Embedded Files
Join our TribeLink to keep up with our events!
How We Started
How We Started
The Asian American Student Initiative was founded in the spring of 2014 by Max Nikoolkan ‘14, with Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas as the faculty advisor.
During the 2014-2015 school year, Jin Hyuk Ho ‘16 and Prahas Rudraraju ‘17 took over the initiative and spearheaded the advocacy for an Asian Pacific Islander American Studies major/minor program at William & Mary. They also spoke up against injustice on campus, such as events that held themes of offensive cultural appropriation. APIA Studies officially became a major program under Global Studies in 2019. Today, APIA Studies and AASI continue to have a close relationship and work together to uplift one another.
Apart from APIA Studies, AASI has focused on initiatives to uplift, educate, and empower Asian Americans at William & Mary and other marginalized communities. While the label "Asian American" can mean something different for everyone, our mission is to ensure we represent and advocate for everyone the best we can. Everyone is welcome at AASI as long as they are committed to sharing the values that AASI stands for, which are rooted in compassion, empathy, solidarity, and resistance.
You can see the documentary "Why We Need APIA Studies" by Jin Hyuk Ho, which discusses APIA Studies at William & Mary and AASI, below or here.
Why We Need APIA Studies.mp4The Difference Between Us and Cultural Organizations:
The Difference Between Us and Cultural Organizations:
Our organization focuses on the general Asian American experience and political engagement. In contrast, cultural organization events and programming are rooted in specific cultures/ethnicities and social events, which is not to say that they never engage in political activities.
All organizations are autonomous in their function, and activities vary based on the executive board, who each do their best to create the best experience for students. No organization is better than the other, and we all hope you find the organizations that work for you and feel like home (and that can be both)!
Our Logo
Our Logo
While we have had a few revisions to our logo, our current logo has been made up of these elements:
Purple
We chose purple as its associated meanings are intersectionality, independence, elegance, and a calm fierceness.
Lotus
Founding members of the logo chose the lotus to signify patience and self-awareness.
With these elements making up our logo, we hope the characteristics reflect how we conduct ourselves as an organization.
Page updated
Report abuse