After Virginia Tech: Asian American students, Don Imus and Heritage Month

Vol. 144, No. 8, May 4, 2007. 12 pages. View this issue

The shootings at Virginia Tech shaped much of this issue. Caroline Aoyagi-Stom and Jean H. Lee wrote about anxiety on campuses and about mental health outreach in Korean American communities. Reports followed the case of Allen Lee, an Illinois student charged with disorderly conduct over a creative writing essay, and APA protests over racist radio prank calls after the Don Imus firing. Lynda Lin asked whether Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrations should offer more than costumes and food.

Elsewhere, Floyd Mori laid out JACL’s legislative priorities, and the paper announced the Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship, the Minidoka pilgrimage set for June 22-24, and a May 19 tribute to John Tateishi, JACL’s former redress director. Yumi Sakugawa described a day at the Manzanar pilgrimage. A Spring Campaign appeal, sports news and a film profile round out the 12 pages.

What’s in this issue

National

• Beyond Traditional Costumes, Food Fairs and Dragon Dances, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Colleges across the nation celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month early, often with cultural performances, dance and pageants like Penn State’s ‘Asian April.’ The article explores whether these celebrations should focus more on substantive history and issues rather than just costumes and customs, especially in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
• A Return to Classes Brings Unease for Some Virginia Tech AA Students, by Caroline Aoyagi-Stom, page 1. Asian American students nationwide are experiencing anxiety and backlash following the Virginia Tech shootings committed by Korean American student Seung-Hui Cho. Students like Bridgette Kim worry about being treated differently despite the shooter’s actions being those of one individual, not representative of an entire ethnicity.
• AA Student’s Essay Draws 2nd Disorderly Conduct Charge, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 1. Illinois high school senior Allen Lee faces a second disorderly conduct charge after writing a creative writing essay deemed disturbing by school officials. JACL has expressed concern that the case, occurring shortly after the Virginia Tech shootings, may involve racial profiling since Lee is Asian American.
• After Don Imus, Hate Radio Lives On, by P.C. Staff and Associated Press, page 1. APA groups protested outside CBS headquarters demanding the firing of New York radio hosts JV and Elvis for racist prank calls to a Chinese restaurant. Community leaders argue the network’s failure to fire the hosts, despite firing Don Imus for racist remarks, reveals a hypocrisy in how different racial slurs are treated.
• After Virginia Tech, Korean Americans Plead for Mental Health Outreach, by Jean H. Lee, page 3. Following the Virginia Tech shootings by Korean American student Seung-Hui Cho, Korean American community leaders and mental health experts discuss the stigma around mental illness in Korean culture that may have prevented Cho from getting help. Gov. Kaine met with Korean American leaders who pledged to improve mental health outreach to immigrant communities.
• Documents: U.S. Troops Used ‘Comfort Women’ After WWII, by Eric Talmadge, page 3. Historical documents reveal that after Japan’s WWII surrender, the country set up a ‘comfort women’ system for American occupation troops with tacit U.S. approval, continuing until 1946. The system exploited tens of thousands of women, some of whom were coerced into prostitution, echoing Japan’s wartime treatment of women across Asia.
• National Newsbytes, by Pacific Citizen Staff and Associated Press, page 4. Brief news items cover APA political influence growing in Edison, N.J., a new anti-Hepatitis B campaign launched by APA health organizations, and accusations of racism and sexism against a ‘Law & Order: SVU’ executive producer. The Hepatitis B campaign aims to test and treat all APAs for the chronic disease over the next two years.
• APAs in the News, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 4. Brief profiles cover former U.S. Attorney Carol Lam being honored by the San Diego Bar Association, two Japanese American senators recognized at the NJAMF Awards Dinner, a proposed postage stamp honoring aviator Hazel Ying Lee, and Louisiana Sheriff Harry Lee’s leukemia diagnosis. Each item highlights notable achievements or challenges facing prominent APA figures.
• Virginia Tech Students Try to Return to Normal Life, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Asian American students at Virginia Tech and across the country grapple with fear of backlash following the shootings committed by Korean American student Seung-Hui Cho. Students and observers emphasize that Cho’s actions do not represent the AA community, even as isolated hate incidents are reported at other campuses like Auburn University.
• Student Essay Case Continues, by P.C. Staff, page 4. Details continue to emerge in the case of Allen Lee, the Illinois student charged with disorderly conduct for a creative writing essay, including statements from his attorney and JACL’s Bill Yoshino expressing concern about potential racial profiling. Lee could face a $1,500 fine and up to 30 days in jail if convicted, though students have rallied in his support.
• Hate Radio Continues After Don Imus Firing, by P.C. Staff, page 12. Despite Don Imus’s firing for racist remarks, New York radio hosts JV and Elvis remain suspended but not fired after racist prank calls to a Chinese restaurant, prompting APA protests. Similar controversies arose at Power 105.1 FM over a segment mocking Asian accents, raising questions about the double standard in addressing racist content across different minority groups.

Sports

• Becoming the Best of the Beach, by Lynda Lin, page 1. Former Stanford volleyball star and two-time Olympian Logan Tom is transitioning from indoor volleyball to the beach game, partnering with Holly McPeak on the AVP tour. Tom discusses the challenges of adapting her skills to sand and wind after dominating the indoor court and playing professionally in Spain.
• Tatsuno Selected to National Collegiate Hall of Fame, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Former University of Hawaii star pitcher Derek Tatsuno, the NCAA’s first 20-game winner, has been selected to the National Collegiate Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Lubbock, Texas in July. Tatsuno set NCAA records for wins and strikeouts during his college career before playing professionally in Japan and the U.S. minor leagues.
• NBA Signs Deal with Beijing Olympics, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. The NBA signed an agreement with the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee and FIBA to bring NBA-style entertainment to the 2008 Olympic Games basketball competition. The deal reflects the NBA’s growing business interests in China, driven partly by the popularity of Chinese star Yao Ming.
• Yao Ming Featured in China AIDS Awareness Campaign, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. NBA star Yao Ming joined a UN-backed campaign to combat HIV/AIDS stigma in China, appearing in posters with people from AIDS-affected communities. The campaign aims to promote awareness and reduce discrimination as China confronts its growing AIDS epidemic, largely stemming from tainted blood transfusions.
• Ohno Inducted Into Asian Hall of Fame, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. Two-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater Apolo Ohno was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame in a Seattle ceremony, alongside attorney Loida Nicholas Lewis. Ohno, currently competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ expressed honor at the recognition while continuing to train for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
• Oliver Clubs Exhibit Opens in Little Tokyo May 19th, by Associated Press and P.C. Staff, page 7. The Little Tokyo Service Center is showcasing an exhibit on the Oliver Clubs, a 90-year-old Japanese American sports organization founded by teacher Nellie Grace Oliver in 1917. The exhibit details how the clubs promoted both athletics and cultural development for JA youth, including during WWII when Oliver advocated for interned students.

Commentary

• JACL’s Legislative Priorities, by Floyd Mori, page 1. JACL National Director Floyd Mori outlines the organization’s top legislative priorities including comprehensive immigration reform, restoring habeas corpus rights, and supporting hate crimes prevention legislation. He connects these issues to JACL’s historical struggles with anti-Asian immigration laws and wartime civil rights violations.
• The Paperless News (R)evolution Continues, by Sheldon Arakaki, page 2. Arakaki discusses the Pacific Citizen’s website improvements funded by last year’s Spring Campaign, including video clips and archival search functions. He encourages readers to donate to this year’s campaign to fund future features like RSS feeds and podcasts.
• My Father, Tunney Shigekuni, by Via e-mail, page 2. A reader shares the story of her father Tunney Shigekuni, a Nisei hot-rodder who raced cars before WWII and later became a mechanic after being incarcerated at Amache. The letter details his racing career, friendship with Vic Edelbrock Sr., and his garage business in the Seinan district of Los Angeles.
• Filipino WWII Veterans Bill Supported by Rep. Honda, by Yim and Yoshie Tanabe, page 2. The writers criticize the U.S. government for reneging on promised veterans benefits to over 200,000 Filipino soldiers drafted during WWII under the 1946 Rescission Act. They argue the excuse of cost is unjust given military recruitment bonuses and note that most of these veterans have already died.
• 442nd Vet Supports Watada, by Wasa Odoi, page 2. A 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran defends Lt. Ehren Watada’s refusal to deploy to Iraq, arguing the war is illegal and immoral. The writer, who was injured in combat, believes Congress or the Supreme Court should rule on the war’s legality rather than punishing Watada for raising the issue.
• One Day in Manzanar, by Yumi Sakugawa, page 8. Sakugawa recounts her experience attending the 38th annual Manzanar Day of Pilgrimage with UCLA’s Nikkei Student Union, describing the harsh desert conditions and moving memorial program. The piece reflects on the importance of remembrance for social progress, quoting former internees and highlighting solidarity with other communities facing discrimination.
• Stereotypes Around the World, by Cheryl Watamura Martinez, page 8. Martinez, a Japanese American living in Germany, contrasts the positive stereotypes of Asians in America with the negative assumptions she faces in Germany, where Asian women are often presumed to be poverty-stricken. She shares personal anecdotes of discrimination from doctors and hospital staff, reflecting on how this experience helps her understand what Issei and Nisei may have faced in early America.
• Washington Window: JACL’s Legislative Priorities, by Floyd Mori, page 12. Mori details JACL’s continued advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform, restoration of habeas corpus rights, and hate crimes prevention legislation like HR 1000. He connects these priorities to JACL’s historic fight against anti-Asian immigration laws and the wartime incarceration experience, urging members to contact their representatives.

JACL

• JACL Announces Fellowship in Honor of Norman Y. Mineta, by P.C. Staff, page 5. JACL has established the Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship, based in Washington D.C. and funded by State Farm Insurance, focusing on public policy advocacy and safety awareness in the APA community. Applicants must have a four-year degree, be JACL members, and familiar with Asian American issues, with the fellowship offering a monthly stipend of $1,500 to $2,500.
• JACL to Honor Former Nat’l Director John Tateishi, by Pacific Citizen Staff, page 5. JACL will honor former National Director John Tateishi on May 19 for his decades of civil rights advocacy, including his role as JACL’s redress director who helped win a government apology for Japanese American incarceration. Tateishi served as national director for seven years until 2006 and also authored books including ‘And Justice for All.’
• Upcoming JACL National Youth Conference to ‘Cultivate Leaders’, by P.C. Staff, page 10. JACL’s National Youth Conference, themed ‘Cultivating Leaders by Defining Our Roots,’ will be held June 29-July 1 at Santa Clara University for youth 13 and older. The three-day event will feature educational and interactive workshops covering topics from Asian American Studies to hip-hop culture and taiko drumming.

Community

• Minidoka Pilgrimage Set for June 22-24, by P.C. Staff, page 5. Former internees, families and friends will travel from Seattle and Portland to the former Minidoka Internment Camp in Idaho for a pilgrimage honoring those incarcerated there during WWII. The event, sponsored by JACL Seattle chapter and other groups, includes guided tours, a memorial service, and workshops with registration costing $200 per person.
• Yamato Colony to Celebrate Its 100th Anniversary, by P.C. Staff, page 5. The Yamato Colony, a Japanese Christian farming community in Livingston, California, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in June with events including a memorial dedication and presentations by author Kesaya Noda and professor Kip Fulbeck. Descendants of the original 1907 settlers will gather to renew friendships and view historical photos and family trees.

Arts & Entertainment

• Grace Under Pressure, by Lynda Lin, page 9. Wharton Business School graduate Fay Ann Lee wrote, directed, produced and starred in her romantic comedy ‘Falling for Grace,’ inspired by chance encounters with John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1990s New York. The film, featuring a predominantly APA cast alongside mainstream actors, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now touring festivals including the VC Film Festival in Los Angeles.

Obituaries

• In Memoriam – 2007, page 11. This compilation lists Japanese American community members who passed away in early 2007, including several WWII veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Notable among them is Chiori Santiago, a 54-year-old writer who covered Bay Area visual arts, performance and music before her death on April 21.

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