LUBBOCK - This transfer student from a small Christian college near Seattle, Wash., had a rocky first semester at Texas Tech.
Steven Nguyen, 20, arrived at Tech last fall, looking for new opportunities at a bigger school.
Instead, he dropped out mid-semester, shortly after he accused Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity members of forcing him to drink and beating him as part of his initiation, which violates state and university hazing laws.
The incident, which spurred the closure of the troubled chapter, is briefly described in a university police log dated Sept. 15, 2007: “Officer Gilster investigated an assault that occurred at an off campus fraternity party. A student was transported to the University Medical Center for treatment for injuries from the assault. See incident report #07-1543.”
Tech’s student discipline office later determined the chapter broke the university’s code of conduct.
I know, it is the end of January already, but it’s not too late to implement this as your 2008 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION!
It’s no secret that we’re addicted to media content that’s produced by greedy, ignorant, money grubbing racists. They produce it because we keep buying it. So, if you’re among those who consume such diversity-negligent media, you have no right to complain. Instead of whining about it, you should stop feeding the monster, and do your part to fight it.
Print the following and post it on your refrigerator. Follow these four steps, and we’ll be on our way to media empowerment.
MY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
DETOX: I HEREBY RESOLVE TO KICK THE HABIT NOW, AND STOP CONSUMING (LEGIT) COPIES OF DIVERSITY-NEGLIGENT CONTENT.That diversity-negligent GENOCIDAL media content we’re all addicted to? It’s like crack. Actually, more like OPIUM. Those Hollywood bastards know it’s genocidal, yet they still peddle it to us cuz it makes them gobs of money. It’s the Opium War of the 21st Century.
THE “PATCH”: IF I MUST CONSUME DIVERSITY-NEGLIGENT CONTENT, I WILL CONSUME IT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT THE PRODUCERS OF SUCH CONTENT, BECAUSE THEY DON’T DESERVE MY MONEY.I know it’s a tough habit to kick, but if you absolutely just have to get your fix of Desperate Housewives, The O.C. or white people in romantic comedies, get it from an “alternative source” in Chinatown. A friend of mine also likes to go to thepiratebay [dot] org, but the last time we checked, that was illegal, so our Fallout Central stance on that is to NOT go to thepiratebay [dot] org.
FILL THE VOID: I PROMISE TO ACTIVELY SUPPORT ASIAN AND ASIAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS, ACTORS, AND PRODUCERS.Just cuz you’ve kicked the habit doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything worth watching. On the contrary, there’s a LOT of good content out there. Support Asian films and filmmakers. If you live in New York or L.A., go see what’s playing at the ImaginAsian. In New York, attend performances by NAATCO, MaYi or DiverseCity Theater. They put on lots of dynamic shows featuring talented, yet under-appreciated, Asian actors. The more you support these actors, the stronger they will be, and as you know: In America, we have to work twice as hard to be half as good.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE: I RESOLVE TO FACILITATE THE DIVERSITY-ORIENTED EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION.Keep track of how much money you’re saving by NOT consuming diversity-negligent content. Why? Because we need to use that money to help inoculate the next generation from the filth in today’s media content. You should donate the money to diversity-oriented educational programs for children. If you don’t know of any such programs, here’s a good place to start: The RiceDaddies.com Empowerment in Diversity Challenge. Here’s another: APEX - dedicated to promoting the development of inner-city Asian American youth by providing them with adult role models, educational programs, social services, and career guidance.
If everyone did the things on this list, we’d be well on our way to true Asian-American empowerment through the media.
PARIS, 1989–Michael Chang executes an underhand serve against Ivan Lendl in the fifth set of the French Open quarterfinals (as mentioned in the Jan. 27, 2008, podcast).
The move was one of many that Chang, then 17 and unseeded, used to break the World No. 1 player’s concentration. He went on to defeat Lendl, and Stefan Edberg after him, to claim the title.
AALDEF will monitor elections in New York and New Jersey on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, and in Virginia and Maryland on Feb. 12 for language assistance (ballots, interpreters, signs and voting materials) and nondiscriminatory implementation of voter identification requirements.
Volunteers speaking Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese will be at poll sites to take complaints from voters about election irregularities and other obstacles. Voters can also report Election Day problems to AALDEF’s toll-free Election Day Hotline at 800-966-5946, or by e-mail to votingcomplaints [at] aaldef [dot] org.
Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said, “We want to ensure that all eligible Asian American voters can participate in the electoral process and have their votes counted.”
One-hour training sessions for volunteers will take place at the following locations and times:
NEW JERSEY – Saturday, Feb. 2
3:00 p.m. - KAVC, 1562 Lemoine Ave, Fort Lee, NJ
WASHINGTON, DC / VIRGINIA – Monday, Feb. 11
12 Noon - Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, 1152 15th Street, bet. L and M Sts., NW, Washington, D.C.
6:00 p.m. - APALRC, 1600 K Street NW, Washington, DC
AALDEF has monitored elections and conducted exit polls of Asian American voters in every major election since 1988, noting the steadily growing involvement of first-time voters. To read AALDEF’s report on violations of the Voting Rights Act and Help America Vote Act, and on other incidents of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement in 25 cities across nine states, check out “Asian American Access to Democracy in the 2006 Elections,” available at AALDEF’s official Web site.
Some updates on the shooting death of Hou Chang Mou, 47, a father of two who was working in Toronto’s East Chinatown when he became the unintended victim of a streetside gunfight:
Mao was commemorated in a funeral service on Jan. 25, with his 18-year-old daughter, Yun Yan, and 23-year-old son, Zuo Xi, in attendance. Mao’s wife, who lives in China, couldn’t afford to attend. The East Chinatown community had raised $10,000 to help with the funeral expenses.
A trust fund has been set up for Mao’s son and daughter at Scotiabank — donations can be made at any branch to account No. 41152-00320-18.
Police are still desperate for leads, and have posted several YouTube videos (here’s the English-language one) to that end. They’ve also set up a Facebook page, “Please Help! Hou Chang Mao,” that features videos, posters and a photo of a vehicle of interest in the case.
The New York Times reports on Anthony Kim, 22, of Texas as one of the contenders for Tiger Woods’ throne.
The Times calls Anthony, who debuted on the PGA Tour in 2006, “an American with confidence that is as easy to see as his big silver belt buckles.” It cites PGA great Mark O’Meara as saying Anthony’s stroke may be better than Tiger’s was at the same age.
Ahead of President Bush’s State of the Union address, the Campaign for America’s Future (a progressive political organization) released some thought-provoking stats on the nation’s economy, courtesy of the Census Bureau and other sources.
The report uses data from various years and divides the population into four groups: Asian American, white American, African American and Hispanic American.
Here are some by-the-number facts that you might find interesting:
APAs had the highest median income of the four groups in 2006: $63,900.
The proportion of APAs living in poverty in 2006 was 10.1 percent, the second-lowest after whites, who had 8.2 percent.
3.7 percent of APA laborers were out of work in December 2007, the lowest percentage of the four groups.
15.5 percent of APAs were uninsured in 2006, the lowest percentage after whites, with 10.8 percent.
For more on the Campaign for America’s future, visit the official Web site.
As Oakley’s eyewear brand manager says about the company’s Asian Fit, “This line fits higher on your face with a narrower and deepened bridge. This helps to lift the sunglasses off the face of a person with a shallower nose bridge and higher cheek bones.”
For more info, check out Oakley’s Asian Fit, along with Oliver Peoples and Gap’s petite line. (Gap supposedly carries sunglasses for Asians, but we couldn’t find ‘em — maybe you’ll have better luck.)
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PR Web reports that L.A.-based women’s fashion retailer Naturally Size 0, which exclusively carries clothes in the eponymous size, has launched an online store.
Why should you care? Well, the company acknowledges the Asian community as a huge market for its products. The APA demographic is growing fast, as the press release says, and “Nearly half of the Asian-American women wear size 6 or smaller, with a lesser percentage wearing size 0.”
“Although the demand is definitely there for size 0 clothing, many designers and manufacturers have not acknowledged it and continue providing mostly for the size 2 and up community,” the release reads.
The Web site features a considerable number of Asian models. To peruse the fashions available, visit the online store.
