<p>Read this article by my friend who goes here too:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVarticle.asp?ID=29156&pid=1540%5B/url%5D">http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVarticle.asp?ID=29156&pid=1540</a></p>
<p>Ending Asian exclusion</p>
<p>Prashanth Parameswaran, Cavalier Daily Opinion Columnist
ASIANS and Asian-Pacific Americans comprise about 17 percent of the University population, represent 50 CIOs on grounds, and have the highest graduation rate among all minority groups. Yet, the University rewards their significance and contributions with sheer neglect in nearly every aspect of University life -- be it faculty, funding or anti-discrimination policies. It is time the University address its dismal record of dealing with Asian discrimination and give the community the place it deserves.</p>
<p>One of the more glaring instances of University neglect on Asian issues is that of faculty. According to Assistant Dean of Students Sarah Wilcox, the lack of Asian-Pacific American faculty at the University is a major concern for Asian students. The neglect in this area is even more appalling when the University is compared to other institutions of its caliber. According to Wilcox, out of the 62 Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions, the University ranks near the bottom in terms of recruitment and retention of APA tenure-track faculty.</p>
<p>The University has also restricted resources dedicated toward supporting the APA community. Patrick Lee, head of the Asian Student Union, complained about the insufficiency of funding that plagues APA organizations on Grounds. Wilcox also added that she would like to see an increase in funding toward APA groups in the near future. "Considering that APA students provide a great deal of the diversity programming that occurs during Family Weekend (14 of the 24 Culture Fest performing groups were APA and 11 of the 14 Reception Dinner providers were APA), I'd like to see more funds allocated to support these CIOs' efforts for these events," she said in an interview. Given the significant contributions of APA organizations, it is a shame that these efforts are met with little reciprocity by the University.</p>
<p>Also of concern is the extent of racial discrimination against Asians at the University. In 2005, according to The Cavalier Daily, a survey showed that 51 percent of APA students "have experienced or witnessed discrimination against APAs". In the Spring 2006 Summary Report of Bias Complaints, which analyzes acts of bias or discrimination against students reported via the Office of the Dean of Students' "Just Report It" website, ten targets were Asian-Pacific Americans. This was higher than the number of incidents for any other racial or ethnic group.</p>
<p>Despite this, there is not a single APA member on the Committee of Diversity and Equity, which is populated entirely by blacks. In another Cavalier Daily article, Assistant College Dean Beverly Adams said in 2005 that while "blacks may feel their voice will be heard if they speak, Asian students may not feel that way." Lee, for instance, said he was shocked that many students at the University asked him if he was lying in a letter he wrote to the editor about acts of discrimination against Asians on Grounds, or if they "actually happened". By turning anti-discrimination efforts into an exclusively African-American issue, the University is ignoring the realities that occur on Grounds and nurturing a climate where discrimination against other minorities are overlooked, underestimated or simply dismissed.</p>
<p>But why should Asians receive attention on diversity issues if they have not gone through the same periods of historical oppression as their African-American counterparts? Individuals asking this question should brush up on their history. To cite one example, the inhumane internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during WWII in war relocation centers was such an international humiliation that President Reagan publicly apologized for this "racial prejudice" in 1988. The corollary argument that discrimination against Asians is not as egregious as that committed against African-Americans is also founded in ignorance. For instance, just as the "n-word," is considered a pejorative term today since it was used during the era of slavery, the word "chink," was a term first used by American railroad members during the 19th century when Chinese slaves were brought to the US for the Transcontinental Railroad. Besides, the basis of the argument is flawed. It suggests that minorities should be awarded equal rights based on the degree and nature of their past oppression. Fairness and equality is a basic necessity and should not exist only to correct past discrimination.</p>
<p>The University must improve its track record when it comes to meeting the needs of its largest and most successful ethnic minority group before it loses its appeal. As of now, the APA community is caught in a cycle of stagnation because it suffers from a lack of funding and representation on the part of the University. Unless these two aspects are significantly altered, it looks like Asian exclusion at the University will continue unabated, threatening to reduce its attractiveness to future APA students. According to Lee, "if a first year came to me and asked me if U.Va. was a safe and supportive community for APAs, I would say no. If you want a community that celebrates you as an APA, this is not it."</p>