2004 Fall

SNAP! Sharp

Vol. 6, No. 1

New

Alternative

Perspective

Published quarterly by the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center, UC Santa Cruz

FRE SH off the V O T E

By Libby Lok

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recent survey has shown that there are nearly 5.4 million Asian/Pacific Islanders (APIs) eligible to vote in the U.S.; of these, only 2.5 million are registered.

Because this population is underrepresented among voters, issues of importance which affect minorities are not being properly addressed. Your vote can influence the serious issues affecting minorities such as: minimum wage, hate crime laws, affordable and accessible health care and housing, and the availability of resources in schools and the community.

APIs are not fresh off the vote; we have had a political voice. Throughout history we have fought to change policies and laws concerning minorities. When I think about why I am going to vote, I think about the challenges APIs had to face to be able to have the opportunity to make their vote count.

APIs have a long history of immigration into the United States, dating back to 1763 with the first recorded settlement of Filipinos in the United States. From the moment we set foot on American shores, APIs have experienced and endured the racism and discrimination that is so deeply rooted in the foundations of this country.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first act passed by Congress that explicitly excluded people based on race; the Japanese internment camps during World

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War II dehumanized the Japanese; in tion U.S. citizen there is a long history 1790, the Naturalization Act denied citi- of ambition, courage, and protest that has made it possible for you to be a zenship to all APIs. Through determination and joining to- citizen and have the ability to vote. The gether in the API community, we have people who came before us, though fought back against alienation. The Japa- they might not be ancestors of yours, nese were finally granted reparations in have paved a road for us. It would be a 1988 for their internment during WWII. shame to disrespect their struggles and The Chinese challenged and eventually not embrace our right to vote. changed the judiciary system to ex- Here is what you can do: pand their rights. In 1968, students - If you’re not registered to vote: went on strike at 1) pick up a registration form at the Asian American/Pacific San Francisco Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC) located at the end of State University to the hallway on the 3rd floor of the Bay Tree Building. demand programs in ethnic studies.

2) a) opt to be a registered voter here in Santa Cruz and vote Solidarity has at the polls on-campus (you’ll be able to vote on issues in led to change. We Santa Cruz). as Americans have b) OR opt to be a registered voter in your home town and turned around our vote at the polls at home or request an absentee ballot be sent fate; it is through to your Santa Cruz address (you’ll be able to vote on issues our numbers that related to your home town). we will be able to continue to influ- - If you’re already registered to vote: ence our futures. a) go home during the voting period and vote at the polls Even if you are b) OR you can request an absentee ballot by filling out the only a first genera- absentee ballot request form (which should have already been

DATES TO KNOW: >> October 18th Last day to register to vote for this election >> October 26th Last day to request an absentee ballot >> November 2nd GET OUT TO VOTE!

sent to your registered address).

Note: absentee ballots are ballots that allow you to vote outside of the polls as well as allow you to send your ballot in by mail.

For more information www.areyouregistered.com & www.apiavote.org

In this Issue... > Student Awards Established pg. 2-3 > Staff/Alumni Spotlight: Leon Wann pg. 4

> Meet AA/PIRC Staff pg. 5 > Calendar of Events for Fall Quarter pg. 7

Student Award

Christy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney April 25, 1967 - April 29, 2003 ~ Merril College 1990

By Shaun Malarney

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hristy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney was born Trinh Ngoc Anh-Thu on April 25th, 1967 in Saigon, Vietnam. The daughter of a family of northern and central Vietnamese ancestry, she spent her early years growing up in both Saigon and Hue. As with thousands of other Vietnamese of her generation, her childhood in Vietnam came to an abrupt end on April 29th, 1975 when her family fled Saigon by boat as the North Vietnamese army approached the city. Although she was only eight years old, she vividly remembered her mother taking her and her sister to the side of the boat and telling them to take one last look at and remember the Vietnamese coast as it faded in the distance.

After several days at sea, she and her family were picked up by a United States Navy vessel and, after several stops, were ultimately transported to Camp Pendleton

in Southern California. Her father had previously studied in the US and the family had the good fortune of having his doctoral advisor immediately agree to sponsor them in the U.S. The family moved to Rolla, Missouri, where Christy arrived in late May 1975, speaking not a word of English. As they began settling in, her family decided that given the fact that most Americans could not pronounce her name, she needed to choose an English name. She initially chose Cathy, but after meeting a charismatic young girl on the playground named Christy, she came home and informed her parents that Christy was to be her English name.

Over the next several years her family moved between Missouri and Oklahoma until they finally moved to Southern California in January of 1980. In 1985, Christy began her undergraduate studies at Cal Poly Pomona and in 1987 she transferred to the school she had long wanted to attend, UC Santa Cruz. Her years in Santa Cruz gave her the opportunity to develop several interests that she would pursue for the rest of her life. From an early age she had been interested in education, particularly of immigrants, refugees and low-income students who faced challenges in the classroom. Prior to moving to Santa Cruz, she worked as a bilingual teacher’s aid helping new immigrants at an elementary school in

Rosemead.

While in Santa Cruz she worked parttime at a Montessori school and also worked as a University of California SAA/EOP tutor helping minority and low-income students with political science and history coursework. During her late teens she had also become interested in Asia. She took a double major at UCSC in Politics and East Asian studies and received honors in politics. Finally, her years of living as an immigrant in the US had sharpened her interest in her Vietnamese identity and the Vietnamese community in the U.S. After moving to North ern California, she became involved with the Walk for the People Walk-a-Thon in San Francisco to raise money for Vietnamese refugees and in Santa Cruz she become a member of the university’s Vietnamese Student Association. She later served as the association’s president for two years.

Christy graduated from UCSC in 1990 and in the autumn of 1991 she moved to Hong Kong to find work in the colony’s Vietnamese refugee camps. She spent over two years working in Hong Kong for Save the Children, UK, where she served as a pre-school coordinator for refugee children living in the Argyle and Whitehead Detention Centers. Her experiences in the camps re-kindled her inMalarney continued on pg. 9

Christy Anh-Thu Trinh-Malarney Student Award Established Through the generous donations of family and friends of Christy Trinh Malarney, a student award was established in her name. The Christy AnhThu Trinh-Malarney Student Award seeks to reward the achievements of a University of California at Santa Cruz graduating senior who, in his or her undergraduate years, has combined academic excellence with a commitment to increasing the understanding

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or improving the welfare of people of Vietnamese heritage in the United States, Vietnam, and abroad. The award particularly seeks to recognize those whose UCSC education will provide a foundation for a career that will continue to further serve the goal of improving the lives of people of Vietnamese heritage or enhancing the public awareness of their society, culture and history in all communities worldwide where people of

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Vietnamese heritage live. The student award will be administered by the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center.

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Student Award

Staff Spotlight: Victor Kimura Reprinted from 2000 Spring Newsletter

By Angie Chen hat you don’t know won’t hurt you.

For some, those words act as a mantra easing them through the ins and outs of each day. For others, seeking out truth is the key to knowledge. I had the privilege of interviewing Victor Kimura, the first Asian American staff member at UCSC, about his career before he retires this year. For him, the truth is the only way to go. His career demonstrates his convictions and his example is one that has been celebrated by students, faculty, and staff. What proves to be vital in sharing his story is his courage in speaking out against racially insensitive acts.

Victor was born in Tooele, Utah, around the time when the American government incarcerated over 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans in internment camps during WWII. He explains, “My father said that no son of his would be born in an internment camp, so they moved from an internment camp in Poston, Arizona to a work camp in Tooele, Utah.” He recalls his father’s words to him and the pervading sentiment of Japanese Americans at the time: “I was deeply affected by a lot of things that my father said to me as I was growing up, for instance, don’t create waves, don’t create any problems, be a model citizen.”

His father, no doubt driven by the political climate at the time, told him to respect authority, to withhold feelings, to not complain, and certainly to not speak out. Victor grew up amidst this unique time.

While attending Cabrillo College, he fell in love and soon after, started a family. In order to make money, he worked on a certificate of completion in accounting while holding down three jobs, one of which was for the UCSC Library that was temporarily housed at Cabrillo College. He moved the entire UCSC Library collection from Cabrillo to UCSC with a pick-up truck. On February 1st, 1965, Victor formally received his first job on campus making 372 dollars per month,

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starting two positions below clerk level.

Thirteen years later, Victor emerged as Assistant Accounting Officer and went on to becoming Campus Budget Director, in the wake of massive state budget reductions that translated into painful cuts for the campus as well. Still, he faithfully performed his duties as Campus Budget Director for the next thirteen years. Up to that point, Victor had been the most reclassified, most promoted staff member at UCSC. He fulfilled his post and true to his father’s wishes, “kept his nose clean,” until one day an incident occurred that changed his life forever.

In December 1988, Crown College planned a Filipino College Night that happened to fall on the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After realizing this, Crown staff canceled Filipino College Night, rationalizing that a celebration of Asian food and culture on that night may anger those with family members who fought in the war. Many students at the time believed the act was indicative of the racism that pervaded the campus.

In a gesture of solidarity with the students and in an effort to follow his convictions, Victor composed a letter voicing his Kimura continued on pg. 8

“...it’s better that I opened my eyes than to keep them closed and have my head in the sand for my entire career.”

Victor Masato Kimura Student Award Established Through generous donations by family and friends of Victor Kimura, a student award was established. The Victor Masato Kimura Student Award seeks to reward the achievements of a University of California at Santa Cruz graduating senior who through their political and social activism has demonstrated a commitment to human and civil rights for all Americans. The Vic-

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Victor Kimura when he started working at UCSC. tor Masato Kimura Student Award shall be based on academic achievement and active involvement in the Asian American/Pacific Islander community. The award shall be administered by the Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center.

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Staff/Alumni Spotlight

SOAR-ing back to Santa Cruz

By Sonya Grayson

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climbed the steps up to the SOAR office seeking an interview with Leon Wann. I track him down and he suggests we move outside his office for fresh air, so down the steps I go. He looks like he is ready for the beach in a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt and floppy fisherman’s hat.

Leon is a UCSC alumnus, Merrill class of 1990. He graduated with a BA in psychology and then went on to spend two “miserable” years in a Ph.D program in Anthropology and Sociology at the New School for Social Research in New York City. I teased him, saying at least he got to spend time in NY. Apparently the allure of Santa Cruz was too much for him, however, because he moved back in ‘93 and since then has been moving up the staff ranks at the university. During his break from life in SC, he earned his Masters in multicultural counseling at San Diego State.

Leon’s various positions here on campus have included parking officer, working in the American Studies Department, being the Oakes Activities Coordinator, and the resident Preceptor at Kresge, Oakes, and Cowell colleges. Currently, he is a SOAR Program Manager and enthusiastic about working with students, especially ethnic organizations.

SOAR, located in the Student Union Building, is home to 100+ student initiated organizations on campus. Leon is in the

process of helping to rework SOAR’s mission statement, specifically to emphasize the aim to promote and expand peoples’ notions of education. He believes that some of the most meaningful learning does not take place in the classroom, but out in the community. “I am always looking to learn things,” he says, mentioning the personal meaning SOAR has for him, not just as extra curricular or co-curricular activities, but “just as significant a part of education as going to class.” He continues, “It’s a pity that so many go through UCSC Sign: without opening Hometown: their eyes to new experiences.” I get Likes: the impression that Leon treasures his Hobbies: time here; I see his Current Job: sunny disposition shine through the changes he has witnessed on campus through the years, united by the hope of creating something better for students of the future. We played 20 Questions, the transcript of which follows.

Sonya: Funny stories, insights, anecdotes?

Leon: I’ll eat just about anything except fish--allergies--and hard boiled eggs-childhood trauma. I don’t want to talk about it!!

Sonya: Ok. So what are you reading right now?

Leon: (smiles) A novel called Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Friend by Christopher Moore.

S: Wow. L: (sarcastic, playful) It’s amazing!

S: (laughs) A song that describes you?

L: I can’t cuss, can I? S: Well, it is my article…

Aries Oakland, CA Red Hot Cheetos (at least, on day of interview!)

Singing, Tennis and Kung Fu Student Organization, Advising, and Resources (SOAR) Program Manager L: “Planet Rock.” It’s by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force. It came out in ’82, one of the first old school rap songs. I was sold on hip-hop the first time I heard it.

S: Favorite season?

L: Summertime. I like the heat, and there’s less work. More time for leisure; I’m always running around.

S: Favorite thing about Santa Cruz?

L: (without hesitation) The beauty. There are no ugly days in Santa Cruz—everyday is a beautiful day.

S: How do you stay connected to the API community outside of work?

L: Friends connect over being Asian in the United States, and Santa Cruz. We commiserate and share grievances. We identify and celebrate together.

Welcome New Staff and Congratulations to Staff in New/Promoted Positions!

SAYO FUJIOKA Director Student Organization Advising and Resources LEON WANN Program Manager Student Organization Advising and Resources

RAUL EBIO Assistant Director San Jose’s California Student Opportunities and Access Program

WARREN MIKAWA Computing Director Chancellor's Office Administrative Systems and Technology

KIMBERLY SIDES Undergraduate Opportunities Coordinator Educational Partnership Center

Fall 2004

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AA/PI Resource Center Staff Biographies Nancy I. Kim

Elaine Kam

Director Nancy In Kyung Kim is a 1.9 generation Korean American who grew up in Los Angeles county. A banana slug for life, Nancy received her BA in American Studies from UCSC and was affiliated with Merrill College. She later received her MA degree in Asian American Studies at UCLA and occasionally teaches courses on gender and sexuality. She returned to Santa Cruz in 1999 to build AA/PIRC, married in March 2003, and recently had a baby, Jung Soo Jose “JJ.” A song on the soundtrack to her life would be “So Happy Together” by the Turtles.

Program Coordinator Elaine Kam is a recent graduate from UCSC, Crown College, with a BA in Business Management Economics.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, she came to the Bay Area six years ago. As an undergrad, she was actively involved in the Chinese Student Association (CSA), Asian/Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC), was a SSTOC mentor and an Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) peer advisor. She is extremely excited to be back in Santa Cruz supporting the AA/PI community. Elaine’s song: “Chase” by Leslie Cheung.

Natalie Chan

Libby Lok

Intern

CUIP Intern Libby Lok is the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Intership Program (CUIP) intern this year at AA/PIRC. She is a second year sociology major from College Nine. This year, she would like to provide resources to her campus community that will shed light on Asian Pacific Islander (API) issues, as well as embrace every aspect of our diversity while she is here. She aims to make sure that our contemporary API identities do not get lost in stereotypes and the “API” label. A song that describes Libby is “She’s a Lady” by Tom Jones.

Natalie Chan is a 3rd year, College Nine student majoring in sociology and minoring in education. She is a SSTOC peer mentor and a core member of CUSN. She is interested in the issues that affect youth, especially elementary school age children. This is Natalie’s first year as a student intern at AA/PIRC. She is looking forward to organizing events that will bring individuals together in a friendly, supportive community. A song featured on the soundtrack to her life would be “Feels Like Today” by Rascal Flatts.

Ashley Uyeda

Jean Ho Intern

Intern Ashley Uyeda is a 3rd year Crown student majoring in American Studies.

Born and raised in the beautiful, rolling hills of Martinez in the East Bay, she is a 4th generation Japanese, Portuguese, Swiss American. She is involved in CUSN, APISA, engaging education, and is a SSTOC peer mentor. This is her first year working at AA/PIRC and is glad to be joining such a wonderful and caring community. One song that would be on the soundtrack to her life would be “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie.

Introducing Jean Ho! Jean is a 2nd year Merrill student majoring in Film and Digital Media. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, in the suburban nation of Walnut. No, not Walnut Creek. She was customer of the month at Taco Factory 3 years ago; on top of that she is currently affiliated with the Vietnamese Student Association, is a Merrill Orientation Leader, and an aspiring jazz pianist for the UCSC jazz ensemble. The soundtrack to her life would include “Double Bass” by Gorillaz.

Sonya Grayson

Alexander Lee

Intern Sonya R. Grayson is a 3rd year Stevenson student graduating this year with a BA in modern literature. Born in New Orleans and raised in Long Beach, this second generation JapaneseAmerican/Jewish-American Princess enjoys writing, bowling, philosophy, and sleeping. She is a SSTOC peer mentor, edits the AA/PIRC newsletter, core member of JASA, and was involved in Motivation Conference X. She is excited about interning and becoming a part of a very fun, tightknit network of staff. Sonya’s song: “Displaced” by Azure Ray. Fall 2004

Intern Alexander Lee is a 4th year who transferred to UCSC last year. Affiliated with Stevenson and majoring in psychology, he is a native to St. Augustine, Florida, but now calls San Francisco his home. He is co-chair for the Chinese Student Association (CSA), is a SSTOC Mentor, a core member of the Asian/Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC), and the Community Unified Student Network (CUSN). Looking forward to interning this year the song that connects his life, its challenges, and friends is: “Through it All” by One Voice.

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Summer at the Capitol

By Elaine Kam dean of Wayne State University’s Law met Asian American national lead- School. ers as a volunteer at a political event I also participated in the Washington during my ten-week internship in Wash- Leadership Program (WLP) on Wednesington, DC. Among them were prominent days, organized by the Conference on leaders such as California Congressman Asian Pacific American Leadership Mike Honda, Washington State Gover- (CAPAL). WLP was a workshop series nor Gary Locke, and one of the Presiden- that engaged summer interns in critical tial candidates. This summer, I was an The following organizations offer intern for the Organization of Chinese summer internships for students who are Americans (OCA), a nationally recoginterested in learning AA/PI- related nized nonprofit/nonpartisan civil advoissues, please check out their websites cacy group for Asian American/Pacific for further details: Islanders (AA/PI). Due to my growing Conference on Asian Pacific American interest in urban planning and commuLeadership (CAPAL) nity development, I was placed at the www.capal.org U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Asian Pacific American Institute for Development (HUD) under the Office of Congressional Studies (APAICS) Public and Indian Housing. Besides www.apaics.org working at HUD, I was also exposed to International Leadership Foundation (ILF) a variety of resources for AA/PI’s at the www.ileader.org national level, which broadened my perNational Asian Pacific American Legal spective on various issues, leadership Consortium (NAPALC) opportunities and future career paths. www.napalc.org During my ten weeks at HUD, I Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) learned and assisted in the policywww.ocanatl.org making process by performing cost analysis. I also attended brown bag issues pertaining to the AA/PI commuworkshop luncheons that were spe- nity such as public sector careers, coalicifically held for AA/PI interns. One tion building, and policy-making. These of the speakers at the luncheons was workshops enabled me to meet other Frank Wu, author of the book Yellow: summer interns from all around the naRace in America Beyond Black and tion, and also network with speakers who White. At the session, Wu shared his are government officials and public leadchildhood experiences and struggles ers. as an Asian American in Detroit, Another valuable experience as an Michigan. Wu was the first Asian OCA intern was participating in the anAmerican to serve as a professor of law nual OCA national convention. This at Howard University, and is now the year’s theme was “Education and Soli-

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darity: The Road to Empowerment,” which took place in Boston, Massachusetts. The four-day convention included programs for high school and college students. I learned about the importance of voting and voter registration in one of the “College Day” workshops.

Toward the end of the internship, OCA was able to schedule a meeting for the summer interns with the Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Norman Mineta. Mineta was a former California Congressman, and the San Jose Airport is now named after him because of his work and commitment to the Bay Area! This two-hour private meeting was a memorable one. Mineta shared his personal struggle as a Japanese American in the internment camp and then his rise to the secretarial position at DOT. He encouraged us to “always serve our community even though we may not end up working for the government.”

This internship offered me an opportunity to form new friendships with students from other states, and also learn more history about the U.S. Capitol.

Many of the museums are free of admission and they are good places to spend leisure time. I am glad that I took this opportunity in Washington, DC. It has increased my political awareness and concerns related to AA/PI issues. At the same time, I networked with many professionals who are working in my field as a way to better prepare myself for the future. If you would like to gain experience in the public sector, don’t hesitate and apply for an internship!

Asian American/Pacific Islander

Heritage Month Planning Committee

Fall 2004

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Help to…

- represent the diverse Asian American/ Pacific Islander community - combine our roots with our identities of today

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NEEDS YOU!

If you have any ideas or want to join the committee, EMAIL Libby Lok aapirc@ucsc.edu

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Get involved in > creating events > organizing events > publicizing > designing logos and themes

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Fall Calendar of Events September -23 Asian Baptist Student Koinonia (ABSK) Fall Reception @ Bay Tree Building Conference Room D 7:30pm -26 Kuya Ate Mentorship Program BBQ @ Oakes Upper Lawn 2–6 pm -28 Sigma Omicron Pi Info Night @ Bookstore or top of College 8 7pm -28 Alpha Kappa Delta Phi Info Night @ Bookstore, Social Sciences 2 circle, or Oakes circle 7pm -30 Filipino Student Association (FSA) Fall Reception @ Porter Dining Hall 8pm

October -7 Indian Student Organization (ISO) Fall Reception @ College 8 Redwood Lounge 7:30pm -12 Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) Fall Reception @ Ethnic Resource Center (ERC) lounge 7-8pm -13 Students of Color and Law School @ Bay Tree Conference Room C 12 –1:30 pm -13 Asian American/Pacific Islander Community Reception @ Bay Tree Conference Room D 5-7pm -18 Chinese Student Association (CSA) Fall Reception @ 7:30pm Location TBA -20 AA/PI Year-End Ceremony Planning Committee Meeting @ Ethnic Resource Centers (ERCs) 4:15pm -20 Community Unified Student Network (CUSN) / Asian Pacific Islander Student Alliance (APISA) Fall Reception @ 7:00 pm e2 Lounge -21 The East/West Canvases: Questioning Beauty by Sue Li Jue @ Merrill’s Cultural Center 7:30pm

-22 Ethnic Student Organization Council (ESOC) Fall Reception @ e2 Building (next to Student Union) 4-6pm -22 Asian American Comedy Night with 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors sponsored by AA/PIRC & CUSN @ Montgomery Theater, San Jose 8pm. For more information, contact AA/PIRC -28 Japanese American Student Association (JASA) Fall Reception @ the Student Union 8-10pm

Weekly Meetings - Chinese Student Association (CSA) Core Meetings Mondays @ Bay Tree Conference Room D 8:30pm - Japamese American Student Association (JASA) Core Meetings Mondays @ Student Union 8pm - Community Unified Student Network (CUSN) Core Meetings Tuesdays @ e2 Building (next to the Student Union) 8pm

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First National Asian American Student Conference Returning to our Roots: The Past, Present, and Future of the Asian American Student Community Friday November 5th - Sunday November 7th University of Southern California ~ Los Angeles Register Online Now! usc2004.naascon.org

Kimura continued from pg. 3 criticism of Crown’s decision and subsequent justifications. “I remember the day I wrote the letter,” he recalls in that fateful moment, “I toned it down quite a bit.

I remember standing above the ‘out’ basket in my office. I remember putting it in and taking it out, putting it in and taking it out. I did that about four or five times.

I decided I’m just going to put it in; it seemed like the right thing to do.”

The letter turned out to have a very profound effect on his career. He was subsequently blasted for his statement against racism. From that moment on, there was no going back. Trust in the University’s encouragement of speech against racism miserably crumbled when, later, a Crown administrator sued Victor, the former Chancellor, and the Regents of the University of California for “defamation of character and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

The University denied Victor legal representation concluding that he expressed a personal belief not associated with the University in any way - after the former chancellor had formally implored the UCSC community to speak out against racist acts. A difficult and laborious three-year court battle ensued. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court where it was finally dismissed. FolFall 2004

lowing the lawsuit, the former chancellor decided that Victor was no longer qualified to be the Campus Budget Director and demoted him. Presently, he is Management Consultant for Planning and Budget.

In the wake of the “Asian Food Affair,” AA/PI students passionately supported Victor and mobilized their efforts through forums, rallies, and letters of support. Victor’s action demonstrated a method of resistance against racist institutions to the AA/PI student community.

His bravery empowered students in their own journeys as they navigated through UCSC life and beyond. Christina Salvin, former UCSC student remembers Victor’s bravery: “As a student, we feel like we’re invincible. We can say anything, write anything, and no one can touch us. But as a staff person, the implications are much greater. Now as a faculty member myself, I can more appreciate what a big deal it was for him to write that letter against other staff members.”

Julie Noh, alumni and former APISA member also recalls Victor’s lasting impact: “His situation launched a whole campaign for things like Ethnic Studies, affirmative action, scholarship programs, and the need for an AA/PI Resource Center. He reminded us that not only can you be a radical activist when you’re young,

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but also later in life.” Although the knowledge that Victor has gained from the experience is in many ways painful, he concedes that he would do the same again: “I used to be very career oriented.

Issues of diversity were not terribly important to me, which I’m ashamed to say now. So the letter that I wrote did a lot of things. I got to know a lot of AA/PI students here. They asked me to speak at their graduation ceremony [API Grad 1991] which was quite an honor. And it opened my eyes to how the university is really run. What I learned is terrible, but it’s better that I opened my eyes than to keep them closed and have my head in the sand for my entire career.” He continues to share his story at conferences, forums, and with anyone who is interested in learning about a part of campus history.

As Victor approaches retirement, he still remains active in community organizations such as the ACLU of Northern California, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, and Asian Pacific Islanders for Community Awareness (APICA). He continues to pursue his passions such as motorcycle riding, and perhaps most importantly, spends time with his family and nine-monthold son, Carter. For Victor, life is definitely better seeking out the truth.

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Malarney continued from pg. 2 terest in continuing her education and in December of 1993 she left Hong Kong to begin a Masters degree in East Asian Studies at Harvard University. She finished her degree in 1995 after writing a thesis on refugee policies applied to Vietnamese asylum seekers fleeing Vietnam in the post-1975 period.

While at Harvard she met her future husband and they married at the end of 1995. In early 1996 she moved to Tokyo to join her husband who had already begun a job there. She later described the next seven years as the happiest of her life as she devoted herself to her family and to being a mother to her two sons, Liem and Kien, born in 1997 and 1999.

Her interest in her native country, however, did not fade. While in Tokyo she occasionally worked for the UNHCR as an interpreter for Vietnamese asylum seekers in Japan. Then, in 2001-2002 she

and her family moved to Hanoi for her husband’s sabbatical leave. When she was a graduate student, Christy--who was a skilled cook with a mastery of a wide range of Vietnamese dishes--had become interested in the culture and history of Vietnamese food. During her year in Hanoi she began a research project on Vietnamese food cultures that she hoped to turn into a series of articles and a book that would explain to a popular audience the historical and cultural dimensions of Vietnamese food.

Sadly, a month after returning from Hanoi in the summer of 2002, Christy began to experience a series of debilitating health problems. These intensified to the point that she required hospitalization in October and by early November she was diagnosed with an advanced cancer. She bravely fought through four rounds of chemotherapy,

paralysis, and spinal surgery, but the cancer proved intractable and she passed away in Tokyo early on the morning of April 29th, 2003, twenty eight years to the day after her family fled Vietnam. As those who survived her noted, she had lived an extraordinary life in those twenty-eight years.

The Christy Anh-Thu TrinhMalarney Student Award seeks to recognize a graduating UCSC student who shows a similar commitment to educational achievement and to Vietnam and the Vietnamese. From her late teens onward, Christy had devoted herself to her native country and its people, but her potential contributions to them were never fully realized due to her untimely death. It is hoped that the winners of the award will carry forward in their lives and work the same spirit and commitment that Christy had in hers.

Asian American/Pacific Islander

The East/West Canvases:

Year End Ceremony

Questioning Beauty

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First Meeting

Dance ~

Wednesday October 20th

Multimedia performance with:

Sue Li Jue

4:15 PM @ Ethnic Resource Centers Lounge

“...expertly balancing language and movement, music and storytelling” - SF Bay Guardian

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday Oct. 21 - 7:30 pm Cultural Center at Merrill Fall 2004

Informational session Come help plan the event: entertainment, food, programming, publicity, emcee, and more!

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SNAP!

SNAP! Staff

Come Visit Us

Advisor Copy Editor Layout Editor Productions Contributors

Nancy I. Kim Sonya Grayson Ashley Uyeda Elaine Kam Angie Chen Sonya Grayson Elaine Kam Libby Lok Shaun Malarney

visit www2.ucsc.edu/aapirc for questions and info, e-mail: aapirc@ucsc.edu

Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center University of California, Santa Cruz 339 Bay Tree Building 1156 High Street Santa Cruz, CA 95064 Phone: (831) 459-5349 Fax: (831) 459-2469 www2.ucsc.edu/aapirc