PublicAsian - Mar/Apr 2013

The PublicAsian

Mar/Apr 2013 | A Voice

for

the

Asian Pacific American Community

at

the

University

of

Maryland, College Park | Volume 19, Issue III

~

TED Talk speaker brings language to the forefront

A

lthough Ekushey February literally means Feb. 21, it’s not just another day to the Bengali people. In fact, it’s a national holiday of such importance that there is a whole movement behind it.

To celebrate what is also known as International Mother Language Day, the Bangladesh Student Association

“

You’re most closely connected with your culture through the language that you speak ”

– Samier Mansur Founder, Bangladesh Pluralism Project

(BSA) arranged for founder Samier Mansur of Bangladesh Pluralism Project, to give a lecture on it at the university.

Inside

Newsfeed

The evening kicked off with the co-hosts, Shaheer Hasan and Mishal Karim, giving the audience some background information that would help them understand more about what Ekushey February and International Mother Language Day are.

On Feb. 21, 1952, Bengali students at the University of Dhaka in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) organized a protest to the Pakistani government’s decree that Urdu was to become the nation’s only official language, said Hasan, a senior biology major and the corresponding secretary of BSA. “They were met by police [and] tear gas was fired at them. Several were killed and many others were wounded as police opened fire on the crowds,” he said.

Even though the protesters lost their lives that day, Bangladesh will never forget them, added Karim, a senior government and politics major and one of the most active BSA members.

Features

EKUSHEY, Page 5

Photo by Ulysses MuñOz

TED Talk speaker Samier Mansur addressed students on Feb. 21 during Bangladesh Student Association’s Ekushey February event about the importance of one’s mother language.

Travel

Remembering Daniel Inoyue

Origami still Popular

Hardcore Gaming in Korea

Smithsonian’s APA Center honors legacy of Senator Daniel Inouye| Page 3

Guest blogger Watson Lum An old Japanese art, origami, remains a popular activity among talks StarCraft championship from Korea | Page 11 UMD students| Page 6

Online Exclusive

UMD Moksha hosts its first Mayuri dance competition. Check out our Facebook page for photos!

www.publicasian.com @publicasianumd

2

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

newsfeed

Renewal of VAWA extends protection to immigrant, LGBT victims of domestic violence, oppression

By Rachel Barron Staff writer

President Barack Obama signed the 1994 Violence Against Women Act on March 7, reauthorizing an expanded bill first drafted by Vice President Joe Biden to provide funding to programs and services that protect women from domestic violence.

The renewal of this bill means that victims of domestic violence who previously felt alone or helpless will now have more resources to use in order to cope with the trauma.

“An important part of this reauthorization was the assurance that it could improve all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, including immigrant women, LGBT survivors and native women,” said Beckie Masaki, associate director at the Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence.

Heather Lam, the co-cultural chair of Kappa Phi Lambda said she often does not hear about the existence and extent of domestic violence in the Asian Pacific American community.

“Although it is not mentioned or brought up

Photo credit Halftheskymovement.org

To bring awareness about the oppression of women, KPL screened “Half the Sky “ during their Spirit of Phoenix event.

as often, I still believe [domestic violence] is an issue that should be taken seriously and not overlooked,” Lam said.

According to a 2001 survey by Asian American Women Advocating Respect and Empowerment, 81.1 percent of APA women in Washington, D.C., reported being victim to violence from a partner in 2000 alone.

However, Masaki said prior to the expansion of VAWA, APA victims of domestic violence may not have used the services available to them, adding that some services do not accommodate women who speak languages other than English.

“The critical thing in the implementation of VAWA is a strong emphasis on reminding folks that language access is part of the federal mandate so programs really have to include language access,” Masaki said.

At the university, the sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda hosted the Spirit of Phoenix, a week of events dedicated to a campaign called “Holding Up Half the Sky, Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” in an effort to bring to light the issue of abuse against women.

The week, which was from March 4 to March 8, started with a women empowerment workshop. Rebekah Moan, author of “Just a Girl from Kansas,” addressed a room full of women in the Stamp Student Union about body image, emphasizing that the everyday struggle women encounter between their own body image and what society deems as “perfect.” She explained that women need to start accepting their bodies in order to stop the quest for the unrealistic standard of perfection.

On two other nights, Kappa Phi Lambda showed movies related to human trafficking.

The sisters’ goal in showing these movies was to educate women about the severity and realness of the selling of women’s bodies.

“Half the Sky,” one of the films shown, documented women throughout the world who lived part of their lives as sex slaves. The movie also showcased strong female activists who were working to bring an end to human trafficking in developing countries.

“We hope to bring awareness to the oppression of women and how we can change it into an opportunity for women instead,” Lam said.

Health disparities lead to high suicide rate, stress among APA women

By Maria Andia Staff writer The suicide rate among older Asian Pacific American women in the United States is at an all-time high.

Findings from 2004 and 2007 show that APA women ages 65 and older have higher suicide rates than any other racial group, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jeanie Wong, a Chinese immigrant who moved to San Francisco more than four decades ago, experienced suicidal feelings at 72. She couldn’t speak English, and felt completely disconnected from the outside world. “I wanted to just walk across the street and be hit by a car, but finally didn’t have the courage to do it,” Wong told The San Francisco Chronicle.

While the trend is becoming increasingly apparent, many are still unaware of it.

“That’s actually very surprising to me,” said Alice Lu, a freshman international business major. “You wouldn’t expect for older women to be at a higher risk for suicide, I thought that was just something younger people were more susceptible to.”

The exponential influx of these suicides can be traced back to many different outside influences. Not speaking the same language as those around you often limits communication and can result in feeling isolated and separated from the community.

The question of why suicide affects the APA community more intensely than other communities is not so puzzling for some. “My guess about why they may be more at risk

would probably be that there is more cultural stigma for obtaining mental health care, and perhaps more pressure to succeed,” said Jeri Boliek, a psychologist at the university’s health center.

Asian American Studies professor Gem Daus believes that this trend “[points] to factors that are common in all Asian American health disparities—immigration and acculturation stress, and a lack of appropriate mental health services.”

A combination of stress and mental disorder also puts younger APAs at risk, as acknowledged on Feb. 25 during the Asian American Student Union’s A Dialogue on Mental Health. The talk examined the risk factors of suicide and how to reduce the stigma around mental health for women ages 15 to 24 and men ages 15 to 34.

At 1.9 percent, APAs 18 years and up have the second highest percentage of individuals that suffer from at least one serious psychological issue according to the CDC. The rising trend affects younger generations too, and can significantly change their perspective of suicide.

“It definitely makes you aware that this is a real thing [and that] it’s a real threat,” said Zhe Liu, a sophomore biology major. “It kind of scares you because you realize that if it can happen to [older] people, it can happen to you too.”

The presentation also discussed ways to lessen shame associated with mental health treatment and emphasized that even though a certain age group is most affected by psychological distress, anyone can and should seek help.

The PublicAsian A Voice for the Asian Pacific American Community at the University of Maryland, College Park Co-Editor-in-Chief ................................................................................ Linda Poon Co-Editor-in-Chief ..............................................................................Mary Tablante Features Editor..........................................................................................Karen Xie Web Editor.............................................................................................James Levin Advertisement Manager........................................................................Jennifer Lien Photo Editor....................................................................................Ryan Alphonso Photographer........................................................................................James Levin AASU Liaison..........................................................................................Angela Mei Copy Editor.......................................................................................Ulysses Muñoz Copy Editor......................................................................................Nkongho Beteck

“There is so much unspoken stress in the college environment and so much societal pressure put on college students that as a whole,

it’s hard to process,” added Liu. “Things such as ‘growing up’ can really push a person to a point of collapse.”

About: The PublicAsian is a student-run newspaper sponsored by the Asian American Student Union (AASU) of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Printing Schedule: The PublicAsian is published twice a semester, with a circulation

of 1,500. It is distributed at the University of Maryland, College Park and at the Library of Congress Asian American Reading Room.

Involvement: If you are interested in becoming a reporter, photographer, copy editor or layout editor with The PublicAsian, please contact publicasian@gmail.com.

Published with support from Campus Progress, a division of the Center for American Progress.

Online at CampusProgress.org. | Sponsored by the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

Remembering Senator Daniel Inouye

News | 3

Community gathers to honor the late senator, an influential figure in APA history

Photo by Nkongho beteck

From left to right: University alumna Kathy Park, retired Army General Antonio Taguba, historian Donald Ritchie, Senior Advisor Tuyet Duong to WHIAAPI and veteran Terry Shima gathered Feb. 23 to honor the life and legacy of the late Senator Daniel Inouye.

By Nkongho Beteck Staff writer At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Terry Shima, head of the Outreach and Education Committee of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA), recounted a story that summed up the kindness and loyalty of the late Senator Daniel Inouye, who died this past year on Dec. 17.

At public appearances, Shima said of his peer, Inouye used to fidget with anticipation from not being able to sit with his former troops. Eventually he would get up from his executive

seat and sit among his veteran friends.

A diverse group of citizens gathered on Feb. 23 to honor the life and legacy of Inouye, the first congressman of Hawaii, second highest ranking member of the Senate and one of the most influential Asian Pacific American politicians in history.

Inouye, who helped establish the museum and Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Center, was an advocate for immigration reform and a friend to many veterans.

The audience filled the Rasmuson Theater as The Aloha Boys, a trio of Hawaiian born musicians, played traditional Hawaiian songs as a tribute.

Konrad Ng, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific

American Center, led opening remarks while a slideshow played in the background, showing photos of Inouye from his days in World War II to more recent times with his family.

“The senator’s journey from being classified as an enemy alien by the U.S. government to becoming a World War II hero and president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate offers all of us a deeper understanding of the American experience,” Ng said.

Born Sept. 7, 1924 in Honolulu, Inouye enlisted in the U.S. Army at 17 after previously being denied. He was honored for his service during World War II with a Medal of Honor in 2001. After this, he began his political career as a senator, advocate and exemplar for Native Hawaiians and American Indians, among others.

Inouye was a bipartisan legislative leader. After the war, he pursued a law degree and worked as an attorney in Honolulu.

He was elected majority leader to the Territorial House of Representatives in 1954. In 1958 he was elected to the Territorial Senate and when Hawaii became a state in 1959, he became its first congressman. He served the U.S Senate since 1962.

While Inouye was best known for his 40 years of political service, the program speakers made sure to highlight the many other contributions he made as a senator. Tuyet Duong, the senior advisor for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, spoke about Inouye’s advocacy for gay rights and repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t tell” policy for LGBTs in the military.

Inouye also helped establish an exchange program between the Senate and Japan’s legislature. He was the Democrat on the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee, among many other projects. He has also increased job training, employment opportunities and provided more community healthcare for citizens of Hawaii. “[Inouye] was a true American hero,” said Ng. “He showed for me that the capacity for heroism and bravery exists in each of us, and realizing this as an Asian American is a profound and powerful gift.”

Become The PublicAsian’s next editors-in-chief!

Gain experience and connect with the APA community in the DMV! Email us at publicasian@gmail.com if you’re interested!

White House responds to Lunar New Year petition

By Eunice Cho Staff writer A petition to make Lunar New Year a national holiday has garnered almost 40,000 signatures on We the People, a petition website operated and endorsed by the White House. The petition cites the ever-growing diversity of nationalities in the United States as part of its plea to include this holiday.

Asian Pacific American students who voluntarily take off school to spend Lunar New Year with their families are subsequently marked absent, which some consider unfair.

“It is imperative to recognize and acknowledge [this country’s] diversity,” the petition stated.

The White House responded on Feb. 22, thanking the petitioners before discussing the history of Lunar New Year and what politicians, including President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, recently said about the holiday. The White House acknowledged the importance of the Lunar New Year, assuring that it would speak out to ensure that the day is treated with respect.

“Just like Rosh Hashanah, Easter or Eid al-Adha, it’s an occasion that makes us richer as a culture and stronger as a people even without it being a federal holiday,” the White House said in a statement.

Lunar New Year is traditionally celebrated on the first day of the Chinese or Lunar calendar, and normally falls somewhere between late January and mid-February.

Although observed in a myriad of ways, Lunar New Year is an important holiday in many different cultures in Asia.

“It’s the largest holiday,” said Qinqing Shi, a doctoral student at the university. “It’s like Christmas here [in the US].”

Similar to the Western Christmas season, Lunar New Year coincides with winter break for students in China, so none are marked absent when partaking in the season’s festivities. According to Shi, who was born and raised in China, many Chinese travel during the holidays, causing “waves of people going to their hometowns in the country to visit their parents and grandparents.”

Whether Lunar New Year can be considered a national holiday in the future depends on what one considers a holiday. National or, more accurately, federal holidays are, legally applicable only to federal employees and the District of Columbia, according a Congressional Research Service report.

Neither Congress nor the president has declared a “national holiday” that binds all 50 states, which are individually responsible for their own legal holidays. By law, there are only 11 holidays that fall under federal criteria.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, although not a national holiday, is considered a legal holiday in Montgomery County due to its large Jewish population.

In regard to this, Diane Hou, a sophomore criminology major of Chinese descent, considers this a way in which Lunar New Year might finally be considered a legal holiday.

“In areas with large amounts of Asians, the same consideration should be given,” Hou said.

Many APA students agree with this sentiment. “Everyone else gets their own special New Year off because it’s a big holiday

and we should too,” Mei Feng, a sophomore business major, said. “It is a big part of Asian culture.”

“Maybe it shouldn’t be a national holiday, but like some Jewish holidays, it can be

considered a valid excuse for people to take off [school and work],” said Sarah Bao, a junior neurobiology and physiology major.

“Although I think that since it’s a culture and not a religion, it may be a bit of a stretch.”

Official White House Response Happy Lunar New Year!

Thanks for your petition! We hope that you’re enjoying the Year of the Snake.

As a kid, President Obama knew what it meant to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Growing up in Hawaii, he was surrounded by friends and neighbors who marked the Lunar New Year with parties and parades.

And he’s not alone. Americans stretching back generations have observed the Lunar New Year. In San Francisco, the city’s famous parade through Chinatown has been a tradition since the Gold Rush. It regularly draws around 1 million spectators, and it’s widely considered to be the biggest event like it outside of Asia.

Marking the Lunar New Year this year, President Obama said, “Here in America and around the world, people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent will welcome the Year of the Snake. In Chinese tradition, the snake represents wisdom, and a thoughtful approach to tackling the challenges before us – principles that I hope will continue to guide us as we perfect our union and create a more just and equal future for every American.”

That’s a statement Secretary of State John Kerry echoed. “On behalf of the American people,” he said, “I am delighted to send my heartfelt wishes for good health, good fortune, happiness, and prosperity to all those around the world celebrating the arrival of the Lunar New Year this February 10.”

And even though it would take an act of Congress to make the Lunar New Year a federal holiday, we’re happy to speak out to ensure that this important celebration is widely recognized and treated with respect. Just like Rosh Hashanah, Easter, or Eid al-Adha, it’s an occasion that makes us richer as a culture and stronger as a people -- even without it being a federal holiday.

4 | News

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

Working toward a more collaborative APAHM

By Katie Secret Staff writer Students and faculty are working to spread awareness about this year’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which will kick off April 1 and facilitate more collaboration between Asian Pacific American organizations. This year’s APAHM theme is “Discovering Connections, Rising Together,” which planners said defines the month’s “identity” and encourages the organizations involved to promote each other and attend more than just their own events.

“The goal for this year is for the whole month to be a memorable event, not just single individual programs,” said Jude Paul Dizon, coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Involvement and Advocacy.

Anticipated events for APAHM include the popular Taiwanese American Student Association’s Night Market and the Japanese American Student Association’s Taste of Japan, which will both incorporate other APA organizations. Dizon said that around 400 people are expected to show up for Taste of Japan.

“We are planning to draw other organizations to our event by attending their events in return,” JASA President May Wildman said. “We will probably also reach out to other organizations by sending them our flyer for Taste of Japan and asking them

to advertise for us if they can.”

Wildman said that she personally plans on attending TASA’s Night Market, which is scheduled for April 19.

“We include other organizations to volunteer and perform in

“

The goal for this year is for the whole month to be a memorable event, not just single individual programs.”

– Jude Paul Dizon

Coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Involvement and Advocacy

our event,” TASA Co-President Emily Young said. “We usually do make an effort to attend other organizations’ functions, and would love to know how to support their events.”

The Asian American Student Union’s Wiffleball Tournament is also expected to bring a large amount of students together, both inside and outside the APA community.

Zerina Borhan, graduate coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Involvement and Advocacy, said that AASU’s tournament garners participation from many nonAPA organizations and fundraises for a specific APA cause.

This year, APAHM also has a student planning body specifically for promotion and organization. The student marketing committee, a smaller branch of this body, said they are hopeful that this year’s APAHM will unite APA organizations as well as the rest of the campus.

“We have a committee dedicated specifically to planning APAHM for the first time, so we’re hoping to integrate the theme a lot better [than in past years],” said Chris Quach, a sophomore sociology major on the student marketing committee.

The marketing committee also plans on making Facebook groups for APAHM events, using Department of Transportation Services advertisements, producing T-shirts and spreading posters and flyers around campus to let students know what events are coming up.

University offices are also putting in time to make sure that APAHM is a memorable and united celebration of APA culture.

The Office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy will be organizing opening and closing events for the month. “We’re hoping this [planning] body will help to facilitate … more campus-wide engagement,” Dizon said.

Social media used as a platform to promote APA talent

By Amanda Eisenberg Staff writer

Social media used to be the kiss of death for young professionals, whose photos of parties and inappropriate tweets hindered possible jobs. However, social media has become a platform for Asian Pacific American artists to promote their work.

Three of the people behind Facebook—Phil Fung, Julia Lam and Franklyn Chien—left the company in 2012 to promote their own project, the A3 Foundation, which focuses on promoting APA artists in the entertainment industry.

The co-founders looked at YouTube as a model, observing how it has transformed unknown artists into international stars.

Back in 2012, South Korean singer Psy was well known in his

country, but his music didn’t transcend oceans until his video “Gangnam Style” went viral.

“I think that YouTube has been a really great platform for Asian Pacific American talent. So many videos have become popular, but beyond that, a lot of [the artists] have found success,” freshman journalism major Mel DeCandia said.

“People like Darren Criss—who is Filipino—end up on Glee and Psy has ended up performing at the American Music Awards and the White House.”

Beyond YouTube, A3 looks for other outlets to connect talent to agents. It recently partnered with the Sundance Institute, an organization that allows artists to work on their storytelling.

Many movies gain critical acclaim through the Sundance Film Festival; some have even become Oscar contenders.

A3’s CEO Fung explained that the goal for partnering with Sundance is to increase the number of writers who can create diverse characters for APAs. But A3 isn’t the only organization fighting for more diversity in the entertainment field. Kollaboration, a national organization and movement, works to bring local artists into

“

When there is a new APA that receives some sort of fame ... the APA population blows up. We become so excited and start promoting that celebrity.”

– Alice Lu Freshman international business major

the mainstream. The biggest problem facing APAs is that they are categorized into a certain image, and it’s increasingly more difficult to find non-minority roles. Kollaboration tries to challenge that by creating a platform just for APAs in the community.

Andy Len, the director for marketing at Kollaboration DC, said that they are currently working on their fourth talent competition show. Auditions will be held on March 30 and April 6 at George Washington University. The show is set to take place on Sept. 28 at the Lisner Auditorium at GW. Kollaboration DC also uses social media to promote their artists’ work. The organization’s Facebook page offers free downloads of songs recorded by local APA artists, as well as videos and event listings.

“I think that when there is a new APA that receives some sort of fame—whether it be in sports, music, art or politics— the APA population blows up,” said freshman international business major Alice Lu. “We become so excited and start promoting that celebrity. My mom personally saved every newspaper clipping of Jeremy Lin and she is obsessed with him because he is known for sports, which is a place that most Asians aren’t well known in.”

Kollaboration and A3 have been successful because of their willing audience. The community wants to support the local artists, and social media is the best way to grab the attention of a mass audience.

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

NEWS | 5

EKUSHEY “Every year on this day, millions of Bangladeshis gather in front of the Shaheed Minar, a national monument in Dhaka, to pay tribute to the students who lost their lives fighting for recognition of Bengali,” she said.

Hasan and Karim then introduced Mansur, the night’s keynote speaker. Much of his lecture pulled from the TED Talk he gave last September in Dhaka, but he also added new insights that he wasn’t able to discuss before.

Mansur focused on retelling Bangladesh’s history and pointing out the different factors that led to students’ resistance and the beginning of the Language Movement.

“South Asia’s politics have been polarized,” said Mansur.

“We are religiously polarized, we are fragmented and we are the most nuclear armed landmass on the planet.”

“In 1971, we were done with religious politics,” he added.

“We said to religious politics, ‘this narrow interpretation of Bangladesh does not sit well with what we see around us, and the way we experience culture with the demographics in our country,’ and we rejected it.”

In an interview after his speech, Mansur spoke more on what International Mother Language Day is, and what it means to the Bengali people.

“International Mother Language Day was started by a Bangladeshi delegation that petitioned the UN,” he said. “It’s a day that’s set side to honor and respect your mother tongue. As simple as that, you’re most closely connected with your culture through the language that you speak and it seeks to honor that.”

PHOTO By Ulysses Muñoz

Samier Mansur explained how different factors in Bangladesh’s history led to International Mother Language Day.

When the Pakistani government tried to impose their will on Bangladesh, it was seen as an affront to their culture, according to Mansur.

Bengal has long been known for its rich history of literature, language, and art, he added. “Bengal was always seen as the poetic heart of the Indian subcontinent, and if you’re going to take that language of expression away, you might as well take away the soul of Bengal.”

Student reactions to this event were extremely positive, and most said they would definitely attend another International Mother Language Day event next year.

“I think this event was pretty successful, so hopefully after this, we can continue having this event each year and spread awareness around campus,” said Preasha Hussain, a senior family science major.

“I think it’s impressive and important that Bengali Americans are recognizing this part of their history, and that they’re thinking forward about what they can do even though they don’t live in Bangladesh,” said Dustin Chacoln, a graduate student studying linguistics.

BSA president Nasif Ahmed wanted to make clear that most Bengali Americans today do not hold any resentment against Pakistanis, despite their history.

“None of us hold any hostility to the Pakistani community,” he said. “Like any war and any struggle, we remember those that suffered, and learn from this how to avoid conflict in the future.”

To see more photos of the event, visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/PublicAsianUMD

Sports Illustrated criticized for its ‘human props’

By Drew Rauso Staff writer

Kate Upton, Anne Vyalitsyna, and Jessica Gomes. All three are internationally known supermodels featured in Sports Illustrated’s latest Swimsuit Edition. Yet, these women are not the ones making headlines; it’s the people sharing the space

with them in the pictures taken from all seven continents.

The magazine has fielded many complaints from critics since the issue’s release on Feb. 12, mainly due to the use of human props.

As first reported by Jezebel, a women’s pop culture website, the problem lies with the way the clothing, body language and facial

expressions represent local people from the different countries.

“The problem in using humans as props is that, from a racial perspective, it reinforces how different the cultures are because there is no interaction occurring between the models and the ‘exotic’ locals,” said Jessica Lu, a doctoral student of communications race

PHOTO CREDIT: Sports Illustrated

This photo of model Anne Vyalitsyna sitting while an Asian man pushes the boat is one of the images in the magazine’s annual swimsuit shoot that is getting heat for its stereotypical and dehumanizing use of “exotic” locals.

--North Korea-On March 7, North Korea said the country will break its 60-year-old nonaggression pact with South Korea and launch a “pre-emptive nuclear attack” on the U.S., according to ABC News.

Tough new United Nations sanctions, placed on the country after it set off more nuclear tests in February, prompted the threats.

China, North Korea’s long-time ally, helped make the sanctions unanimous on Thursday.

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman had visited North Korea in late February in an effort of personal “basketball diplomacy” and as part of a HBO documentary, CNN said.

rhetoric. She added that there is a fine line between appreciating a different culture and fetishizing its well-known stereotypes.

The magazine has been criticized for the lack of immersion in the photos between the subjects in the pictures, which further highlights the “other” locals as being lesser than the models.

There are various examples of this contrast, including the picture of Vyalitsyna sitting on the boat while an Asian man pushes it along.

This picture is a classic example of light skin versus dark skin, Lu said, with the light-skinned model relaxing, and the dark-skinned man working.

Claire Yan, a senior journalism major, says that having the man wear what looks to be a rice farmer’s hat is, in itself, offensive and stereotypical.

Though the intention of Sports Illustrated may not have been to offend, Lu said that the company missed its goal. “Trying to expose people to other cultures is noble and important, but through the medium of [the magazine], the goal is not easily obtainable or not obtainable at all,” she said.

While Sports Illustrated is the latest to come under fire for such decisions, “this kind of representation of racial stereotyping is not new,” Janelle Wong, director of the Asian American Studies program, said. “[There is] a history of visual

--Taiwan-Thirty-year-old Liu Jun-Lin is a professional mourner. Her mother was a professional mourner and her grandmother was too.

According to a BBC feature, Liu is hired to lead the families and friends of people she has never met in loud wailing and grieving. Taiwanese funerals include elaborate costumes and “almost acrobatic” dances, culminating in the mourner crawling to the deceased person’s coffin.

Historically, daughters worked far from their hometowns, and it would be hard to travel back for a funeral, so the family would hire a “filial daughter,” according to BBC.

representations that treat people like objects, objectification of a person or culture,” she said. “[It plays] on assumptions that there is a clear distinction between the cultures of the East and the cultures of the West or native [and a] non-native, and perhaps Sports Illustrated should have been more sensitive.”

The fashion industry is no stranger to this critique. Victoria’s Secret faced its own criticism in November 2012 for a costume featured in its fashion show.

“At the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, they had this huge Native American head piece,” Yan said. “I think that a lot of the time, cultural costumes from other ethnicities are exploited for the sake of fashion.”

“When a [fashion designer] takes little pieces from different cultures, such as a Native American headband, that culture cannot be captured from such a small aspect,” Lu said. This concept is similar to trying to expose an audience to a culture through a small picture, which cannot capture it fully and respectfully, she added.

Although the criticisms of Sports Illustrated were gallant in its effort to expose other cultures from around the world, the magazine failed in that attempt. In the end, it reinforced negative stereotypes along with American and Western ethnocentrism rather than facilitate a healthy understanding of different cultures.

--India-An Indian student who was gang raped and murdered is among 10 women who received the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award. The brutal rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in December on a moving bus in Delhi inspired protests across India to end violence against women. Secretary of State John Kerry and First Lady Michelle Obama presented the posthumous award on March 8, International Women’s Day. This year, award recipients included Malalai Bahaduri, an Afghan army officer working to stop drug trafficking and Fartuun Adan, a Somali human rights activist.

eatures fOrigami remains popular among students at UMD

6

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

By Drew Rauso Staff writer The art of folding paper may be an ancient skill, but it can still be found on campus today, with two campus organizations using origami as a way to come together.

The Japanese American Student Association held an origami competition in February. Approximately 60 people showed off their skills, all striving to win one of three prizes, which include a $5 and $10 gift card for Starbucks and a $10 gift card fro Chipotle.

Students brought their laptops to find instructions for different origami structures, with the goal of making the most creative origami in one hour.

May Wildman, the president of JASA and a senior art history and journalism double major, said that people seemed to enjoy the event, except maybe a few of the people who were disappointed with losing.

“I thought a lot people got into it, so it was nice to see that, and I hope it stirs further interest in the art of origami,” she said.

JASA is not the only place where people can practice origami. The university’s Origami Club was created five years ago.

Although small, the club remains tight-knit, and meets every Friday to practice origami and to enjoy each other’s company.

Morganne Campbell, who is in her second year as Origami Club president, calls the group “a great place to go if you are a

freshman and don’t know anyone, or if you are shy and don’t know how to get to know people.”

The club was first created with the help of John Montroll, a well-known origami enthusiast who teaches in Washington, D.C. and has written many how-to origami books.

He has also developed two apps for origami, called “eZ Origami Objects” and “eZ Origami Birds,” which are both available to download for 99 cents.

Montroll still attends meetings when he can, and Campbell has learned a lot from him, attempting many of the structures he outlines in his books and apps.

“I love animals, especially mythical animals, since obviously I could never have them,” said Campbell. The hardest origami structure she has ever made was a 5-foot by 4-foot dragon, which took around seven hours to complete.

Robert Lang, another origami artist, talks about the history of the art form in one of Montroll’s books, “Origami Structures.”

Origami, commonly thought to be from Japan, actually originates in China.

It was not until Buddhist monks brought the art of folding paper to Japan in the sixth century that the art form began taking shape outside China. Paper was a hot commodity around this time; only the elite were able to afford such material.

Gifts and celebrations were all made of or incorporated paper. Soon, Japan’s national religion, Shinto, began using paper

PHOTO Credit: JeN SHIN

In an event sponsored by the Japanese American Student Assocation, students did origami and competed for prizes. The Origami Club is another group focused on the art of folding paper.

streamers (go-hei) and folded human figures (katashiro), in ceremonies.

According to Lang, paper was so revered for its rarity in Japanese culture that the word for “paper” (kami) and the word for “God,” though spelled differently, are pronounced exactly the same.

Origami has since spread all over the world, with examples found in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

As both Campbell and Lang said, origami,

which comes from the Japanese word “oru,” or “to fold, and “kami,” is in the eyes of the beholder.

Campbell believes that origami is popular because of its self-reflective nature.

“You are challenging yourself to follow instructions and create something beautiful in the end,” she said. “A single piece of paper can become anything you put your mind to.”

“There is only one rule in origami: Absolutely no scissors!” she added.

Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off at start of spring

Photo Credit: Nancy Pham

The opening ceremony of the Pink Tie Party is free, but tickets to the actual party must be reserved online prior to the event. The Blossom Kite Festival and the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Rugby Tournament are both free.

Of course, visitors can simply take a walk around the Tidal Basin to enjoy the cherry trees in full, light pink bloom.

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom around March 20 last year. Following the trend of the last three years, the cherry blossoms are expected to be in full bloom again this year from March 26 through 30.

“To be honest, the cherry blossoms look pretty much alike every year, but it’s definitely the time together with family that I appreciate the most,” sophomore journalism major Dennis Ting said.

Piacente suggests attendees download the free National Cherry Blossom Festival App to plan their trip to the festival either in advance or the day of.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held March 20 through April 14 this year, with the peak blossom bloom expected to be March 26 through 30. The festival will continue the tradition of previous festivals and will include a new event, “Taste of Japan.”

By Rachel Barron Staff writer In celebration of Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees to the United States in 1912, tourists flock to Washington, D.C. every year to see the cherry trees in full bloom at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

More than one million people are expected to attend the event this year, which takes place between March 20 and April 14, said Danielle Piacente, who is in charge of public relations for the festival. She added that the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade always draws the largest crowd.

One of the other festivities is a new event called the Taste of Japan, which will showcase cuisine from Japanese restaurants, sake and craft beer.

The Taste of Japan will be held April 4 at Carnegie Library. Tickets cost $27, and all proceeds support the festival.

Maryland’s own Gymkana Troupe had the honor of performing in the parade in front of about 100,000 people last year. The troupe, which consists of approximately 70 students, will be returning to perform in the parade on April 13.

Junior special education major Gymkana member Brittany Huff showcased her talents in the parade last year. She said for most of the parade, the troupe’s routines were not planned out; however, when the troupe arrived at the grandstand, Huff said, they performed their standard vaulting act.

“Along the way it was mostly improv, random tumbling and balancing poses,” said Huff, who will be performing in the parade again this year. For the most part, the routine

will be similar to that of last year, except with some minor changes to the tumbling passes.

The parade lasts only about one hour, she added, but the time-consuming preparations and rehearsals prevented the troupe from attending other festival activities.

Piacente said this year’s festival is the second year for the City in Bloom event.

Throughout the spring, local buildings will use pink lights to illuminate their facades.

“You’ll find blossom decals and bright banners and signs in Metro stations and around town,” she said.

Other events include the Pink Tie Party, hosted by Chef Lorena Garcia from “Top Chef Masters,” on March 20; the National Cherry Blossom Opening Festival on March 23; the Blossom Kite Festival on March 30; and the 47th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Rugby Tournament on April 6.

Festival Events March 14-April 21: Tidal Basin Paddle Boats March 20: Pink Tie Party March 23: Opening Ceremony April 13: Cherry Blossom Parade

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

Features | 7

New restaurants on Rt. 1 offer vegetarian, noodle options

By Benjamin Strack Staff writer

College Park is swarmed with various kinds of food establishments for students to enjoy, but some of the most unique cuisine comes from two adjacent restaurants that recently opened.

Ivy Noodles and Ovo Simply Veggie, across from CVS on Baltimore Avenue, offer unique dishes that serve as a change of pace from run-of-the-mill fast food joints.

Ovo serves vegan food, which means they do not use ingredients with any animal products.

The dine-in restaurant, which opened in January, is the only vegan restaurant in College Park, according to owner Derrick Chang.

That restriction draws in a specific crowd, but it’s a crowd nonetheless.

“The ingredients I use … you can see it in some vegetarian or vegan restaurants, but not so extensively as what I use,” Chang said.

The soda, tea and Aloe vera bottled beverages are organic as well, which is uncommon even for a vegan restaurant.

“It’s not something you usually

find on the market, so, with these unique attributes, that will help it stand out a little bit more,” he said.

Business was slow the first week, Chang said, but sales boomed in mid-February, and have stabilized recently.

The Asian-inspired restaurant is open seven days a week and serves a variety of options including salad, tofu, seaweed, mushroom protein and noodles.

“I think it has a better selection than a lot of the other Asian places [in College Park] which are just all rice sushi,” said Anuraag Sharma, a junior Italian language and literature major.

Having gone there a few times since its opening a couple of months ago, he recommended the Tofu Basil Eggplant, Enoki Fries and the Hot and Sour soup.

Neighboring the vegan restaurant is another new restaurant, Ivy Noodles, which specializes in making seven kinds of noodles.

Whether ordering for dine-in, take-out or delivery, diners cam choose from a variety of noodle options, including lo mein, chow fun, rice noodle, vermicelli, udon, wide Egg and Cantonese noodles.

Photos by James Levin

Ovo and Ivy Noodles, two adjacent restaurants that recently opened on Rt. 1, provide additional vegetarian and noodle options for students and residents in downtown College Park.

“Others have a lot of different noodles, but they have a different style here,” said John Dong, an Ivy Noodles employee. “Every other [place] doesn’t have a style.”

In addition to the many noodle choices, the menu is balanced with more traditional Chinese food like the fried and steamed dumplings,

One year after his rise to fame, where is Jeremy Lin now?

Photo CREDIT: NBA

Jeremy Lin made headlines last year for leading the Knicks to six consecutive victories and breaking the NBA record for most points scored in a player’s first five starts.

By Hyunjae Ham Staff writer Jeremy Lin’s meteoric rise spawned the worldwide “Linsanity” phenomenon, but after suffering a knee injury, his hype finally started to die down. Now people are beginning to wonder, “where is Jeremy Lin?” Linsanity ensued after the Harvard graduate entered the NBA last year as an undrafted free agent and rejuvenated an injury-plagued New York Knicks squad with a display of scoring and playmaking.

Eric Sharkey, a freshman business major and lifelong Knicks fan, described the state of the team before Jeremy Lin came along. “[The Knicks] were really bad; everybody was getting hurt, people were talking about firing the coach, and then all of a sudden during the Nets game, [the coach] put in this kid from Harvard and he exploded for like 25 points,” he said. “It was kind of like Maryland beating Duke. It was awesome.”

Lin’s influence extended beyond the game of basketball, from Ben & Jerry’s controversial “Taste the Lin-Sanity” frozen yogurt flavor to making Time Magazine’s list of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People” in 2012. Linsanity captivated audiences all around the world.

Some students at the university said they haven’t heard anything about Lin for the past year. “Is he still playing basketball?” asked freshman business major Jacob Dohrman.

While he no longer puts up the gaudy numbers he did during the Linsanity phase, Lin is still a solid starting point guard for the Houston Rockets.

Recently, Lin launched the Jeremy Lin Foundation, a nonprofit organization geared toward helping underprivileged children in the Houston area. True to his faith, the organization’s website writes that Lin was “compelled by his relationship with Jesus” to launch the foundation.

On ESPN, Lin is featured in a humorous “This is SportsCenter” ad, telling prominent sports journalist Jay Crawford what to write in an article using academic terms like “terminal velocity” and “temporal nature” to emphasize his educational background.

In January, Lin was the subject of a documentary titled “Linsanity,” which made its way to the prestigious Sundance Film Festival held in Utah every year.

On Feb. 23, Lin, the Washington Wizards and Kollaboration DC hosted “Asian Heritage Night,” a fundraiser geared toward improving the profile of Asian Pacific Americans.

Kelly Huang, New York native and avid Jeremy Lin fan, said, “I’ve been meaning to go to an NBA game for a while, and it was the perfect chance for me to do that and see my favorite athlete… I wish [the Rockets] would have won though.”

The Wizards won the game on last minute free throws from the team’s shooting guard, Bradley Beal.

Lin said that he was thankful he did not get voted into the 2013 NBA All-Star game.

“I want to make sure I’m fully, fully deserving of it, when I play, and I didn’t feel like that was the case this year,” Lin told CSN Houston.

In a recent USA TODAY article, Lin talked about his plans for All-Star Weekend, which takes place every February. “I’m going to go home, spend time with my family and people who are really close to me and then play the game and treat it like business,” he said.

Lin’s place in the NBA is still a point of contention.

Most sports analysts believe he is somewhere in between Linsanity and the subpar season he has had with the Rockets thus far.

“There is so much talent in the NBA that comes in every year, especially at point guard, that it’s hard to see him sticking around as a starter much longer, unless he improves quickly,” SB Nation columnist Pete Volk wrote. “I think before long Lin will be a solid contributor for a lucky team.”

Dong said. He has found the most popular dishes include Chow Fun, General Tso’s Chicken and Orange Chicken.

Dong said he feels the restaurant is popular with students especially because they have a delivery option, which gives them a slight advantage over those that provide

only dine-in and takeout.

With the two new restaurants on the same strip of Rt. 1, they may be competing for the same customers in the coming months.

However, with each specializing in bringing different cuisines to the college town, perhaps they can coexist and cater to hungry students.

Slithering into the Chinese New Year

By Ryan Alphonso Photo editor The Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, is an annual holiday full of tradition, significance and history. Families—not only in China, but also Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea and all over the world—gather to celebrate together every year. This year, 2013, marks the year of the “yin” water snake.

“It’s different than New Year’s in America,” said sophomore public health major Katie Cheung. “It’s not seen as a time to party all night, but instead to have a good time with family and honoring historic cultural traditions.”

One tradition is the exchanging of red envelopes filled with money at the beginning of the holiday to ring in the new year with joy and luck. In China, the color red represents luck.

“It’s tradition,” junior international major Brandon Mao said. “Usually elders give money to the younger kids. That’s one of my favorite parts.”

Chinese New Year also incorporates the concept of the zodiac.

There are 12 animals that represent the zodiacal cycle of the Chinese New Year. The zodiacal cycle is “sexegenary,” meaning it lasts for 60 years. On top of the 12 animals in the cycle, there are five elements— wood, fire, earth, metal and water— that contribute to the 60-year process.

Every year is ruled over by one animal and one element, making for a total of 60 different combinations that correspond with every year.

The signs are thought to be “zodiacal” because the animal that corresponds with the year they were born supposedly influences the personalities of people born in a given year.

In Chinese mythology, the snake represents intelligence and charm.

Those born in years of the snake—1977, 1989, 2001 and 2013— are also known to have a cunning and unscrupulous attitude. Those born in the year of the water snake are thought to be more emotional and passionate as well.

Both the zodiac and tradition are major parts of Chinese culture that go hand in hand with Chinese New Year. It’s a holiday centered on family and good luck. Cheung said she loves the holiday and always looks forward to it. “To be completely honest, my favorite part about Chinese New Year is seeing family, eating lots of food and getting money!”

8 | Features

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

New documentary examines dwindling community and social, cultural issues in D.C.’s Chinatown

By Benjamin Strack Staff writer A documentary hoping to bring awareness to Washington, D.C.’s debilitated Chinatown premiered at the Our City Film Festival in the nation’s capital on March 10.

The absence of affordable housing and a Chinese grocery store have left Chinatown with a diminished population and little hope for revival. Yi Chen, producer, director and editor of the 30-minute film called “Chinatown,” explores the social and cultural issues of the community that only has about 300 Chinese immigrants remaining.

The documentary began as part of Chen’s thesis project at American University where she studied film and media arts. She then saw a Washington Post article about the Wah Luck House, a 153-unit apartment building built in 1982 to provide homes for those displaced by redevelopment.

“The Wah Luck House seniors can live in Chinatown only because the Wah Luck House is in fact housing,” Chen said.

“

PHOTO By Chad Sinclair

“Chinatown,” a documentary by Yi Chen, hopes to spread awareness about the struggles facing the 300 remaining Chinatown residents in Washington, D.C. The residents face problems with their shrinking population and affordable housing.

Hopefully [the film] could help preserve Chinatown or have a positive impact in the lives of the residents who live there.”

– Yi Chen Director of “Chinatown”

“If it wasn’t for that apartment building, they couldn’t afford to live there.”

Chinatown’s size and population gradually shrunk to “Chinablock” over the years due to redevelopment. The Gallery Place metro stop built in 1976 along with the Verizon

Center, where the Wizards and Capitals play, constructed in 1997, caused Chinatown to shrink. The high rent costs due to the expansion of such infrastructure drove many immigrants away.

“I was curious about who lives in Chinatown,” Chen said. “I’ve always been interested in people and their stories.”

For one year, Chen shadowed three Chinatown residents and their daily lives, including a Taishan man who moved to the United States in 1968 and the founder and president of the Wah Luck House Tenants’ Association.

Chen also follows an immigrant from Shanghai who organizes monthly grocery trips for Wah Luck residents. It became necessary

for residents to make the 30-minute bus ride to the nearest Chinese market in Falls Church, Va., after the last grocery store in Chinatown closed in 2005. Chen said the trip normally takes a total of three hours and is a hassle for the mostly elder immigrants.

The Our City Film Festival, where hundreds of people came out to watch Chen’s documentary, started in 2008. Yachad, a nonprofit organization committed to affordable housing and developing communities, runs the event annually, and the films selected for screening typically focus on D.C.’s communities and rich culture.

“I think it’s a fantastic film. We are very proud to have it in the festival this year,” said Kendra Rubinfeld, the festival director.

“Not just because it addresses subcultures of Washington residents, but also because it addresses issues of affordable housing.”

Helping the community is very important to Yachad, which is why ticket sales go toward providing affordable housing for residents of the nation’s capital.

Matt Shin, a freshman engineering major, was interested in the documentary’s focus.

“Chinatown is a big part of D.C., so it’s vital to maintain its population so the culture stays there,” he said.

“I don’t think a lot of people know the reality of those Chinese immigrants who live there,” Chen said. “Hopefully [the film] could help preserve Chinatown or have a positive impact in the lives of the residents who live there.”

First APA CEO takes helm at Warner Brothers

By Ulysses Muñoz Staff writer March 1 was a big day for Hollywood as Kevin Tsujihara, formerly the president of Warner Bros.’ Home Entertainment division, took over as the company’s fifth ever chief executive officer, and its first Asian Pacific American CEO. In what could possibly be a sign of an evolving industry, Tsujihara is now Warner Bros.’ highest-ranking APA in its entire 90-year history.

He’s also the first APA to be named CEO of any major Hollywood studio.

Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes and Warner Bros. chairman and retiring CEO Barry Meyer announced their decision after the heads of Home Entertainment, Pictures and Television battled for the vacant position for more than two years.

“I chose him because I think he’s got the greatest breadth of experience across Warner’s businesses,” Bewkes told MSN. Tsujihara, 48, has been with Warner Bros. for almost 20 years and is one of their most talented and passionate executives, Meyer said in an MSN article.

After graduating from the University of Southern California and attaining his MBA from Stanford, he joined Warner Bros.

PHOTO Credit: MMXLII.com

Kevin Tsujihara, 48, recently became CEO of Warner Bros., and is the first APA CEO of the company. His leadership position puts him in the ranks with other prominent APAs in entertainment, such as film director Ang Lee.

as a director of special projects in 1994. Tsujihara worked his way up through the ranks and in 2005 was promoted to WB president.

In those years he has become a “digital guru,” according to L.A. Biz. He was in charge of all “home video, digital distribution, video games, anti-piracy and emerging technology operations,” and spearheaded the acquisition of Flixster as well as multiple game studios.

“He has skillfully guided one of the most complex businesses at Warner Bros. during a time of transition in the home entertainment sector, and has a deep appreciation and respect for the films and TV shows we create,” Meyer told MSN. Despite Tsujihara’s promotion, there are still relatively few APA directors or producers that have made it big in Hollywood.

“I can only think of Ang Lee, John Woo and M. Night Shyamalan,”

said Zhe Liu, a sophomore biology major who is also interested in studying film.

Liu added that there are two main reasons why not many APAs direct or produce in Hollywood.

“There’s a really big Asian market, and before, there wasn’t as much of a need for [APAs] to try and expand to the American market,” he said. “There are also many differences in Eastern and Western culture that can sometimes

cause the meaning of films to be lost in translation, and they end up not being as popular in other countries.”

Of all of the non-acting APAs who have attempted to succeed in Hollywood, Ang Lee is one of the most well-known.

Lee is held in high regard as a film director and producer. He recently won the Oscar for best director at the 2013 Academy Awards for “Life of Pi.” His other Oscarwinning films include “Brokeback Mountain” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”

Other directors such as Hayao Miyazaki (“Spirited Away” and “Castle in the Sky”) and John Woo (“Face/Off” and “Mission Impossible 2”) have achieved some mainstream success in the U.S. Asian American Studies professor Jyoti Mohan believes that Tsujihara, the grandson of Japanese immigrants, may be the catalyst to inspire A112PAs to step out of their more traditional behind-the-scenes roles in Hollywood, and take on more on-screen, directing and production responsibilities.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic the APAs are becoming public figures,” said Mohan. “Certainly he has broken one glass ceiling in Hollywood, and his performance may strengthen the case for others to follow.”

Dynamic Dance group shows off its diversity The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

By Mary Faddoul Staff writer

The team calls itself Dynamic, which stands for Determined Young New Artists Maintaining an Incredible Craft, and while they are one of the many dance groups on campus, their diversity makes them stand out.

March marks a busy month for the team as it prepares to host “Rip the Floor,” their annual dance competition for teams along the East Coast. The event will take place on March 30 at 7 p.m. in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center after a workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Dynamic always hosts the competition,” said senior communication and criminology major Randi Bazemore, who is the president of the team. “We originated it.”

Created by seven students in the spring of 2004 at the university, Dynamic has grown since and continues to express its diversity through its dance routines that reflect the different races, nationalities and cultures of the team members.

What unites the members is their love of dance. Bazemore explained that the

Features | 9

“common culture of dance” enables the members to “mesh.”

“Dance is a culture within itself, which is what unifies our group that is extremely diverse,” she said, adding that the troupe practices on different locations on campus twice a week for two and a half hours.

When sophomore undecided major and dancer Loveleen Sharma, who does traditional Indian dance, first saw the group perform, she was astonished by their creativity. “Dance is an important part of my life, so when I saw Dynamic perform for the first time last year at the Block Show, I was amazed,” she said. “Their routines are creative and just different.”

In past “Rip the Floor” competitions, the team has brought special guests to judge, including dancer Porché Anthony of the dance crew Beat Ya Feet Kings, who was recently featured in MTV’s hit show, “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

This year there are five judges, one being Dynamic’s founding president, Aurelia Michael, who is still dedicated to her group.

The judges will score each team based on precision, creativity and choreography.

Mar/Apr Community Calendar

March 20 National Cherry Blossom Festival (Ends Apr. 14) 28 Wu Man Solo Pipa | 8 p.m. at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center | Tickets: $10 for students, $35 general

28 Asian American Student Union’s Mr. & Mrs Wiffleball 29 Asian American Student Union, Chinese Student Association & Alpha Kappa Delta Phi Date Auction

30 Kollaboration DC Auditions | George Washington University | Apply at kollaborationdc.org

April Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) 01 APA Heritage & Pride Month Community Dinner | 6 p.m. at Benjamin Banneker Room in Stamp | Free 02 APA Heritage & Pride Month Keynote Speaker: Jose Antonio Vargas | 6 p.m. at Hoff Theater 04 AASU Elections for 2013-2014 | 6:30 p.m. at Charles Carroll Room in Stamp 05 APA One | 6 p.m. at Hoff Theater 15 AASU Wiffleball Pep Rally | 6 p.m. at Prince Georges Room in Stamp 18 Sigma Psi Zeta Speak Event | 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

19 Taiwan American Student Association Night Market | 7 p.m. in Grand Ballroom | Tickets $3 20 FCA Philippine Cultural Night | 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. in Grand Ballroom in Stamp 21 AASU Annual Wiffleball Charity Tournament | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Ritchie Coliseum

Photo Credit: Dynamic Dance

Michelle Likier, a sophomore government and politics major who is a fan of Dynamic said she is looking forward to the upcoming competition. “Dynamic is awesome!” she said.

“The team’s routines are creative and flawless.

I’m so excited for this year’s [competition].”

Dynamic’s website describes the philosophy of the dance troupe: “We are more than a gathering of people who dance every once in a while. We are a team, a community service organization and most importantly, we are a family. We are Dynamic.”

10

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

op inions

AASU Unedited: The ‘Model’ Minority From VP of Administration Anastasia Adams

People used to tell me all the time “you’re skinny and tall, you should be a model.” And while I never actively pursued modeling, I never discounted it as an option either.

I’ve been blessed with good genes and a fast metabolism, and I have many friends who are in the same boat as I am. However, they will never make it in the modeling industry. Why? Not because they are too fat or aren’t pretty, but because they are Asian Pacific American.

A fellow amateur model posted a comment she received on her blog, telling her that she was pretty but that in modeling “you will be grouped by race; it’s just the truth, the way it works right now”.

Why is it that APAs aren’t able to break into the modeling world? Yes, historically they are shorter on average, but any APA above 5 feet 10 inches should be a contender along with the rest of the models. Perhaps, it’s the stereotypical career path to follow a practical lifestyle and to keep other interests as hobbies on the side. Or maybe it is because of the false rumors from mid-1990’s of Tommy Hilfiger saying, “If I knew that blacks and Asians were going to wear my clothes, I would have never designed them” that dissuaded APAs from breaking into the

modeling industry.

Regardless of the reasons, it is no secret that the amount of Asian models is seriously lacking compared to other races. Even though shows such as America’s Next Top Model, which promote diversity in the modeling industry, have had Asian contestants, there has never been an APA winner during the show’s 19 cycles.

There are plenty of APA designers in the fashion industry, including Jason Wu, Vera Wang and Anna Siu. But even so, their collections don’t feature more Asian models than is the norm. Perhaps if there were more APAs in the modeling industry, incidences such as the South Korean Hollister disaster— in which the models openly taunted Asian customers through crude hand gestures and by mocking their limited English—would occur less frequently.

There are plenty of programs that are attempting to bring fashion into the APA community. The university’s own FACES Fashion show has drawn attention from schools around the DC-Maryland-Virginia area. It strives to generate interest amongst APAs while donating to a good cause.

Having dabbled in modeling and fashion myself, I can genuinely say that that fashion

PHOTO CREDIT: Anastasia adams

industry is one of the most fast-paced, interesting workforces to be in, and I believe embracing Asian models would only lend a

fresh perspective and strengthen the industry.

Anastasia Adams is a junior finance and marketing double major.

Cycling Across America for Cancer

PHOTO CREDIT: Hyobin Sung

Did you know one in 100 U.S. college students is a cancer survivor? That means our university probably has around 400 students who are cancer survivors going about their days just like you and me. They’re connecting with others on campus, working out at the gym, wishing for a random snow day and counting the days until vacation.

In December, I ran into a friend, whom I met while serving the Asian American Student Union in 2010, who survived cancer. We were simply catching up on the past few years of our lives and our individual adventures traveling through China. Coincidently, he and I had traveled through Yunnan Province around the same time. I was told it was in Yunnan when he fell extremely ill and had to return to America only to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Gratefully, he was able to begin treatments immediately, go through chemotherapy, and get the medical attention he needed. He is a survivor of cancer.

It’s not uncommon for college students like myself to run into others on campus who are recent cancer survivors, going through treatments or know of friends and family dealing with cancer.

What is surprising is how little we, as college educated students, know about cancer and the effects this disease has on people between the ages 15 to 39.

Young cancer patients within that above age group face unique needs that other age groups do not. These needs range from social isolation, fertility, relationships, sexuality, singlehood, financial assistance, career planning, education and getting age-appropriate peer support.

After reconnecting with my friend, the issue of cancer affecting my own generation became a reality. It was no longer something I heard through the grapevine or saw on the news, but from a friend of my own. I wanted to do something about this knowledge I had gained and support my friend and many other young adults currently kicking cancer in the ass! I wanted to show my solidarity to this community of strong, amazing and brave young adults living each day with determination and love for life.

This summer, I will be cycling across America with 4K for Cancer through the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults on a 70-day bike ride from Baltimore to San Diego. This ride is my pledge to raise awareness about this issue and to raise $5,000 to be donated for research to find a cure, provide financial assistance to young cancer patients and to connect with cancer communities.

I will join 25 other amazing riders to ride with solidarity to my friend, our family and friends and so many young Americans battling cancer. This is a cause worth fighting for and a fight that must be won.

Today, I invite all of you to join this fight to find cure for cancer so my friend, your family and friends, and all young cancer patients can live a life free of this disease.

Cancer changes lives, so do we. And so can YOU! See you soon, -h.

Here is how you can help:

1. Donate $5, $10, $100 or whatever you can give by going to my profile on the 4k For Cancer website: 4kforcancer.org/profiles/hyobin-sung.

2. Come out to sponsored benefits and fundraisers for 4K for Cancer, a student group.

3. Connect your student organization with us for future fundraisers and awareness workshops.

4. Tweet at us: @4KforCancer 5. Apply to ride during summer 2014 at 4kforcancer.org. There are many UMd. students who are riding this summer with 4K for Cancer. If you know of any, please show them your support by donating, supporting their events and sending positive vibes!

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2012

11

Postcard from Abroad StarCraft as a Way of Life

I spent a sunny Saturday afternoon spectating one of Korea’s most popular activities: StarCraft.

To many, it’s just a computer game, but

By Watson Lum I’ve come to realize Guest columnist that here in South Korea, it’s so much more. This game is a way of life for many of the top players who make the equivalent of six-figure salaries by playing the game they love.

But the excitement isn’t limited to the players; StarCraft has grown to be a humongous spectator sport. In 2005, more than 120,000 fans attended an outdoor tournament in Busan, Korea. To put that in perspective, 70,000 were in attendance at the most recent Super Bowl. The top players literally live and breathe the game (and probably dream of it, too).

I was extremely fortunate when a fellow exchange student at the university I’m staying at managed to reserve floor seats for the finals of GOMTV’s HOT 6SIX GSL Season One. That’s quite a handful for those foreign to StarCraft, but from what I pieced together, GOMTV is a media player/streaming service, Hot 6Six is a Red Bull equivalent and GSL stands for Global StarCraft League, a tournament hosted by GOMTV. It featured two Korean players: Symbol from team Azubu, and RorO from team Samsung.

Upon reaching the venue, the first thing I noticed was the size of the banner rolled over the side of the building. Standing four or five stories tall, the banner displayed the portraits of the two competing players. Outside, an enormous line of fans had formed.

Surprisingly, there was a large number of foreigners in attendance. From talking with a few of them, I learned many of them traveled to Korea for the sole purpose of attending the StarCraft finals. After queuing for what seemed like hours, we were finally admitted into the arena.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I got was a small stage situated in front of the largest high-definition screen I have ever seen in my life. And if that wasn’t enough, the indoor venue was also decorated with numerous flyby camera fixations, pyrotechnic placements and enough stage lighting to put me at risk to

Key to an affordable study abroad

By Christine Lien Guest columnist

During my college experience, I tried hard to find something that I could say that was the pinnacle of my college experience. I was involved in several community and on-campus organizations, had the opportunity to intern at some prominent media outlets and I even joined a service fraternity.

But through it all, I found that my study abroad experience was by far the best part of my college journey.

Traveling the world, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures was always on the agenda since the first day I stepped onto campus. In the beginning, my family’s financial situation combined with the daunting price tag of study abroad almost had me give up my dreams of going abroad.

However, after thoroughly doing research about financial aid and utilizing the scholarship resources on campus to the fullest extent, I was able to study abroad and travel to three different countries, including China, without paying anything out of my own pocket.

All it took was some research at the university’s study abroad website to find a program I really liked. When I talked to the study abroad advisers, they told me if I was receiving financial aid of any sort, most federal, state

and university aid will apply to Maryland-In or Partner programs of your choice. I applied to a University Studies Abroad Consortium program that allowed all my grants, scholarships and loans to transfer for me to spend abroad.

After visiting the study abroad office, I realized I needed a lot more money for my trip, so I set up an appointment with the National Scholarship Office. An adviser there told me about all the scholarships that I could apply for. They were experts on how to win study abroad scholarships, so when I had trouble writing my essay, they showed me examples of past essays that have won and gave advice on how to write a winning essay.

I sent in numerous drafts of my scholarship essay and they helped edit each draft I sent in. All my hard work paid off when I found that I had won.

I didn’t just stop at one scholarship. I also applied for the university’s study abroad scholarship, and it was one of the most quick and painless applications I have ever submitted. It was only for $1,000, but $1,000 goes a long way when you are living in a place like China.

If you are thinking of going abroad, don’t worry about the price tag when all these resources are available to help you fund your trip. Trust me, the experience you will have will be priceless.

Christine Lien is a senior journalism major and recently returned from studying abroad in China.

photosensitive seizures.

At the arrival of the competing parties, the entire arena imploded. Lights were flashing, fireworks were being set off and people were going hysterical. To add to the whole atmosphere, the sound system blasted some of the most dramatic music I have ever heard. The strips of loudspeakers that hung from the ceiling blasted so loudly I could feel the cement floor shake. Combined with the deafening fan screams, it felt like I was watching the arrival of rock stars.

As someone who has very little knowledge of the game, I still found the whole experience very entertaining. Despite not being able to follow all of what was going on, the amount of energy and excitement in the crowd, along with the voices of the announcers was enough to fixate my eyes on the screen.

The finals itself featured two players in a best of seven competitions. At stake was 50 million won ($50,000 USD) for first place and 20 million won ($20,000 USD) for the runner-up.

The sixth and final match gave the fourth win and the championship title to Samsung’s RorO. Accompanying the standing ovation from the crowd was a massive display of fireworks and fanfare.

The emotion in the players and the crowd was absurd. When the runner-up, Azubu’s Symbol, was thanking his fans for supporting him despite his loss, people were exploding in tears left and right. When RorO was presented with his winnings and his trophy, the whole venue exploded in confetti and music so dramatic that it felt like he was getting a hero’s welcome for saving the world from destruction.

The whole experience was absolutely surreal. It combines the competitiveness and emotions of the Super Bowl with the energy and volume of an electronic dance music concert. Even if you have no idea what StarCraft is, the sheer excitement from the environment around you will put you on your feet.

Looking from the outside, it’s hard to imagine how people can get so crazy from just a video game. But after attending it’s like what I mentioned earlier: StarCraft isn’t just a game here; it’s a way of life.

Watson Lum is a senior finance and information systems double major currently studying in Korea.

12 | Events Recap

oomed In :

The PublicAsian | Mar/Apr 2013

ZBringing the heat at Mayuri

Photo by James Levin

Photos by James Levin

Photo by Linda Poon

Moksha member and show director Aparna Ramarathnam received a special shout out from the organizers at the end of the night for her dedication toward the university’s first Mayuri dance competition.

Check out www.publicasian.com for more photos and an online exclusive coverage.

Photo by Linda Poon

Hailing from University of Washington, Natya got an extra warm welcome from their fans.

Photo by Nancy Pham

Photo by Linda Poon

Dheem member Lavanya Madabusi and her team from Boston University blew the audience away with their dance routine.

Members of Natya, from Rutgers University, reflect on their dance routine after their performance.