As we enter The Year of the Ox, Eastern Mennonite University’s newest club – the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, or APISA – invited the campus community to a Lunar New Year celebration.
Philia Lienardy, a member of the club’s leadership team, says that some of the memorable traditions of the holiday, as celebrated by her family to honor their Chinese heritage, include mooncake, giving of red envelopes, the lion dance, shared family cooking and meals, fireworks and oranges. The club’s inaugural campus-wide event was Sunday afternoon.
The club’s leadership team credits Richard Vo with the initial idea of a club for students who identify as Asian Pacific Islanders that “brings everyone together to share, celebrate and learn about different ethnicities and cultures.” Vo tried for some years to “get the club off the ground,” and his efforts have been continued by Avery Trinh and David Chun, co-presidents; Cindi Boyer, vice president; Philia Lienardy, marketing and publisher and Katelyn Dean, secretary and treasurer.
According to this group, APISA is “the first student association to represent the Asian and Pacific Islander student body.” [EMU students have sponsored organizations celebrating Asian heritage in the past, but not with such an expansive inclusion of cultures.]
Students who identify as Asian and Pacific Islander represent a wide range of cultures and the club recognizes that diversity, aiming for inclusivity and community in its structure and activities. “We want to celebrate those cultures that are commonly identified as Asian but still part of the community,” the group said.
Although the pandemic has slowed momentum, the club has steadily grown since its first meeting in February 2020 at J-Petal (the Asian fusion restaurant in Harrisonburg was the perfect site for a first meeting of this intra-cultural association!). An October 2020 virtual meeting kicked things off and the club has enjoyed a few game nights while also designing a t-shirt and preparing for the new year’s event.
Among other goals, the club will advocate for the APISA community and offer a safe space for open conversations about issues and current events. That space is important now, the leadership team says, as racism against Asians and Asian-Americans is on the rise in the United States.
Club leaders agree of the importance of Asian students on campus knowing “they are not alone,” they said. “
Education, advocacy, representation and proactivity are guiding future plans. The club is exploring a future panel and discussion about how the global pandemic and racial attacks have affected Asian-owned businesses and business communities. More “light-hearted” activities are also in the works, such as a virtual cooking class “to show off the simple dishes we’ve grown up with” as viewers follow along, Trinh said.
Connect with APISA
- All are welcome to follow the club’s Instagram: Apisa.emu
- For info about club activities or to purchase a t-shirt, reply below in the comment box and we’ll connect you to club leaders.
- Support APISA during LovEMU Day April 7, 2021.