Asian Americans kick off book tour

The editors of A-Magazine, the English-language Asian American magazine with the highest national circulation, kicked off a nationwide tour to promote their new book, Eastern Standard Time, at Stiteler Hall last night. The kickoff was sponsored by the University's student-run Asian American magazine, Mosaic. The aim of Eastern Standard Time, or EST, is to "bring together a cornucopia of talent that represents Asian culture," A-Magazine editor and EST co-author Jeff Yang said. Yang said EST -- which is subtitled "A Guide to Asian Influence in American Culture, From Astro Boy to Zen Buddhism" -- shows not only that Asians have a place in American culture but that they have been an integral component of it. "The connections between East and West, which helped compose this country, have been overlooked," Yang said. Dina Gan, a co-author of EST, dubbed the book "a lot of short, witty, informative pieces? about the American popular culture today." She explained that writing the book was a learning experience for her and her co-authors. Gan said she learned just how much of American popular culture "springs from the East," including the kiwi fruit, citrus fruits and many games, including Chutes and Ladders. Noting that the original 750-page manuscript had to be cut in half, Yang said one of the hardest tasks was deciding which information to include in the book. "Getting a universe into 350 pages is no simple task," Yang said. In addition to EST, the A-Magazine staff is producing a video on Asian American culture with an accompanying workbook which will soon be available to high schools. Following the official kickoff, three local Asian American poets -- including third-year Law student Josie Foo -- read their works as part of the "A-Magazine Spoken Words Tour." The two-day event will continue today at 11 a.m. in The Book Store, where Yang and Gan will sign postcards and other free items commemorating the book. They will also be available to answer any students' questions. And students can order copies of EST, which should be released in mid-April. At 1 p.m., speakers will discuss the "Spoken Words Tour" and "AAWW East is East Tour" at the Kelly Writers House. Live bands -- including the Asian American group Mountain Brothers and several student bands -- will perform Asian American music in Superblock tomorrow at 4 p.m., followed by an outdoor movie screening at 6:30 p.m. The event will conclude tomorrow at 11 p.m. with a party at the Lambda House hosted by the Penn Philippine Association. The events are part of EST's college tour, which is scheduled to conclude in California later this month. "We are trying to promote Asian culture and we want the whole university to come out," Wharton senior and Mosaic's Editor-in-Chief Derek Yan said. Students at last night's kickoff said they hoped the EST tour kickoff would increase campus awareness of Asian Americans.