CASB was formed so long ago someone needs to go through Statesman archives to find out exactly when - though we do know for sure it has the oldest continuous annual cultural show on campus, China Night, that was over 25 years old in 2001. And that provides continuity... in 2003 when CTO / VP of FalconStor Wai Lam got up on the Union stage as the Keynote Speaker for Alumni Weekend, he joked about how the last time he was up there it was as a performer in China Night... and he graduated in 1982.

Since those early years China Night has morphed into something totally different. It keeps a story line for the evening that allows for both traditional and modern acts - but now strongly favors dance and step routines and a sizzling fashion show.

CASB began as a very traditional Chinese organization. It was not until 1996 that Board meetings were even held in English. Until then there was an interpreter for those who did not speak Cantonese. And those transitional years in the mid '90's were turbulent ones as CASB transformed from an immigrant student organization to a Chinese American one.

CASB started in conjunction with Chinese Studies, then in the Social Sciences Department (SSI; it no longer exists). Dr. Shi Ming Hu and her husband Eli Seifman were pivotal in helping with funding and resources in the early days. Each China Night used to begin with Professor Hu and one of her white Chinese language students on stage. Hu Lau Shi would have the student speak to the audience. Then she would talk and make the Chinese students who either could not speak or were not literate in Chinese feel guilty because the gwai lo / bat-gwai / bai-guei could. Though she was somewhat more subtle about her wording.

The next China Night is on Saturday, March 11. Even though it is the oldest cultural show on campus, and always sells out in advance, they got screwed out of their traditional night in late April because other events were booked instead. April as Asian and Asian American Awareness Month was generally problematic because of Spring Break, but it seems that Students Activities, which no longer has even one Asian working there, is blowing off Asian student clubs and Asian Awareness Month completely. They may want to have their own Student Activities run events like the Multicultural Show but it should not come at the expense of longstanding and popular shows run completely by students.

But even with hassles from Student Activities, the show must go on. If anyone is interested in acting, modeling, singing, dancing, or scriptwriting for China Night 2006, contact CASB at stonyCASB@gmail.com

CASB also holds different events throughout the year. Its most noted, aside from China Night, is the annual singing contest. There are years when SB has some incredible talent - and some singers here have gone on and gotten recording contracts.

CASB's next event is a Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament on Thursday, December 1st, from 7-11 in the SAC Auditorium. Seating is limited so to guarantee a place you should register by sending an email to stonycasb@gmail.com

CASB does not have weekly meetings but does do events during some of their block-booked weekly times, Wednesdays at 8:30 in SAC 306. You need to check the calendar http://www.aasquared.org/calendar/calendar.pl or their website www.xanga.com/stonyCASB to know when they will be doing something.

Here are photos from previous CASB events:

China Night 2005: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/chinanight2005

China Night 2004: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/chinanight2004

Singing Contest 2003: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/casb2003

China Night 2003: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/chinanite2003

Singing Contest 2002: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/CASBSingContest2002

China Night 2002: http://aa2sbu.aasquared.org/gallery/ChinaNight2002

Unknown to many is the annual $500 Shi Ming Hu Student Leadership Award, initiated by former students and CASB members after Prof Hu's passing to honor how important she had been to CASB. The info on Prof Hu is at http://www.sinc.stonybrook.edu/clubs/educasia/ShiMingHu/ and the link at the top includes the presentation CASB made at China Night the year she retired.

The first winner was Evelyn Shah, CASB EC. The award info is on the China Studies website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/chinastudies/scholarships.html

CASB Cabinet members for 2005-06 are: President Jenny Mai; VP Zhe Yu; Secretary Jack Deng; Treasurer Winston Chu; Events Coordinators Larry Leung and David Cheng; EC Assistants Ivy Lau and Gary Lee; Public Relations Julie Chiang and Winnie Lau; Senior Reps Paolo Rueca and Connie Han; Junior Reps Jennifer Chiang and Philip Lai; Sophmore Reps Jieke Ke, Alex Lai, and Derrick Tan; Freshmen Reps Cheri Tang and Sue Yin; and Webmaster Winnie Mai.

stonycasb@gmail.com

www.xanga.com/stonyCASB