38 15 by Northwest Asian Weekly

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 34 NO 38 SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 FREE 33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Back to school? ID charter school rides the storm Now what?

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly

Students collaborate in the main area

On Sept 4, Washington State Supreme Court proclaimed that it is unconstitutional for charter schools to use state funding. Summit Public (charter) School immediately emailed parents for an emergency meeting in its Chinatown International District school on Sept. 8. In 2012, Washington state voted to allow publicly funded schools to run privately. That meant the state will fund $7000 for each student Summit has, the same amount for a public school student. Students enrolling in charter schools are not required to pay tuition. Could that funding for charter schools be in jeopardy now? Does it mean charter schools, which should receive their funding from the state, by the end of September, won’t get a dime? Jen Wickens, chief Regional Officer for Summit Public Schools, said she is

shocked and devastated when she got the news on Sept. 4. Principal Malia Burns, said she experienced “a range of emotions” and felt, “sad and disappointed.” “We are inspired by our families’ deep commitment to our school and to the Washington charter movement,” said Wickens. “While Friday’s news about the Supreme Court ruling was shocking and devastating, it is already making our community even stronger. Our families are relieved that we will continue to offer the same high quality, personalized program we’ve provided over the last three weeks.” Close to 100 parents came to the meeting. The parents and students were reassured that the school is open. One parent asked if they needed to pay tuition from now on. Wickens said, “We never accept tuition. I am sure 100 percent.” The parents applauded. One parent complained the timing of the Supreme Court announcing its decision—in Sept. and not before the building of new charter schools. “They knew that they (charter schools) were organizing new schools a year ago.” “Whatever we need, we will keep the school open,” said Burns. What are the options and strategies for Summit? Create a new law to make charter schools legal and state-funded was one of the solutions, mentioned at the meeting. Being the 42nd state to create charter schools, Washington state now has 9 charter schools. What Washington state is going through is not uncommon in other states. For the past four days {see CHARTER cont’d on page 14}

Seattle public school teachers are on strike for the first time in 30 years, Sept. 9.

Crossroads Mall to change foreign flag after community complaints

Courtesy Bellevue Reporter

By Allison Deangelis Bellevue Reporter Crossroads Mall officials have agreed Sept. 8 to change a flag displayed at their food court after locals complained about the offensive nature of the Vietnamese flag on display, one that was created by a government that forced many Vietnamese-Americans out of the country. “Now that we have been made aware that some of our customers were uncomfortable with it, it will be

removed as quickly as possible,” said Crossroads Shopping Center Marketing Director Sue Popma. “The message that we want to convey to the public is that all people are welcome at Crossroads, regardless of their nationalities or differences.” The flag currently on display is the Flag of the People’s Army of Vietnam, the northern communists that worked with the Viet Cong to defeat the American forces during the Vietnam War, and are currently the ruling party. It is one of many international flags painted above the entrance to the Crossroads Public Market food court. As Popma pointed out, the flag currently displayed is recognized by the United Nations. But while it is the nation’s official flag, resident Huy Duong and many {see CROSSROADS cont’d on page 14}

{See related story on page 10}

The Inside Story NAMES People in the news » P. 2

■

COMMUNITY Meet Mia Tuan » P. 3

WORLD Losing Ben Kuroki » P. 5

BACK TO SCHOOL Voices from the youth » P. 7

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GUN

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

■ names in the news

Matsukawa to receive Foreign Minister’s commendation

Lori Matsukawa

On Aug. 18, Council Member Lori Matsukawa was named a recipient of the Foreign Minister's Commendation. The anchor of KING-TV in Seattle helped establish the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington in 2003, and participated in

the 2004 Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program. The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle announced her award with high praise, noting that her "congeniality and persistence in both her professional and personal pursuits have forged close

friendships and new connections on both sides of the Pacific." She joins the ranks of New York-based USJC members Gary Moriwaki and Susan Onuma, who received the commendation last year. 

Moriguchi awarded

Samuel E. Kelly Award from the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) Oct. 17th at the University of Washington. Founded in 1994, the Multicultural Alumni Partnership is dedicated to promoting diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community. MAP’s signature event is the annual “Bridging the Gap” Breakfast, held annually on Homecoming Saturday. The morning celebration recognizes the recipients of the MAP Tomio Moriguchi scholarship and the service of Tomio Moriguchi, infamous alumni and friends who have for Uwajimaya (and class of ’61 made a difference for diversity at UW) will be receiving the Dr. the UW. 

Miss Chinese Seattle 2015

Seattle Colleges Chancellor announces retirement

Jill Wakefield

After 40 years with Seattle Colleges, Chancellor Jill Wakefield has announced her retirement, effective June 2016. She was appointed as chancellor in 2009, becoming the district’s first female in that position. When she retires, she will be the longest-serving chancellor in the district’s history. Wakefield started with the district as a program assistant in the veterans office at South Seattle Community College, then served as public information officer, director of development,

vice president for institutional advancement, and vice president for instruction, as well as president from 2003 to 2008. She succeeded Charles Mitchell as chancellor. “I couldn’t be more pleased to have spent my professional career with Seattle Colleges,” says Dr. Wakefield. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to represent this great district and its talented educators and staff, and I believe we have a solid foundation in place to educate tomorrow’s workforce.” 

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce will be hosting historical Seattle Miss Chinatown Pageant Sept. 20th 5:30 p.m. at Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue. Every year, the Scholarship for Women Program educates thousands within the Puget Sound region about the importance of Chinese heritage, culture and tradition. Through this goodwill

competition, the program allows the opportunity for the young female participants to compete for scholarship funds to be applied toward their continuing higher education. The winner will represent Seattle at the Miss Chinatown USA Scholarship Program in San Francisco the following February. 

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

■ Community news

Meet Mia Tuan

UW’s Dean of the College of Education By Nina Huang Northwest Asian Weekly “UW, where have you been all my life?” asked Mia Tuan. Tuan is the first Asian American female and third Asian American to be the Dean of the College of Education at the University of Washington (UW). The opportunity at UW was a “dream come true” for Tuan. Born in Taiwan, Tuan and her family immigrated to the U.S. by way of Australia when she was three. She considers herself part of the 1.5 generation. Tuan’s family settled in the Bay Area. She explained that they were a part of the generation that helped diversify the area. “My experiences as a kid were formative, a lot had to do with ‘Do I belong? Where do I belong? What does it take to belong?’”

Tuan said. Tuan was aware that she wasn’t part of the “norm” and was subjected to racist comments growing up. But when she attended the University of California at Berkeley in the mid1980’s, she felt liberated. She described the experience as a freedom to be in a place where race wasn’t the first thing people noticed because the population was about 50 percent Asian. “We’re not just individuals, we’re members of groups, and that membership matters in really important ways,” Tuan said. Tuan was a sociologist in training and she took that work and went deeper at UCLA during graduate school. She studied the concepts of identity development, racial ethnic identity development, immigration adaptation,

and Asian adoptee identities. Tuan was interested in the changing student dynamics of school-race relations. Tuan’s first position out of graduate school was at the University of Oregon (UO) teaching race relations and identity development. “I consider myself an accidental administrator,” she said. A race-related incident took place on the predominantly white campus during Tuan’s earlier days at UO, and she was consulted for her experience to help with the situation. She joined an advisory group on issues of race, but no one taught her how to talk about race. She became intrigued with the idea that talking about race wasn’t just a simple conversation. {see TUAN cont’d on page 12}

Mia Tuan

■ Visionary award honoree

Young heart, strong vision Sarah Baker wants to create space for everyone to communicate

By Peggy Chapman Northwest Asian Weekly At only 26 years old, Sarah Baker has an impressive resume of supporting diversity. Not only is she the presidentelect of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Seattle Chapter, she also serves as Student Body President for North Seattle College. She also served as a senior representative for the JACL Youth Council for the Northwest. She has a healthy roster of contribution and attempt to bring together people from all intersections of life, or as she says, “getting people into one space.” What propelled her to be so engaged in issues of diversity and community? It was something she wished she had when she was young—community, and just being able to find that space where she could relate with others—and sorting out the confusion of not knowing exactly where you fit in. Sarah is Japanese, Scottish, and Irish. She was also born and raised in Seattle and wonders sometimes if she “takes the city for granted. She relates a story of a recent conference for technical and community colleges, where there were break-out sessions, but it was suggested to work in groups based on ethnicity. This was a question she had always faced when she was young, and still faces as an adult. Where should she fit in? Her contribution to address the question continues today. “We should shape our identity; own who you are.” Early in her college career she took social justice classes, and realized she

had a passion for “bringing together communities of color.” One of the most recent projects she is proud of is an API LGBTQ event that was hosted on June 13th and 14th. The goal of the event was to build the foundation for an API PFLAG (parents, family and friends of lesbians and gays) group to be based in the Seattle area. Her intention was to create a safe space for API LGBTQ youth, their families, and anyone else within the community that might want to join. Marsha Aizumi and her son Aiden traveled to Seattle as the main speakers. Born in Japan, Aiden was adopted by Marsha and her husband as a baby. Marsha’s book Two Spirits One Heart is about their journey through Aiden’s transition from female to male, and she now travels around the country sharing their inspirational story. Baker coordinated the event and brought in the Aizumis to speak. She spent over nine months organizing the event. While Seattle is extremely LGBTQ friendly, Baker states “there are not as many places of support specifically for queer API youth and their allies. We are in contact with PFLAG delegates from our area as well as at the national level, and we are looking for other community members to become involved.” Her next project is an API support group meeting, which is planned for Sept.14. Aside from her work for the community, on weekends Sarah works at Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market where she has been for 11 years. In her spare time she volunteers for an after-school tutoring program working with at-risk-youth and takes a variety of dance classes. A fun

Sarah Baker

fact: her favorite video game is Ocarina of Time. What does she ultimately want to do in the future? She laughs and says people ask her that all the time. Ideally, she would like to promote civil engagement on a

community level (which she seems to be successful at so far)—and then hopefully a global level. For reservations, call 206-223-0623 or email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com 

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

■ Community NEWS

A new “beautiful view”

Jing Mei School starts off the school year in a new space Jing Mei, the only public Mandarin Dual Language School in the state that follows a two-way model opened up for the school year in its relocated home at 12635 SE 56th St., Bellevue. The name, which means “beautiful view” in Mandarin, was recommended by the school community when it was first established. The school is led by Principal Vivian Tam. Student enrollment in the classes is balanced between native Mandarin speakers and students who speak other languages such as English, Spanish, and Hindu. English and Mandarin are used to teach the curriculum throughout the day. Jing Mei started off the school year with a brand new campus. The school is sectioned off into different areas for the varying grades by elements: 木, 火, 土, 金, 水. Literally, this translates to wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—the basics of the Chinese five elements theory. These characters are spread across the campus on engraved signboards on wooden supports. The school is split with American families, and new Chinese families. New students in kindergarten begin with a requisite 90 percent Mandarin immersion. According to parent Devin Israel Cabanilla, “My own Asian American family is now in our fifth generation as

First day of class

Seattleites. My three children are wholly enrolled in at Jing Mei grades, Pre-K, 1st, and 2nd grades. We use my greatgreat grandfather's Chinese name and a transliteration of our children's Korean first names from my wife…representing our multi-ethnic Asian American heritage. All children regardless of ethnicity use a Chinese name.” Jing Mei’s vision statement is that it “prepares each and every student to become a bi-literate, bilingual, and global citizen of the 21st century.” “You will have to come see the brand new campus yourself,”says Cabanilla, “It is amazing.” 

Wing Luke Museum closes Year 1 and prepares for Year 2 of Do You Know Bruce? Exhibition on Bruce Lee

Building on the first year of its Do You Know Bruce? exhibition, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (The Wing) is excited to bring a fresh angle on the Bruce Lee story. Year 2 of the exhibition digs deeper into the significance of Bruce Lee and his impact in media during a time of racial stereotypes and barriers. With the continued full support of Linda and Shannon Lee, The Wing is the only museum, outside of Hong Kong, to present an exhibition about Bruce Lee.

Do You Know Bruce? Year 1 closed Sept. 6.

In 32 years of life, Bruce Lee became a global icon and changed the world, and especially had an impact on Seattle. Year 1 included personal writings and belongings, and collector memorabilia.

stereotypes, broke barriers and transformed media perceptions by insisting on playing roles of real people rather than of Chinese male caricatures. Currently in development, new rarely seen memorabilia for the Year 2 exhibition may include: •Largest display of Green Hornet toys and collectibles ever in the U.S. • Personal letters from his early television career •Behind-the-scene photos from the sets of Way of the Dragon and Enter the Dragon •Handwritten film notes by Bruce for Game of Death •Rare photo of inside his early studio in Seattle’s Chinatown •Photos from his apartment in the University District where he launched his early studio and fell in love with wife Linda

Year 2 opens October 3 The Year 2 exhibition will also feature Still rooted in his Seattle story, Year 2 text panels written by national blogger Phil of this three-year exhibition tackles Bruce Yu (aka Angry Asian Man). Lee’s larger-than-life impact in the media Year 2 Bruce Lee’s Chinatown tours – and film industry. From Green Hornet begin October 6  to Enter the Dragon, Bruce Lee defied

Coding at Jing Mei

New campus

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ national NEWS

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Japanese-American WWII war hero Ben Kuroki dies

Ben Kuroki archive photo

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — Ben Kuroki, who overcame the American military’s discriminatory policies to become the only Japanese American to fly over Japan during World War II, has died. He was 98. Kuroki died Tuesday at his Camarillo, California, home, where he was under hospice care, his daughter Julie Kuroki told the Los Angeles Times on Saturday. The son of Japanese immigrants who was raised on a Hershey, Nebraska, farm, Kuroki and his brother, Fred, volunteered for service after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. They were initially rejected by recruiters who questioned the loyalty of the children of Japanese immigrants. Undeterred, the brothers drove 150 miles to another recruiter, who allowed them to sign up. At the time, the Army Air Forces banned

Near LA’s Koreatown, pastor tries to lift veil on youth drug abuse

By Christine Armario Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a blueand-white church on the outskirts of Los Angeles’ Koreatown, pastor Young Ho Han is trying to lift the veil on a problem silently afflicting his community: drug abuse among young Korean-Americans. It’s an issue Han knows well, starting

with his own addiction to cocaine after immigrating to Los Angeles in the 1970s to the increasingly young U.S.-born Koreans whose parents discreetly approach him today. There is the girl whose friends abandoned her in a trash bin after one ruinous binge. The high school debate champion who got {see ABUSE cont’d on page 12}

soldiers of Japanese ancestry from flying, but Kuroki earned his way onto a bomber crew and flew 58 bomber missions over Europe, North Africa and Japan during the war. He took part in the August 1943 raid over Nazi oil fields in Ploesti, Romania, that killed 310 fliers in his group. He was captured after his plane ran out of fuel over Morocco, but he managed to escape with crewmates to England. Because of his Japanese ancestry, he was initially rejected when he asked to serve on a B-29 bomber that was to be used in the Pacific. But after repeated requests and a review of his stellar service record, Secretary of War Harry Stimson granted an exception. Crew members nicknamed him “Most {see KUROKI cont’d on page 12}

Trial set for officer charged with abusing Indian man

By Jay Reeves Associated Press

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama police officer went on trial Sept. 1 on a federal charge of using excessive force against an Indian man who was thrown down and partially paralyzed during a confrontation in a suburban neighborhood. Madison police officer Eric Sloan Parker, 26 is charged with violating the civil rights of 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, who was staying with his son near Huntsville in February and was walking in the neighborhood when police received a call about a suspicious person walking in the area. Police video showed an officer struggling to communicate with the man because of language differences. After a few moments, an officer slammed Patel to the ground face-first as another officer stood by.

“He don’t speak a lick of English,” one of the officers said afterward. Patel is expected to testify through a translator but will need a walker to get to the stand, said his lawyer, Hank Sherrod. “He’s not fully recovered and isn’t expected to fully recover,” said Sherrod. “His improvement is very, very slow right now.” {see INDIAN cont’d on page 13}

Assunta Ng

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $30 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $25 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

■ COMMUNITY news Car chase and collision in the ID A car collided with another vehicle at the corner of Dearborn and 7th Ave So. on Labor Day. The crash was a result of a shootout at the Central District’s Powell Barnett Park. No park visitors were hit due to gunfire. The incident was reported approximately 3:30 p.m. according to police records. After the multiple shots fired, it then resulted in a car chase which led to the collision in the International District. An officer in pursuit reported the collision. According to the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, “One teenage suspect was quickly apprehended by police

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

but a long search of the area for the second suspect — described as a heavy set black male around 6′ and wearing a black puffy jacket and a red t-shirt — was not successful. Police also recovered a revolver on the ground near the crash scene.” 

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

■ COMMUNITY calendar SAT 9/12

WHERE: China Harbor Restaurant 2040 Westlake AVE N., Seattle WHAT: Seattle’s Night Market & Autumn WHEN: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. TICKETS: 206-223-0623, Moon Festival WHERE: Union Station Plaza & 5th AVE rsvp@nwasianweekly.com South SAT 9/19 WHEN: 6 p.m .- midnight NOTE: Food trucks will offer $5 Asian WHAT: Korean BBQ Cook-off themed menu/food item. WHERE: Seward Park, 5895 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle SAT 9/12 - SUN 9/13 WHEN: 4-7 p.m. REQUEST A FORM: WHAT: 18th Annual Aki Matsuri WHERE: Bellevue College Main Campus bbq@kacwashington.org COST: $15/person, $5/children ages 7-12, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE free for kids 6 years and younger Bellevue, WA 98007 WHEN: Saturday, 9/12 (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) SUN 9/20 Sunday, 9/13 (10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) I N F O : h t t p: // w w w. e n m a .o r g / 2 015/ WHAT: Michi Hirata North: Piano overview.html Concert WHERE: Meany Hall, University of THRU THU 9/13 Washington WHEN: 5 p.m. WHAT: Pop Art that Packs a Punch: Artist Roger Shimomura Sheds Light on COST: $35/person, $20/student w/ID TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com/ Stereotypes WHERE: Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 event/1586211 Pacific Ave., Tacoma WHEN: Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 What: Miss Chinese Seattle Scholarship for Women Pageant a.m.-5 p.m. Where: Bellevue Meydenbauer COST: $12-$35 Convention Center 11100 NE 6th Street INFO: 253-272-4258, Bellevue, WA 98004 tacomaartmuseum.org When: 6 - 9pm Cost: $30 to $100 SUN 9/13 Info: https://events.r20.constantcontact. WHAT: An appreciation event to com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eb7lwnc i551c8f24&oseq&c&ch recognize Al Sugiyama WHERE: Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave. S., WHAT: Helping Link’s 22nd Anniversary Seattle Gala WHEN: 3-5:30 p.m. WHERE: Mercer Island Community NOTE: No gifts please! RSVP: thankyoual@aol.com, 206-326- Center, 8236 S.E. 24th St., Mercer Island WHEN: 6-8 p.m. 9042 COST: $85/person, $125/VIP ticket WHAT: Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural INFO: www.helpinglink.org Festival WHERE: Seattle Center Armory, Seattle SUN 9/22 - MON 9/23 WHEN: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. WHAT: Chongqing acrobatic delegation INFO: www.maunalua.com WHERE: Chief Sealth International High School FRI 9/18 WHEN: 7-9 p.m. WHAT: ReWa’s 30th Anniversary Gala SAT 9/26 WHERE: The Westin Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m. WHAT: Guest speaker Lori Tsugawa COST: $100/person, $1,000/table Whaley RSVP: events@rewa.org, 206-721-8448 WHERE: Dojo Room, INFO: www.rewa.org Blding #2, JCCCW 1414 South Weller St. Seattle, WA WHAT: Women of Color Empowered WHEN: 1 pm- 3:30 pm Luncheon, “Women and Money”

■ World news

China seizes 620 turtles and tortoises smuggled from Vietnam

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese border patrol officials seized 620 wild turtles and tortoises — 510 of them considered endangered — that were found alive in a shipment of frozen seafood from Vietnam, state media said Sunday. The official Xinhua News Agency said border police detected crawling sounds when they were inspecting the shipment at a border city in the southwestern region of Guangxi on Aug. 24. Police discovered the endangered species, including Indochinese box turtles and elongated tortoises, in the shipment heading for the neighboring province

of Guangdong, where the animals are considered delicacies, Xinhua said. The local state-run Nanning Evening News said border officials grew suspicious when the cargo was clearly more than what had been declared and that the driver was nervous when interrogated. They found 15 foam boxes and, upon discovering the live animals, questioned the driver, who was unable to provide any documents proving their legitimacy, the local media said. The turtles and tortoises were confiscated and handed over to China’s forestry authorities, the media said. 

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ Voices from the youth Some backto-school inspiration

By Kimmy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

Growing up as a firstgeneration Vietnamese American student, I have to constantly prove who I am as a person and what I am capable of. There were many expectations that I was held accountable for growing up. From speaking Vietnamese at home, to exceeding in school and staying obedient; these expectations stayed with me as I grew older. I do not really know where they came from, but it was always what was expected of me. Likewise, other Asian-Americans I know face similar expectations. I wondered where these ideas of “who I should be” came from because in reality it became a part of who I am. As I entered high school I was constantly challenged whether I should be what was expected of me or to step outside the norm and be who I want to be. At times I felt like I could not meet what was expected of me. The fear of disappointing my parents lingered throughout my mind and became the ultimate motivation for me to do what is anticipated of me as well as beyond that and finding what I truly am passionate about. At first, it took a while to figure out what I liked {see NGUYEN cont’d on page 12}

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Still battling There is more for feminism than a single story after 200 years

By Zhi Lin Summer Youth Leadership Program

By Nesta Lu Summer Youth Leadership Program

Chimamanda Adichie, in a recent TED Talk, spoke about the danger of single stories and how it can lead to stereotypes as well as misunderstandings in the society. Her voice echoes as I think about my own experiences living in two different countries. From when I was as young as I can remember, I listened to the adults around me fussing about how great of difference there was among lives between my home country China and other places. I heard them comparing living standards, government styles, and income level. Even though I did not really understand the meaning of these conversations, the adults’ comparisons already carved a view of foreign countries in my mind. As I grew older, I continued listening to these conversations but then began looking at lives in foreign countries through world news, books, and movies. I remember thinking that America and other European countries all had tall buildings with neon, colorful lights sparkling in the night sky, and all Americans (who I thought were only Caucasians) only ate steak with a knife, dressed in formal clothing in high-scale restaurants. At that time, I was under the

In 1792, Mary Wollenscroft(1759-1797) wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Women and composed one of her famous quotes: “I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” Wollenscroft was one of the first and foremost famous feminists who saw the limited rights women had and began to advocate for rights. Wollenscroft’s quote addresses the conflict of injustice women witness and the need for a more superior power for themselves. Even though feminism has existed for over two centuries, the idea of equity for women is not thoroughly fulfilled today, which is an immense conflict for women throughout the world. Over time, people pick up negative connotations about women because men, and sometimes women themselves, depict females as helpless or weak. Women, on average, typically earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men when both men and women have the same occupation. The gender wage gap illustrates a discriminatory action where women are paid less than what men do, even if they have the same job. Not only are there wage gaps, but the availability for

{see LIN cont’d on page 13}

{see LU cont’d on page 12}

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

■ Arts & entertainment

Totally Awesome Hulk and a totally awesome line-up

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

With the sun setting earlier and temperatures cooling, it’s clear that the summer is over. Let’s say goodbye to this last season as we examine and usher in everything new that fall has to offer: new characters, new castings, and new television shows. It’s time to get back at it! Kristen Kish

A Marvel family addition

Fans are rejoicing in Marvel Comics’ reveal that the new and much-anticipated Hulk is fan favorite character Amadeus Cho. For those unfamiliar, Amadeus is a Korean American character that has been featured in the Marvel world for the last ten years. As a teenage character, Amadeus will possess a plucky and fun spirit, and a real love for being the Hulk. This is why the Marvel powers that be have decided to call Amadeus the “Totally Awesome Hulk,” which will also serve as the name of the rebooted comic book series. And to put even more icing on the cake, the new series will be written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Frank Cho — two Korean American professionals. So yes, this means that the new Hulk series will showcase a Korean American lead character, writer, and artist. This is pretty much the Holy Grail for Asian American comic book fans everywhere. A friend of mine said it best: “I’m [now] the happiest little grown Asian kid.” This news has been hotly anticipated by Asian American fans who have long yearned for a relatable superhero. 2015 isn’t even over yet, and already it’s been a banner year for Asian American actors and characters

Amadeus Cho appears in Totally Awesome Hulk

breaking out in new and novel ways in the media, arts, and pop culture. Rock on, 2015. Amadeus Cho’s turn as the new Hulk begins when “Totally Awesome Hulk #1” comes out on shelves in December.

Fall television: New castings and shows

Previous “Top Chef” winner and television personality Kristen Kish returned to the small screen in her new series titled “36 Hours”. Kish memorably dominated her season of “Top Chef” and became the first Asian American female to win the cooking competition reality show.

Kish, who was born in Seoul and raised by her adopted family in Michigan, went on to use her winnings from “Top Chef” to fund a return trip to Korea where she explored her roots and familial background for the first time as an adult. The television show format, which borrows its concept from The New York Times’ popular “36 Hours” newspaper column, follows Kish and co-host former professional soccer player Kyle Martino, as they tackle and discover a city in a span of 36 hours. Each hour-long episode will feature consultations with locals, highlighting city attractions and must-dos, and the hottest restaurants and bars.

Between the whirlwind travel and local eats, this honestly sounds like my kind of show! “36 Hours” recently debuted on the Travel Channel and airs on Mondays at 8:00p.m. Comedienne Margaret Cho is also returning to television! Cho is best known for her short-lived yet trailblazing ABC sitcom “All-American Girl,” which was the first network show to center around an Asian American family. News recently broke that Cho will be guest starring on the upcoming ABC sitcom “Dr. Ken” as the titular character’s older and more successful sister Dr. Wendi. “Dr. Ken” stars actor and comedian Ken Jeong, whose own experiences as a real-life doctor served as inspiration for the sitcom. Jeong plays Ken Park—a doctor who’s trying to balance his career, marriage, and parenting, but failing at all of these tasks. Hilarious hijinks ensue. Two big personality Korean American comedians on one show? Playing rival siblings? I can’t think of a better half hour of television. “Dr. Ken” premieres on Oct. 2 at 8:30p.m. on ABC. Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com. 

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ arts and entertainment

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Asia looking to dominate world music

Gerphil Flores

By Teresa Cerojano Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Music hit maker David Foster said Monday he’s always on the lookout for fresh talent, and Asia seems to have a lot of it. Foster is in Manila for the “HITMAN: David and Friends” Asia tour concert with Natalie Cole, Boyz II Men, Ruben Studdard, Filipino singer Charice Pempengco and new Filipino talent Mark Mabasa. Foster told The Associated Press in an interview that Filipinos have an edge

Mark Mabasa

because they grow up on karaoke and American music, and from there formulate their own sound. The record producer and 16-time Grammy-winning composer said Asians are figuring out how to dominate the world with their music, with K-pop in South Korea well on its way to doing so. Foster has mentored Charice, who broke into the global music industry through popularity on YouTube. He has also promised Asia’s Got Talent Season 1 finalist Gerphil Flores that the world will know her. He compared Flores’

opera-style singing to Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. “It’s not that I’m particularly looking for stars in Asia. I’m just always looking for stars and I spend so much time in Asia. I know they are out there,” he said. He said he is hoping to see more singers whom he can help break into the music industry during the second season of Singapore-based Asia’s Got Talent, where he is a judge. In a group news conference, Cole said she is hoping a song from her Spanishlanguage album produced by Foster’s

record label can be part of Tuesday’s show. The album, released in 2013, has been nominated for three Latin Grammy awards. The 65-year-old singer and daughter of singing legend Nat King Cole said she loved recording in Spanish and would like to record more Spanish songs because “there’s really great Latin music out there.” Charice said she was excited but a bit nervous about expectations of her in her first concert in four years, but that she was going to have fun and “just give my best, if not 100, 200” percent. 

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

OPINION

■ PUBLISHER'S BLOG

A non-traditional school in Chinatown

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly

Not many people are aware that Chinatown/International District has a new charter school. For those who know there is one, myths and misconceptions exist. Who are the students? Are they achievers and smart? How are they chosen? How is it different from a regular public school? Are charter schools supposed to be better than public schools? Is this an asset in the community? From the outside, no one can tell the former building of the Asian Resource Center is now the Summit Public (Charter) school housing 120 students of the 9th grade. (The school name is not really visible if you walk or drive past the road.) Once you step inside, you seem to be in a different world—bright, inviting, modernly-designed small classrooms filled with diverse students engaging with their teachers or working on assignments with laptops, focused, and eager to learn. I visited Summit last Friday afternoon, an hour before school ended at 3:30 p.m. Usually kids behave restlessly, thinking about going home and their weekend activities. (This was me when I was in 9th grade.) But the students at Summit showed no signs of

A visit to Summit

After the community meeting. (Photo by George Liu /NWAW)

distraction, slowing down, or goofing off. No one even checked the time. No one even mentioned that Labor Day, a long weekend, was coming. These kids also started school early on Aug. 17, two weeks before the Seattle Public Schools. The Asian Weekly learned that several students actually picked the school themselves. An Vu, of Vietnamese descent, and Ashley

Clark, an African American, both 14, told the Asian Weekly that they picked Summit themselves, and are excited to come to school everyday, while they had anxiety and depression when going to their old schools. What caught Vu’s eyes first when he read a brochure about Summit, “It gives free laptops,” he said.

Principal Malia Burns and Sam Farr. (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

Vu said he likes the fact that he is being challenged, and he enjoyed seeing his progress at Summit. What caused Clark’s anxiety about going to school before? She worried “how other kids treated me,” she said about her old school. A Vietnamese-Chinese Van To, a Northend parent, said his daughter picked Summit after studying many other schools’

websites. To said, “The school (Summit) is smaller. Kids learn better. It’s less complicated. I worry about my kid getting mixed up with bad kids in a big school. My daughter likes it here.” There is a difference between students at Summit and other {see SUMMIT cont’d on page 15}

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

OPINION

■ editorial

Is it back to school for Seattle Public Schools? Negotiations, negotiations…

And the negotiations have been tenuous. As of Sept. 8, there has been progress, but it depends on which side you are on. What does the Seattle Education Association (SEA) say? Despite having made progress in some areas (guaranteed 30 minutes recess for K-5, evaluation, enforceable case loads for therapists and other specialists,

substitute issues), Seattle educators are still VERY far apart from the school district in contract negotiations. According to Andrew Russell, who teaches for Seattle Public Schools (SPS), “not only is the school district’s overall compensation offer far below what is needed to attract and retain quality teachers in this increasingly expensive city, but they also still propose to lengthen the school day with no extra pay,

a stand that all educators regard as insulting. We also have not reached agreement on SEA’s proposals designed to reign in the over-testing of students or to create building-level equity teams to address the barriers faced by children of color in receiving a quality education.” There is good news, however. Russell says, “ because I have never seen my coworkers and our union as organized and united as we are now.”

And the what does Seattle Public Schools (SPS) say? According to the press release on Sept. 8, these are the points noted: --SPS has offered $62 million as a counter to the $172 million worth of asks of SEA -- Significant staff increases for special education --Wage increases --30 minutes of additional student instructional time in year 3 -- “We gave that proposal just

before midnight last night and are awaiting a response from SEA” -- SPS bargaining team continues to be ready and available to meet --“We ask that families please have a contingency plan in place for childcare, in case school does not start tomorrow We hope both SPS and SEA are able to work out a resolution soon. 

■ Commentary

Here’s 8 Ways Asian Americans can stand up to racist presidential candidates

Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Donald Trump this week unleashed a string of racist insults against Asian Americans and Latinos. Trump pulled a “ching chong” at a rally and earlier called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants. He then threw out a renowned Latino journalist from a press conference just for asking questions. Bush said “anchor babies” was an immigration problem caused by the “Asian people” and then said today he would “quadruple down” on his position. And now Carly Fiorina. We just got a terrific preview of how a President Bush III and President Trump would treat Americans who are not White. In a more perfect Union, these idiots would have been forced to end their candidacies by Americans of all colors who believe that our President should at least be a decent person. What to do? For one thing, forget about apologies. Genuine contrition by candidates and elected officials can only be proven by actions. In the context of a high stakes political battle, a well-crafted apology is often used simply to counter a news cycle, and not reflect the person’s true feelings. Here’s eight suggestions on what Asian Americans can do to hold Bush and Trump accountable. 1. Strengthen alliances with Latinos and other people of color. These candidates don’t discriminate when it comes to racism against Americans. They’re equal opportunity racists. Asian Americans are in the same boat as Latinos. Bush and Trump see us as The Other, not as Americans. Let’s stand up for our Brown and Black brothers and sisters, because we’re all in this together. Don’t know where to start? Here you go: latinovictory. us and #BlackLivesMatter. 2. Find pressure points and make them hurt. Asian Americans may not have the largest numbers, but we have buying power. Let’s identify a Trump business that depends on Asian Americans and boycott the hell out of it. With Bush, we can comb

through his FEC records and identify his Asian American donors to contact and ask them to hold their candidate accountable. 3. Ask our organizations to step up. Many Asian American groups quickly responded to the racist insults. Other organizations have yet to respond. Understandably, many 501(c)(3) organizations are leery about weighing in to political situations because of IRS restrictions. But certain groups, like the Asian American Journalists Association, have watchdog roles that would be helpful in this situation. Let’s nudge them into action. UPDATE (8/29/2015): AAJA issued this. 4. Join in ongoing actions. The most notable response to this situation has

been a hashtag campaign by Jason Fong, a 15-year-old student in the Los Angeles area. #MyAsianAmericanStory was started on Monday evening and has been used more than 6,500 times. 5. Share your voice in the media. Write a letter to the editor, or an opinion piece. Write a blog post. Throw something up on social media. Staying silent is the worst thing we can do. Search for your favorite ethnic media or mainstream media outlet; most have easily accessible information on how to submit letters or opinion pieces. 6. Ask the political parties and other candidates to weigh in. The Republican and Democratic parties seem to be watching this from the sidelines. If they oppose racist

rhetoric in campaigns, we need to hear from them. We need the other candidates to demonstrate their opposition as well. Here’s contact info for the Democratic and Republican parties and a website listing the various presidential campaigns. 7. Share this. This one is pretty easy, right? 8. Do the one real and tangible action to influence this election. If you’re not registered to vote or if you don’t vote, you’re giving up the one essential tool you have to ensure that we elect a President who can advance this country by caring about all Americans, not just some. Register today. Let’s elect a President who is, well, not racist. 

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

{ABUSE cont’d from page 5} addicted to meth within a month of trying pot. The college graduate whose boyfriend persuaded her to try heroin. Some parents are so fearful their family’s secret will be discovered they park two blocks away. “They hide it,” said Han, 59. “There’s no talking about drugs.” Among all Asian groups, Koreans have some of the highest rates of illicit drug use — 12.9 percent reported illegally using a narcotic within the last year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The nationwide rate is 14.9. For years, studies lumped all Asians into one category, giving the impression drug abuse was by and large not a problem. But increasingly, health officials and advocates are pointing toward the need to evaluate individual subgroups and take a culturallymindful approach to treatment. They point to data showing Asian-Americans with a drug addiction are among the least likely to enter treatment. One study by University of Colorado researchers found AsianAmericans suffering from substance abuse were about half as likely as their white counterparts to get treatment. “The Asian culture is not a culture driven by telling people what’s going on behind closed doors,” said Timothy Fong, a psychiatry professor at the University of {KUROKI cont’d from page 5} Honorable Son,” and the War Department gave him a Distinguished Flying Cross. He was saluted by Time magazine in 1944 under the headline “HEROES: Ben Kuroki, American.” He was hailed a hero and a patriot at a time when tens of thousands of Japanese Americans were confined at internment camps amid fears of a Japanese invasion of the West Coast. After the war, Kuroki enrolled at

the University of Nebraska, where he obtained a journalism degree. He published a weekly newspaper in Nebraska for a short time before moving to Michigan and finally to California, where he retired as the news editor of Ventura Star-Free Press in 1984. In 2005, he received the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, one of the nation’s highest military honors. “I had to fight like hell for the right to fight for my own country,” Kuroki said at the award ceremony in Lincoln, Nebraska. “And I now feel vindication.” 

{TUAN cont’d from page 3} The president at the time asked Tuan to lead a taskforce and explore the race issues. That’s how she got into administration. For several years, Tuan worked proactively to make the syllabus more inclusive and diverse. Tuan was a pioneer in her role, and one of the first women of color to be promoted at UO. Then UW called, and she couldn’t refuse. Tuan started as UW’s Dean of the College of Education on July 1. She feels fortunate that others have already paved the path in the work of equity, inclusion, and access at UW. She doesn’t have to be the first one, which means the work will look different. But for her, to step into the leadership role, there is

{LU cont’d from page 7} women to work in a high-paying job is limited because people believe they are incapable of competing in that work environment. In occupations that involve hightech fields, U.S. women working in science, engineering, and technology were 45 percent more likely than their male peers to leave the industry within the year because of gender bias. Human trafficking and sex slavery are another problem women face. A majority of human trafficking

California, Los Angeles. “You don’t say, `Look at my problems and help me.”’ In Los Angeles, home to the largest U.S. Asian population, substance abuse treatment is sometimes offered under the guise of spiritual retreats or acupuncture clinics. Those who have tried more direct outreach on drug prevention and treatment say they frequently encounter resistance or denial. The Asian American Drug Abuse Program, created specifically to address addiction in the community, struggles to fill beds in its residential treatment program with Asian-Americans. Nearly half of inpatient clients are black or Latino. Less than a quarter are Asian and the remainder white. “We’re the minority myth that they talk about,” said Dean Nakanishi, administrative director for AADAP. “That we don’t have problems and we’re always doing well and we always excel and we don’t have those kinds of issues.” There have been no large-scale studies examining why Korean-Americans have higher drug abuse rates, but Han and others point to myriad factors. The clients Han sees often feel a profound disconnect with their parents and turn to drugs as both an escape and a way to fit in, he said. “They’re not Korean and they’re not American,” he said. “No identity.” In the mid-1990s, Han had hit rock bottom: Three failed stints in rehab and

{NGUYEN cont’d from page 5} doing. Trying various clubs at my high school I found passion in serving the community. At first I thought it was just fun to be surrounded by my close friends while doing something that gave me a greater chance to get accepted into college. Later I realized why I wanted to volunteer around my community. It was not just because I was with my friends or to get into a good college. I soon realized that I

a mobility and permission that comes with not being first. “I love being at an institution where the president can talk about equity, identity, and inequality fluidly…I feel confident that my leader gets these issues and has committed to making a difference. I am clear that equity and having a community is core to the faculty in this college. It’s so relieving and empowering,” she said. Partnership and collaboration are words that Tuan hears again and again at UW. She is learning to unfurl and figure out what her and her team can do to collectively move the needle with the current issues. Some of the issues include K-12 college access, opportunity gaps, differential rates, kids from immigrant communities, etc. They aim to create a sense of belonging for those who are minorities and working with

involves women and young girls used for slavery or sex labor. This process of enslaving these women and young girls are an example of dehumanizing and degrading females because their identity is taken away and the only aspect of their identity remaining is their gender. And unfortunately, women are considered an easier target to control and abuse. Approximately 3,287 people are sold or kidnapped and forced into slavery each day, making $32 billion in profits every year worldwide. Out of 20.9 million adults and children

a penchant for trying any drug he could get his hands on. Feeling worthless, Han decided to try and kill himself. He drank a cup of hydrochloric acid and fell asleep. “As soon as I opened my eyes I prayed to God,” Han said, his voice growing quiet at the memory. “I have one prayer request: I don’t want to do drugs.” He quit cold turkey, trained to become a pastor and opened a small church in 1996 offering Koreans with drug addictions a free place to stay and a regimented program built around morning hikes, prayer and counseling. Unlike other rehabs, when a resident relapsed, he’d let them come back. He also is outspoken about his church’s mission. “We are not proud but we don’t hide it,” said Han, now a married father of four. At night, Han gets upward of 50 calls from parents inquiring about help for their children. At one point, there were more than 100 people living in the building. Most who arrive at his doorstep are 20-something Koreans born in the U.S. and struggling with issues that reach far beyond addiction. In the clinical world, Han’s approach would likely be considered controversial: Letting addicts who relapse return and relying on a primarily faith-based approach are not considered standard practices. “A lot of people argue faith is no good, it’s brain-washing,” Fong said. “But at the same time, if it means somebody is coming

served my community because of what I was fortunate to have growing up as a first generation Vietnamese American student. Serving my community was a way for me to give back for what I have. My parents provided me with everything I need, from a place to live, food, clothes and necessities I need for school. They provided me with more than a stable living environment. After high school I want to pursue my passion of serving my community, science, math and children by going to a university and later go

poverty-impacted kids. Tuan hopes to lead the way about best practices and the best outcomes that are diverse. “A teacher has to know how to teach a broad section of kids, not just a particular type of group. The principal has to be a part of a diverse workforce and work with kids from all walks of life,” she explained. Tuan feels fortunate to have had important mentors along the way who have shaped how she thinks intellectually and helped her become the administrator she strives to be. “I do feel this sense of responsibility to make a difference. This is not just a job; it’s a responsibility. Whatever it takes to connect to communities, and what it means to develop those relationships of trust; both as an individual and representative of my

brought into human trafficking, 98 percent of them are women and young girls. Misogyny is repeated in many lyrics of many songs, where women are often shown as “H— s” or “B—es” to indicate that women are their piece of object they use for sexual purposes only. Rappers such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Danny Brown, and many other artists receive an extensive amount of money for songs they sell with misogynistic lyrics. Lyrics like these aren’t helping achieve feminist goals of gender

back and they’re restoring meaningful connections ... I don’t care what you call it.” Inhui Bak, 48, a hairdresser in Los Angeles, heard about Han’s church through a co-worker’s aunt. Her son, Daniel Bak, 22, had overdosed three times. “I knew he had a problem, but I can’t say it,” Inhui Bak said. “All the Korean mommies or daddies, they don’t want to say it.” In many regards, Bak’s son had been a model teen. He got into an exclusive high school and earned near perfect scores on his SATs. But he said he struggled with the pressure and never felt like he belonged. After four years of addiction, he moved into Han’s church in February. Daniel Bak is learning Korean, meditating and says he’s hasn’t been so clean since he was 18. A month ago, however, he hopped over the gate and wound up shooting heroin on Skid Row. “I don’t like getting high,” he said. “I hate the person I become.” Inhui Bak isn’t trying to hide her son’s problems anymore. When customers at the hair salon ask if she has children she says she has a son in rehab. She’s not ashamed because he’s trying. “There’s no guarantee,” she said. “But I can wait.” — Associated Press writer Linda S. Zhang contributed to this report.  on to nursing school. Regardless of the expectations made for me as I grew up, living in America is a huge opportunity that I am extremely grateful for. My parents have gone through too much to get me where I am and the least I can do is to help the community I have been with for the last seventeen years. I kind of just forgot—because in the end I have it so much better than the generations before me educationally and financially. 

college is important to me,” she explained. She tries to do work from an authentic place. Being Asian, an immigrant, and a woman of color are all the identities that she occupies, and they inform her on how to do the job as the Dean. “You don’t park that part of yourself at the door,” she said. Moving from Eugene has been a gift, and she’s glad she’s able to share that with her kids. “The fact that I can have pho when I want, is like heaven,” Tuan said. “I find myself reliving the experience as an undergrad at Berkeley where everything is open and possible. As a newbie, Seattle has that special quality. I get it, and I think this place gets me and I feel like I belong,” she said. 

equality because artists who are famous, successful, and wealthy make it seem exceptional for them to use derogatory language toward women because of their iconic selves. Fortunately, feminists have taken a rise to these standards of living under gender inequality. Acknowledging the gender wage gap, President Barack Obama signed two executive orders: one prohibits federal contractors from retaliating against employees who share their salary information with each other, and the other order

instructs the Department of Labor to create new regulations requiring contractors to report wage-related data to the government to hold them more accountable on salary differences based on gender or race. Obama signed these orders on April 8th, 2014, “Equal Pay Day” in order to ameliorate the gender wage gap. Hopefully, feminist ideals will appeal to everyone so that discrimination and inequality between both genders are diminished. 

33 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

For the week of September 12 – September 18, 2015 By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Changes are afoot and you are a little unsure of what will happen next. Keep alert as you go through this transition period.

Dragon — When you agree to do something, then it’s as good as a promise. That is why you should think twice before you do so.

Monkey — Are you staying with a less than desirable choice because of fear of what else could be out there? Settle at your own risk.

Ox — Does the past seem better to you than it actually was? Remember the things that propelled you forward in the first place.

Snake — When you agree to do something, then it’s as good as a promise. That is why you should think twice before you do so.

Rooster — Fixing what is broken could be much harder than just getting a replacement, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.

Tiger — Be careful to avoid minimizing the concerns of others. Just because it is not important to you does not mean that someone else feels the same.

Horse — Have you started down a path that you have misgivings about just to check off a box? It could be time to rethink where you are going.

Dog — Packing far more than you need for an upcoming trip? Look again to see what can be taken out as traveling light is far preferable.

Rabbit — Are you carrying a lot of weight on your shoulders right now? You don’t have to do it all, if you are willing to share the burden.

Goat — A warning that is given to you with your best interests at heart could be out of touch. Good intentions don’t necessarily equate with results in kind.

Pig — Does it seem like you are moving in slow motion right now? Before you know it, things will speed up very quickly.

What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{INDIAN cont’d from page 5}

{LIN cont’d from page 7}

Parker is free on bond. Court documents indicate the defense will present testimony to show Parker’s actions were justified and that he didn’t mean to harm Patel. Court documents show Madison Police Chief Larry Muncey is expected to testify for prosecutors that Parker’s actions violated department procedures. Muncey publicly apologized to Patel after the incident and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley called Patel’s treatment a case of “excessive force” in an apologetic letter to the Indian government. Parker is being fired by the city of Madison, but he appealed and the termination process is on hold until criminal charges are resolved. Parker also faces a state assault charge, and Patel filed a federal lawsuit seeking an unspecified amount of money for his injuries. Patel has been joined in Alabama by his wife and now lives with his son while undergoing physical rehabilitation, Sherrod said. 

age of nine. Somehow, this is why western culture appealed to me, and perhaps, to most Chinese. This is the single story which I am both fortunate and unfortunate for, to be able to become both a target and a disseminator, allowing me to gain insights from two different perspectives. Since our immigration almost nine years ago, my mom and I have visited our friends and families in China a few times. Occasionally during every visit, no matter how hard I try to deny it, I cannot help but feel that there is some kind of invisible line between us and our friends, and even our families. Whenever we visited my old friends or our families, they always seemed to be making assumptions of me. When we are eating, they would ask if I am ok with eating Chinese food and not hamburgers. When I am trying to figure out how to turn on the ceiling fan, they

would help me and apologize for such “low-tech” equipment. Some would ask me if all my friends are Caucasian. When I deny that, they would seem astonished and would continue, “Wow! Your Chinese is still so fluent! How can you remember it? You probably don’t even talk to your mom in Chinese.” At first, these assumptions seemed ridiculous to me because none of those are true; it made me feel a sense of grievance and even some embarrassment. I didn’t understand why they think I would behave in such ways just because I live in America. On my first visit, these feelings bothered me during the whole trip. That’s when I remember what I myself used to believe, and this is the single story toward Chinese Americans, and now I’m a target of it. Some of my old friends not only believe that all Chinese Americans are rich, living a good life, have high English proficiency, poor Chinese proficiency, and isolated from the

current Chinese society, but also think that Chinese Americans look down on them. Now I would patiently tell them that “I eat Chinese meals at home every day,” “the ceiling fan switch is not “low-tech,” “I am just not used to this kind of switch,” and “no, I do still remember Chinese because that’s the way we communicate at home.” As I get older, I realize that years after immigration, it is inevitable that distance has pulled me and my family/ friends in China into different paths of thinking. Because of the difference in the media and the societal environment we live in, single stories are easily created. What we should do is to understand and broaden our view before making assumptions based on one perspective. Even though some of their assumptions seemed unfair and made me feel left out, it also helped me gain a more accurate view of this single story because I can finally have a chance to understand things from the other

KING COUNTY INVITATION TO BID

Project: Meridian Center for Health – Phase 2 Demolition and Parking Expansion, C00995C15 Sealed Bid Time/Date Due: September 24, 2015, 1:30 p.m. Sealed Bid Location Due: King County Procurement & Contract Services Section, Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 Engineer’s Estimate: $1,400,000 - $1,600,000. Scope of Work: Remove a 33,000 sf 2-story health service building. Provide a 39 stall parking lot expansion. Storm water disposal, grading, irrigation, lighting and landscape restoration. Work site: 10501 Meridian Ave. North, Seattle, WA. Contact Information: Mark Hoge, Contract Specialist, 206-263-9325, TTY Relay: 711, Fax: 206-296-7675, mark.hoge@kingcounty.gov. A bidder may be asked to put a question in writing. No verbal answers by any County personnel or its agents and consultants will be binding on the County.

Pre-Bid Conference: September 15, 2015, 9:00 a.m. 1st floor Community Room (east entrance of old bldg), 10501 Meridian Ave. North, Seattle, WA. A site tour will be conducted immediately following the conference. Subcontracting Opportunities: abatement, demolition, grading, site improvement, landscaping, storm water & electrical utilities. Apprenticeship Requirements: No minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement. SCS Utilization Requirements: 15% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS). Bid Guaranty: Not less than five percent (5%) of the Total Bid Price. Bid Documents: Electronic copies of the plans, specifications, reference documents, and any addenda for this solicitation are available on the King County Procurement website shown below. Printed documents

side. I now know how and why the people living in China would have these views, and most of all, what being an American Chinese immigrant actually is like. We work hard to fit into the American society while trying our best to preserve our Chinese heritage and culture. I understood that Americans are not only Caucasians, but rather a blend of races and cultures from all over the world. Besides eating steaks in fancy restaurants wearing fancy clothes, Americans also enjoy a variety of foods and restaurants. “The thing about stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete,” Chimamanda Adichie had said in her talk. Overall, I hope that one day, everybody can have the chance to see things from different perspective and acknowledge that there are many stories instead of just a single story. 

may also be ordered by contacting United Reprographics at 206-382-1177. Copies of documents are not available for purchase from King County, but are available for review 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, M thru F at the Contracts Counter, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. To receive email notifications of addenda or other important information concerning this solicitation, you must register to be a planholder under the “Solicitations” tab at the following internet link: Website: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations This information is available in alternate formats for individuals with disabilities upon advance request by calling 206-263-9400, TTY Relay: 711. Notes: Bids received after Sealed Bid Time will not be considered. Bidders accept all risks of late delivery, regardless of fault. King County is not responsible for any costs incurred in response to this Invitation to Bid.

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

NOTICE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ISSUE DATE SEPTEMBER 2, 2015 KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY (KCHA) WILL ACCEPT PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED, LICENSED CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE LABOR AND MATERIALS TO PERFORM BED BUG TREATMENT AT VARIOUS KING COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT KING COUNTY WITH ONE SITE IN OLYMPIA AND TWO SITES IN SEDRO WOOLLEY. THE CONTRACT WILL RUN FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. PROPOSALS ARE DUE AT 2:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 AT KCHA CENTRAL OFFICE, 600 ANDOVER PARK WEST, TUKWILA, WA 98188.

EMPLOYMENT

Labor & Policy Economist $37.87 - $56.82 Hourly Plus Excellent Benefits

The City Budget Office is seeking a qualified Economist to help support work involving the intersection of economic and policy analyses with data storage, collection, and reporting. This position will work with the other economists on the Revenue and Cost Forecasting team in the City Budget Office, but will work extensively in support of the Seattle Department of Human Resources. For more information and to apply, visit http://goo.gl/ UnESCu. The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity in the workforce.

OBTAIN PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS FROM KCHA CENTRAL OFFICE, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. MON-FRI OR BY CALLING (206)574-1200. DOCUMENTS CAN ALSO BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE KCHA WEBSITE AT http://www.kcha.org/business/construction/open/ KCHA will accept Bids from Qualified General Contractors for the Kirkland Place Apartments â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Electrical Upgrades Project located in Kirkland, WA. See website for details at www.kcha.org..

INVENTORY CONTROL SUPERVISOR Salary $63,898-$85,966 DOE. Req: HS diploma/GED and 3 yrs increasingly responsible exp ordering, distributing & maintaining parts for a fleet including 1 yr of lead and/or supervisory experience. Application info includes benefits at www.kitsaptransit.appone.com. Application deadline: 4:00 PM, Closing: Sept 18, 2015 EEO/AA Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

{CROSSROADS contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 1} other Vietnamese immigrants in the area find it offensive and its display callous. For those that escaped the Communist regime and thousands of others who fled Vietnam after the war, that flag represents an oppressive, murderous, and ruthless administration and brings back terrible horrors, Duong said. He likened it to displaying the Confederate flag or Nazi swastika. Across the United States, the flag has been widely debated. Cities, businesses and other organizations across the country have come under fire for using the Flag of the Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Army of Vietnam. Former Bellevue Mayor Don Davidson signed a proclamation committing the city to the use of the Heritage and Freedom Flag. Then-Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn also called for recognition of the South Vietnamese flag in 2010, and a resolution doing the same was passed by the Seattle City Council in June. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are not cultural experts, and we

EMPLOYMENT

Outdoor Research is hiring experienced fulltime sewing operators, especially Flatseam, Coverstitch, and Single needle machine operators. This position will be eligible for medical insurance and paid vacation benefits. Day and night shifts. Please come apply in person at 2203 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134 or fax resume to 206467-0374 or email jobs@orgear.com PRODUCTION WORKER Looking for a part-time production worker in clean, non-smoking environment. Days and hours are flexible but must be Monday through Friday (no weekends) and between 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Entry level position. Will train. Main jobs are labeling and packaging of small medical products, record keeping, and other duties. Near BECU (Interurban Ave & I-5) in Tukwila. Email resume: kbiocom@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT

A world famous Dumpling Restaurant is looking for a dumpling chef at our Bellevue store and Seattle Store. Bellevue: 700 Bellevue Way NE #280. Bellevue WA, 98004 Seattle: 2621 NE 46th Street, Seattleâ&#x20AC;&#x17D; WAâ&#x20AC;&#x17D; 98105. Open interview sessions Monday-Friday, September 14- September 18 from 1pm-5pm. Salary range from $11/hour to $15/hour and willing to offer over- time up to 20 hours a week and health benefits. Any questions, please call Caspar at 206-861-5153. The CIDBIA is hiring for an Executive Director! More information: http://cidbia.org/about/ Please send resume and cover letter to jobs@cidbia.org by 5pm, Friday, September 18, 2015. No phone calls or agents please.

Subscribe to the Northwest Asian Weekly $40 for one year. Name________________________________ Address _____________________________ City __________________________State___ Zip Code _____________________________ Phone _______________________________ Mail to: NW Asian Weekly 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 or call 206-223-0623

have not done extensive research on the history or meaning of any of the flags. The flags are displayed merely for decorative purposes and are not intended to make a political statement of any kind,â&#x20AC;? Marketing Director Sue Popma wrote in her response to Duong. Popma repeated that statement in an email to the Reporter, adding that prior to the recent feedback they had received, they were unaware that there was anything potentially offensive about the Vietnamese flag. Duong, however, said he was flabbergasted by the response he received from Popma. He said he found the comment that Popma and her team arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x153;cultural expertsâ&#x20AC;? sarcastic and insensitive. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I understand the intention, but anytime you use a flag, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just for decoration. Flags have meaning behind them,â&#x20AC;? he said. More than a hundred people shared a post Duong made on Facebook outlining the issue, and several people wrote emails to the mallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management team

Closes: September 16, 2015 at 4:30 pm The Metropolitan King County Council and Hearing Examinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office are seeking an attentive Legislative Secretary to perform a variety of administrative support functions for the Hearing Examinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office and Council Administration. The person in this position will split their time between the Hearing Examinerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office (60%) and Council Administration (40%). This is an exciting opportunity to join the legislative branch as a contributing member. Application Process (submit electronically): Job Application with completed supplemental questions. Resume. Letter of Interest detailing your background and describing how you meet or exceed the requirements are required. To apply go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/audience/employees/careers/jobs.aspx

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asking them to change the flag. A similar post Duong made on Reddit elicited a conversation over the mallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s response. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understandable to goof and not research beforehand, but after being informed of why the flag is offensive and hurtful, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d think an ounce of sensitivity would be due,â&#x20AC;? one Reddit user wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It seems flippant and rude to claim ignorance as a way of deflecting any responsibility.â&#x20AC;? Popma said that her team never intended to sound callous to the issue, and was simply responding to one of multitudes of emails they receive every day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each and every individual may not feel that their particular suggestion or request was responded to as quickly as they would like or in exactly the manner they had hoped for, but it is certainly our hope that our integrity and community spirit are apparent in every decision we make,â&#x20AC;? she said. A replacement flag has already been ordered, and is expected to be installed in a few weeks. ď Ž

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METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL AND HEARING EXAMINERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OFFICE Legislative Secretary

{CHARTER contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 1} since the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s verdict, Summit and stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charter schools associations and members met daily to find solutions to resolve their crisis. Parents are now urged to play an active role to speak to media and lobby legislators. Burns said Summit has a little more than a year of reserve funds to sustain the schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to create a new plan.â&#x20AC;? Summit held a rally on Sept. 10 to drum up support for charter schools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to raise awareness of the impact the Supreme Court decision had on our students and families,â&#x20AC;? said Wickens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And, we want to show our commitment to ensuring the WA charter law is reinstated so our families and other families across the state have more high quality, public school options.â&#x20AC;? ď Ž

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{SUMMIT cont’d from page 10} public schools, and that difference is the youth want to be there; they have a strong desire to learn, and be pushed to reach their potential. How Summit builds diversity is through their intensive recruitment. Principal Malia Burns, 31, had spent one year visiting different community groups and schools with low-income families and homes, to recruit a diverse student body from all over Seattle and even outside the city, including Renton and Kent. To ensure diversity, Burns said at Summit, “We have at-risk youth (so-call troublemakers) and special needs kids.” Summit consists of ethnically diverse students from the African and African American community, white and Asian students (with majority Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese), from 15 different zip codes. Instead of grades as criteria for admission, the youth were selected through a lottery system. Presently, there is a waiting list. Traditional schools’ approach regarding detention and suspension is not an option at Summit. “We don’t have detentions,” said Burns. To deal with conflicts, “We have counselors, we focus on communication, and conversations.” Burns said how she deals with conflicts is to bring opposing parties of students and mentors together so that they have a faceto-face dialogue to lay misunderstandings on the table. Resolving conflicts through dialogue becomes a tool for students to grow and enhance life skills and selfawareness. To develop ownership of the school, the students are encouraged to create their own mascot. Divided into four groups, each group had to compete, campaign, and rally for their own choice to win votes from their peers. The winning group, has advocated a Spartan as the school mascot, and now the

Spartan is in. Summit thinks differently to nurture students to reach their potential and simultaneously create new experiences for them. As Washington state Supreme Court’s decision on shutting down charter schools’ financially, it will be another learning experience for the students and parents to fight for their education and school. Summit will seize the opportunity to engage kids in politics and how to make things happening for themselves. Although young, Burns has a successful track record as a teacher and a school administrator in charter schools. She relates to students well and is accessible to students. A traditional school’s principal’s office is intimidating. However, Burns’ room is cozy, warm and small, and students can even use her room sometimes. The teachers’ lounge is more like a students’ corner—a casual space for them to brainstorm new ideas and collaborate.

Building

Last year, Pacific Charter School Development (PCSD) has bought the former Asian Resource Center for their tenant Summit Sierra school and also did the remodeling as well. (Both Sierra and PCSD are headquartered in California.) After one year, the school has remodeled with an additional floor, totaling 28,800 sq. ft., to accommodate its high school freshmen, for the founding class of 2019. The remodeling cost $5 million and the building cost about $4 million. PCSD received grants and support from the Gates Foundation and other sources. An eye-catching red stairway connects between the floors and students are welcome to hang out and do work under the stairway. A piano is placed in the main room, which is often used as a meeting place for parents and a assembly room for students. The layout appeals to youth and adults as well. Hopefully the charter school will continue to be a part of the neighborhood. 

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

asianweekly northwest

SEPTEMBER 12 – SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

Back to school “A Fresh Start” “The beginning of each new school year represents an opportunity to move forward toward achieving your goals. Focusing on your education is one of the most important ways you can help create a fresh start and a better world for yourself, your family, and our community.”

Congressman Adam Smith 9th District

“Always be thankful that you have an opportunity to go to school. It’s important to work hard from the beginning so you don’t fall behind. If your family has a native language, always speak it, use it, and keep it. If you can learn your native language in school, take advantage of it.”

Hsiao-Lin Wang

Owner of China Harbor Restaurant

“At South Seattle College, we tell our students ‘Start here, go anywhere!’ As you begin or renew your educational pursuits, don’t forget to take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you. Pursue your dreams today and make them your reality of tomorrow!”

“One of the greatest opportunities for a fresh start is through education. Dream big - your fresh start begins today by pursuing and completing your educational goals at Edmonds Community College. “

President Gary Oertli

Edmonds Community College

South Seattle College

“Be kind. Be curious. Study hard. Have fun. When times are tough, repeat this Japanese proverb, Nanakorobi yaoki’-Fall seven times, get up eight!”

James Doane

Costco Wholesale Corporate Counsel

President Jean Hernandez

“Welcome back to school. Please remember – you are not alone on your journey. Your family, your friends, your teachers, advisors: all around you are people who want to help you. Take advantage of all these connections, and then turn around and help others when they are in need.”

Chancellor Mark A. Pagano

University of Washington Tacoma

“As school begins, take a few moments to look ahead to the exciting new opportunities that await you. Make this year your best one yet as you start fresh and focused on success! The sky is the limit. Go for it and soar! “

Dr. David L. Rule

President Bellevue College

“Don’t quit ---No Matter What.A lot of times when you face challenges in life, you feel spiritually, mentally and emotionally overwhelming, just find what’s within you to find you get through. Don’t give up. Fight. You might be able to make it.”

Nate Miles

Vice President of Government Relations