Last modified: Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Celebration of diverse Asian cultures, history and peoples at IU in April
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It's being called a "CelebrAsian" at Indiana University Bloomington in April, when the campus will celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and honor the rich history and presence of Asians and Pacific islanders in the United States.
The Asian Culture Center (ACC) is coordinating a number of events next month, which will include panel discussions and lectures about the region's history and cultures, and issues affecting Asians in the U.S. In addition, there will be performances of both traditional and modern music, film showings, art and book exhibits, art demonstrations and an Asian knowledge bowl contest.
The Asian Culture Center's Web site at https://www.indiana.edu/~acc will provide updates and further details. Following are the month's events, which are free and open to the public:
-- The Third Annual Pho and Spring Roll Night by Vietnamese Student Association, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday (April 1) at the Asian Culture Center, 807 E. 10th St. This program offers a chance to learn more about Vietnamese culture through cooking. People will learn how to prepare pho, a basic and popular beef noodle soup, and Vietnamese spring rolls.
-- Ishle Yi Park Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word performance at 7 p.m. on April 4 (Monday), hosted by Union Board, the IU Creative Writing Department, the ACC and the Korean Undergraduate Students Association. It will take place in Whittenberger Auditorium of the Indiana Memorial Union, 900 E. Seventh St. A recipient of a fiction grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts and a Gregory Millard Fellow, her work has been published in over 20 anthologies, including The Beacon Best of 2001 and The Best American Poetry of 2003, edited by Pulitzer-prize winner and former IU professor Yosuf Komunyakaa. The poet laureate of Queens, New York, Ishle was the first Korean American woman ever to compete and be featured on the finals stage at the National Poetry Slam. She was featured on HBO's "Russell Simmons Presents: Def Poetry Jam," and she has been profiled by the New York Times, The Economist, Asianweek, The Black Scholar Review, Wasafiri and the San Francisco Guardian.
-- A lecture and symposium on April 4 (Monday) on globalizing East Asian education," hosted by the East Asian Studies Center and IU School of Law-Bloomington. Panel discussions will be from noon to 3:45 p.m. in the Oak Room of the IMU, and the lecture, "International Law and East Asia," will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the law school (room announced later).
-- Holi Festival and announcement of APA Heritage Month children's poster-art contest and exhibit winners, beginning at 6 p.m. on April 8 (Friday) at the Student Recreational Sports Center, 1601 Law Lane. This "Indian festival of color," will feature cultural performances and food. Sponsors are the ACC, SRSC, India Studies Program and Indian Student Association. Winning entries and others will be on exhibit in the Campus View Apartments' activities room.
-- The First IU Go Game Competition, from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 8 (Friday) at the ACC. Wei-Chi, as it is known in China, Baduk as it's known in Korea, or Go in Japan, is considered by many game experts as the world's greatest strategic skill game, surpassing Chess in complexity and scope. Registration is required for competitiors and can be done by e-mail to acc@indiana.edu. Prizes will include t-shirts, gift certificates and a trophy.
-- "Encounters: People of Asian Descent in the Americas," a joint program on April 13 (Wednesday) of the ACC and the La Casa Latino Cultural Center. Roshni Rustomji-Kerns, professor emerita at Sonoma State University and a visiting scholar in the Center for Latin American Studies at Stanford University. It will begin at 7 p.m. at the ACC. Rustomji-Kerns is the editor of a similarly titled anthology, from which selections will be read.
-- Readings of Asian American literature, hosted by IU Libraries, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 14 (Thursday) in the Main Library Media Showing Room (E174). There also will be a display based on Asian-American literature in the Main Library lobby exhibit area.
-- The East Asian Studies Colloquium, "Drinking Games, Transcendence, and the Performance of Mundane Details," by Professor Lin Zou at noon on April 15 (Friday) at Ballantine Hall, room 004.
-- Asian Alumni Social Hour, from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 15 (Friday) at Truffles Restaurant, 1131 S. College Mall Road. Registration is required for this IU Asian Alumni Association event. Contact Anne Fagan at amfagan@indiana.edu or 812-855-6120.
-- "The Rise of Asian Hip Hop," presented by IU Hip Hop Congress at 7 p.m. on April 15 (Friday). A reception with the artists, Snacky Chan and Agile One, will begin at 7 p.m. at the ACC and the performance will begin at 9 p.m. at the 9th Street Bar, 107, 9th St. The two popular Asian hip hop artists will discuss at the reception how hip hop has been influenced by Asian culture and vice versa. They will perform later with local Asian American DJ Tom.
-- A lecture by Kieu Chinh, hosted by Union Board and the ACC, at 7 p.m. on April 20 (Wednesday) at Whittenberger Auditorium. Chinh, an actress, appeared in the movie of Amy Tan's novel, The Joy Luck Club.
-- The 12th Annual Taste of Asia, hosted by Asian American Student Association, at 6 p.m. on April 22 (Friday) The location will be announced at a later date. This annual event includes a talent show featuring performances by numerous student and community groups and the tasting of Asian cuisine from Bloomington restaurants. in Bloomington. Displays set up by Asian and Asian American interest groups reflect the cultural diversity within these communities. For more info, e-mail aaa@indiana.edu.
-- The Asian American Knowledge Bowl, at 7 p.m. on April 27 (Wednesday) in the Dogwood Room of the IMU. Teams will test their knowledge of Asian American history and cultures. The winning team will earn a cash prize for their registered student organization of choice. For more information, contact Pearl Kim at acc@indiana.edu.
