The Amherst Asian Alumni Network shares testimonies from alumni in support of an AAPI studies major.
In the wake of Amherst Uprising in Fall 2015, many students asked: Why don’t we know more about what it means to be Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)? Why aren’t there more AAPI studies classes at Amherst? And why don’t we have a greater sense of intellectual community on campus?
A few years later, these same students, now alumni, formed the Amherst Asian Alumni Network (AAAN) with the dual aims of building a greater sense of community among alumni and advocating for AAPI studies at Amherst. We later learned that generations of students had been asking these same questions since the early 1970s. We decided to connect all these voices and become a constant force in supporting students and faculty advocating for an AAPI studies major.
In 2021, the AAAN wrote an open letter calling out Amherst’s lack of commitment to AAPI studies. Over 400 alumni, faculty, and students signed on in agreement, and we received numerous testimonies about how an AAPI studies major would impact students’ experiences at Amherst.
The AAAN stands in full support of establishing the AAPI studies major. Beyond just a few courses, a major would provide the long-term infrastructure, dedicated resources, and institutional recognition for all students to be able to study the history, culture, and lived experiences of AAPIs. The AAAN is committed to harnessing our alumni membership to ensure the sustainability of the program through financial support and career mentorship. In 2023, AAAN members fundraised over $5,000 to establish the Franklin S. Odo Senior Thesis Prize. Each year, faculty will award this prize to a graduating senior who writes an outstanding thesis in AAPI studies, and…
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