At a university where Asian students comprise 30 percent of the student population, Asian American Awareness Month will be a time of celebration for many in the Tech community.

Though the national month is recognized in May, the Asian American Student Association (AASA) has organized two weeks of events from March 26 through April 9 to honor the culture of Asian Americans on campus.

“The whole month is really a progressive event,” said Gar Yeung, president of the AASA and a fourth-year environmental engineering major. The celebration begins with a film series on March 26 and 30, culminating with a closing dinner April 9. 

Highlighting the two weeks of events is a visit from Sachi Koto, veteran of CNN, on Thursday, March 29. Koto will talk about American history from an Asian American perspective, building on her work as a CNN anchor, writer and producer, as well as work in Tokyo’s television market. 

“We’re hoping Sachi is the first of many Asian American speakers we bring to campus to talk not just about history, but also current issues,” Yeung said.

On Wednesday, March 28, AASA will screen “A Village Called Versailles,” a documentary about the struggles of Vietnamese Americans after Hurricane Katrina. Catholic priest Father Vien, who is featured in the film, will also attend the screening. A student panel discussion on Saturday, March 31, will convene students from other Georgia universities, as well as Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, to discuss political engagement, activism and initiatives that the Asian American community hopes to achieve, specifically in the Southeast. A community panel discussion the next day will complement this event.

All events during the celebration are free and open to all of campus, but an online RSVP is requested for the dinner on April 9.

AASA has been active since 2010, helping smaller Asian-interest student organizations be successful in their endeavors and holding large-scale events for the campus community.

Other Asian American Awareness Month events:

• Philanthropy Week, hosted by Sigma Sigma Rho
• Focus on Stereotypes of the Asian Community Through the Media, hosted by Delta Phi Lambda, Taiwanese American Student Association and Xi Kappa
• Night of Diversity, hosted by Delta Phi Lambda
• Culture Shock, hosted by the Filipino Student Association
• Night Market, hosted by the Taiwanese American Student Association