Written By Vicktor Duffy, Staff Writer
RETURNING: Poly’s Asian Student Union gets restarted after years of inactivity.
Poly’s Asian Student Union (ASU) has been inactive for several years, but when Hailie Escano, a half-Filipino junior, discovered Asian Student Unions at other schools, she realised that she “wanted to feel seen as an Asian on campus so [she] felt that it was important to make a place for that”. She contacted other Asians that she knew, asking about reigniting that old flame; this is how Poly’s new ASU came to be.
Escano reached out to some of her fellow Asians on campus, among them was Heejae Yu (11). Yu was eager to make a space where Asians could feel represented and connected to their culture. “Everyone should have a place where they’re represented at a school,” Yu stated “it’s important to be heard.” Yu also wanted to create a place free of discrimination and racism, as “there is racism,” she added.
This year, the ASU plans to host events for Asians and non-Asians to learn more about and participate in Asian cultures, “we’re [going to] try to celebrate Children’s Day, which is May 5th,” said Yu, “and then we’re [going to] try to celebrate some other Thanksgivings from different countries later.” They even expressed the possibility of going on a field trip for the Chinese Lunar Festival. Most of all, they want to create a safe space where Asian and Pacific Islander (PI) students can connect with and learn more about their cultures.
Yu expressed that she “didn’t have any connections except [her] family which was because [she has] no other relatives in America,” but after helping to restart the ASU, she has met so many different types of Asians who she feels she can connect with.
As for Escano, she believes it is important for Asian and Pacific PI identities to be represented at Poly because “there’s not very many of [them], so [they] should stick together and make [their] voices heard.” She believes it is important to create a safe space for anyone to go to at any given moment. “BSU is the place for Black students, the GSA is the place for queer students, MECHA is the place for Hispanic students, and ASU is the place for us.” She wants those who don’t feel like they’re Asian or PI enough to feel seen and understood, to know that they are not alone. Escano stated that she had very little information about her culture. She said, “I never felt Asian enough because people always see me as a Hispanic person… I’ve taken it upon myself to read books relating to my culture, learn the tradition, and even learn Tagalog. Being in ASU and learning things about my culture has made me feel more in touch with who I am and confident as a mixed Asian person.”
If you want to get in touch with ASU, the easiest way to do so is through their Instagram (@rivpolyasu). Or, if you know any of the co-founders: Hailie Escano (President), Heejae Yu (Co Vice-President), or Sakura Snyder (Co Vice-President), you can reach out to them directly.