letter from the editor...
I
t’s the end of another year! Time really does fly after October doesn’t it?
I hope you all have had a chance to really enjoy your fall semester at Bing, whether it was your first, your last, or your second, third, fourth, fifth, or whatever. It has definitely been an eventful one. That’s for sure. So, we decided to keep this issue light and fun for you to enjoy either during the last few hell days you may have or for a chill read over break. As you can see to the left, we have a bunch of articles on entertainment in addition to articles that address issues such as “Chinese Slang” and “Psuedo-homosexuality.” Our conscience section is packed to the brim with content this time around thanks to the awesome submissions from very talented fellow students, so head on over to the back for some cool poetry and amazing artwork. On a completely different note, I want to reflect shortly here on the racist article titled “Dressing as another race isn’t always offensive” which was published earlier this semester in the Pipe Dream as well as the events that followed. Needless to say, the article was distasteful and offensive, but what really surprised me was the backlash it received and how it quickly evolved into something that could possibly result in some change on our campus. We do not live in a post-racial society, and unfortunately, there are many who think we do. Those of us who experience racism in our daily lives and other types of oppressions are well aware of the hurtful ignorance and ideologies that still permeate the minds of many. Sometimes we just get so tired of fighting, so tired of being angry and so tired of getting hurt that our energies become depleted to the point where we don’t take action against things that we probably should. I’m glad that this was not the case for this incident and I’m proud that Asian Outlook was a part of the response. Students, along with staff and alumni, realized that this would be an opportunity to address the issue of representation on our campus. Despite the first meeting’s hightension atmosphere, the Pipe Dream EIC, Christina Pullano, and her staff were receptive to becoming more conscious of these issues and to make efforts to diversify and better represent Binghamton University’s student body. The promising results that came from this student organized action restored some hope in me and served as a reminder of the necessity and importance of activism. In order for long-lasting effective change to take place on our campus, everyone needs to keep the dialogue going, keep organizing, and keep at it. That event and the rediscovering of some old notes and goals I wrote before becoming EIC of Asian Outlook made me realize that I had lost focus of what I originally set out to do for this organization. After a semester of learning my own limits and gaining a better understanding of what it is like to be a leader, I think I’m much more prepared to take on some of those goals I wrote last spring. Taking this Winter break to revisit these ideas and brainstorm with Kayla and the rest of e-board to improve AO’s activity levels for next semester is definitely on my agenda. I’ll end my rambling soon, I swear. I’d like to thank our great general body members for coming to our weekly meetings, AO e-board for their work, as always, and all of our contributors for their submissions! Major thanks to Kayla too because I would not be able to all of this by myself. I’d also like to acknowledge all the time and effort ASU and the subgroups spent on putting together a successful Asian Night, and especially our very own members who put on a great spoken word performance. We also managed to snag an interview with that night’s guest performer, Joseph Vincent, so look forward to that in our next issue. Again I hope you enjoy this issue, and good luck with any finals, papers, presentations, projects, etc. you may have. Alright, see y’all next year! Happy holidays! Claire Chang Co-Editor-in-Chief, Fall 2013
ASIAN OUTLOOK EXECUTIVE BOARD FALL 2013 editors-in-chief conscience editor copy editors
layout editors secretary business manager publicity manager social chair
Claire Chang Kayla Natrella Rudy Kuang Adam Mei Joe Park Tina Yu YaeJin Oh Cyndi Chin Jimmy Zhang Calvin Chan Dale Gao Frank Tiu Her Min
EDITORIAL POLICY Asian Outlook is the art, literary and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and Asian Americans, Asian Outlook also serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orientation. All matter contained within these b`eautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submissions. Articles may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com. All artistic and literary pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail.com.
CONTACT POLICY Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under punishment of pain. Please direct all questions, comments and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com.
interested in contributing?
E-mail us at:
ao.editor@gmail.com
Or come to our weekly meetings held in the Asian Student Union office (UUW-329) every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Vol. XXVII, Issue 2
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