Petition from: Northeastern University Student Leaders And Asian American Center Alumni

Petition to: Northeastern University Administration

Call to action: Increase programming budget and resources for Northeastern University’s Asian American Center

BACKGROUND:

The Asian American Center (AAC) has turned nine years old this February. Although the center has grown in leaps and bounds, programming budget for the Asian American Center has not changed since 2006.

Below is a list of the programs that are currently affiliated with the Asian American Center:

AAC Ambassadors

Asian American Heritage Week

Asian American Male Dialogue Series

Asian American Students in Action (AASIA) Peer Mentoring Program

Northeastern University Growth and Opportunity for Asian American Leaders (NUGOAL)

Northeastern University Asian American Community Engagement and Service (NUAACES)

Pan Asian American Council (PAAC)

Celebr(Asian)

Inspir(Asian)

AAC Senior Banquet

Bubble Tea Time

In the past eight years, these programs have grown dramatically:

-- The Asian American Center hosted and/or co-sponsored 80 events during the 2012-2013 academic year, which is up 59 events the year prior.

-- PAAC now consists of representatives from nine organizations and continues to grow.

-- Since 2007, there has been an increase in the caliber of its programming which now includes a summer team building retreat and the annual culture show Celebr(Asian).

-- The AASIA Mentoring Program is comprised of thirty-six students this year, and continues to attract more students than the program can currently support.

-- Asian American Heritage week has become highly successful and now enlists two student coordinators to oversee the events, as well as increased collaboration between all PAAC organizations involved.

However, it remains that all programs at the Asian American Center are supported by only two full-time staff members, Delia Hom and Douglas Lee.

PETITION:

Dear Northeastern University Administration:

We have learned from current students at Northeastern, that there is a critical need for an increase in support for the Asian American students at Northeastern. As a signer to this petition and as former student leaders at Northeastern, we firmly believe that the Asian American Center is vital to Northeastern University, and it is our position that the budget increase for an additional full time professional to serve the students needs for the Center.

The Asian American Center programs have been extremely impactful on us during our education at Northeastern, namely:

Leadership opportunities provided by the AAC gave us the chance to hone our management and team building skills, preparing us to be confident, impactful members and leaders in the workplace.

Networking was never a daunting or tiring task at the AAC because of the great sense of belonging and the welcoming environment. We were afforded ample amount of opportunities to build relationships based on mentorship and community.

Education on Asian-American culture, history, and present-day issues gave us a strong foundation from which we continue to build our identities from, strengthening our ties to our cultural backgrounds.

The Center continues to have a positive influence on us today, in our personal lives and careers, namely:

Continued awareness and sensitivity to cultural diversity and social justice issues

Continued motivation to break the barriers that exist even to this day regarding Asian Americans in the workforce along the fields of business management, engineering, medical services, and higher education.

Continued connection as we stay in touch with one another in various ways, being able to count on each other even as we reside in different cities and countries and work in different industries.

The impact of community formed at the Asian American Center during our time at Northeastern has remained in us, and as this letter demonstrates, allows us to continue coming together for an important cause.

We, the undersigned, are confident you will be moved to take strong action to increase funding for the Asian American Center which provides essential programs and working spaces to students of diverse backgrounds, so they may flourish in their student and surrounding communities, as well as in their future careers and personal lives.

Sincerely,