Asian Fest 1998 Celebrates Asian/Pacific American Community

Colorado State University’s Asian/Pacific American Student Services celebrates Asian Fest throughout April with arts, crafts, food, entertainment and a special visit by a major Denver television news broadcaster.

This year’s highlight for Asian Fest 1998 will be a visit by Adele Arakawa, Channel 9 anchorwoman, who will speak on stereotypes in the media from noon-1 p.m. April 22 in the Lory Student Center North Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.

"We’re excited to host Adele Arakawa, who is a major figure in Denver broadcasting and who will present an important message about stereotypes in the media," said Sarah Beruan, co-organizer of Asian Fest and equine science major. "Asian Fest also is important because the events give people the opportunity to learn about many different cultures and have fun, too."

This year’s theme, "Year of the Tiger, Myth vs. Reality," will address the myths and stereotypes about Asian/Pacific Americans and offer a series of social and educational programs aimed at sharing history, tradition, culture and entertainment reflecting Asian/Pacific American heritage.

Asian Fest will kick off with Community Asian Fest, followed by the Senior Recognition Reception and several workshops and discussions. The concluding event will be a Hawaiian Luau featuring a dance program and Hawaiian dinner. Asian Fest events also are part of Celebrate Colorado State!, a month-long celebration on campus to celebrate the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Keynote speaker Adele Arakawa began her broadcasting career at the age of 16 as a radio disc jockey. She became the first female disc jockey in Knoxville, Tennessee where she was born. She spent her early years in Hawaii and later attended Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee. She is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League, National Association of Asian American Professionals and Asian American Journalists Association.

In 1997 Arakawa was recipient of the Outstanding News Anchor Emmy Award and has been nominated for six Regional Emmys in the past four years. In addition, she received the Asian Pacific Women’s Network Woman of Achievement Media Award and in 1995 was nominated for Outstanding News Anchor in the Heartland Regional NATAS awards.

Arakawa’s talk, co-sponsored by the Office of Women’s Programs and Studies, is part of the Women at Noon series.

Past Asian Fest events have featured internationally known speakers and authors such as Hawaiian native and nationalist Haunani-Kay Trask, film and Broadway star Nobuko Miyamoto, author Gish Jen, Cambodian holocaust survivor Dith Pran and award winning director Lee Mun Wah.

The goal of Asian Fest is to raise awareness of the diversity within the community and the Asian culture, which includes over 52 different groups that span the globe and make up two-thirds of the world’s population.

A schedule of Asian Fest activities follows. All events take place on the Colorado State University campus and are free to the public, unless otherwise noted. For more information, call (970) 491-6154.

Sun., April 19

  • Community Asian Fest kick-off jam, 3-5 p.m., Lory Student Center North Ballroom, featuring hip-hop, traditional dance, arts, crafts, entertainment and Asian desserts.

Mon.-Fri., April 20-24

  • Flea Market, Lory Student Center ballrooms. T-shirts, recipe books and crafts will be on sale.

Mon., April 20

  • Senior Recognition Reception, 7-8:30 p.m., Lory Student Center Cherokee Park Room. Recognition for graduating seniors and their families. Sponsored by Andersen Consulting and Asian/Pacific American Student Services. Invitation only.

Wed., April 22

  • Adele Arakawa, "Stereotypes in the Media," noon-1 p.m., Lory Student Center North Ballroom. Co-sponsored by Asian/Pacific American Student Services and the Office of Women’s Programs and Studies.

Thurs., April 23

  • Workshop, 2:30-4 p.m., Room 228 Lory Student Center. "What’s Your Ethnicity? What’s the Stereotype? Moving Beyond Hate," roundtable discussion inclusive of all cultural groups. Facilitated by Eric Aoki, Intercultural Communications and professor of speech communication.
  • "Truth Beyond Appearances," 4:30-6 p.m., Lory Student Center Room 228. A roundtable discussion exploring the stereotypes that people face in society, including Colorado State students, faculty and staff. Open to the community. Facilitated by Dove Fedor.
  • Japan Cultural Night, 7 p.m., Lory Student Center Theatre. Celebrate the "Four Seasons" with Denver Taiko. Sponsored by Japan Student Association of ASCSU, AASA and ASCSU.

Sun., April 26

  • Luau, 5-8:30 p.m., Lory Student Center Main Ballroom. Sponsored by Hui ‘O Hawaii. The theme is "Stories of Hawaii," Na Mo’olelo ‘O Hawaii. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $6 for children under 12, and are available at the Lory Student Center box office.