AASU Begins 

April 2, 1991              Asian Student Union (ASU) was formed and recognized as an official organization by the Office of Campus Programs.

·         Original Goals

o        Organizing Asian students into a more issue-oriented group

o        Promote Unity and friendlier relations among the different Asian groups on campus

o        Improve relations between Asians and other minority groups

o        Demand more Asian faculty and administrators

o        Provide Asian students with experience in leadership and organizational skills

o        Ease the transition for incoming Asian freshman

·         Strong push from Will Liu and Gloria Bouis

·         Started Asian Voice (now PublicAsian)

·         Met with Kirwan (University President) initially in order to ensure a strong start

Early growing pains 

1991-1994                   Many issues:

·         Lack of funding

·         Not enough support from Asian student groups-lacked credibility

·         Low membership

·         Confusion over goals of organization

·         Issues with quality of Asian Voice (inappropriate articles)

·         Unpopular programs (low attendance)

A Time of Change 

Spring 1994                2 parties run against one another, Dave Yoon elected President for academic year 94-95

·         Goals and focus remain unclear

·         Low membership

1994-1995                   Dave Yoon president

Spring 1995                ASU wins bid to host ECASU (East Coast Asian Student Union) 1996 Conference-becomes draw for new members

                                    Working for an Asian American Studies Program (WAASP) was founded by Christina Lagdameo and Wendy Wang and other concerned students taking Dr. Sangeeta Ray’s Asian American Studies course (honors program)

Asian Voice becomes The 14%: A Voice of the Asian Student Perspective

Asian Hispanic Native American Task Force Report commissioned by campus (hiring goals for faculty, creation of Latino/Asian-based OMSE positions)
 

Turning Point

1995-1996                   Ally Sen president until resignation

Spring 1996                            ECASU ‘96 (March 8-10, 1996) puts ASU’s name on the map. ASU hosts ECASU Leadership Conference attended by 600 students.

                                    ASU changes name to Asian American Student Union (AASU)

Goals change to become more focused toward Asian American community

Asian American Studies (AAS) project gains mores steam and offers three Asian American Studies classes

Spring 96 AAS Project sponsors film festival “Stories from the Asian American Diaspora”

1996-1997                   Christina Lagdameo president

Fall 1996                    FACES begins (sponsored by FCA and CCC)

Spring 1997                A pivotal year

The Asian American Studies (AAS) program receives initial approval from the campus community.

AASU and WAASP form coalitions with LSU and BSU;  campaign of protests and rallies begins to bring attention to AAS - march into President Kirwan’s office to request meeting, protest SGA for lack of support for AAS cause, stage teach-ins and stereotype fashion shows in from of union, march through union, chalking

Task Force on AAS created

AASU writes letter to Kirwan requesting the following: Three full time staff members to work with APA, Latino, and Native American students through Office of Campus Programs

Central Place for APA student community to congregate, hold programs, etc

AASU voted top student group of the year

14% becomes PublicAsian

Forward Momentum

1997-1998                   Noel Barrion president

OMSE becomes bigger issue-paper trails, recruitment without retention issues

Review goals, new mission statement, changed officer responsibilities, tries to form better relationships with other student groups

Spring 1998                Sunny Lee was hired as the first Graduate Coordinator for Student Involvement and Advocacy for the Asian Pacific American Community. (Positions also created for Latino and LGBT communities)

1998-1999                   Vidya Tes president

Spring 1999                First All People As One (APA1) Community Event took place.

                                    Jennifer Jimenez was hired as the next Coordinator for Student Involvement and Advocacy for the Asian Pacific American Community (1999-2001)

1999-2000                   Dharma Naik president

Fall 1999                    The Asian Pacific American Student Group Coalition (APASGC) was formed to bridge the gap between various APA student organizations on campus.

Spring 2000                Concerned students protested the offensive lyrics of the Bloodhound Gang during their performance at Art Attack.

2000-2001                   Angela Lagdameo president

Spring 2001                A full-time coordinator position for APA students was created by Dr. Linda Clement, the Vice President of Student Affairs.

FUEL (Forging, Understanding, Empowering, Leading) regional leadership conference was formed and hosted at the University of Maryland.

Students are able to receive the AAST Certificate in Asian American Studies. In May 2001, the first three students receive the AAST Certificate: Christina Lagdameo, Tanya Lee, and Dharma Naik.

2001-2002                                        Su Kim president

Angela Lagdameo SGA president

New constitution adopted by AASU, instituting General Assembly structure

2001-2003                   Dharma Naik- Graduate Coordinator for Student Involvement and Advocacy for the Asian Pacific American Community in Office of Campus Programs

Spring 2002                First General Assembly Meeting

2002-2003                   Francis Dacanay president (Fall 2002); Amy Wang president (Spring 2003)

Meetings with Dean Hampton regarding AAST

Fall 2002                    Julie Choe Kim was hired as the first full-time Coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Services & Advocacy in Office of Campus Programs.

Asian Pacific American Graduate Student Association starts

2003-2004                   Amy Wang president

                                    Jennifer Lau- Graduate Coordinator for Student Involvement and Advocacy for the Asian Pacific American Community in Office of Campus Programs          

Fall 2003                    Freshman Council begins

Spring 2004                WAASP Valentine Campaign

AASU receives OMSE Outstanding Organization award    

First AAST graduation

2004-2005                   Natalie Chin president

2004-2006                   Denise Yee- Graduate Coordinator for Student Involvement and Advocacy for the Asian Pacific American Community in Office of Campus Programs          

Spring 2005                AASU First Annual Charity Wiffle-ball Tournament

2005-2006                   Kusha Desai president

Fall 2005                    Director search starts for AAST

Spring 2006                Larry Shinagawa was hired as the first Director for Asian American Studies Program.

                                      AASU receives SGA Student Group of the Year award

2006-2007                   Jen Park president

Jason Chan- Graduate Coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Involvement and Advocacy in the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy.

Fall 2006                    Dharma Naik- Coordinator for Asian Pacific American Student Involvement and Advocacy in the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy.

2007-2008                   Bobby Truong president