A proposal that’s been 20 years in the making has finally happened.
A faculty committee at Northwestern has formally proposed an Asian American Studies major at Northwestern, reports North by Northwestern.
There was no formal opposition to the idea and backers are optimistic the major will become a reality.
20 years ago, 17 students at Northwestern held a hunger strike demanding an Asian American Studies major. This past November, students on campus launched a petition drive for the major adding renewed momentum. A protest that month against institutional racism on campus included a demand for Asian American Studies.
“There was a lot of support, some good questions,” Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Mary Finn said after the proposal was formally presented. “There were no objections.”
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It was Finn herself who formally presented the idea.
There are currently 30 students minoring in Asian American Studies. Finn said the university has been working for 16 years to bring in faculty to support the program. There are now three core faculty members in the Asian American Studies program, as well as a visiting professor and two lecturers.
“I found a home in Asian American Studies that is more difficult to find in other parts of Northwestern,”senior Kevin Luong said. “And more importantly Asian American Studies and other ethnic Studies creates research on the unheard and erased histories, particularly for a lot of communities both here and outside of Northwestern.”
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20 Years in the making: Faculty submits proposal for Asian American Studies Major
