What is the difference between active and activism? In my opinion, being active is to act or do. One’s action does not need a reason or purpose. Activism, however, requires more than just action. Activism is acting to create change. Activism is to fight for a purpose.
There is no doubt that University of Maryland students and Asian Pacific American students in particular, are very active. APA students hold leadership positions, fundraise for important events, put on shows, hold workshops, attend conferences, publish articles, intern in the community, and come together in times of need, as well as in times of fun. APA Greek groups also adopt philanthropic projects, such as domestic violence against women, and their members work hard to fulfill the necessary requirements.
While APA students on college campuses in the past were active, they were also activists. For example, because of a coalition of different culturally based groups including APAs, San Francisco State University students earned the first School of Ethnic Studies in 1968.
Student activism here at Maryland also led to positive gains for APA students. After 10 years of activism, with the support of the Asian American Student Union, University of Maryland students were able to effectively advocate for an Asian American Studies program. In addition to the Asian American Studies program, student activists in the early 1990s advocated for more resources and services for the APA community. This activism led to one full time and one graduate assistant coordinator position in the Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy office (MICA). These positions at MICA, one of which I currently hold, support, advocate, and provide resources for APA students on campus.
Are today’s University of Maryland APA students activists, however? While I have met extremely dedicated activists and witnessed exceptional pockets of activism, I believe that our campus lacks a sense of common purpose, and in turn, and sense of community activism and solidarity.
Nevertheless, some readers may be wondering, what is there left to fight for? We have an Asian American Studies program. We have one and a half coordinators to support APA students in the MICA office. Even nationally, we have a bi-racial president of the United States of America. Is there anything left? Are there any issues on campus that might activate our activism?
One pressing issue close to home is writing the Diversity Plan as it pertains to the university’s Strategic Plan. In April of the last school year, the campus held a Diversity Plan Open Forum where the campus community provided input into what should or should not be included in the Diversity Plan. With those suggestions in tow, the
Diversity Plan Steering Committee spent the summer compiling and considering the comments gathered from that event to create a draft Diversity Plan.
On October 27, 2009, the campus will hold another opportunity to influence this plan. The Moving Diversity Forward Town Hall Meeting will provide a space for individuals and student groups to present their thoughts in response to the Diversity Plan draft, set to be released in mid-October. The Diversity Town Hall Meeting is the perfect opportunity for all students, APA and non-APA, undergraduate and graduate, to mobilize and present a united front about diversity on this campus.
Aside from the October diversity meeting, however, what will activism in the APA community look like? Is our fight over?
My answer is a resounding no. Until APAs are able to attain as high levels of education as others, our fight is not over. Until APAs are able to attain and advance in job opportunities as others, our fight is not over. Until APAs are not used as an example of how other minorities fair poorly in the U.S., our fight is not over. Until APAs are not marginalized, our fight is not over. Until all people from all backgrounds are treated equally, our fight is not over. We must remember that our Asian Pacific American history is still being written — now is our time to fight.
Jee Shim Deogracias is the Graduate Assistant Coordinator for APA Student Involvement and Advocacy in the MICA office. She is a second year doctoral student in the Education Policy Studies program in the College of Education.
