A semi-annual publication of the Indiana University Asian Culture Center
Building Connection Is the Highest Priority
Kodee Walls | Ph.D., HSPP, ABPP Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
ere have been a lot of changesto the mental health landscape at IU Bloomington, much of it has been incredibly positive. Within that landscape, cultural and historical events (are tired of hearing “unprecedented” yet?) continue to necessitate nding comfort, exibility, and resilience within ourselves and our communities. We are honored to have the ability to provide comprehensive mental health services through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) here. As a campus resource, CAPS is available to all currently enrolled IU students at no additional cost for students who have paid the Student Health Fee. Our welcome mat is wide, and though we may not be the nal stop for every student in their mental health journey, we believe we can help you nd the right place. We also have emergency services available for students who are experiencing a crisis. ese are available any time we’re open, and a student only has to drop by CAPS and request to meet with a therapist as soon as possible; they’ll be seen that same day, likely within the next hour.
Knowing that sometimes, just the thought of
On Oct. 22 Ph.D student in counseling psychology
Jonathan Kang hosted a Student Development Workshop & Meet and Greet Series event. Students gathered to discuss how Asian heritage shapes mental health journeys and how to empower our minds.
contacting CAPS to schedule a therapy appointment can feel like trying to y to the moon, it’s important to cultivate restorative and meaningful relationships in your life. As a psychologist, I know one of mental health concern’s greatest powers is convincing a student that they should be ashamed of what they’re experiencing. Talking with others about a concern, such as “I’m feeling really sad” or “I’m so afraid right now,” can be the greatest way to prevent an experience from worsening. Finding your person or people you can trust to have your best interest at heart and not ridicule you for being vulnerable can be the soothing balm we all need right now. To do that, however, means you must take risks. Nope, this does not mean telling everyone your deepest, darkest secrets. Rather, it means permitting yourself to be honest with someone else about what you need at any given moment. at need could be a boundary (“Don’t text me aer 10 pm”), a distraction (“Let’s share some tea and talk about our new books”), or support (“Can you just sit with me for a few minutes?”). You still have to say the thing - despite our best eorts, we still can’t remind minds!
Good Luck Sarah and Welcome Linda
Melanie Castillo-Cullather | Director of IU Asian Culture Center
Anniversaries are unique because they remind us not so much of how old we are but of the milestones, the memories, and most of all, the precious time we spend with students. A lot has changed on campus throughout the 26 years, but some things are constant at the ACC: our care, personal touch, and dedication to our work.
is year, we have seen a signicant change in our family of sta members. Sarah Moon Stamey, a cherished team member, has accepted a new position as Assistant Director for Residential Engagement and Community Education Program Director in Residence Life. Sarah’s journey at the ACC, from a graduate student assistant to a program associate, has been marked by her invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication. We were lled with mixed emotions when Sarah told us of her new role in Res Life early this May. While we will miss her at the ACC, we wholeheartedly support her new journey. We all wish her the best as she plays another vital role in caring for students.
At our anniversary gathering in October, it is
During the ACC sta ’s annual white elephant gi exchange, Linda You poses for a photo with her white elephant gi is event celebrates the holiday season and brings the sta together for a fun and lighthearted team bonding experience.
just as tting to give Sarah an award for her dedication to the ACC, its mission, and the students. Sarah’s eorts in creating a culture of acceptance and building a community where students, faculty, and sta can succeed in their pursuits, whether intellectual, passionate, or searching for the truth, have been invaluable. at’s what the cultural centers are all about. ey contribute to students’ intellectual growth, cultural knowledge, and armation. ey serve as a vital resource to students and faculty. Cultural centers engage ALL students to prepare themselves for life beyond IU.
Linda You,our new Program Associate, comes to us from the Chinese Flagship Program at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Originally from New York, she moved to Indiana, where she graduated from Brownsburg High School. At IU, sheobtained a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Languages and Cultures, specializing in Chinese. She’s only been at the ACC since October but is already a valued team member. Linda is ready and eager to join us as we write the ACC’s next chapter.
On Oct. 2, at ACC’s 26th Anniversary celebration, the Asian Culture Center honored Sarah Stamey Moon for her contributions as Program Associate and celebrated her transition to a new role as Assistant Director for Residential Engagement and CommUnity Education Program Director within Residence Life.
Hearabouts Interview with IU Alum Celine Wang
*HearaboutsproducerBelleChatpunnarangseespoketoIUalumCelineWangwho servedastheCivicEngagementInternforHoosierAsianAmericanPower*
Belle:Whatwasyourpersonalmethodofconvincing peopleand/orgettingthemtothinkabouthowthey engagepoliticallyasaCivicEngagementintern?”
Celine: “First, for phone banking, I would ask them if English is the language they are most comfortable speaking in because voting, politics, and all of that are so complicated to think about. Even as a [native] English speaker, sometimes I get confused. So, just making sure that the people we were calling have the support and their language needs are being met. I think that’s step one - meeting them on those terms. And then, also bridging those cultural and generational gaps since [phone banking] is obviously going to be dierent from [speaking with] gen z who are more politically involved… like communicating to someone whose political engagement is voting once every four years, which is still really awesome and great that they are getting their vote out, but to educate them on issues that are really impacting our community. It’s important to point out to them that their vote really matters, and it directly impacts their community, friends, and families. And then also following up with them if they have other questions or if they’re interested in joining HAAP.”
Belle:“Whatwouldyousaytostudents/studentleaders whoarestrugglingtoreconciletheiridentitywith narrativesaboutwhotheyareandtheiridentitieswith thiscomingadministration?Whatareyourthoughtson that?”
Celine: “As we approach 2025, I know there is a lot of tension and thoughts about what is going to happen. Even now, on Tiktok, I keep seeing stu about stocking up on Asian goods because you never know what’s going to happen. One way to cope with it is through
humor, like those Tiktoks but also being realistic about what I can do to engage with my communities to make sure that we are advocating for ourselves, which of course is very tiring work already, and with the coming administration, it will probably be even more dicult. But I truly believe that we, those before us and those coming aer us, hold so much passion for our community on these issues that really matter to us. We are trying our best to stay proactive and exible and keep our eyes on policy changes. One thing we spoke extensively about was building relationships and continuing the ones we already fostered when we reached out to dierent organizations for phone banking in October. ere is denitely strength in our communities, and by building relationships, we can nd allies. And in turn, empower each other and bring strength to those that we are standing for.”
Belle:“WhyisitimportantforAsianAmericanstoget involvedpoliticallyorwiththeirlocalcommunity?”
Celine: Starting from the ground up is so important to engage with politics on the local level because we can see the impacts directly. I think it is also motivating and discouraging at times, but either way, you see the impact directly, which makes things at the national or international level feel less intimidating because you can see that the work you have done has made an impact on communities. Even closer, more tight-knit, I know a bunch of my friends and I are children of immigrants. I am the eldest daughter of an immigrant family. Speaking to our family about politics is very dicult, and oentimes we do not see eye-to-eye, and that’s okay. I still think it’s very important to have these dicult but necessary conversations with loved ones because, again, these are matters that impact us and we should all be educated on how [advocacy] occurs.”
AAPI Representation in the Media
Julianne Hunt | Ed.S Student in School of Education
Representation is a small step towards social justice for minority groups, but can mean so much to a child with aspirations and dreams. Somehow, we still have not gotten it right.
From my childhood memory, I do not remember seeing many Asian actors or singers in the media. I grew up looking up to women such as Hannah Montana or Taylor Swi. On Halloween, I recall trying to wear a blonde wig, but ultimately taking it o because I felt like it did not belong. e rst time I felt truly seen and represented was through Jenny Han’s Netix adaptation of her book “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, even if Lara Jean came from a slightly dierent background. Lara Jean was an admiration to young girls everywhere, especially Asian Americans who may struggle with their cultural identity. However, while Jenny Han was a stepping stone for young girls everywhere, she also created potentially damaging ideologies in the media.
Firstly, in both of her popular adaptations including “ e Summer I Turned Pretty”, she used half Asian characters with White fathers. e stories also followed the characters falling in love with white men. is reinforced the idea that Asian women are
seen as existing within a Western context, with their identities tied to White partners. Additionally, one popstar that recently rose to fame is Olivia Rodrigo. Olivia Rodrigo is a half-Filipina woman, who started her career in Disney, working herway up to become one of the most famous singers of our generation. Rodrigo has recognized her heritage multiple times through interviews and at her concerts. She had the privilege of performing to her largest crowd in Manila, Philippines, whichshe viewed as one of the most special moments in her career. While Rodrigo is a stepping stone for girls everywhere, she is still half White, which may instill the idea in some that mixed-race or lighter-skinned individuals are more marketable to mainstream audiences compared to fully Asian artists. is maintains the idea of colorism in society.
In addition to the media lacking fully Asian individuals, they also tend to favor light-skinned Asians. Netix’s “Bridgerton” decided to cast South Asian actors as main characters in their show, as well as Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in “Never Have I Ever”. In the newest adaptation of “Mean Girls”, Karen was played by Avantika Vandanapu, originally a White character. is was very signicant for South Asian culture, but the hateand backlash these actors received was unimaginable. Jenn Tran, a Southeast Asian woman and the rst Asian American bachelorette, also received plenty of hate online as well as was treated horriblyby the Bachelor franchise producers. Although representation is increasing, society still does not accept it.
So, what can we do? We can raise awareness, show support for works of art, and advocate for increased representation in media. We can create a world where every child feels seen, valued, and inspired by upliing other voices and celebrating stories of underrepresented communities. Representation matters—it shows littlegirls that they, too, can dream big and achieve anything. On Nov. 15 at the Who are AAPIs? event, students gathered to watchan episode of e Bachelorette and discuss topics about AAPI representation in media, inter-racial dating, and family expectations.
Turning Pages, Sharing Voices: e ACC Book Club Journey
Quang-Anh Ngo Tran | Ph.D. Student in Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
PlantingtheSeed
It all started two years ago, when I, a casual (emphasis: not avid) reader, suggested to the ACC Director, Melanie, and ACC Senior Sta, Katelyn, about the idea of creating an ACC book club. With the help of a fearless leader and an enthusiastic friend, it did not take long before we turned this into reality. Since then, we have always conceptualized this as a space for everyone to read and understand what it means to be Asians and Asian Americans in the U.S. as a community. A seed planted, soon a garden.
ChoosingtheSeed
Choosing books has always been such a daunting yet exciting task for us. What books scream “Asian”? What books are digestible in one semester worth of discussion? How do we respect students, faculty, and sta ’stime with our book selection? ese are only some of the questions that we consider. Choosing a good book was like choosing the right seed to grow a garden, the determinant between a bountiful and a barren place.
We try to crowdsource ideas from our participants, while staying up to date with the current trends, such as #BookTok. Aer gathering suggestions, we hold a vote to determine the nal selection. is method not only ensures that everyone has a voice but also fosters a sense of ownership and engagement within the group. It’s inspiring to see how each member’s unique background and experiences shape our reading choices, reecting the rich tapestry of our community.
GrowingtheSeed
In its second year now, our book club at the ACC is not just about reading; in fact, it is no longer about reading. It’s about the connections, the perspectives, and the celebration of our diverse identities, the AAPI diaspora. Reading is a means for us to get there, not the end.
For me, this is a space where everyone’s voice matters, and where stories can bridge gaps and foster understanding, where dead silence means folks are grappling with the quagmire of life, the paralyzing nature of its complexity.
at brings us here to this semester, when we are reading “ e Leavers” by Lisa Ko. is is a compelling novel that resonates deeply with themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. is book was selected for its nuanced exploration of the struggles faced by immigrants and the complexities of cultural heritage—issues that are particularly relevant in our multicultural community.
Sustainability
Soon, my term as the book club discussion facilitator will end, like a garden changing leaf with every cycle. But I am condent the garden will grow again, morphing into something even more beautiful under a new gardener. Please come join us at the book club if you have the time. I invite you to discover the meaning and connections that await you in our discussions.
Students join Tran for the ACC Book Club where they read “ e Leavers” by Lisa Ko and discuss what it means to be Asian and an immigant in America.
Asian Pacic American ematic Community (APATC), “A Place of Comfort”
Darren Shih | 2024 IU Graduate in Marketing with Minor in Apparel Merchandising, 2020 APATC Resident
WhywereyouinterestedinapplyingandjoiningtheAPATC?
“I think the biggest reason I was interested in joining the APATC was the opportunity to meet other Asian Americans and people with similar interests. Being from LA, it sort of helped me not feel as homesick since I was able to connect with others who shared similar experiences to me.”
HowdidtheAPATCshapeyourcollegeexperience?
“Since we were on a very small oor, we all got to know each other very well during our time there. I met some of my closest friends, whom I still talk to to this day. Had any of us lived somewhere else, we probably wouldn’t have met and created the friendships that we have today.”
TisyearisthemostresidentsintheAPACwe’veeverhadsinceitopened.Whatareyourthoughts?Howdoes that eelasyouwerethecommunity’sfrstcohort?
“I think it’s incredible to see how quickly the APATC has grown since it began. We initially started with less than ten members, and seeing it grow this large has been truly remarkable. I hope everyone in the APATC this year can enjoy their experience and make some incredible memories with one another!”
What’sbeenyour avoritememorylivingintheAPACso ar?
It is hard to pick just one favorite memory of living in the APATC so far because, looking back I cherish so many of them. But one that stands out to me is singing and jumping around with my oormates and friends. We couldn’t gure out how to connect the laptop to the TV, but it didn’t matter as it was a very spontaneous and carefree moment. For me, that was one of the perfect ways to take a break from schoolwork and enjoy the little things in life. I also really appreciate the late nights spent together studying in the lounge with my oormates and how people check in on each other from time to time. It’s those small gestures that make the APATC feel like a place of comfort and where everyone truly belongs.
Roshani Guragain | 1st year, pursuing Human Biology, 2024 APATC Resident
“ e ACC has supported me and the APATC by providing many events and opportunities for us to be more involved in learning about dierent cultures in Asia. One example of this is the “Retracing our Roots” retreat, which I went on with a few other friends from the APATC. e retreat allowed me to learn more about Asian culture and how to tackle dierent issues Asians oen face in America through workshops. I also got to meet a lot of new people from IU Indianapolis and Purdue.”
Man Kim | 1st year, pursuing Clinical Psychology, 2024 APATC Resident
Potsticker Column
What activities or traditions bring you the greatest sense of joy and how do they contribute to your experience on campus?
Jason Chen | Graduate Student in Department of Linguistics
“Attending cultural events, such as the Chinese New Year Gala, Taiwan Day, and Hangeul Day, has always brought me the greatest sense of joy. ese events provide me with opportunities to appreciatethe respective cultures and engage with community members. I believe that these experiences have played an important role in shaping my cultural identity while strengthening my understanding and connection with dierent traditions on campus.”
Sophia Ko | 4th year, pursuing Human Biology
“Some of the things that bring me the most joy are enjoying meals at my favorite restaurants and trying new foods with my friends. I also feel the happiest when celebrating my favorite holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Lunar New Year. ese moments are always so fun and some of my best memories, which denitely makes being a student much more exciting and life a little more meaningful!”
Snigdha Khanna | Ph.D Student in Cognitive Science and Linguistics
“Humans and human beings are at the center of what I hold dear, and campus activities like volunteering, networking and mentoring, gives me the chance to advocate for my peers on campus. But, my ultimate source of joy is in the little things on campus—chasing squirrels in Dunn meadow, leaving messages in the snow on Ballantine’s patio, putting up an Autumn leaf on a cultural board at the First ursday’s festival, or enjoying the tradition of soup and conversations from home at the ACC. I believe campus life is so much more than academics, and IUB is a great place to experience the richness of my experience of being a Hoosier. Find your little nook on campus, and watch the magic unfurl!”
Richard Zhang| 1st year, pursuing International Studies
“Club events and volleyball bring me the most joy on campus. Whether it’s walkingacrosscampusforaGeneralBodyMeeting,oraquickhiketothe SRSC or Bill Garrett Fieldhouse, getting out and about on campus allows me topushmyselfoutofmycomfortzone.Withtheamountofnewopportunities that I can try here, I feel that my experience at college grants me the freedom to understand myselfbetter.”
Asemi-annual publication of the Indiana University Asian Culture Center
Tune in to HearAbouts: Midwest Asian American Radio on WFHB. With a mix of interviews, discussions, and music all featuring Asian Americans and Pacic Islanders (AAPIs), Hearabouts is a forum for discussion and dialogue around issues of importance to the Bloomington community and beyond.
IU Asian Culture Center
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e IU Asian Culture Center provides services, resources, and programming free of charge to the IU and Bloomington communities. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the ACC to support our programs. Checks should be written to the IU Foundation with “Asian Culture Center” in the memo or you may donate online via our website.
Tankyou oryoursupport!
Director: Melanie Castillo-Cullather Program Associate: Linda You Graduate Assistant: Tianie Vo
Publication Layout: Kathleen Tran and Alleson Gao