At an open "brainstorming session" about next year's agenda for the Asian-American Association (AAA) last night, AAA members debated the organization's political goals.
Some members urged the AAA to the adopt a more clearly defined set of the political aims and plans, along the lines of those held by other campus minority groups such as the Black students Association.
Several of those in attendance pointed to recent incidences of anti-Asian graffiti in Lamont Library and of anti-Asian phone calls as evidence that AAA needs to increase its focus on issues of racial politics.
"AAA has been missing the point for long time," said on member. "We have to realize what's important and attack that."
Political Apathy
Not all present agreed, however.
"I don't think we're approaching the issue correctly," said another audience members. "We shouldn't model ourselves after other organizations.
Other in the 60-members audience voiced concerns about political apathy in the Asian-American community at Harvard.
Some said the apathy resulted form a lack of unifying issues among members. "One of the problems we have is that we're not a unified group," said Badsah Mukhopadhyay '94. "Do we identify with each other?" he asked.
Audience members also offered ideas for possible political projects.
Angelica D. Pizarro '94 suggested the creation of an Asian-American political magazine.
"My roommate and I hope to start a magazine, The Banana, next year, and we're looking for all interested parties to help," she said.
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