Asian club organized for tolerance, awareness
Brent Cooley
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: Campus News
There is a new club here at the University of Tennessee at Martin: the Asian Club. It has been started by appointed President Carol Chan, a senior biology major, in order to unite Asian students across campus and to create an awareness of the growing number of Asian students attending school here at UTM.
Chan has decided to create such a club because there is "no club uniting Asians students from all Asian countries." Its agenda is to "promote and increase the presence of Asians on campus," Chan said. She also added that "it is [her] wish to help Asian students to adjust to American culture" and "to help Asian students feel more comfortable in this American university setting here in Martin, Tennessee."
Sophia Su, a sophomore finance major, said that "sometimes we [Asian students] can feel isolated" and "a club like this has enabled me and others to make friends." With the forming of this club, soon to be organization, Su and other Asian students can connect with one another and adjust to American culture as a collective group instead of learning about it alone.
This club is also dedicated to charity work. Despite just beginning this semester, it has discussed the possibility of doing volunteer work with Habitat For Humanity, We Care Ministries and the Carl Perkins Center.
Right now, the club is not a full-fledged organization, however "it will be soon," according to the president. The constitution has been finished and advisors to sponsor the club have been sought after. Also, the attendance for the meetings has been fairly high with about 30 or 40 attending each meeting. This not only includes Asian students, but a few American students as well.
"I am very optimistic about the future of the Asian Club," Chan said, "I hope it grows into something very large."
Chan has decided to create such a club because there is "no club uniting Asians students from all Asian countries." Its agenda is to "promote and increase the presence of Asians on campus," Chan said. She also added that "it is [her] wish to help Asian students to adjust to American culture" and "to help Asian students feel more comfortable in this American university setting here in Martin, Tennessee."
Sophia Su, a sophomore finance major, said that "sometimes we [Asian students] can feel isolated" and "a club like this has enabled me and others to make friends." With the forming of this club, soon to be organization, Su and other Asian students can connect with one another and adjust to American culture as a collective group instead of learning about it alone.
This club is also dedicated to charity work. Despite just beginning this semester, it has discussed the possibility of doing volunteer work with Habitat For Humanity, We Care Ministries and the Carl Perkins Center.
Right now, the club is not a full-fledged organization, however "it will be soon," according to the president. The constitution has been finished and advisors to sponsor the club have been sought after. Also, the attendance for the meetings has been fairly high with about 30 or 40 attending each meeting. This not only includes Asian students, but a few American students as well.
"I am very optimistic about the future of the Asian Club," Chan said, "I hope it grows into something very large."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Aaron
posted 12/09/09 @ 12:51 PM CST
This is an excellent idea because it doesn't focus on just one culture but many cultures. Its just as much for American students (or any student) to use as a tool to understand Asian cultures as it is for Asian cultures to understand each other as well as American culture. (Continued…)
Richard
posted 12/09/09 @ 7:46 PM CST
I don't have a problem with asians on campus forming a group. All races should have a group that represents them. It has inspired me to start a White Men's Club on campus. (Continued…)
Anon
posted 12/10/09 @ 6:34 PM CST
I wonder what kind of back lash there would be from creating a White Men CLub in all honesty. They would prolly call us a Neo-Nazi group that's plotting to whip out everyone else on campus. (Continued…)
Mike G.
posted 12/11/09 @ 1:00 AM CST
I think it's a great idea. I'd definitely join that group. Richard may have an idea there. The only problem would be convincing people that the group isn't racist. (Continued…)
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