Want to get involved with AASU? Join our Task Force Committees and Programming Committees! We need your ideas and help with each of these committees, so please contact the chair of each committee and sign up today!
 

Task Force Committees

Asian American Sisters: Pride, Integrity, Respect, and Empowerment (AASPIRE) The purpose of AASPIRE is to serve as a self-exploration and discussion group about APA women and to serve as a voice on issues relating to APA women. We plan to accomplish a lot in the 2007-08 school including hosting discussions to film screenings to seminars to workshops. YES, this group is open to both males and females. Come join us to share and explore the similarities and differences of the common yet unique experiences of APA sisters!! For more information, contact Kumudha Kumarachandran at kkumarac@umd.edu.

Community Service Community Service is a great way of supporting the APA community through helping others directly and improving the lives of those who are less fortunate. By expanding our outreach to the APA and non-APA communities and serving peoples of all ages, races, physical conditions, and social class, we can empower those around us by creating awareness. We also strengthen the community by building lasting relationships and bringing unity within the general public. Community service builds character, self-esteem, and a sense of fulfillment in our lives. Contact our Community Service chair Eric Chai at aasuchai@gmail.com.

The PublicAsian The PublicAsian is the voice of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community at the University of Maryland, College Park. The paper is monthly and covers issues and events in regards to Asian Pacific Americans on campus and in the community. The PublicAsian is always looking for writers and ideas. The PublicAsian editors encourage writers to come with their own story ideas, which can include national or local news, campus events, arts and entertainment, or sports, as long as they have an Asian Pacific American angle. You do not have to be a journalism or English major to write.

Assignment meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in Terrapin Room A in the Student Involvement Suites located in the Stamp Student Union. The editors also have office hours every Wednesday at the same time and location. For more information, ideas and questions, please e-mail the editors-in-chief, Priya Kumar and Samantha Lee, at publicasian@gmail.com or The PublicAsian Liasion, Sharon Choi, at tasteofcharm@gmail.com.

Working for an Asian American Studies Program (WAASP) WAASP serves as a vehicle for promoting and strengthening the Asian American Studies (AAST) program at the University of Maryland. WAASP is dedicated to bringing more of the Asian Pacific American (APA) experience here to campus by educating others about APA issues and struggles. Several goals of this committee include increasing the variety of AAST courses, helping the process of hiring AAST staff, continuing the creation of the AAST major, and so much more.

To do this, we must continue to rally to support the AAST program so that everyone, not just APA students, can learn about what it is to be Asian Pacific American. Some things that WAASP is planning to do is to visit AAST programs in neighboring schools, hand out surveys to AAST classes to hear the student voice, talk directly with the AAST program director, Larry Shinagawa, and more. For more information, please contact Adam So at Adaaym@gmail.com.

Yuri Kochiyama (YK) The YK is an outreach program to connect to High School Students who are interested in knowing more about the APA community and any issues related to APAs. Contact Neha Singhal at nsinghal@umd.edu for more information.

Freshman Council The Freshman Council is a task force committee of AASU, which is focused on giving freshmen a unique opportunity to get training and information needed to become a leader in the Asian Pacific American community. You will gain insight into basic APA issues and become familiar with the way student organizations run. You will learn the tools to success and even get to put on your own program! In the process, you will meet other freshmen like yourself who are eager to get involved as well as more experienced students who want to share their wisdom. Take advantage of this great chance to learn and get engaged! For more information, please contact Bobby Truong at btruong@umd.edu. 

Programming Committees

APA Heritage Month Programming Committee Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) is a time for the community to be aware of APA cultures, experiences and achievements. APAHM is in April at the University of Maryland. It is filled with many events planned by the programming committee of APAHM and various AASU-affiliated organizations. If you want to be a part of this planning process, email Issac Kim at isaackim01@gmail.com.

APA1 Show Programming Committee The APA 1 (All People As One) show is an annual production organized by AASU that intends to create opportunities for students from different heritages to put together a show that reflects similarities and differences of the diverse Asian ethnic groups. It provides participants the opportunity to perform (acting, dancing, singing), meet new people, establish life-long friendships and develop leadership skills. It is also a great opportunity for the APA community to educate others about the APA experience.For more information please email Issac Kim at isaackim01@gmail.com.

FUEL Leadership Conference Programming Committee F.U.E.L. (Forging, Understanding, Empowering and Leading) is the annual Asian Pacific American (APA) leadership conference that happens right here on our campus. Students come together in workshops to meet people who have similar interests and experiences, to learn about the advancement of APAs, to understand issues facing APAs today and ultimately to discover their own potential.

The Asian American Student Union is looking for dedicated volunteers for the up and coming 8th Annual F.U.E.L. Leadership Conference. This year the event will be held in the fall semester on Friday November 9th and Saturday November 10th. We are looking for volunteers to become committee members to help efficiently plan the program, leaders to facilitate workshops, executive directors to help run the event smoothly as well as public relations members to help advertise. If you’re interested in participating please email Issac Kim at isaackim01@gmail.com