Asian and Asian American Political Organizations
"Activism is not an event, it's a movement, it's a process. It's about relationships, it's about people, and it's about the lessons you learn along the way"
- Nora Yasumura, speaking with the SOCY 76 class
Many Asians and Asian Americans at Dartmouth have organized and rallied in support of various political and administrative goals and initiatives. These student-organized groups worked hard to advocate for Asian American studies, foster conversation and interracial solidarity, and support Asian communities at large.
General Trends
Asian and Asian American political groups were more sparse and less long-lived than social groups. The roots of this can be traced back to the fact that the existence of these clubs hinged on the labor of particularly dedicated individuals and interpersonal relationships with other passionate students.
Political organization is difficult work as it can involve meeting with administration, coordinating large-scale events with short notice, and generally spending a lot of one's free time. This is not to mention the emotional toll of the push-and-pull of social relationships within groups, and negotiating trauma, while also having to confront the reality that their concerns often fell upon deaf ears.
Nevertheless, Asian and Asian American students continue to involve themselves in political activism, navigate the intricacies of Dartmouth's bureaucracy, protest injustices, and rally for their communities in times of tragedy and celebration.
Linked to this page are profiles of three of the most prominent Asian and Asian American organizations motivated by political, administrative, and activist goals. These are not the only political groups that Asians and Asian Americans were involved in. However, we feel that their stories are representative of the experiences, challenges, and empowerment that come with being political and Asian at Dartmouth.
Lessons from Student Activists
Activism takes a toll on students, especially in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment like Dartmouth. Here are a few takeaways we received from Asian student activists from throughout the college's history:
Utilize the resources that are available to you
One of the privileges of attending a school like Dartmouth are the resources that are available to you. Although they can feel paltry at times, there is always something activists can take advantage of. Monetary resources can fund things as big as flying to California for an Association for Asian American Studies conference in San Francisco or for things as small as buying catered food for organization meetings to bolster attendance and morale. There are always resources available.
Build community
Even though change often needs to come from the top-down, it is ambitious and potentially frustrating to fight this uphill battle. Activist alumni advise us not to underestimate the power of interpersonal relationships to find empowerment and connection. Focus on building community by making others aware of the issues at hand to build a larger and stronger student coalition.
Past and present student activists encourage us to branch out across racial boundaries and to other schools to find other students who are fighting the same fight, albeit in different physical and ideological spaces. To make the burden a a little lighter on each individual.
Take it slow
Students have been fighting for Asian American studies and against anti-Asian sentiments for over 30 years and there is still much work to be done. Activist alumni remind us that we may not see changes within our time at Dartmouth. As one 4A alumni puts it: "It is a very slow process to institutionalize things."
However, it is important to keep in mind that everything we fight for now lays the foundation for future generations to continue our work. All of our work here is built standing on the shoulders of organizations like APAmIF and 4A, and future students will be able to use anything we build now.
Don't be afraid of impermanence
If there's one key takeaway from the history of Asian student organization at Dartmouth, it is that everything ends at some point. Organization membership grows and dwindles; students graduate (or take off terms) as new ones come in; new ground is gained and lost; new groups form as old ones fall apart. One 4A alumni thinks that we should learn to be okay with the natural transcience of student life at Dartmouth. If there's one more, perhaps more important, takeaway, it is that Asian and Asian American activity always comes back.
Don't burn yourself out!
Activism is draining, and as such, "it can take up your whole life." Alumni urge us not to lose sight of what's important and to make sure we pay adequate attention to our studies, social lives, and mental health. Previous members of 4A regret spending exorbitant amounts time and effort in administrative meetings, working on behalf of the college. Remember that activism matters and it is good work, but it is still important to take a moment to catch your breath. As one 4A alumnus told us: "It's not a movement if you can't take a break."