In an effort to better educate the SXU community on different Asian cultures and traditions, a new student organization – the Asian American Cultural Exchange (AACE) – was started at the university and now joins a lengthy list of SXU organizations which help promote diversity.
Cindy Nunag, the new club’s president , commented on the mission and purposes of the Asian American Cultural Exchange.
“AACE is an organization on campus whose main goal is to provide students the opportunity to learn, to appreciate, and also to celebrate various Asian cultures and traditions. We also want to teach people how those traditions are carried out here in the United States,” Nunag said.
After attending the Battle of the Bamboo – a cultural dance competition at UIC in which numerous dance groups from across the Midwest compete against each other – Nunag was inspired to create an organization at SXU which celebrates and embraces the Asian culture.
“I noticed that we have UNIDOS and BSU, but we don’t have an Asian organization on campus. I went to the UIC Battle of the Bamboo and it was just a great event in which students can participate and watch various Asian dancers. There was that unifying, everybody-coming together feeling that showed an appreciation to Asian cultures and that inspired me. It made me think, ‘Oh we should have this at SXU,” said Nunag.
Nunag as well as the organization’s other board members greatly emphasized that any student is more than welcome to join the AACE. The club is open to both Asian Americans and individuals who are not of Asian descent.
“A lot of students passed by us during the Student Org fair and didn’t want to sign-up because they weren’t Asian. I want to emphasize that this club is for Asian Americans and also non-Asian American students,” Nunag said.
“I’m an executive board member and I’m obviously not Asian!” Damone Griffin, the AACE’s public relations representative, jokingly remarked.
According to David Ruiz, secretary of the AACE, one thing which the club hopes to do is disintegrate racial stereotypes which pervade the Asian community. Christian Rosales, vice president of the organization, further commented on the matter.
“We want to delve into the Asian stereotypes and show people how they came about. Hopefully it helps them understand Asian culture and then through that, they could just think before they speak on certain matters,” Rosales said.
In addition to debunking Asian stereotypes, the club also wants to show the SXU community that there is more to Asian culture than just the typical things that people associate with it.
“There’s more to Asian culture than just ordering from Chi Tung every weekend,” Griffin remarked.
“Right, or watching Jackie Chan movies or stuff like that. There’s just more to it,” Rosales added.
According to Nunag, the Asian American Cultural Exchange is set to meet on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m., most likely in the Student Lounge. The club will meet on a bi-weekly basis.
Students interested in joining AACE can stay updated on club matters by “liking” its Facebook page at “SXU’s AACE.” They can also email the organization at sxu.aace@gmail.com if they have any questions pertaining to the club or its events.
Reflecting on how this organization will benefit the SXU community, Nunag commented on the importance that the Asian American Cultural Exchange has on campus.
“One of our core values is diversity, and this club really emphasizes that. There’s not that much of an extent towards the Asian culture on campus and there’s not too many ways that people could learn about it right now. We want to change that and extend that learning by teaching people more about Asian culture.”
Macy Zamudio
Senior News Editor