1. Join NAASCon's Student Group Database!
Do these sound familiar to you?

Asian American student activists and organizers around the nation face a lot of common issues--lack of resources, the feeling that nobody else shares their concern, or the disjointedness of similar and like-minded actions and campaigns on campuses across the U.S. We, as many others have, have recognized the need for creating an apparatus in which APA leaders can come together and pool resources, exchange ideas, and mobilize.

NAASCon needs your help in making this happen! We're trying to assemble a directory of APA student leaders and organizations on our website. This project will help us strengthen the capacity of APA groups in coordinating proactive, national responses to events and issues that are relevant to our communities.

All students/student groups (high school, undergraduate, graduate schools) are welcome to join!

Click on "Add Entry" on our website to list your group today!

2. New report debunks "model minority" myth
A study conducted by faculty at New York University and the College Board reports what has been fairly clear to some, but definitely not to others—the depiction of Asian American students universally as the "model minority." While certain data suggest that Asian Americans possess high standardized test scores and levels of admission into top colleges and universities, these statistics often overlook critical (and significant) sectors of the APA community—working-class, refugee, and non-English proficient populations that figure prominently in the United States. The result, suggests one professor, is public policy that can neglect the plight of those not at the top of the economic and educational ladder. (Preaching to the choir?)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hDvlcBHlqi9AnsB3741q_pQh2U4gD916MHRO0

3. Students of color unite to defend ethnic studies in Arizona
A proposal by the Arizona State Senate that would ban ethnic studies programs and the formation of ethnic/cultural organizations in the state's public education system has been met with resistance from students of color. Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne, one of the central proponents of this bill, has been a recent target of protest. Students at Tucson's high schools, colleges, and universities formed an organization called Positive Representation in Education (PRE), aimed towards the preservation of ethnic studies, multiracial coalition-building, and forging alliances with other progressive movements.

Watch "Mi Otro Yo," a video made by members of PRE

http://www.workers.org/2008/us/tucson_0710/

4. High school valedictorian speech met with calls for "English-only" mandates
Hue and Cindy Vo, cousins and recent co-valedictorians at Ellender High School in Louisiana, delivered short phrases of their commencement speeches in Vietnamese, aimed at their non-English speaking parents. The response—local school officials are pursuing policy reform that would require all commencement speeches to be in English (never mind that most of theirs was, and that they translated the phrase into English, I guess). Another policy up for consideration is whether or not commencement ceremonies should include a prayer. Hmm…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/us/30english.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

5. South Asian American organizations form national coalition
South Asian advocacy and activist groups convened in New York City in June to form the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO), created to advance a unified agenda and develop recognition amongst national and local policymakers. The coalition released a national action agenda of nine key points, including exhaustive immigration policy reform, expanding and enforcing anti-bias and hate crimes legislation, and establishing culturally sensitive health care practices for South Asians. Member groups organize around a bevy of different issues, including women's empowerment, racial profiling, queer South Asian communities, and economic development.

http://www.indiawest.com/view.php?subaction=showfull&id=1215040090&archive=&start_from=&ucat=11

6. Chinese media more open to same-sex marriage
The recent California Supreme Court decision establishing the right to same-sex marriage has been met with fair coverage from local Chinese media outlets, often noted (or stereotyped?) for somewhat conservative orthodoxy on the issue of queer rights among Chinese Americans. The marriage of well-known journalist/activist/scholar Helen Zia to long-time partner Lia Shigemura has been covered favorably by ethnic newspapers, cited as a victory for civil rights.

http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=54bcd0fb8448811730a86d174b54fdbd

7. Justice Department considers racial profiling for "counterterrorism" efforts
The Justice Department recently announced that it would consider adapting new techniques of surveillance and investigation in order to "root out terrorists," including using race and ethnicity as a viable reason for inquiry and interrogation. The changes would allow FBI agents to ask open-ended questions about activities of Muslim- or Arab Americans, or investigate them if their jobs and backgrounds match trends that analysts deem suspect. Despite official declarations by public officials, including George Bush, against the use of racial profiling, the seizure, detention, and deportation of many Arab and Muslim men in the wake of 9/11 has been an irrefutable concern, and many decry this policy change as a further infringement upon civil rights in the U.S.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/03/justice-department-consid_n_110625.html

8. Philippines President met with protests upon visit to U.S.
Protestors in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Seattle stages protests against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ("GMA"), the President of the Philippines, upon her visit to the United States in late June. GMA has come under fire for the Philippine government's alleged involvement in the disappearance of several hundred progressives, activists, and critics of the government, as well as pursuing neoliberal economic policies at the expense of a populace beset by rising oil prices and a food shortage crisis. BAYAN USA, a national alliance of Filipino organizations in the US, together with several other allied groups, coordinated protests, claiming the President will funnel any foreign aid, especially US aid, towards the proliferation of human rights violations, including militarization, counter-insurgency, politically-motivated killings, and abductions in the Philippines.

http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2008/06/98341.shtml

9. NYC - Asian American International Film Festival - July 10-19
The first festival of its kind, the Asian American International Film Festival is the premiere showcase dedicated to screening innovative films by independent artists of Asian descent.

The AAIFF08 opens with PRINCESS OF NEBRASKA, Wayne Wang's moving homage to the post-Tiananmen Square generation of Chinese youth, and closes with Jessica Yu's hilarious narrative feature debut PING PONG PLAYA. Throughout the week experience the Festival by going to film premieres, shorts screenings, music videos parties, and more.

This year, the AAIFF08, with NYU's A/P/A Institute, proudly unveils NEW LANDSCAPES: MEDIA AND ITS ADAPTATIONS, an inaugural interdisciplinary series of panels, conversations, master classes, and events exploring new visions in Asian and Asian American media, culture and politics. Artists, intellectuals, and filmmakers will engage in discussions that forecast the frontier of contemporary culture.

For a preview of our full schedule, visit http://www.aiaiff.org.

When: July 10-19, 2008
Where: Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue (at 70th St)

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Box Office at 212.327.9385 or go online to http://www.aiaiff.org.

Student Ticket Offer

The Asian American International Film Festival has special student discounts throughout the entire Festival. Enjoy regular programming for $8/ticket during advance sales and $9/ticket during general sales. We are also extending a special student 50% discount to our Closing Night Presentation: PING PONG PLAYA. Students can purchase tickets for $15 (from $30) until Tuesday, July 8.

For tickets call the AAIFF Box Office at 212.327.9385. Limit 1 ticket per ID per person.

For more information, visit http://www.aaiff.org.