By STEPHANIE HUANG
For those of Asian descent, January is a month to showcase their heritage. The multicultural office has chosen Asian Cultural Month to start off winter semester, since Chinese New Year falls on January 28.
Every month will highlight a different culture, and the aim is to educate students about the colorful diversity, not often seen, at Brigham Young University.
James Slaughter, the multicultural programming advisor, said, “This is an opportunity to get to know people as individuals, breakdown stereotypes, and have fun together.” To accomplish this, the asian clubs on campus, the Student Life Involvement Center and the Multicultural Office have joined together to sponsor various symposiums, firesides, dances, and a Chinese New Year celebration, to welcome the year of the tiger.
Sister Cheiko Okazaki, former counselor in the General Relief Society, will be a highlight for Asian month. She will speak Sunday, January 25.
Grant Nagamatsu, a senior from Pukalani, Hawaii majoring in political science, has been involved with organizing activities for Asian month. He said, “We are all brothers and sisters. We shouldn’t think that it will be difficult to get to know or relate to each other. We all have a lot to offer.” A concern Nagamatsu has for students coming to BYU from different areas of America, is feeling the need to adjust. He says some students think they need to sacrifice their heritage and customs to blend in with BYU culture. At the other end of the spectrum are students who let their culture become a barrier to the enviornment around them.
Slaughter hopes that the thematic months will help educate the students, bring the campus understanding, and show appreciation for the wide range of cultures that the students bring to this campus.
Asian month kicks off on Thursday, January 15 with a symposium focusing on Southeast Asian experiences. A dance sponsored by the Asian American Association will be held Friday at the Manavu Chapel in Provo. Brother Honam Rhee of the Asian and Near Eastern Department will speak at a fireside Sunday, January 18. A second symposium will be Thursday, January 22 and the panel will consist of second and third generation students and their experiences. On Sunday, January 25, Sister Cheiko Okazaki will speak at a fireside. The month ends on an explosive note, with the Chinese New Year celebration on January 30. The year of the Tiger will be welcomed with martial arts demonstrations, chinese folk dancing, food from the different asian countries, and a fashion show with authentic clothing.
“This is a great oppurtunity for all BYU students to get involved and have fun,” Slaughter said.
