The Association of South Asians at Princeton (ASAP) is a registered graduate student organization for students, faculty, alumni, staff, family and just about anyone on campus interested in south Asia. It aims to bring elements of South Asian culture, heritage and lifestyle to the academic community at Princeton.

The evolving agenda below is the result of input from many people- including Graduate students and Faculty. Thanks to everyone who contributed/is contributing. Your input is most welcome.

Our Vision for ASAP

Our vision for this group is grand - in keeping with Princeton University's fabulous academic and campus life.

• We seek to bring together the talents and resourcefulness of the South Asian community on campus to make fitting contributions to the Princeton experience, and to South Asia and beyond.
• We hope to work with and complement the University's academic departments in learning and researching South Asia, putting to use the experience that the students, faculty and others on campus bring with them.
• ASAP will provide a peer group for South Asians, including the new comers, which can help them live and work in Princeton comfortably.
• It is our hope to build bridges and promote understanding between South Asians as a community and other communities on campus. Further, we feel there is a need to develop better understanding among those from the different countries and cultures that make up South Asia.
• We are excited about the possibility of bringing together students, faculty, campus staff, alumni and their families, who are from South Asia, or are interested in South Asia. We believe this can open up new possibilities.

The Evolving Agenda of ASAP

This is entirely open to discussion and modification. Anyone interested is encouraged to participate.

• Bring together the South Asian community of Princeton University, as members of ASAP. ASAP is primarily intended for South Asian Graduate Students, Faculty, Staff members and their families, but is open to anyone on campus, with an interest in South Asia.
• Create a forum for communication among the members of ASAP: currently there is an unofficial mailing-list (@yahoogroups.com) with many South Asian graduate students. ASAP hopes to expand this list to everyone on campus who may be interested.
• Be an official organisation, with elected representatives, for representing the South Asian Graduate Students to the University and to the various official bodies in the University.
• Promote understanding and friendship among diverse groups on campus, by interacting with other regional/ethnic groups on campus.
• Orientation for new students, starting from the time of their admission.
  • Address "pre-trip" concerns: like questions on housing options and meal plan, things to bring along etc.
  • Welcome new students to the campus: familiarise them with the life in the University, introduce them to members in ASAP, and make them feel comfortable by ensuring essential transportation and accomodation during their first few days on campus.
• Organise events of interest to the ASAP members. This may include (but is not limited to):
  • (South Asian) Music/Dance concerts.
  • Public Lectures.
  • Movies/Documentary screenings.
  • Picnics/Parties/Get-togethers for socialising (including a welcome-party for new members).
  • Events co-sponsored with other regional/ethnic groups on campus.

  The events may be free or ticketed (depending on available resources). There would be numerous small events, and a few large events. Members would be encouraged to take the initiative of organizing small events of interest to them.

• Provide support for ASAP members interested in establishing special interest groups (like groups for cricket, carroms, outdoor action, yoga, classical music, literature, arts, social service). When appropriate, a special interest group will be deemed a part of ASAP (an "ASAP club") and will be able to avail of university resources under ASAP's name.
• Provide useful services to ASAP members. This may include:
  • Help planning car-pools (or other transportation) to interesting events in the neighbourhood, or for shopping trips to South Asian stores.
  • Serve as a resource centre for career planning/job search.
  • Serve as a network between the graduate students and the graduate alumni.
• Collect/create and maintain online resources.
  • A web-page with pointers to interesting/most frequently sought South Asian online resources.
  • A Bulletin-Board to facilitate sharing resources (like car-pools).

The Evolving Wish-List

  # Publish an online magazine, featuring articles, art
    etc. by ASAP members. Have our own radio show at WPRB.

  # Act as a bridge between the South Asian community
    at the University, and local South Asian
    communities/groups in the region.
 
  # Join forces with other ASAP-type groups in the vicinity,
    e.g. those at Penn and Rutgers to hold joint events.