Stereotypes targeted at cultural weekend
Leaders pleased with student support

By JENNIFER E. REITZ
Collegian Staff Writer

It's Friday night, and on stage at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center are a half-dozen bare-footed women bumping and grinding to rhythmic music with hints of subtle erotica. Catcalls fill the packed-to-capacity room throughout the dance.

No, it's not what it sounds like. It's actually the kick-off event to the University's fourth annual Asian-American Awareness Conference. The women are dressed in traditional Hindu costumes and are moving to the sounds of a Hindu film dance, and the crowd is consistently supporting the performances throughout the entire evening with applause, participation and yelps of appreciation.

"It's the most unified event I've ever seen. I don't know where the support comes from," said Ajay Nair, president of the Asian-American Student Coalition.

Asian Awakenings, a three-hour program featuring performances ranging from a rap performance to a martial arts presentation, was the first event of a weekend-long conference sponsored by the coalition and 14 other campus and community groups.

Intended to start at 7 p.m., opening remarks didn't begin until 20 minutes later to accommodate for crowd control. Students filled all of the folding chairs set up in the cultural center and packed into every crevice of standing-room space. The crowd spilled out into the hall and lobby, with people straining their necks to catch a glimpse of the performances.

"I don't even have an estimation of how many people were there . . . hundreds of people," Nair said. "We had to turn people away. It was a fire hazard."

Nair, who had been planning the conference since last semester, said the weekend was meant to dispel the stereotypes people have about Asians. One goal of the conference was to attract non-Asians so that myths surrounding the Asian experience could be clarified.

"The thing that struck me this year was the diversity. You wouldn't expect to see so many Caucasians, Latinos, African Americans in the audience. But they were there. That's what our original intention was. It's so great," Nair said yesterday afternoon, as the conference came to a close with a show by performing artists hereandnow from California.

Hereandnow performed skits such as a Ricki Lake-style talk show with Asian guests who "can't do math" and a condom commerical "because Asians have sex, too."

"The conference is a good opportunity to see what the Asian community is really like," Nair said. "You would never figure Asian people would rap, but they do. Some people think that all Asians have 4.0's, but we're just like everyone else."

In addition to the break-down-the-stereotypes theme of the conference, many events gave participants the opportunity to experience traditional Asian culture.

A fashion show featured Japanese kimonos worn in weddings. Hindu and Filipino dances exposed the audience to the rhythm and sensuality of ancient traditions.

Kristen McGovern (junior-environmental resource management) said she came to get a taste of Asian culture.

"There are so many things at Penn State that students don't take advantage of," she said. "It's free. You can see what other cultures do and support your fellow students."

And Nair said he felt great support throughout the weekend. He said participation was very high, and he was impressed with how the Asian community came together. With the exception of hereandnow, all performances were on a volunteer basis.

"The unity is just amazing," Nair said.