VOL 35 NO 17 | APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

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

VOL 35 NO 17

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

New chancellor at Seattle Colleges

Dr. Shouan Pan

Mark Mitsui

FREE

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Local vs global: Green River College caught in crossfire

By Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

SEATTLE — Dr. Shouan Pan has been selected as the new chancellor for Seattle Colleges.

Pan beat out Mark Mitsui, former president of North Seattle College.

Pan comes from Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz., where he currently serves as president.

He has over 25 years of teaching and administrative experience in higher education. Throughout his administrative career, Pan centers his leadership and management practices on fulfilling the community college mission and promoting student and community success.

In an interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly about his new job, Pan said, “I am excited and feel honored. This is a wonderful opportunity, and (SC) see PAN on 5

Many of Green River College’s faculty and students are fuming and feeling left behind.

There have been loud, organized protests since 2015, no-confidence votes in the college’s president and board of trustees, accusations of retaliation against faculty union members, and ever-spreading rumors about programs

getting eliminated. Cuts have been made, and more potential cuts to programs and classes loom ahead based on low enrollment and budget woes. Protests and calls for the resignation of the college’s president have rocked the small, woodsy college campus in Auburn, once known as a “community” college. Recent focus on the revenue brought in on the backs of international students, see GREEN RIVER COLLEGE on 16

US to join quake relief effort in Japan; 48 dead, 3 missing

DISTURBING CHINESE “BEAUTY” CHALLENGE TESTS The new backlash against bizarre standards for beauty on social media. » see 5

COMING FULL CIRCLE

Successful UW grad and business owner returns to help his alma mater. » see 7

ON THE SHELF Three books and a collection of historical and fantastical short stories. » see 8

TAKING A CHANCE ON AN OUTSIDER Publisher Ng mulls the recent decision by Seattle Colleges in selecting Dr. Shouan Pan. » see 10

COMMUNITY » 2 CALENDAR » 6 SUDOKU » 6 ASTROLOGY » 15

■

TOKYO (AP) — Searchers found a man’s body April 20 in a landslidehit area in southern Japan, bringing the death toll to 48 from two powerful earthquakes last week. Three people remain missing.

The U.S military announced it was preparing to join relief efforts and Toyota suspended nearly all of its vehicle production in Japan.

Thousands of rescue workers fanned out in often mountainous terrain to search for the missing.

Rescue helicopters could be seen going into and out of the area, much of which has been cut off by

see EARTHQUAKES on 12

Methanol plant developers back out

(AP Photo/Koji Ueda)

By MARI YAMAGUCHI ASSOCIATED PRESS

Police rescue team members search through damaged houses to check possibility of trapped people in southern Japan on April 15.

A China-backed consortium has canceled plans to build a $3.4 billion methanol plant in Tacoma.

Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) said April 19 that it is ending its lease with the Port of Tacoma.

The company said in a statement that one reason is because of lingering pollution at the former Kaiser see TACOMA on 5

Port of Tacoma

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

asianweekly northwest

2

34 YEARS

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Photo by Rebecca Ip/SCP

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

3 Washington state students win trip to visit pandas in China

From left: Brady Piñero Walkinshaw and My Tam H. Nguyen

From left: Annika Carlson, Carthcart Elementary School; Jennifer Chun, Alki Middle School; Stefan Zucktriegel, Cascade High School.

Jennifer Chun from Alki Middle School was one of three Washington students announced as finalists for a new logo contest by the Washington State Panda Foundation.

Annika Carlson from Carthcart Elementary School in Snohomish and Stefan Zucktriegel from Cascade High School in Leavenworth were also finalists. A total of 360 logo-design applications were submitted by students from 259 school districts in the state.

The three finalists and an adult chaperone will travel to the panda reserve in Chengdu, Sichuan province, at the end of the year, with all expenses paid by the panda foundation.

The foundation was created by a group of enthusiasts who want to bring giant pandas to Washington state, and they were encouraged by a favorable response from President Xi Jinping in November. 

Vietnamese immigrant helps Walkinshaw campaign My Tam H. Nguyen is the policy director and strategic adviser for Brady Piñero Walkinshaw, as he looks to win the seat vacated by Congressman Jim McDermott. Nguyen is an immigrant from Vietnam, and she’s lived in the Puget Sound region for more than 20 years. She’s worked as

Christine Kim, a Kamiak High School 12th grader, also won an American Visions Medal for her painting, “Underwater Vibrancy.”

Out of the 320,000 works submitted in 2016, only 89 received American Vision Medals.

Notable mentions from Washington state: Silver Medal winners Jessica Phung, Yoon Jung Choi, and MinJung Jessica Kim. Award recipients will be honored at the National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall on June 2, and will have their work showcased in galleries in New York City. 

Get a hug from Oprah

the new media manager for Gov. Jay Inslee, and in public engagement at the City of Seattle. Nguyen has a graduate degree from Harvard in urban planning, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in journalism and international studies. 

Local students win awards in arts and writing competition

Marlowe Pody

Marlowe Pody, a sophomore at Seattle’s Garfield High, won "jin" an American Visions Medal for her work, “jin,” a digitally painted portrait, in the annual Scholastic Arts and Writing competition — the most prestigious and longest running art and writing competition in the United States.

Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman

Multicolored upcycled fabric necklace

Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman has taken on a new project, the “Oprah MiMi Globe Necklace Project.” Tung-Edelman purchased a jumpsuit from Oprah Winfrey’s closet charity auction. Now, Tung-Edelman is repurposing fabric from that garment to make fabric jewelry pieces. She said it’s like getting a hug from Oprah.

The limited collection at MiMiBug.com is made by local refugee artisans with the goal of reducing garment waste and creating jobs.

The Oprah-inspired jewelry sells for $50 a piece. 

GOT A TIP? editor@nwasianweekly.com

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ COMMUNITY NEWS CAPAA seeks diverse applicants to serve on commission The Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) has an advisory board made up of 12 governor-appointed commissioners representing the state’s diverse Asian Pacific American communities.

CAPAA is currently accepting applications for candidates interested in serving on the Commission.

The Commission serves to improve the wellbeing of Asian Pacific Americans by ensuring their access to participation in the fields of government, business, education, health, and other areas.

If selected, the individual will help examine and define

issues pertaining to the rights and needs of Asian Pacific Americans. Commissioners also make recommendations to the governor and state agencies with respect to desirable changes in program and law.

Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis and have the responsibility to maintain communication with the community they represent, as well as to the Board. They are to keep the community and board informed and up to date on issues, legislative activity, and statutes affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Commissioner terms are for three years. As part of their

First-ever state review of racist geographic names OLYMPIA — Sen. Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) has initiated a review of all ethnically and racially offensive geographic names in Washington state.

“We can’t change the past, but we can change our course so as not to repeat our past mistakes,” Jayapal said. “No injustice should be below our notice, so while some of these creeks or lakes may be in remote places, they stand as a constant reminder of times when women, Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and others were thought of and treated as less than a whole and autonomous person. It is pretty incredible that in 2016, we still have dozens of racist and offensive place names on record in our state.”

More than 1,400 places in the United States contain racial slurs, including at least 48 in Washington.

A “Coon Creek” in King County will be the first to be addressed for a change. An immediate focus will also turn to other places around the state containing the word “coon,” as well as those with “squaw” and “Jim Crow” — which is a derogatory 19th century minstrel character that became symbolic of segregation and black suppression laws in the South.

The process to change names on official geographic maps is community-driven. Anyone who wishes to make a change can initiate it by filling out a form and delivering it to the Washington State Committee on Geographic Names.

duties, Commissioners are expected to attend CAPAA’s public board meetings that are held five times a year around the state.  Visit www.capaa.wa.gov/about/board-of-commissioners/ for information on how to apply online. Please submit your application by April 29, 2016 to receive consideration for this opening. If you have any questions, please contact the Commission at capaa@capaa.wa.gov.

Murray announces engagement plan for King Street Station

Coon Creek on the map

Once the proposed change is considered by the committee, community members and tribes near the location are given a chance to weigh in. New names must meet certain criteria. Once a change is agreed to, it is then reviewed by the State Board of Natural Resources, which comprises the State Board on Geographical Names.

The ethnically offensive name used most frequently in Washington and throughout the United States is “squaw” — an Anglo-derivative word that refers to Native American women and is commonly regarded as offensive.

“The fact is, words matter. These names would not be used in conversation today and there is no reason to keep them alive in locations in our state. Instead of clinging to relics of an intolerant past, let’s rename these places so they celebrate the people and cultures that made Washington into the wonderful place it is today,” Jayapal said. 

Victory for Vashon landmark Mukai House and Garden

Culminating a multi-year struggle, an April 4 decision by the Washington State Court of Appeals effectively transferred full legal ownership of the Mukai House and Garden back to the Friends of Mukai.

The Mukai House and Garden is a venerated and important property, which symbolizes the importance and historical significance of Vashon Island’s Japanese population. The Mukais owned and operated a large and successful agricultural commercial business that employed many local workers growing and packing strawberries. The Mukai family, as well as many other Japanese families on Vashon, were an integral part of the Island’s culture. This community was devastated by the impact of the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. “This defining Appeals Court decision enables Friends of Mukai to reclaim and restore the Mukai House and Garden for the benefit of the greater community,” said

3

Lynn Greiner, president of Friends of Mukai and member of the legal team securing the victory.

Ellen Kritzman, a community activist who was a founding board member of Friends of Mukai, added, “I am delighted and gratified that we can finally engage all interested participants in restoration, interpretation, and enjoyment of the historic Mukai House and Garden as our legacy for the future.”

With ownership of the property secured, Friends of Mukai can move forward to safeguard the site and begin restoration of both the home and gardens, including completing a historic architectural assessment, cataloging the home’s contents, and recovering missing archives.

Friends of Mukai is also planning an open house giving the community the opportunity to visit the home and garden and to re-enlist the community and its many supporters in embracing the future of this historical landmark. 

A rewarding experience — Summer Youth Program Coordinator Implement a 3-week leadership course for 30+ Asian American youth and others. Coordinate the curriculum and schedule.

Deadline April 27, 2016.

Send your resume and cover letter to: john@nwasianweekly.com

SEATTLE — Mayor Ed Murray announced on April 13 a public engagement plan to visualize how the city can begin to transform the upper floors of King Street Station into a cultural hub in 2017.

Beginning in May, a six-month series of focus groups and public meetings will culminate in a plan that will identify the greatest needs of the Seattle cultural community, using a race and social justice lens.

“King Street Station is an unprecedented opportunity to create a vibrant regional hub for arts and culture,” said Murray. “This project will preserve a landmark building and provide permanent cultural space in our rapidly growing city. By viewing this project through a race and social justice lens, the new space will draw on the richness of the community all around it – from Pioneer Square, the Chinatown-International District, and beyond.”

Following public events to gather community feedback, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) will draft a King Street Station Cultural Plan and present findings and recommendations to the public next year.

“The Chinatown-International District in partnership with Pioneer Square is beginning work on an activation strategy and plan from Little Saigon to the Waterfront.

This opportunity will immensely add to the existing programming in benefit of both neighborhoods,” said Cassie Chinn, Deputy Executive Director at the Wing Luke Museum and Seattle Arts Commissioner. “In the life of our city, this is a critical time for community, arts and culture, and businesses to rally together around providing public benefit and access for a broad swath of our residents and visitors.”

Funded through an increased admissions tax allocation supported by both Mayor Murray and the City Council, the new cultural space will open in phases beginning in mid-2017.

King Street Station first opened to the public in May 1906. For over 100 years, it has served as a gateway for millions of travelers coming into Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. 

asianweekly northwest

4

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

34 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

Ex-NYPD officer sentenced in stairwell shooting

By Colleen Long ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — A judge in New York City sentenced former NYPD officer Peter Liang to five years’ probation and 800 hours of community service on April 19.

Liang was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct in the 2014 fatal shooting of Akai Gurley.

Justice Danny Chun also reduced the manslaughter conviction to crimi-

Peter Liang

Tacoma Mayor defends her cityfunded trip to Asia TACOMA, Wash.

(AP) — Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland says her recent trip to Asia was meant to boost foreign investment in the city, but critics say it shows she supports a now-can- Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland celed Chinese company’s proposal for a methanol plant at the Port of Tacoma.

The News Tribune reports Strickland took the city-funded trip to Vietnam and China earlier this month. She says she spent time with Chinese government officials and investors who are considering supporting development projects in Tacoma.

But residents criticized Strickland, saying it shows she’s siding with the Chinese company behind the onceproposed methanol facility. Strickland maintains that the project was not discussed during her trip.

Chinese investors are currently backing $275 million in development projects in Tacoma’s downtown. 

■ WORLD NEWS

nally negligent homicide. Prosecutors say they will appeal that decision.

Liang was fired from the police force shortly after the February jury verdict in the death of Gurley. The 28-year-old rookie officer was patrolling the inside of a public housing project when he opened the stairwell door and fired once. Gurley, also 28, was walking down to the lobby and was struck by the bullet that had ricocheted.

Liang testified in his own defense that he was terrified and never meant

to shoot anyone. After the trial, he met privately with Gurley’s domestic partner and apologized to her. Both he and his partner said they felt unqualified to help aid Gurley as he lay bleeding on the stairwell floor. Gurley’s girlfriend gave him CPR as a neighbor yelled instructions from a 911 operator on the telephone.  Ruth Bayang contributed to this report.

Judge rules against couple in China’s 1st same-sex case

By GERRY SHIH ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHANGSHA, China (AP) — A judge ruled against a gay couple in China’s first samesex marriage case that attracted several hundred supporters to the courthouse April

13 in a landmark moment for the country’s emerging LGBT rights movement.

The court in the central city of Changsha dismissed the suit brought against the local civil affairs bureau for refusing to issue the couple a marriage registration certificate.

The couple’s lawyer, Shi Fulong, said

he expected the judge would rule against them, but not so soon — within just a few hours. “It goes against the spirit of the laws of the people’s republic of China,” Shi said.

Plaintiff Sun Wenlin said he would see SAME-SEX on 11

United States cites Chinese Internet filters as trade barrier

By JOE McDONALD AP BUSINESS WRITER

BEIJING (AP) — The American government has cited Chinese Internet controls as a trade barrier in a report that comes as Beijing tries to block its public from seeing news online about the finances of leaders’ families.

TAITUNG

Chinese filters, which block access to websites including the Google search engine and social media such as Twitter, are a “significant burden” on businesses, the U.S. Trade Representative said in an annual report on trade conditions.

It gave no indication Washington plans to take action, but highlights the economic cost of pervasive Chinese censorship that

also draws criticism from human rights and pro-democracy activists.

On such issues, Washington is at odds with Beijing, which sees strict control over information as essential to protecting the Communist Party’s monopoly on power.

China restricts access to online materials see INTERNET FILTERS on 12

www.buckleylaw.net

R E S TA U R A N T

Established in 1935

• Catering • Cocktails • Valet parking • Banquet facilities Hours Sun.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.

655 S. King St. Seattle 206-622-7714 or 622-7372

Seattle Office 675 S. Lane St. Suite 300 Seattle, WA 98104 Office: (206) 622-1100 Toll free: (800) 404-6200 Fax: (206) 622-0688

Our law firm has recovered over $200 million for clients

Tacoma Office Wells Fargo Plaza Suite 1400 Tacoma, WA 98402 (appointment only)

Our Attorneys & Staff Proudly Serving the Community

 Auto accidents  Back & neck injuries  Brain damage  Wrongful Death  Permanent Disability  Pedestrian Accidents  Quadriplegia/Paraplegia

 Slip & fall  Product Liability  Contingent fees (no recovery, no fee, costs only)  Same day appointments  Before & after work appointments available  Free initial consultation  Home & hospital visits available

Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum Selected as Super Lawyer Selected as Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States Member of Several Bar Associations

YOUR VOICE

■ WORLD NEWS

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

asianweekly northwest

5

Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Museum faces closure threat

By Kelvin Chan and Annie Ho ASSOCIATED PRESS HONG KONG (AP) — The world’s only museum chronicling the Chinese government’s brutal 1989 crackdown on student protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square say it faces closure because of a legal dispute, its Hong Kong operators said.

The pro-democracy group behind the tiny Hong Kong museum said it has decided to look for another space,

The June 4th Museum

‘Quantico’ star Priyanka Chopra wins India award NEW DELHI (AP) — Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who has won global acclaim for her role as FBI agent Alex Parrish on ABC’s “Quantico,” received a prestigious award from India’s president on April 12 for her contribution to the Indian cinema.

Dressed in a lime-green sari, Chopra received India’s fourth-highest civilian honor from President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.

The former Miss World ventured into Hindi cinema in 2003 with the film “The Hero: Love Story of a Spy” and “Andaaz,” and also has a singing career.

Chopra, 33, who flew to India from her “Baywatch” shoot in Los Angeles to receive the award, said it was “the best award I have ever received.”

In her role on “Quantico,” she plays an Indian American whose fledgling FBI

rather than fight a costly lawsuit launched by other owners of the building where the museum is located.

The June 4th Museum, which opened two years ago, is dedicated to preserving the memory of one of the darkest chapters of modern Chinese history through photos, videos, artifacts, and written histories.

Its exhibits include a replica of the Goddess of Democracy statue famously erected by protesters in Tiananmen Square.

aluminum smelter site. The company says coming up with the right regulatory approach for building the plant there was taking longer than anticipated.

The Tacoma project was the largest of three methanol refineries proposed by the company to convert natural gas to methanol, which would then be shipped to China to make plastics and other consumer goods.

The plant would have produced 20,000 metric tons a day and dwarf other methanol plants planned or being built in the U.S. “While we do not see a way forward with

PAN from 1 has a wonderful system, its colleges are the largest in the city. (Seattle’s) a vibrant city. I am honored to have competed with qualified candidates. “ “I am grateful that the Board has confidence in me.”

Born and raised in Mainland China, Pan immigrated to the United States in 1985. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education from Iowa State University, a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Colorado State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from China’s Hefei Polytechnic University.

Pan’s wife is from Taiwan. The couple has two grown sons.

see MUSEUM on 14

Chinese women getting mixed social signals on beauty, roles

Priyanka Chopra

career and freedom are in jeopardy after a New York terrorist attack.

Despite her role in the United States, she says has no intention of abandoning her film career back home. 

By Didi Tang ASSOCIATED PRESS

TACOMA from 1

Located in a small office building in the specially administered Chinese region’s Kowloon peninsula not far from a major tourist district, the 800-square-foot museum is aimed at challenging the Communist Party’s official verdict that the mostly student-led protests were a “counterrevolutionary riot.”

Unlike in mainland China, where the crackdown remains a taboo,

the Port of Tacoma to realize this vision at this location, we remain committed to building facilities that offer a cleaner way to make products necessary for daily life, and to investing billions in local communities in the Pacific Northwest,” said Vee Godley, NWIW President.

Supporters have said the projects would create hundreds of jobs and infuse billions of dollars into the region. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee had embraced them as a boost to the state’s clean energy future.

But the Tacoma project faced vocal opposition from those concerned about environmental and health impacts. 

Pan has a strong track record of improving student success, building collaborative partnerships with educational institutions, businesses, and civic organizations to further institutional goals and community economic development, and securing external resources.

Pan, who starts in July, is replacing Chancellor Jill Wakefield, who is retiring June 30 after 40 years with Seattle Colleges. Wakefield was appointed 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.  See related blog on page 10.

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese women are being taken on a roller-coaster ride by social media, getting bombarded on

one side by extreme expectations about physical beauty, while getting support for female independence in a society where women who aren’t married by their late 20s see A4 on 12

asianweekly northwest

6

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

34 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR APRIL

MAY

21

23 & 24

28

EVERY THURSDAY

KIDS NINJA WARRIOR INFLATABLE OBSTACLE COURSE Hazen High School, Renton 4/23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

4/24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. $30 425-988-3954, birthdaydreams.org

MUCKLESHOOT CASINO’S 21ST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Muckleshoot Casino 6 a.m.–6 p.m.

Free

SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ROTARY CLUB MEETING Ocean Star Restaurant 11:30 a.m. rotarydistrict5030.org

22–24 SEATTLE CHERRY BLOSSOM & JAPANESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seattle Center, Armory Main Floor, Fisher Pavillion 10 a.m.–6 p.m. all three days cherryblossomfest.org

23 “I AM AN AMERICAN,” FREE CITIZENSHIP HELP Tacoma Community House Clark College Yakima Valley Community College 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

MAYA IWABUCHI IN CONCERT Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church 4 p.m.

206-723-1536, blaineoffice@yahoo. com INTERIM’S 47 YEARS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, “HONORING OUR PAST, UPHOLDING OUR FUTURE” Seattle Marriott Waterfront 5:30 p.m. $150/ticket, $1,500/table of 10, $750/ table of 5 jwasberg@interimicda.org, 206-6241802, ext. 31

24 JAPANESE LITERATURE PUBLIC READING, “GOLIATH” UW, Penthouse Theatre, Seattle 2 p.m. $8–$10 206-543-4880, drama.uw.edu/ performances

26 RAINIER VALLEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND’S 2016 ANNUAL MEETING Ethiopian Community Center 5:30–7:30 p.m.

206-722-5280 CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF FILM MAKING BY YOUTH ACRS 5-7:30 p.m. acrs.org

27 (HER)STORY: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE STARTUP JOURNEY WITH JULIE PHAM, SWATEE SURVE, TAMMY BOWERS, AND NELLIE FUJII ANDERSON Hing Hay Coworks 6:30–8:30 p.m.

RSVP on CAPEStartup.eventbrite.com capeproject.org

1

30 MUCKLESHOOT CASINO’S OFFICIAL GUINESS WORLD RECORDS ATTEMPT Registration at 7 a.m., with one-minute session starting at 8 a.m. muckleshootcasino.com ARTIST AZUMI HOSODA’S MODERN JAPANESE WAX RESIST DYEING RECEPTION KOBO 5–8 p.m.

C.A.C.A. SEATTLE 5TH ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL BANQUET China Harbor Restaurant 6 p.m. $30/person cacaseattle.org FOCS ARTS FEST Nectar Lounge 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. focseattle.com OCA-GREATER SEATTLE’S CHINATOWN-ID SPRING CLEAN UP Danny Woo Garden 8 a.m. ocaseattle.org NOW THROUGH

ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION Seattle Center Armory 11:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free admission www.apiheritage.com

7 ETHNIC HERITAGE COUNCIL’S 2016 ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS CEREMONY Polish Cultural Center, 1714 18th Ave., Seattle 6–9 p.m. ethnicheritagecouncil.org

14 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY ROTARACT CLUB’S ANNUAL SPRING BANQUET & AUCTION Seattle University 6 p.m. seattleurotaract.weebly.com 2016 ASIAN HALL OF FAME Fairmont Olympic Hotel 6–10 p.m. $200/person asianhalloffame2016.shindigg.com NOW THROUGH

31

Seattle’s 30th Spring Clean event Register at seattle.gov/util/SpringClean 206-233-7187

30

ALAN LAU’S ART EXHIBIT, “BEAUTY IN THE DECAY” Art Xchange, 512 1st Ave. S., Seattle Tue–Sat, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. artxchange.org

View the solution on page 14

Assunta Ng

Account Executives

John Liu

rebecca@nwasianweekly.com

Ruth Bayang

kelly@nwasianweekly.com

Han Bui

john@nwasianweekly.com

Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

Rebecca Ip Kelly Liao John Liu

Layout & Web Editor han@nwasianweekly.com

Stacy Nguyen

At-large/special projects stacy@nwasianweekly.com

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 $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 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

YOUR VOICE

■ PROFILE

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

asianweekly northwest

7

Kent business owner, UW alum gives back to alma mater

This fall, University of Washington students will be able to take classes at the historic Denny Hall, which has been under renovation since last summer.

Uyeta Landscape & Maintenance will be in charge of the project’s landscaping needs later this spring. Eddie Uyeta, the company’s president and CEO, is a UW alumnus who graduated in 1988 with a degree in landscape architecture. Uyeta even remembers taking an anthropology class at Denny Hall.

“It’s interesting that it all comes full circle,” Uyeta said.

Uyeta’s company was founded by his father in 1967. By the time the younger Uyeta was 9 years old, he was working with his father during the summers and on weekends. Since his father grew up in Japan and spoke very little English, Uyeta often served as his interpreter.

“I had a childhood, but it wasn’t like most,” Uyeta said. “Other kids were playing baseball and doing kid things.”

Without realizing it, he was already learning about the business side of landscaping. When he was in high school, Uyeta took it upon himself to put an ad in a newspaper for his father’s nursery and began selling rhododendrons on the weekends. By the time he graduated from Ken-

Photo by Starla Sampaco/NWAW

By Starla Sampaco NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Eddie Uyeta, the president and CEO of Uyeta Landscape & Maintenance.

tridge High School in Kent, he learned how to build customer relationships, which is a skill he continues to use to this day.

Uyeta’s brothers, Wayne and Dana, joined the family company in 1988 and 1992, respectively. By 2006, they both decided to pursue other career interests, and Eddie became the sole shareholder.

“I was married to the job before I married my wife,” Uyeta said.

Uyeta and his wife, Ann, now have three

kids —William, Kennan, and Aviana. The two oldest kids are beginning to help out with the family business, just as Uyeta did with his father.

“They have to understand what work ethic means and understand the value of the dollar,” Uyeta said.

Empowering others

Among colleagues and employees, Uyeta is known for his humility, work ethic, and

commitment to customer service. Uyeta’s business is centered on relationships.

He said training and mentoring others is what makes a successful company.

One of Uyeta’s mentees is Jake Zielke, a senior at Kentridge High School.

Zielke was in the eighth grade when he first asked Uyeta for a job. When he turned 16, Zielke began doing various side jobs for Uyeta, like washing trucks and pulling weeds. As they discussed Zielke’s plans for the future, Uyeta realized Zielke’s passion for being a diesel mechanic.

Uyeta said that even though he wanted Zielke to continue working for him, he referred Zielke to the mechanic who repairs his company’s vehicles.

Zielke now has a summer job at Paul’s Truck Repair in Kent. He works as a technician on diesel trucks.

“He really taught me how to work hard,” Zielke said. “He is the one reason why I have the job I have, and why I have the passion for it.”

The Uyeta way

According to Pinneke Tjandana, chief administrative officer at Uyeta Landscape & Maintenance, Uyeta frequently works on weekends. She said that throughout her seven years of working with Uyeta, he is typically the first person to arrive at the see UYETA on 15

asianweekly northwest

8

34 YEARS

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

■ ON THE SHELF

Short stories: Lunar Chronicles, Nisei narratives, and the search for home

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

“Stars Above”

By Marissa Meyer Feiwel & Friends, 2016 Just when we thought the adventures of Cinder and her ragtag gang of Lunars, Earthlings, and nonhumans were finished, Marissa Meyer returns with a collection of six short stories from the Lunar Chronicles universe.

While all of these stories work as standalone tales, they offer readers a deeper look into the world Meyer has created — something longtime fans of the series can appreciate.

The stories also add more background information and

■ A&E

Miku Expo 2016 North America kicks off in Seattle

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY In an era of auto-tune, lip-synching, pre-recorded vocals, pre-recorded imposter vocals, and huge video screens dwarfing human performs, Hatsune Miku has to be the next step in the evolution of live shows.

She doesn’t actually exist.

The Hatusune Miku Expo, coming to Seattle on April 23, comes from the minds at Crypton Future Media, a Japanese company from Sapporo. Her name translates as “first sound from the future.” Her voice comes from Japanese actress Saki Fujita. Her design comes from manga artist Kei Garō.

Explains Kanae Muraki from the Crypton team, “Hatsune Miku is a voice singing synthesizer software. When it comes to a concert, we pick up songs, mostly based on popularity among our fanbase, to make a setlist. And our concert tech team works for making the entire plan for a stage production.”

The Expo has already visited several Japanese cities, as well as Taipei, Shanghai, Indonesia, New York, and Los Angeles.

Opening for the virtual singer is Anamanaguchi, a New York City band heavily influenced by J-Pop and video game music. The projected images of Hatsune Miku and a few of her “friends” will also interact with live musicians onstage.

“Each city has new challenges,” concludes Muraiki.

“Having such a big event in foreign countries is always tricky for us. However, fan’s reactions are superb in all locations!”  The Hatsune Miku Expo plays April 23 at Seattle’s WaMu Theater.

Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

context to the characters we have come to know and love.

We see the circumstances of Cinder, the cyborg mechanic’s arrival in New Beijing, Wolf’s transformation from a typical young Lunar boy to a deadly soldier for Queen Levana, how Princess Winter and palace guard Jacin Clay first became friends, and more. Meyer even gives us a peek into our favorite characters’ lives a few years after the great war against Levana.

In addition to giving us a better picture of Cinder, her cronies, and how they became who they are in the fulllength novels, Meyer does a great job of expanding on seemingly minor anecdotes the characters mention and bring up throughout the series. We see how these stories see SHELF on 13

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

9

Tim Otani

Vice President & External Affairs Manager for Union Bank, for receiving the 2016 Bob Santos Leadership in Sustainability Award from InterIm CDA.

— Debbie Kashino President of Nisei Veterans Foundation

I’ve met no one who has the passion for serving the community, the commitment to making a difference in people’s lives, and the humility to let others be recognized first than does Tim Otani.

— Michael Verchot University of Washington Foster School of Business

Tim operates in the world of bankers and money, but he never abandons his community roots. He was the most loyal friend and supporter of Donnie Chin, and wherever Tim went, he never forgot or failed to support Donnie’s work.

— Beth Takekawa Executive Director, Wing Luke Museum

Many institutions in our community hire people who’s sole responsibility is to say ‘no’ to funding requests because ‘your work does not fit the company guidelines.’ Tim looks at the positive side and funds agencies that truly serve the needs of the people.

— Uncle Bob Santos

— Sue Taoka EVP, Craft3

Tim Otani is a true treasure. He uses his intelligence and caring heart to help others, one-on-one, and on a grand scale. He has done this quietly for decades. We are grateful for his loyal support of Donnie (Chin).

Congratulations, Tim! This award is so well deserved!

— Connie Magorty Sister of Donnie Chin

There is no better friend of the community than Tim Otani.

Throughout his career, he has held the Asian Pacific Islander community up for all to see.

— Lori Matsukawa KING 5 Anchor

Tim is a guru when it comes to community engagement. He not only holds institutional knowledge about the history of the communities, but also has foresight in the future direction of developments across various arena from community-based organizations, charity and philanthropy, sports, to economic development.

— Wendy Zheng Multicultural Engagement Director, Swedish Health Services

Tim is a living treasure and a shining example of how you can work in corporate America, yet support communities of color in a very meaningful way. Without Tim’s support, advocacy, and contributions, a lot of nonprofits would not have been able to balance their budgets.

— Al Sugiyama EDI Executive Director Emeritus I am pleased that Tim Otani is being recognized — Tim has been a great proponent of Japan-America Society of the State of Washington, the NVC and NVC Foundation and many other community organizations. I’ve been fortunate to get to know him personally as well. We share a love of coaching Little League — for him it is baseball and for me it is softball. Though some of that is behind us as our children have gotten older, the commiserating or celebrating our kids’ game wins and losses, as well as the experiences with other coaches and umpires has been fun. I have also appreciated his willingness to put up with my so-so golf game when we’ve been paired during several community golf tournaments. He is a great supporter of the Japanese and Japanese American communities.

— Dale Watanabe Executive Director, Japan-America Society of the State of Washington

Sponsored by the Northwest Asian Weekly as part of our community outreach program.

Tim Otani has been a great ‘behind the scenes’ supporter and member of the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) Foundation. Tim is a prime example of a community leader that ‘walks the walk.’

Tim is a great supporter of the International District (ID). He became involved with the ID Emergency Center when he was still a student. He has not strayed from that support.

asianweekly northwest

10

34 YEARS

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

OPINION

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

Behind the scenes: How Seattle Colleges picks an outsider When Seattle Colleges (SC) announced its three finalists for the chancellor seat, they were all persons of color — two of them Asian. The Black finalist was not considered, leaving Mark Mitsui, former president of North Seattle College, and Dr. Shouan Pan, president of Mesa Community College of Arizona, to duke it out. On April 14, SC board of trustees picked Pan in a unanimous vote.

What’s the implication for Asian Americans competing with each other? (By the way, Mitsui and Pan have known each other for a long time.) Why did the board take a chance on an outsider? Was the process fair and transparent? What really happened?

Asian Americans compete

SC has a homogeneous past. It had no Asian American courses, faculty, or administrators. In fact, Seattle Central College student Al Sugiyama had to lead a peaceful student protest in 1971, shutting down the campus before the administration agreed to hire an Asian American administrator and in-

Photo from mesacc.edu

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Dr. Shouan Pan

structor in sociology. According to the Seattle Times, it was the first student protest led by Asian Americans in Seattle. I believe this was also the first Asian American student protest in our state.

For SC to hire the second Asian American chancellor to lead indicates SC has come a long way. SC hired Peter Ku, the first Asian American president to head North Seattle College, and later, appointed him the first Asian American chancellor. Both Ku and Pan are immigrants. Despite Ku’s outstanding qualifications, and the board knew that he

PRODUCE

$0.69/lb

Malabar Spinach

Jicama

Kabocha

Fresh Ginger

$1.29/lb

$0.49/lb

$0.49/lb MEAT

Ong Choy

$1.99/lb

SEAFOOD

Beef Back Rib

Beef Ribeye Steak

$1.99/lb

$4.99/lb

had to take a pay cut, the community had to lobby on Ku’s behalf. I was one of the lobbyists in 1990. (To this day, the East Coast college system pays more than West Coast colleges).

Given SC’s history and that two remarkable Asian Americans, Mitsui and Pan, were competing for the same top job, I can only sum it up in one word — progress. It’s wonderful to see that Asian Americans have finally been recognized for their excellence and proven leadership. Our people have thrived in diverse professions, and are simply waiting to be discovered. For companies using the excuse that they are unable to locate qualified Asian Americans, my response would be, “Have you really looked?”

Dr. Pan will be an excellent role model for SC’s large Asian American student population. It also demonstrates Asian Americans can lead successfully in the mainstream.

Pan’s appointment breaks another stereotype. Asian Americans are not just good in science and technology, but in diverse professions.

SC’s appointment reflects that it values diversity not only among its staff and student body, but at the top. SC’s five trustees include an Asian, a Latino, and a Black person.

The interview process

Some Asian community members were surprised that the trustees didn’t pick Mitsui, who is currently President Obama’s deputy secretary of education. Mitsui was a popular community leader during his tenure as NSC

president.

Many SC staff members who worked with Mitsui personally had hoped that he would be picked. Most trustees also know him.

Frieda Takamura, who was on the initial 15-member screening committee, said she kept an open mind and remained impartial.

“But I can’t deny I know Mark (Mitsui) and I was surprised (by the outcome).”

A source close to SC, said, “I heard that SC is looking for an outsider.”

SC board of trustee chair, Steve Hill, said that wasn’t true. In fact, SC had trouble in getting people to apply for the position because the perception was that, there was a qualified inside candidate. “It’s a wide open process,” Hill said. “There was no bias.”

Teresita Batayola, vice chair of SC board of trustees, said, “We [wanted] the best candidate from the beginning — there is no way we could have even discussed favoring anyone without going through a process in an open setting.”

“It’s tough for me personally (not to pick Mark),” said Carmen Gayton, an SC trustee.

“We look at the strengths of all candidates and [do] what’s in the best interest for [SC].”

The Northwest Asian Weekly put in a call to Mitsui, but did not hear back as of press time.

The visit to Arizona

“The guy (Pan) is too humble,” said trustee Carmen Gayton. “He didn’t talk much see BLOG on 13

Fresh Smelt Loong Kong Chicken 3.5lb up

Pork Belly Boneless

$3.29 /lb

$10.99/ea

110/130 White Shrimp 4LB

Fresh Sierra Mackerel

$12.99/box

$1.99/lb

$2.99/lb

Jumbo Chicken Drumsticks

Fresh Halibut Collars

$2.99/lb

$0.99 /lb

GROCERY

MT Swt Color Corn 16oz MT Lemongrass MT Baked Banana 16oz w/ Chili 8oz /ea /ea /ea

$1.69

$0.79

$1.29

CTF Seedless Durian Bag 16oz

$7.99/ea

Tufoco Fine Rice Vermicelli 12oz

$0.99/ea

PF Pork & Shrimp Dumpling 20oz

$4.29/ea

LKK Chicken Bouillon 35oz

$6.99/ea

Tufoco Rice Vermicelli 2lbs

$1.99/ea

VT Vietnamese Crepe Mix 14oz

$0.99/ea

LKK Soy Sauce for Seafood 14oz

$2.29/ea

Offer only good while supplies last. We reserve the right to correct all printed errors.

All sale lasts from Friday 4/22 to Thursday 4/28 1221 S. King St., Seattle ∙ 206-720-0969 Monday–Sunday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. • lamsseafood.com

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT Proposals will be received for P00202P16, COMMISSIONING SERVICES FOR TRANSIT FACILITIES & PROJECTS WORK ORDER CONTRACT; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on May 5, 2016.

Estimated Total Price: $500,000 There is a 10% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractor and Supplier (SCS) firms on this contract.

All solicitation documents are published at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx Contact: Tina Davis, 206-263-2939, tina.davis@kingcounty.gov or Esther Decker, 206-263-9323, esther.decker@kingcounty.gov

YOUR VOICE

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

asianweekly northwest

11

OPINION

■ EDITORIAL Nightmare for International District It has been eight years since the Seattle Supersonics left for Oklahoma City, citing the need for a new home or an update to Key Arena, amongst other grievances.

Fast forward to today — now there’s a proposal under consideration to build an arena in SoDo as the home for a new NBA franchise, and possibly an NHL franchise.

We, in the International District (ID), are not so sure about an economic benefit from a new arena.

In a five-year impact study published by the City of Seattle on Safeco Field, the home of the Seattle Mariners, owners of restaurants in the International District said the benefit of game days were insignificant, if not negative.

Many businesses reported they did not see an uptick in customers, but they noticed increased traffic and parking spots taken up by people attending games.

Central District businesses received checks to relieve the financial hardships they’ve been facing since the start of a massive transportation project on 23rd Avenue.

No such luck for ID businesses during projects like the First Hill Streetcar line or the construction of Safeco Field.

ID nonprofits were paid millions of dollars. Now some feel like it was “hush money” — to pay us to go away and

SAME-SEX from 4 appeal until he exhausts all legal options.

The lawsuit comes amid growing awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in China, where society and the government have generally frowned on non-traditional expressions of gender and sexuality.

China doesn’t legally recognize same-sex marriage and officials with the central government have said they do not see the law changing soon.

keep quiet.

But we will be silent no more.

Whatever it takes to get the Sonics back?

Chris Hansen, a hedge-fund manager whose dream is to bring “the Sonics back,” is the main SoDo arena backer.

While trying to take the Sacramento King’s basketball team for Seattle, the San Francisco millionaire broke California campaign contribution laws. He was fined $50,000 in 2013. What does that say about Seattle’s sports business partner?

It would be great to bring the Sonics back.

But at what cost?

Have all other options been considered?

The Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker discovered evidence that the city effectively suppressed a study that contradicted the findings of the SoDo Arena Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) about whether Key Arena could be adapted to suit an NBA and/or an NHL franchise.

Ryan Sickman, a project manager with architectural giant AECOM stated, “…KeyArena could be reconfigured Sun, his partner Hu Mingliang, and the lawyer entered Changsha’s Furong District courthouse the morning of April 13 amid cheers from roughly 300 supporters, some of whom had waited outside since 5 a.m. or traveled overnight from neighboring provinces. Court officials allowed in about 100 spectators and then pleaded with fervent college students that the courtroom was full and that they had to turn others away.

Sun said the police had earlier visited him at the apartment he shares with Hu to try to talk him out of pursuing the

and redesigned within the building’s existing structure to accommodate both NBA and NHL franchises based upon the now accepted Sacramento Kings design model for NBA seating distribution.’’

KeyArena was deemed viable and more cost effective for the city.

Now, Hansen’s investment group has asked the city to vacate a chunk of Occidental Avenue for the project. We stand with the Port of Seattle and Seattle Mariners in objecting to this, due to the expected increase in traffic congestion.

The Port’s Marni Heffron told the city this month, “We have 500 vehicles per hour on Occidental today,” and “500600 vehicles in the morning — it’s a lot of traffic that we’re talking about.”

Remember the outrage that accompanied the votes regarding the decision to build Safeco Field. Voters rejected a new baseball stadium, but one was built anyway.

Moving ahead on SoDo must require hard skepticism.

And we should not let a bunch of out of town investors create a nightmare for us in building their dream. 

lawsuit, but left after he reiterated his determination to press forward with the case.

“I hope I can pave the way as far and wide as possible so that people who want to do the same will see how much we have tried and what possibilities can there be,” Sun, 26, told The Associated Press in an interview the night before the hearing.

While homosexuality is not illegal in China, the country’s LGBT movement is still in its infancy and it is rare for same-sex couples to live openly. 

asianweekly northwest

12

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

A4 from 5 are considered “leftovers.”

In recent months, social media has been swept by a series of body image crazes. The “A4 waist” fad challenged women to see how skinny they were by posting photos of their middles to show that a piece of standard copy paper 8 1/4 inches wide covered their waists.

Then “iPhone knees” tested whether a cell phone would cover the knees, an indication of slender legs. Most recently, the “100-yuan wrist” had women showing they could wrap a bank note around their wrists.

The online fads — slammed by women’s advocates as unhealthy and emotionally harmful to women who feel like they don’t measure up — come even as Chinese women are attaining higher educational, professional, and economic status than ever. Yet as they try to break old barriers, women still feel pressure to meet cultural expectations about getting married in their early 20s, having children, and being the main caregiver — as well as traditional notions equating slenderness with feminine beauty.

“Male-oriented aesthetics still dominate the mainstream, and the Internet or the new media have magnified this proclivity,” said Beijing-based social scholar Wu Qiang.

Taking the opposite tack — and also garnering lots of attention — has been a four-minute online ad by a cosmetics brand SK-II that depicts the struggles of unmarried women in their late 20s.

The video starts with several women talking in painful

INTERNET FILTERS from 4 by requiring traffic to pass through statecontrolled gateways linked to the global Internet. Controls have been tightened since President Xi Jinping became party leader in 2012.

The filters, known informally as the Great Firewall of China, are in line with Beijing’s advocacy of “Internet sovereignty,” or allowing governments to impose control on the freewheeling Internet within their borders. Xi called in a speech in December for the creation of a global “governance system” for cyberspace.

Earlier this month, Chinese Web users were blocked from seeing news reports about documents from a law firm in Panama that say relatives of political figures, including Xi, own offshore companies.

State media have carried brief reports on the revelations, but with no mention of Chinese figures.

Chinese regulators block access not just to websites operated by human rights or pro-democracy activists, but also to dozens of news, entertainment, and social media services that operate freely in other countries.

tones about the pressures they face from family and society.

A few parents also appear, including one father who tells his daughter he won’t be able to go peacefully to his grave until she’s married off. But it ends with the women speaking confidently about their right to choose their way of life, including one who says she’s happy being single.

“The campaign really is to inspire women to overcome their limitations, to make their own destiny,” said Markus Strobel, global president for the cosmetic line, which is owned by Procter & Gamble Co. Since being posted on the brand’s official microblog on April 7, the video has received nearly 5,000 likes and been shared more than 25,000 times. Altogether, the video has been viewed nearly 10 million times globally on all platforms, garnering more than 3.9 million comments, likes, shares, and reposts, Strobel said.

The company chose to feature “leftover women” in China because it’s a topic much discussed, he said. All characters in the video — the women and their parents — are nonactors discussing their real-life struggles, he said.

Women’s rights activist Zheng Churan said she welcomed the ad despite its obvious commercial motives. Too often, however, the stereotype of the “leftover woman” ignores the struggles of poor, less-educated women, she said.

“We only see white-collar, elite women in this ad, but an 18-year-old factory girl pressed into marriage still has no voice,” Zheng said.

Fellow advocate Li Tingting said the popularity of the video is a sign that Chinese women have become more independent.

“Outright blocking of websites appears to have worsened over the past year, with eight of the top 25 most-trafficked global sites now blocked in China,” the USTR says in its National Trade Estimate.

It said much of the blocking appears to be arbitrary, including a home improvement website in the United States.

Asked about the complaint, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing welcomes foreign investment and protects the rights of foreign companies.

“Policies aimed at attracting foreign investment will not change, nor will policies to protect their lawful rights and interests and to create a good business environment,” said Hong Lei on April 8 at a regular briefing. “We hope all countries can respect another nation’s choice of the route for Internet development, Internet management, and Internet public policy, as well as its right to participate in regulating the international Internet.”

Foreign and local companies in China that rely on the Internet for sales, accounting, and other internal functions complain the filters hinder their operations.

Almost 80 percent of companies that

EARTHQUAKES from 1 landslides and road and bridge damage.

More than 100,000 people are homeless or have fled their homes as aftershocks continue to shake the area. Many are living in cramped conditions in shelters or even their cars, with limited food and water.

U.S. Forces, Japan said, was getting ready to provide aerial support for Japan’s relief efforts. The United States has major Air Force, Navy, and Marine bases in Japan, and stations about 50,000 troops in the country.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “We are extremely grateful, and we would like to coordinate quickly and have the emergency relief be transported in as soon as possible.”

In all, 14 victims have been found in Minamiaso.

Minamiaso is in a mountainous area southwest of the 5,223-foot-high Mount Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan. Aerial footage from Japanese TV showed teams of rescuers going through small clusters of destroyed buildings.

The hardest-hit town appears to be Mashiko, where 20 people died. Kumamoto prefecture has tallied 1,453 homes destroyed so far, of which 1,026 are in Mashiko.

Kumamoto prefecture said that another 11 have died from illnesses believed to be related to the physical stress of evacuation.

More than 1,000 buildings were damaged in the two earthquakes, including at least 90 that were destroyed.

Many residents were still recovering from the shock of the destruction, while struggling to bring their lives, and

34 YEARS “It’s progress, compared to most other ads where women are expected to get married,” Li said. “The fact it has gone viral shows there have been changes in women’s attitudes.”

While seeking to empower women, the ad also speaks to how Chinese women have grown more conscious of their looks than ever. Workplace discrimination has frequently prompted women to undergo cosmetic surgery in hopes of gaining an edge in the job market, and in many cases, attracting a desirable husband.

Before the most recent body image crazes, the test to pass for being slender was whether a woman could wrap one of her arms around her back to reach her navel. Then came a test to see how many coins a woman could balance on her collarbone — supposedly to demonstrate a sculpted figure.

While women’s attitudes are changing, those of parents and society are taking much more time. The SK-II video depicts the Shanghai “marriage market,” where parents display information about their daughters in public parks in hopes of finding a suitor.

Zheng Lei, a 30-year-old Beijing man, said that while women have worked hard to become attractive, they also have become too picky and demanding.

“They demand the men to have money, houses, cars, and urban residency permits. But there are only one thousand men who are able to meet this demand. Of course these women are left,” Zheng said. “So women should lower their demands and be realistic.” 

responded to a survey released in January by the American Chamber of Commerce in China said they were “negatively impacted” by the controls.

More than half said they were blocked from using online tools or accessing information. Only 5 percent said they were not hindered in any way.

Chinese also complain the filters hamper their ability to interact with customers or business partners abroad or apply to foreign universities. Some get around the filters by using virtual private networks, or VPNs, that route traffic through unblocked websites, but Beijing has begun to block them as well.

“This censorship not only prevents this country’s people from getting information quickly, but it also, bit by bit, isolates China’s Internet companies internationally,” said a posting on the Sina Weibo social media service signed by Bao Beibei, an investment manager for a Beijing technology company.

U.S. officials previously have labeled Beijing’s Internet controls a barrier to business, but have yet to file a complaint in the World Trade Organization or take other action.

spirit, together.

“Without water and electricity, we can’t do anything.

Without the TV on, we can’t even get information about disaster relief operations,” said Megumi Kudo, 51, standing in a line for water outside a community center in Aso city.

“We can’t take a bath, not even a shower.”

Kudo came with his wife and a 12-year-old daughter, carrying several empty gallon-size plastic containers to get water while his 80-year-old mother waited at home. “It’s better to be prepared than sorry, as we learned the hard way,” he said.

His house survived, despite major roof damage, but like many, the family is sleeping in their cars outside.

A few blocks away, 75-year-old Tokio Miyamoto said he’s too afraid to sleep alone in his house, so he lugs his futon bedding every evening to an evacuation center. “It’s a hassle, but it’s too scary to be alone,” he said.

Miyamoto said there was not sufficient food at the evacuation center, only a couple of rice balls each time.

A 1,700-year-old Shinto shrine in southern Japan remains a place of moral support, despite being heavily damaged itself. Aso Shrine’s iconic wooden gate lies mangled on the ground. The main prayer hall is tilted, and other buildings with sweeping tiled roofs have pancaked to the earth.

“I was so shocked,” the shrine’s senior priest, Hiroaki Uchimura, said. Uchimura had rushed from his house behind the shrine to check on the damage after the April 16 earthquake. “I still don’t know what to do,” he said.

Since the quake, people who live nearby have come to pray, make donations, and, perhaps most important, collect the spring water that pours out from bamboo pipes on the

In 2011, the U.S. trade envoy, Ron Kirk, asked Beijing to explain its controls, citing WTO rules that require member governments to publish details of restrictions that might affect business. Kirk said the filters create “commercial barriers” that hurt U.S. companies.

The USTR never indicated whether Chinese authorities replied.

In 2009, a WTO panel ruled China’s censorship system for movies improperly restricted imports and Beijing promised to change it.

Chinese authorities have released few details of how they pick which online material to block.

When asked about specific incidents, government spokespeople sometimes suggest a technical problem abroad must be to blame. However, researchers have traced some blockages to servers operated by state-owned China Telecom Ltd. The controls have allowed Chinese Internet services such as search engine Baidu to flourish by blocking or slowing access to foreign competitors such as Google that dominate other global markets. 

shrine compound.

Daiji Matsunaga, an 80-year-old rice farmer, came with a pair of large plastic containers to fill with water he considers sacred. “This is holy water,” he said. “So I will only use this to cook rice and make green tea. To wash my face or wipe my body, I can use river water.”

Aso Shrine, designated by the government as one of Japan’s important cultural assets, is a popular tourist spot near Mount Aso. Uchimura didn’t hear the giant gate collapse after the quake struck, because furniture was rattling and dishes were smashing on the floor of his home. As he approached the shrine, he saw that it wasn’t the familiar shape that he knew. “It’s so unfortunate that this shrine ended up this way when the people need it the most,” he said.

Toyota Motor Corp. shut down most of its vehicle production in Japan because of parts shortages stemming from the earthquakes.

The shutdown began April 18 at a factory in Kyushu and progressed to other plants in Japan through Friday. In a statement, Toyota said 18 assembly lines will resume production between April 25 and April 28. That includes lines at the Tsutsumi plant, where Toyota makes the Prius hybrid cars.

Eight assembly lines will remain shut next week, including two lines at the Miyata plant in southern Japan, which is close to the epicenter of the earthquakes that struck Kumamoto prefecture.

Other companies, including Sony, have announced stoppages of some of their factories in Kyushu. 

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

YOUR VOICE SHELF from 8 they share with each other that seem insignificant actually shaped them, their values, and their beliefs.

For example, we learn that Carswell Thorne comes by his flirtatious nature honestly, the one time it did not work in his favor, and who has affected him.

The Lunar Chronicles universe is expansive and complicated, with an array of characters — all with their own past and personalities. As is the case with any fictional universe, it can be difficult to keep track of who’s who. But Meyer succeeds in maintaining each character’s specific and unique qualities consistent throughout the series, as well as in these stories, giving readers a true ensemble of young women and men who truly complement each other and are greater together than the sum of all their parts.

“Japanese Eyes, American Heart Vol. II: Voices from the Home Front in World War II Hawaii”

By Hawaii Nikkei History Editorial Board, Edited

by Gail Miyasaki Watermark Publishing, 2012 When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, it pulled the United States into World War II. The attack also changed the lives of the Japanese and Japanese Americans living on the West Coast, as well as in Hawaii.

In “Japanese Eyes, American Heart,” dozens of islanders of Japanese ancestry — mostly nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) — share their personal stories of what happened to them and their families when the Japanese bombs hit, as well as what happened after. Some of the stories recall their experiences from childhood and young adulthood, while others actually tell the stories of their parents or older generations.

From families whose older generations were sent back to Japan or forced into internment camps, to students whose school lives were interrupted by the war, the stories show the hardship these people experienced and how they endured, survived, and, in many cases, even flourished.

While these stories all have similar themes, each one is unique as every family.

In reading stories about what happened to Japanese American citizens and their families during WWII, it is not uncommon to read about the prejudice, suspicion, and mistreatment they faced.

This collection of vignettes also contain stories of human kindness — of neighbors helping neighbors, of American soldiers befriending Japanese families, and more. In a time when anyone who looked like the “enemy,” it was heartening to see there were those who were willing to look beyond the surface and not let fear overrule.

These stories may have taken place almost 75 years ago, but the themes of wanting to isolate and/or take away the rights of one group of people based on the fact that they share characteristics of those who want to hurt us, is not so different from current events.

“In the Country: Stories”

By Mia Alvar Vintage, 2016

From globe-trotting models to housemaids and teachers, everyone has a story to tell.

This is the theme of “In the Country.”

As the title implies, this is a collection of stories — all of which follow men and women of the Philippines and its diaspora. Whether they are returning to the island nation to bid a final farewell to an ailing father after decades of living in the United States, or working as a teacher in Bahrain for a young special-needs girl, the characters in Alvar’s stories all have one thing in common: the need to connect with others and find a sense of home.

For one reason or another, these men and women are in search of something more — some find it and some do not.

As the stories feature the people of the Philippines, readers also get a glimpse of what the Filipino people have gone through in the last few decades and the political turmoil the country has faced. We see how people have overcome these challenges — either by staying in the country or seeking a better life abroad.

While the stories in “In the Country” may not be particularly plot-driven, they are certainly characterdriven. Through her talent for storytelling, Alvar creates a bond between the reader and her characters that keeps us with them, makes us cheer for them, and makes us hope that they get what they need and want. Alvar’s characters exhibit the many facets of the human condition and will remind readers that regardless of how insignificant we may feel in the world, our lives all matter, we are all worthy, and we deserve to have our stories heard.  Samantha Pak can nwasianweekly.com.

be

reached

at

info@

13

about his accomplishments (during the interview). Gayton discovered those accomplishments from her colleagues’ findings at Pan’s campus.

What exactly did the trustees see?

“I was impressed with the up-to-date infrastructure and technology on campus, despite the fact that Arizona phased out state funding of community colleges many years ago,” said Batayola. “The buildings were either renovated, repurposed, or totally new.

“Dr. Pan was successful in raising funds to support the campus update and created many partnerships with the community, businesses, students, and faculty to have art installations everywhere.

Mesa Community College is a large college with three campuses, close to the size of our entire district.”

The trustees met with Mesa’s leadership council and Pan’s cabinet.

“He’s (Pan) highly respected, collaborative, and decisive,” Hill said. “He engages with students and faculty. He has an open door management style. He gives access (to his people) and builds strong teams, maintains a good relationship with the district.”

“He’s a transformative leader and that’s what we are looking for,” Hill said.

Mesa and SC have similar challenges: student enrollment decline and state funding cuts. Hill said Pan would be a good fit for SC.

Pan’s fundraising skills

The trustees view Pan’s fundraising ability as a vital asset. He has partnered with many agencies, including United Way, Boeing, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to raise big bucks for Mesa. Hill was surprised that many conservative groups, including the Mormons, have a partnership with Mesa. Gayton said, “Dr. Pan knows how to work well with different groups.”

However, when the Northwest Asian Weekly interviewed Pan, he was reluctant to take credit. “One of my focuses is to hire the right people. When they succeed, I succeed. They move the needle — it’s never (just) because of me.”

Considering the millions of dollars he has raised, I was surprised to learn he has only two development staff members. Pan said his staff cultivates relationships first. Then Pan himself does the “ask.”

Who is Pan?

What SC doesn’t have, Mesa has. Mesa has a successful baseball team, Hill said. Also, a beautiful garden of 5,000 rose plants on campus. Hill found that under Pan’s leadership, the garden has increased not only in size, but the level of involvement of the community.

Hill learned from Mesa’s student body president, who is Black, that Pan is his personal mentor and a role model. On a hot day when students were lining up outdoors for applications, Pan handed out water personally.

The people told Hill that they will miss Pan, but they also understand that this is a career move for him. One even said, “We hope you will pick him.” Some said, “We love our Chinese president.”

Evelyn Yenson, former aide to the outgoing SC Chancellor Jill Wakefield, said, “I know Mark, I don’t know Dr. Pan. (But) we need to welcome Dr. Pan when he comes. If he succeeds, we all succeed.”  Assunta Ng can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

this newspaper!

Lake View Cemetery

☆西雅圖首創墓園☆

 Most insurances accepted  Root canals  Crowns & bridges

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872

自1872年起服務西北岸社區 非營利獨立協會

An Independent, NonProfit Association

 Cleaning  Fillings  Extractions

傳統式紀念碑

Dr. Tom P. Mar, D.D.S.

•陵墓地下室 •骨灰靈位 318 6th Avenue South, Suite 108 •墓碑、紀念碑 •土葬福地 Seattle, WA 98104

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

northwest

BLOG from 10

Thank you for recycling 湖景墓園

206-322-1582

asianweekly

Featuring

Traditional SidebySide Monument Properties

206-322-1582

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

asianweekly northwest

14

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

MUSEUM from 4 memory of the Tiananmen protests remains strong in Hong Kong, which retains civil liberties 17 years after Britain ceded control of the city to China.

The lawsuit claims the group is breaking building rules by not using the space as an office, said Lee Cheuk-yan, a lawmaker and secretary of the Hong Kong Alliance in

34 YEARS

Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China.

“They have a very expensive lawyer team to challenge us, so it takes up a lot of our time and resources in facing this lawsuit,” Lee said, calling it a form of politically motivated harassment.

He said his group has decided to find a new and bigger space and will hold a crowdfunding campaign to raise 3 million Hong Kong dollars ($387,000). 

SOLUTION FOR SUDOKU ON PAGE 6

SERVICE DIRECTORY 206-625-9104 www.herrmannscholbe.com

NEED CASH NOW? LET US HELP! My family has private money to lend with your RE as collateral.

» Personal Injury» Airline Disasters» Bicycle Accidents

Credit/Income, No Problem!

Matt: 425-221-8660 SUCCESS SECRETS REVEALED! Selecting ONLY a few pre-qualified people to receive SPECIALIZED success training. For a FREE CD, and to find out if you have what it takes, please call 206-349-2808. English speaking is a must.

PS-ask about a FREE CRUISE.

» Wrongful Death» Dog Bites » Pedestrian Accidents

Mandarin, Cantonese & Korean Interpreter available

HONG LAW FIRM, PLLC 206-856-8291  honglegal@gmail.com

Bankruptcy Chapter 7  Personal Injury Landlord-Tenant  Simple Wills

Frank S. Hong, Attorney at Law avvo.com

The American Legion Cathay Post 186

Serving the community since 1946

cathaypost@hotmail.com

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

15

Predictions and advice for the week of April 23–April 29

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Does it seem like you are going nowhere fast? Perhaps it’s less about the mode of transportation than who is in the driver’s seat.

Dragon — Wandering off the beaten path has allowed you to discover a hidden gem. Be forewarned that not all you find will be so pleasing.

Monkey — In order to truly flourish, look beyond the parameters that you have set for yourself and broaden your horizons.

Ox — Switching gears can be a bit jarring if done too quickly. Take your time and ease gently into the next phase.

Snake — Despite all the options available to you, none really fits your criteria. Keep looking until you find what you are looking for.

Rooster — Is a complicated relationship blossoming into something else? Be careful what you ask for as you might just get it.

Tiger — You are serious about your commitments and do not treat them lightly. As such, be selective about where you focus your energies.

Horse — Reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while. You may be surprised how much has happened in the interim.

Dog — If you have to take a chance on someone, then there is no better place to look than within. All you have to do is trust yourself.

Rabbit — A longer than expected delay can hinder your progress, but that shouldn’t stop you from making the most of your downtime.

Goat — While it is important to be serious sometimes, it is equally essential to be able to laugh at yourself.

Pig — A part of you that has been sidelined for quite some time is starting to emerge. Soon, it will be hard not to take notice.

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, 2016 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.

office, located in Renton.

“Sometimes we say, ‘Take a day off, Eddie. Take it easy,’” Tjandana said.

During the peak season, April through October, Uyeta’s company serves more than 500 clients in King County.

These days, Uyeta and his team are busy preparing for the Denny Hall renovation. Uyeta said this project, which has a budget of $300,000, is their biggest to date.

Once they begin their work on the UW campus, the project will take eight to 10 weeks to complete.

“This is the kind of job that can make or break your company,” said Christian Boad, construction division manager at Uyeta Landscape & Maintenance.

But Boad said landscaping is so much more than mowing lawns and planting flowers. Their work requires situational awareness and careful attention to detail. After the company won the bid for the Denny Hall renovation, Boad had

to consider many factors, including safety regulations and bureaucratic processes.

Despite the challenges of this project, Boad said he would not want to work at any other company because of the work environment Uyeta created.

“Most of us wake up and feel we have to work,” Boad said. “I wake up and I get to go to work.”  Starla Sampaco can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Photo by Starla Sampaco/NWAW

UYETA from 7

Fencing and construction equipment surround Denny Hall at the UW Seattle campus on April 16. The building, which was built in 1895, will re-open this fall.

Trashion fashion

http://bit.ly/1Szy4e2

Fashion Design Contest

$250 and more in prizes THE OBJECTIVE: Design a wearable outfit or garment that incorporates recycled materials and/or NWAW/Seattle Chinese Post newspapers.

Entries due {July 1} Trashion Show {July 9} TO ENTER, SEND: — Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.

— Up to to 3 photographs of your design — A brief description of your work Entries can be directed to rsvp@ nwasianweekly.com or mailed to: Northwest Asian Weekly Attn: Trash to Treasure 412 Maynard South

Seattle, WA 98104 (Multiple entries and all ages welcomed!)

THIRD PLACE: $100 + goodies + certificate + announcement in NWAW/SCP

Finalists will be announced in the NWAW’s {July 9} issue.

HONORABLE MENTIONS Certificate + announcements in NWAW/ SCP

*Finalists must be available to showcase their designs on {July 16} at Chinatown/ International District Dragon Fest to be eligible for prizes.

*If you need newsprint for your design, please come to the Asian Weekly’s office at 412 Maynard Avenue South to pick up back issues.

PRIZES: FIRST PLACE: $250 + goodies + certificate + announcement in NWAW/SCP SECOND PLACE: $150 + goodies + certificate + announcement in NWAW/SCP

Please fill out all the fields below: Name: ___________________________________ _________________________________________ Address: _________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________

SPONSORS First prize in 2015

Team of designer and model Julie Stone and Karissa Lew

COMMUNITY SPONSOR

E-mail: ___________________________________

YING KAM CHAN NG

Brief description of your design: _______________

_________________________________________ _________________________________________

Watch our event from last year at

_________________________________________

► bit.ly/23vQmIK

_________________________________________

CO-CHAIRS

Gei Chan & Thu Ngo

PLANNING COMMITTEE

Belinda Louie, Karen Tsuo, Eugene Tagawa, Matt Chan, Andre Chow, and Max Chan

_________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________

asianweekly northwest

GREEN RIVER COLLEGE from 1 primarily from East Asia, have marked that revenue as a target for protesters, who demand a balanced student body and concentration on the needs of domestic students.

Colleges and universities nationwide welcome international students and the diversity they bring to campuses, not to mention the revenue. Green River’s international students pay 2.5 times more in tuition than residents, and are not eligible for student aid. So, for every $1,000 paid by a resident student, an international student pays $2,500. Green River administrators, particularly its president, Eileen Ely, have clashed with some faculty members about the way the college spends its international student dollars. Protesters want to know why the college won’t use that money to save cuts to programs or teachers.

Green River College has one of the highest enrollments of international students in the state (second only to Seattle Central Community College). International student programs are on the rise nationwide, but cuts are still being made at the expense of programs, like auto body and geographical information systems, which serve mostly local students. International students generally major in business, science, technology, engineering, and math. Eighty-five percent transfer to four-year universities in the United States, with a median grade point average of 3.46.

A December 2015 Time Magazine article put Green River College at the top of the list for the biggest increase in diversity between 1990, when the student body was about 91 percent Caucasian, and 2014, when Caucasian students numbered around 42 percent. Green River College also came in tenth on the “Top 40 Associate Colleges Hosting International Students.”

Big business

Wooing international students can be competitive.

Green River publishes a flyer letting students know it costs $34,278 to attend the University of Washington, while it costs $9,900 at Green River. Green River’s total enrollment for all students during fall 2015 was 11,500, with international students totaling 1,746.

The college says that’s 15 percent, which has held steady for the past year or so. The school’s international program provided a breakdown of enrollment by students’ countries of origin. The majority of international students at Green River are from East Asia.

The international student program officially started at Green River in 1988 with 17 international students. Wendy Stewart, Dean of International Programs and Extended Learning, said by 2001, they had 504 students. Enrollment dropped after 9/11, but began climbing to 1,746 students in fall 2015.

Some faculty thinks that’s too high a number, not because they don’t welcome international students, but they wonder whether these students are given priority over local students, and whether the school is moving away from serving the local community. Some faculty members worry about the

34 YEARS

APRIL 23 – APRIL 29, 2016

Hong Kong 7%

Indonesia 6%

Taiwan 3% Japan 6%

Malaysia 2% Nepal 2%

Saudi Arabia 1%

Kazakhstan 1% Macau 1%

South Korea 7%

Netherlands 1% India 1%

Vietnam 15%

Russia 1% Portugal 1% Thailand 1% Singapore 1% Myanmar 1%

Other 11%

Other 7%

China 37%

Image by Han Bui/NWAW

16

Breakdown of student enrollment by country

college’s refusal to use the profit from international students for the school’s general fund, for faculty (salaries and instruction), and for programs on the chopping block.

Misplaced priorities?

“Why don’t they use the money to save programs? The administration still hasn’t explained why they can’t use international student dollars for faculty, and to save auto body and other programs,” said Dr. Steve Kinholt, a math teacher who’s been teaching at Green River for about 25 years. He agrees the international student program may be caught in the crossfire between labor disputes and how college administrators spend its money.

Kinholt insists he’s not anti-international student. He wants the Asian Pacific Islander community to know he’s always been supportive — international students bring very positive things to the campus, diversity of course, being one. But there has to be a balance, says Kinholt. “Where’s the tipping point?

What if the school were 50 or 100 percent international students?”

He wants people to ask themselves whether there could ever be too many international students. Kinholt is convinced the college has switched its priority from education to revenue, and plans to do more recruiting for international student money.

“I just spoke to someone who flew to Dubai to recruit Middle Eastern students for the aviation program.”

Kinholt wonders if Green River is making similar efforts to recruit local students. Boeing is a neighbor, after all. He firmly believes international students are being used as a revenue stream, rather than for diversity. “We have a lot of classes that are 65–75 percent international students. It changes the curriculum.” When asked whether it makes sense for the college to change its financial model in order to stay relevant, Kinholt simply says, “That’s fine, but there needs to be a balance.” Kinholt compares Green River’s student population to available seats on an airplane, with first class seats reserved for international students, and domestic students crowded in coach, and possibly running out of space.

“We don’t have any say on what happens with the money that comes from international student revenue,” says Stewart. “We are a revenue-generating part of the college, but the college determines how the money is spent.” Stewart says as far as expansion and a tipping point, “We really only exist to

serve the college, so we really meet the needs of the campus, and at this point, the college is not asking us to increase our revenue production, our enrollment, to meet the needs of the budget.” The current goal is to maintain and moderately grow — at most that would be 3 to 5 percent. Kinholt believes even that is too much.

“Our role in the program is to provide cultural awareness and to provide an international experience for all students. We take that seriously,” adds Stewart. She agrees it’s not a given that because the college has diverse students, meaningful interaction between those diverse students happens. Stewart strives not just for integration, but for “meaningful involvement” among diverse students. “Now more than ever, we want to focus our attention on the diversity of our student population. We’re currently serving a lot more refugees, immigrants, and second generation immigrants. In the Kent School District, for example, there are 140 different ethnic groups or languages spoken.”

Stewart encourages the API community to contact Green River College for information on the international student program. The college has looked at what has and hasn’t worked. It recently hired an international recreational coordinator to put activities together for all students, and a soccer team was born. Now the college has three “super diverse teams that are like a United Nations of soccer. It’s just fantastic!” Stewart said. “You can’t tell from looking at their (soccer team members) faces whether they’re local or from overseas, and they’re playing together and interacting in super meaningful ways.”

Illusion of a Cadillac

On a recent visit to the Auburn campus, a lone, but loud protesting student shouted in front of the newly built student center building.

The 71,000-square-foot building, financed in part with profits from the international student program, houses a cafeteria, bookstore, athletic and recreation center, Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and other offices. The student protester, who asked to remain anonymous, thundered aloud her demands for the college’s administration to be transparent, honest, and to save programs from getting cut. She said there’s talk of eliminating counseling and health services, and she believes decisions have already been made about ending certain programs.

“The City of Auburn offered to

pay the college to keep the auto body department, and (President) Ely said NO!” yelled the angry protester. The student stopped protesting long enough to talk about international students getting “rock star” treatment as a by-product of the high tuition they pay. Yet, she insists these same students are being exploited and used by having to pay higher tuition, and is adamant the college has failed to adequately support them. “Look at that student who committed suicide,” referring to a student from China who was found dead on a trail in March 2014. We made several requests for a statement about the international student program from President Eileen Ely, through the Executive Director of College Relations, without success.

It’s an “illusion of a Cadillac” that the international students are getting, the protester continued.

The college refuses to funnel revenue from the international student program to pay for faculty salaries and local student needs, so it “pits domestic and international students against each other.” When asked how or whether international students have harmed domestic students’ needs, she mulled the question over. Yes, she replied, having international students on campus “makes us think harder about other cultures and having to learn others’ customs. It’s the college’s job to integrate students and they’re failing to do that.”

“If I didn’t think the international student program was benefiting the college, I wouldn’t be doing this, said Ross Jennings, vice resident of International Programs and Extended Learning. Jennings has been involved with international student programs for about 25 years. When informed of concerns about local students getting bumped from class because a seat was taken by an international student, Jennings, his voice soft, yet filled with conviction, replied, “I’d like to know one instance where this has happened. Can anyone give me a student’s name where this has happened?” International students get two or three seats reserved for certain classes, but this is offset by later registration dates.

Jennings believes the controversy over the growing number of international students is based on long standing labor disputes originating in the 1970s and continues today. As far as the perception of international students getting “rock star” or privileged treatment, Jennings says the students pay a higher tuition, and they receive support to

assist them in succeeding at the college. “Look, I was an exchange student in Beirut and I had opportunities to learn about the culture that local students didn’t.” International students at Green River must take classes such as International College Experience, Foundation for Success, and some must also take intensive English classes before they are even admitted, if they can’t demonstrate proficiency in English.

Mohini Khanal, a 22-year-old nursing student from Nepal, has been studying at Green River College for two years. She doesn’t pay international student tuition. She has resident status, so she’s also eligible for financial aid. Although there are good colleges in Nepal, Khanal says, students come to American schools because of better opportunities. Khanal has heard about perceptions that international students are wealthy, but she and other Nepalese students struggle financially. “We have to work, and I have to cook and take care of my three younger brothers while my mother works.” Khanal began her nursing studies only after gaining residency in Washington. Khanal says there’s a strong Nepali community in Seattle and she hopes they’ll continue to help new Nepalese students by helping them to get jobs.

Zack Apiratitham, a former Green River international student, wishes he had made more American friends during his time at the school. He’s since transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he is working toward a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

Apiratitham comes from a small town in Thailand and chose Green River over other colleges because he liked the location outside of the city and it “looked nice and green.”

He said his experience was positive because the computer science/ IT instructors were all really great and supportive. He didn’t feel like he ever received any special treatment, and if it seemed like he was, he said it was because he wanted to build a solid resume and so he got involved in lots of campus activities. Campus involvement is a large part of the international student program, and Apiratitham did a lot of photography and other work for the college.

Despite Mohini and Zack’s positive experiences at Green River, the backlash has begun. “International students with minimal English skills are being chucked into regular classes in order to try to meet the promises made by our foolish administrators,” a person posts online in response to a recent article about Green River’s international student program.

Another person writes, “Recent history shows how they only consider their international students as a pipeline of money.” But many others see job opportunities and the “pipeline” of financial and educational gifts offered by embracing the inevitable and fascinating upward trend of a global community.

Green River College and its international student program appear destined to stay, and perhaps grow, relative to the real world.  Arlene Kiyomi Dennistoun can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.