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Introducing…
by Kevin Quan

 You are only what you allow yourself to be.

 On the Stony Brook campus, approximately 25% of the student body is of Asian heritage. However equal representation is a goal that is with the stars; that is, far from being reached. In areas such as faculty and staff, the number of Asian Americans employed by the university is extremely disproportionate to the student body. As for academics, the university still lacks a large enough amount of Asian and Asian American history, language and cultural study programs that would encourage understanding of the lives of a large segment of the student population. As for areas of campus life, few times are there events geared towards Asian interests. Perhaps these facts go hand in hand with the fact that Polity Council (the student governed body of Stony Brook) never had the membership of one Asian American student until this semester. (I do hope I am invoking the ‘Piece of the Pie’ thought in all of you). All of these facts do not need to be explained to you, they are visible if you walk the halls of administration, turn the pages of your course bulletin or browse the ads on bulletin boards.      

 Additionally, in terms of campus media, there has never been an outlet for issues, clubs, events, faculty persons, and news that are geared towards Asian American students

…until now.

 The purpose of this Asian American Newsletter is to serve the students and faculty of Asian descent, be informative in terms of academics and campus life, allow unity and networking among the Asian American student body and to also educate non-Asian persons about the issues and interests that are dealt with by their Asian counterparts. Most importantly, we strive to fill the void that current campus media outlets are not attempting to fill.

 Some of you may now be wondering how we as a group have become so under represented. Perhaps it is the phenomenon of the self-hating Asian or perhaps it is the passivity of the Asian American student body. Maybe it is even misunderstanding of this student group by students or administrating bodies.

 If you agree at all with any that you have read, you must remember, You are only what you allow yourself to be.

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