our events who are not just Asian. We can’t be Asian-exclusive. AY: What is the greatest lesson that you have learned being president of SASE? CC: That it’s not always up to what I want and the vision that I see for the club. It’s more of like how much work everyone puts in and if they feel the passion for SASE. And like the most important thing that I learned as president is if I feel the passion of wanting to spread the message, everyone else will as well. I can’t get anywhere with this club without everyone on my e-board there to do their roles. AY: What’s a memory that you’ll take with you when you graduate? CC: There’s so many. Like I mentioned before, our first SASE banquet. I never did anything so big, and I was MC. I never stood on stage and had to talk before. That’s memorable. AY: Do you have any advice for younger students who want to get involved in the Asian community? CC: Come out to events, definitely. And get to know all the e-board members and try to get involved in a leadership position because even if you start off struggling and not know where to go, you’ll know a lot about communicating with people. It really relates to the real world when you have a job. AY: What vision do you have for the future of SASE? CC: We always say our motto is “SASE fam,” like SASE family. I really want our family to continue to grow, for people to feel the passion of SASE, and to know why this club can help so many people step out of their comfort zone and grow as individuals.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 13

FOX News Attacks the Asian Community By Benny Louie

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OX News does not have a reputation for being a proper and unbiased news channel. However, their Wednesday news segment, Watter’s World, really pushed their reputation to rock bottom. In what first appeared to be a sampling of Chinese political opinion in Chinatown, New York City, things quickly veered off into a vicious racial attack on the Asian community. Jesse Watters, the host of Watter’s World, started his segment by asking a group of Chinese women about the Chinese way of saying hello: “Am I supposed to bow to say hello?” This comment has nothing to do with political opinion and was therefore irrelevant. It was uncalled for to suddenly focus on a racial stereotype, even as a joke, right at the start of his “political” news segment. Even when he actually began to ask Chinese and Chinese Americans about their political opinions, Watters could not stop poking fun at the responses he received. Much of his segment consisted of him harassing elderly Asians (under the assumption that they were Chinese) and then making jokes about how they did not understand what he was saying. He even inserts “funny” clips and sounds to accentuate the illiteracy of these elderly people. If he was going to ask Chinese and Chinese-Americans about their political opinions, why would he choose to ask the elderly Chinese who clearly did not understand English instead of asking the younger and more politically aware Chinese and Chinese-Americans? It seems as if he was purposefully looking for someone who couldn’t answer him in order to make a joke out of it. Not only does Watters poke fun at their ignorance, but he also blatantly insults China. In response to one Chinese girl’s political opinion, he says, “So China can keep ripping us off? Is everything made in China now?. . . Tell me what’s not made in China. Is China America’s friend or enemy?”

Questions like these that simply attack China as a country are thrown at Asian Americans as if they are relevant to their political views in America. These questions are not only rude, but also outright insulting. Watters may have thought he was funny, but I can guarantee that the rest of America surely did not. At the end of the segment, Watters summarizes his interviews in Chinatown saying, “You thought people knew what was going on?” He laughs at the political ignorance of people of Chinese descent. He describes them as a “polite people” who “won’t walk away or tell [him] to get out of [there], they just sit there and say nothing.” Is he trying to imply that all Chinese are subservient by nature and that people can simply step on them, and they won’t care? It’s infuriating how he tries to sugar-coat all of these implications by merely saying the Chinese are “polite people.” In response to this offensive segment, FOX News received harsh criticisms and demands for an apology, but the only response Watters gave was that it was “meant to be a light piece” and that he “regrets that anyone found offense.” What kind of “light piece” verbally abuses a group of people over and over again? Watters also failed to give a true apology; he simply “regrets” that the piece was taken the wrong way. This sort of half-hearted apology implies that he does not feel any true remorse about his segment; he’s merely regretful that others cannot see it the way he does. How selfish could he be? It is this kind of broadcast that has made me forsake ever watching FOX News again. FOX News already has a bad reputation for being a biased and inaccurate news channel. This now shows them in a racist light as well. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll ever trust FOX News as a proper and reliable news outlet ever again.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 15

FAKE NEWS By Nina Ocampo

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veryone has heard that fake news articles have become much more widespread in recent times, but what exactly constitutes fake news? Fake news is defined as online stories that appear to be legitimate, but are actually hoaxes. This definition technically encompasses any false information spread around as true, including urban legends and conspiracy theories. Anyone can create fake news, ranging from individuals to entire organizations. The spread of false information has always existed since the dawn of communication and in every information outlet, but the internet amplifies the effects of fake news greatly and gives them much more influence. That is because people find it easy to believe the “information” presented in fake news stories because it either comes from or appears on popular places for presenting information. Where does fake news appear? The internet is by far the most popular source. More specifically, fake stories tend to congregate on sites known for satire such as The Onion and Clickhole and various social media sites; most popularly Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. More insidiously, propaganda sites and others that are trying to get people to believe in their messages and support them; many political sites serve as good examples of this. A lot of fake news seem to have been aimed more at conservatives before and during the 2016 election, but now there has been a rise in false stories aimed towards liberals since the inauguration. The White House also spreads fake news, which is much worse than ordinary civilians doing so since the White House needs to be transparent and credible to uphold a democratic republic. So why is fake news gaining so much popularity? First and foremost, fake news is a quick and easy way to rack up visitors’ clicks; traffic is vital for most sites’ survival and more than half of the people with internet connections now obtain their news from internet

sources like social media instead of more traditional news outlets. A second, and more important reason is confirmation bias: people want any possible proof that their perceptions of the world are the correct ones, even if this proof proves to be false. Given the choice, people are more likely to seek out information that matches with their views of the world rather than information that opposes their beliefs. Thus fake news takes advantage of people’s need to reinforce their beliefs and confirm their prejudices. More innocently, today’s journalists feel a lot of pressure to produce content fast and end up not checking facts before they submit their work to their employers. Confirmation bias automatically renders the spread of false information dangerous, but fake stories do not pose much of a threat individually. However, as a group, they can cause significant damage immediately and in the long run. Hoaxes are how smear campaigns work to ruin the reputations of people, corporations, products, and anything in between. It tends to take a ton of evidence against a false claim to change peoples’ beliefs or convert them to something else; on the other hand, it takes practically nothing for people to confirm their own beliefs. Fake news give people with deep convictions based on false information something to cling to so they will not have to face the truth. Another problem with fake information: A fake story written on a fake website might circulate socially without anyone checking to see if its content is true, a writer from a credible news source may see it and quickly write about it, thus making many more people believe it’s true because it appears as true on a mostly credible source. Hoaxes discovered on otherwise credible sites might call their quality controls into question and damage the reputation of those sites. Despite all the perceived benefits for those who propagate fake news,

other people are doing their best to curb its spread and influence. Employees at Snopes, the most popular site for debunking urban legends and hoaxes, suggests that employers give the journalists they hire some training so that they can quickly spot false information and avoid treating it as legitimate fact. Another possible solution is to give students in school lessons on basic researching skills such as how to recognize the hallmarks of a credible source and to cross-check information with multiple sources to verify its legitimacy. Something that anyone could help with is to drown the fake news in real news and information. Then they could work to compel people to continuously search for information and try to ensure that they find verified stuff. How does one spot fake news on the individual scale? Always cross-check any facts across multiple sources. More simple things that one can look at is the article’s headline and author; authors tend to throw their own biases into their work, whether intentionally or not. Also check the way you react emotionally to it. Extreme or overwhelming emotional responses may mean that the story was crafted specifically to garner such a reaction from its readers and drive them to share it with others so that they can share it in the exact same way the people before them did. Don’t fall for their trap. It is intimidating to search for information in a world inundated with false information, but always remember to think critically about everything and keep control over your emotions. If something sounds too simple to be true, it usually is. Verified and credible sources present their topics in more balanced and complex manners. Sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/ archive/2017/02/viva-la-resistance-content/515532/ http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-37846860 http://www.snopes.com/

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 17

Miss Japan and Ideals of Racial Purity in Japan By Airi Kojima

September, Priyanka Yoshikawa was crowned Miss Japan 2016. She is only the second multiracial Japanese woman to become a beauty queen; she was influenced by Ariana Miyamoto, who is also mixed. A year ago, Ariana Miyamoto won the Miss Universe Japan 2015 beauty pageant. Though they should have been proud, sadly many Japanese believed and have expressed on Twitter and other social media that neither of them should represent Japan because of their mixed blood. For a couple of years, Japan has been proactive about globalization. They have been stepping up to burst out of this small shell called Japan. As a person who has lived in both countries, Japan and the US, I can see the difference. When I lived in Japan, I remembered myself having so much trouble adjusting to the new environment. Not only that, but the culture was completely different. What’s funny is that although I did not have any trouble being a Japanese in the US, I found it difficult for a short while to be a Japanese in Japan. I remember very precisely that my devilish 10-year-old classmates would call me “gaijin,” n

which can be translated as “foreigner.” Let me remind you that I am full Japanese. Since I was young, being treated as an outsider hurt a lot. Like any other kid, all I wanted to do was to fit in. Middle school and high school were the worst; kids would call me out for being “different.” But as much as it hurt, I started to come to terms with it. Why did I come to terms with it? Probably because I was different. This whole thing about me being called “different” or “gaijin” from my fellow Japanese has not stopped even now. I will be honest. It is annoying. But here is the thing; no matter what people say, I am, and forever will be, Japanese. No one can change that. You are who you are. Going back to Priyanka and Ariana’s stories, it hurts me to see comments like “She does not look Japanese,” “Half is not 100% Japanese,” or “If someone is chosen as Miss Japan, both her parents should be Japanese.” If someone is chosen as Miss Japan, both her parents should be Japanese.” Why does ethnicity matter in a beauty pageant? These competitions are held to compete with both the outer and inner beauty of a person. Both winners did mention that

Priyanka Yoshikawa (third to the left) with other Miss Japan 2016 contestants

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it is true that they are mixed, but it did not mean that they were any less a Japanese. I believe in that too. Even if you are mixed, if you believe that you are Japanese, then you are. So the fact that many Japanese are discriminating against these beautiful women for their mixed blood is absolutely frustrating and sad. Though as one who has lived there, I must say that there is a cultural aspect to this, where many of them tend to compare themselves with others. I truly believe that whether you are mixed or not, all Japanese people are beautiful. And I hope that the people of Japan believe in that too. Racism has been a huge problem not just in the US, but all over the world. The United States, I concur, is one of the most unique countries that I have lived in. There isn’t just one culture, but many that coexist within the same nation. Each culture has its own uniqueness, and the fact that we, as people, can touch and feel the difference is what makes this country special. In Japan, 98 percent of individuals are full or “pure” Japanese. This means that a small percentage of them are not. This is why there are racist people that call

out those so-called “outsiders.” I wish those who are not in favor of these “outsiders” would notice that once they step out of their comfort zone, Japan, they are the ones who become an “outsider.” I wonder how they would feel to be called by their ethnicity. I also wonder if they notice how big this world is. It is not just one country. This world is a combination of more than a hundred different countries, and hundreds of cultures congregate within this planet called Earth.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/25/asia/japans-biracial-beauty-queen/ http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/06/asia/japan-miss-world-half-indian-elephanttrainer/ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2001/03/20/books/book-reviews/ globalization-does-its-work-on-japan/#.WBT4uPorKCo

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 19

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Conscience Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 21

Tracy Liu

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Abbie Yabel Sagastume Isaula

Tiffany Lam

“In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” — Francis Bacon

Vol. XXXII, Issue 1 23

ASIAN OUTLOOK needs

artists, writers, journalists, photographers,

graphic designers, articles, opinions, interviews, stories, photographs, recipes, poems, drawings, comics,

glow sticks, a projector, bubble tea, mad caffeine, a secret base, Chinese New Year holiday, a time machine, a disco ball, power, respect, etc.

maybe you can help? Thursday, 8:00pm, UUW 329

ao.editor@gmail.com