{"id":48776,"date":"2021-03-16T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=48776"},"modified":"2021-10-07T07:40:36","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T11:40:36","slug":"emus-newest-club-the-asian-pacific-islander-student-association-hosted-lunar-new-year-celebration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2021\/emus-newest-club-the-asian-pacific-islander-student-association-hosted-lunar-new-year-celebration\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU\u2019s newest club, the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, celebrates Lunar New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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As we enter The Year of the Ox, Eastern Mennonite University\u2019s newest club \u2013 the Asian Pacific Islander Student Association, or APISA \u2013 invited the campus community to a Lunar New Year celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philia Lienardy<\/strong>, a member of the club\u2019s 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\u2019s inaugural campus-wide event was Sunday afternoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The club\u2019s leadership team credits Richard Vo<\/strong> with the initial idea of a club for students who identify as Asian Pacific Islanders that \u201cbrings everyone together to share, celebrate and learn about different ethnicities and cultures.\u201d Vo tried for some years to \u201cget the club off the ground,\u201d and his efforts have been continued by Avery Trinh<\/strong> and David Chun<\/strong>, co-presidents; Cindi Boyer<\/strong>, vice president; Philia Lienardy<\/strong>, marketing and publisher and Katelyn Dean<\/strong>, secretary and treasurer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to this group, APISA is \u201cthe first student association to represent the Asian and Pacific Islander student body.\u201d [EMU students have sponsored organizations celebrating Asian heritage in the past, but not with such an expansive inclusion of cultures.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. \u201cWe want to celebrate those cultures that are commonly identified as Asian but still part of the community,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Club leaders agree of the importance of Asian students on campus knowing \u201cthey are not alone,\u201d they said. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0 Asian-owned businesses and business communities. More \u201clight-hearted\u201d activities are also in the works, such as a virtual cooking class \u201cto show off the simple dishes we\u2019ve grown up with\u201d as viewers follow along, Trinh said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with APISA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n