Student Protest for Asian American Studies Department and Major at Hunter College

On April 5, 2017, members and allies of the Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter (CRAASH), including students from other universities in New York City, gathered outside of Hunter College to protest the Hunter administration's assaults on the Asian American Studies Program (AASP) and to demand the creation of an Asian American Studies Department and major. Not depicted in the video is the fact that the protest was heavily policed by campus security, who tried to prevent the students from gathering and protesting.

In 2016, CRAASH launched a campaign demanding an Asian American Studies Department and major. Directly following a presentation from CRAASH on its demands at the Hunter Senate meeting in September of 2017, AASP director Jennifer Hayashida received news of non-reappointment, putting the future of the program into further precarity. This protest was the first in a series of escalations directed at Hunter administration for its active dismantling of and history of neglect of the AASP.

The Hunter College Asian American Studies Program (AASP) was established in 1993. As the only academic program in Asian American studies in the CUNY system, the AASP offers a minor in Asian American Studies and other resources and programming. The AASP supports scholars, artists, and activists advancing scholarship in the fields of Asian American studies and critical ethnic studies and serves as a resource for New York City's Asian American communities. In 2006, the program was at risk of being cut due to a lack of funding. Students formed the Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter (CRAASH) and saved the program within a year. CRAASH is now a student-run club that continues to advocate for the AASP.

Coloma, Shalemar

April 5, 2017

Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter

English

Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter

Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown

April 5, 2017 Members of CRAASH assembled in front of Hunter College to protest the institution's lack of an Asian American Studies Major, despite being over one-third Asian and Asian American and to fight for the sustainability of ethnic studies programs everywhere (chanting) No history, no self! Know history, know self! Mic check! In September, after CRAASH students presented our demands to a faculty senate meeting, our director Jennifer Hayashida received a notice of non-reappointment. The administration is retaliating against student activism by letting go of the director that has built the program into what it is today. (chanting) Whose education? Our education! Good afternoon, New York City! We have been fighting for Asian American studies and then last year in September when we presented at the Hunter Senate meeting we, the people, were disregarded, were undermined, were undervalued. What do we want? Ethnic studies! When do we want it? Now! (chanting) What do we want? Ethnic studies! When do we want it? Now! The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the only act banning one ethnicity from entering the United States. This is my history! This is America's legacy! It deserves to be taught— taught truthfully, taught freely. A lack of education is miseducation. Miseducation is ignorance. I want to know my past properly. I want my past to be taken seriously. And I refuse to let my history be erased because I am still here, still standing. And I demand Asian American Studies now! (chanting) No history, no self! Know history, know self! Words by Linda Luu, Michael Garrovillas, Amy Zhen Special thanks to the members of CRAASH

Digital Video

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Coloma, Shalemar

Coloma, Shalemar