CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Organizers of the 2007 Asian American Awareness Month have more than fun and games on their minds, but activities kick off with Chinese chess and Mahjong.
Throughout March and April, Asian American student organizations have planned events aimed to increase the awareness of Asian American culture at the University of Illinois under the theme “Continuing Our Legacy: Collaboration, Cooperation, Celebration.” Activities are sponsored by the Asian American Awareness Month Committee of the Student Affairs Program Coordination Council.
At 7 p.m. Thursday (March 1) students will teach Mahjong, a popular four-player Chinese card game, and the difference between Chinese and Western chess at the Illinois Street Residence Hall Townsend B Lounge, 918 W. Illinois St., Urbana.
The events continue on Friday (March 2) with the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Asian American Studies Program at Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana. The keynote speaker is K.W. (Kyung Won) Lee, a U. of I. alumnus, Korean American activist and investigative journalist who has won 29 professional awards during his career and is widely recognized as the dean of Asian American journalism.
Illinois will host the three-day Midwest Asian American Students Union conference, “Embrace, Empower, Envision,” on campus March 9-11. Organizers expect 700 students from 30 schools to attend.
A complete listing of the events for Asian American Awareness Month can be found online. For more information, contact Linda Luk, program coordinator of the Asian American Cultural Center at 217-333-9300.
