University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Evolution of an Asian American leader (bred in the cornfields of Champaign-Urbana)

Imperial, Robert; Lee, Jason; Park, Yaeinn

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/25934

Description

Title
The Evolution of an Asian American leader (bred in the cornfields of Champaign-Urbana)
Author(s)
  • Imperial, Robert
  • Lee, Jason
  • Park, Yaeinn
Issue Date
2011-08
Keyword(s)
  • Asian American
  • pan-ethnic community
  • leadership
  • Registered Student Organization
  • alumni
Abstract
Our paper focuses on the evolution of an Asian American leader. Each of us interviewed a specific person (freshman, senior, and alum) in order to understand their experiences as an active member within the Asian American community and track the transition within students as they are impacted by the university’s programs, organizations, and issues being fought for by the APA community. We emphasized the importance of Registered Student Organizations, Asian American Studies, and Asian American conferences as the main factors that contribute to the level of activism, leadership, and further involvement after graduation. We found that although many Asian American students at the U of I campus are somehow involved in the Asian American community, the plethora of RSO’s create a sense of segregation and ethnic specific congregation, which in turn causes pockets of comfort and narrow understanding of Asian America as a whole. Without pan-Asian American community, we believe it is difficult to further expand the academic and social arenas for Asian American college students in the future.
Series/Report Name or Number
  • AAS346 Section A (Asian American Youth)
  • Professor Soo Ah Kwon
  • Asian American youth make up one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. In this course we explored the ways that second-generation Asian American youth are actively shaping the U.S. landscape in terms of identity formation, youth culture, education, and activism. These experiences will be examined within larger historical, economic, racial, social and political forces in the United States.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/25934

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