Events highlight diversity of campus community

May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the campus is in the process of honoring the members of that community with a series of three events.

The first event, a comedy hour, took place on May 1 and featured several YouTube clips of Asian American comedians.

The second event, scheduled for today in Student Center, room 204 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., is a panel discussion on the experiences of Asians in America, featuring the viewpoints of Asian-American staff on campus.

The final event, the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival, will include tai chi, calligraphy and origami workshops in addition to food and music. The festival is set to take place on Thursday, May 8 in the Student Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month events were coordinated by the district-wide Asian Pacific American Association composed of faculty and staff.

Director of Student Development and Activities Blake Balajadia said he hopes these kinds of events will create “a spark” in students, encouraging them to revamp these clubs and host year-round ethnic pride events.