November 8, 2011

Asian-Americans are the third smallest minority group on the MU campus, according to the MU Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative.

According to “Rising to the Challenge of Conducting Research on Asian Americans in Higher Education,” by Samuel Museus and Mitchell Chang, unlike the histories of other minorities in the United States, Asian-American history is rarely studied in the Midwest. In addition, many stereotypes, such as the model minority, often go unchallenged because they might be considered more positive than traditional racial stereotypes.

Senior Olivia Ma, who is Asian-American, spoke about her experiences on campus.

Like many Asian-Americans on campus she hears occasional jokes about high achievement. Ma said she hears the occasional joke about ruining the class curve. She admits to academic success but attributes that success to studying rather than natural ability.

“I’m not naturally smart,” she said, “I study hard at what I do.”

Nationwide, educational attainment varies among different Asian-American ethnic groups. For example, while 43.8 percent of Korean-Americans have a bachelor’s degree or higher, only 19.4 percent of Vietnamese Americans have reached the same level of education, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Asian-Americans represent only 2.3 percent of the MU total enrollment for fall 2010, according to the MU Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative website. These students do not receive minority-based scholarships from MU because they are not considered a member of an ethnic group that is under-represented in Missouri higher education.

The state of Missouri consists of a 1.3 percent Asian-American population, making the 2.3 percent Asian population at MU overrepresented, according to the MU Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative.

“There are not a whole lot of Asians, and I have to dress like them to blend in,” Ma said.

But Ma said she sometimes dresses uniquely in an effort to stand out.

Senior Andrew Tsao, who is also Asian-American, said he has had a similar experience on campus.

“I stand out a bit in classes or at the student center,” he said.

Tsao emphasized the mentoring he received from the Asian American Association in avoiding dangerous situations, such as being assaulted late at night. He also said he had been avoiding Speakers Circle recently, due to harassment.

2.5 percent of all hate crimes committed are against Asian-Americans.

“They’ll ask you, ‘oh hi, ni hao, do you speak English?’” he said.

Ma said most of the harassment she received on campus is a result of her perceived social class, not her ethnicity.

“Not all rich girls are dumb, blonde bimbos,” Ma said.

In order to increase awareness of all cultures and diversity on campus, students can go outside their comfort zones and attend educational events put on by various groups.

Tsao said he encourages all students to attend cultural events put on by the Asian American Association, since everyone’s student fees fund them.

Sophomore Kevin Guevara, an Asian-American, said the Asian American Association is an important organization for people with similar experiences to find each other because the population on campus is so small.

Guevaa said he found very little negativity toward Asian-Americans on campus, and mostly encounters racism when people don’t realize they are perpetuating hurtful stereotypes.

“Asian American Association is a great experience in how it integrates into American society,” he said.

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