Asian-American groups bond over ice cream and discussion

Braving light showers, more than 100 Asian-American students gathered at Houston Hall Thursday night to gobble free ice cream and stroll amongst tables dedicated to Asian-American organizations on campus. The event -- the third-annual Asian Pacific Community Fair -- was co-sponsored by the Asian Pacific Student Coalition and the Asian American Studies Department. It was billed as an opportunity to introduce freshmen to various organizations celebrating Asian-American culture at the University and a chance to increase student awareness on a variety of issues. The APSC, founded two years ago by Penn students, serves as an umbrella organization for 13 student organizations and describes itself as the "unified voice of Asian Americans at Penn," according to APSC Chairperson Eric Lee, a Wharton senior. The drive to establish an Asian American Studies major at the University has commanded much of the efforts of the APSC. The need for students to show an interest in courses in the Asian American Studies minor program was emphasized by several speakers at the fair. Warning that "we can't afford to take the minor for granted," Valerie De Cruz, director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center, highlighted the need for students to get involved with Asian-American causes. Student activists stressed that other issues also require attention. "The ratio of Asian-American students to faculty is one of the lowest on campus," Lee said. "Those [Asian-American faculty] that are [at the University] are usually locked up in the hospital." APSC representatives also said they would like to see Asian Americans proportionally represented in the Undergraduate Assembly. Lee attributed the current low representation to a reluctance among Asian Americans to get involved in politics. Many freshmen perusing the various displays -- set up by ethnic and cultural organizations, fraternities, sororities and religious organizations -- said they were interested in taking Asian American Studies courses while at the University. Lee emphasized the importance of a unified Asian-American gathering, noting that "we are seen as Asian American and we need to work as Asian Americans." As the fair drew to an end, organizers declared the event a success. "I think from what I see here we've done a pretty good job," said Sofia Theophilus, APSC vice chairperson for community affairs and coordinator of the event.