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What’s Art & Hatsuye Ball?
What’s Art & Hatsuye Ball?
Art & Hatsuye Ball is an annual event where the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) community comes together to celebrate each other's heritage. We have student art, performances, (good) food, and an open dance floor at the end. This ball also supports the Asian Pacific Islander American Studies program at William & Mary, which aims to understand and critique the Asian American experience in the United States.
This ball was made possible through Student Assembly's SB 331-033: The Art & Hatsuye Act sponsored by Senator Matthew Hwang (‘25), Senator Hazel Vineet (‘25), Class President Yannie Chang (‘25), Class President Zoe Wang (‘26) and co-sponsored by Senator Spencer Krivo (‘26), Senator Jiexi Lin (‘26), and Class President Mia Tilman (‘24).
The bill was supported by Director of APIA Studies Professor Deeneesh Sohoni, AASI Director Diana Kim (‘25), AASI Deputy Director Andy Shufer (‘25), JASA President Vik Diederich (‘24), SASA Internal President Ranjani Krishnan (‘25), PAC President André Adams (‘24), FASA External Director Matthew Laxa (‘26), TASA President Ashley Sun (‘24), CSO President Vanessa Yen (‘25), KASA Vice President Connie Ryu (‘25), MESA Culture Chair Cecilia Elsisi (‘26).
Performances
Performances
Dancing
Dancing
People & Food
People & Food
Art & Informational Exhibits
Art & Informational Exhibits
First Annual A&H Ball Program (2024)
First Annual A&H Ball Program (2024)
A&M Program.pdf
William & Mary's Asian Centennial Distinguished Fine Arts Fellow Roberto Jamora created an art piece to commemorate the first annual Art & Hatsuye Ball and the APIA Studies program. The piece is in the APIA/AMES Library today.
William & Mary's Asian Centennial Distinguished Fine Arts Fellow Roberto Jamora created an art piece to commemorate the first annual Art & Hatsuye Ball and the APIA Studies program. The piece is in the APIA/AMES Library today.
Who are Art & Hatsuye?
Who are Art & Hatsuye?
Art & Hatsuye Ball is named after historic W&M Asian American figures and the annual W&M APIA Studies magazine.
Colonial Echo 1923
Art Matsu, class of 1923, was the first biracial Asian American man to attend W&M and the first quarterback of color on our football team.
While a coach for Rutgers University, New Jersey prevented him from leaving the state despite his protest during Japanese incarceration due to his Japanese ancestry. He had Scottish citizenship at the time.
Colonial Echo 1937
Hatsuye Yamasaki, class of 1937, was the first Asian American woman to attend W&M.
Despite being the only student of color on campus, she served on the honor council, was elected the president of Brown Hall by her peers, and held positions for other student clubs.
How do we know about Art & Hatsuye?
How do we know about Art & Hatsuye?
Art Matsu and Hatsuye Yamasaki are among the many stories found and supported by the APIA Studies program. Initially, through independent student research, APIA Studies formed a research group called the APM Research Project to share and institutionalize these stories.
The APM (Asian Pacific Middle Eastern American) Research Project, led by APIA Studies director Dr. Deenesh Sohoni, leads an undergrad research team that excavates local stories. Then, Dr. Esther Kim from W&M School of Ed and students turn them into an accessible curriculum for public educators under the KAASE Initiative! Through this research, we can hold meaningful events like this ball to commemorate their stories and support diversifying Virginia’s social studies curriculum!
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