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Show Main goal awareness 'Asians not recognized' Asians and Asian-American students face the same racial problems as other minority students on campus and as such are not yet recognized by the University administration or Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU). This topic was one brought out by Steve Kido and Bunny Matsumiya at a meeting of Asian-American students Tuesday. In an outline presented to the students, the main goal of the group is awareness of Asian-Americans on campus and their ethnic background and cultural heritage. Also included were plans to make available student services such as financial aid, academic counseling, employment and new student recruitment. The students also see a need for curriculum development, such as more language, history and cultural classes, and to acquire more faculty in terms of oriental professors. Community work involvement and a research and publications center are other goals for the students. The Asian-American students stress that theirs is not a militant type of organization. They will work with the Chicanos, Blacks and Indians in the already established Minority Center and will share all the goals and responsibilities that these other groups face. The group was organized last year with Kido, Miss Matsumiya Matsu-miya and Ron Aramaki. Money was available for an Asian-American Asian-American class from the minorities program. The students then organized a class in which they recorded an oral history record of their grandparents. The University administration then asked the group if they are to be considered a minority and if there are needs of the students as a cohesive group. Their answer was yes. They replied that they felt discrimination was a problem at the University although not as bad as though problems facing other Orientals at other campuses such as San Francisco or New York. Also of most Asians and Asian-Americans who are attending the University, Uni-versity, there is a problem of identity crisis and a lost feeling for heritage and history. "What is it to be yellow in America and how do we fit in?" asked Miss Matsumiya. "This is where the need is for an Asian-American center on campus," she said. |