History of the Effort for Asian American Studies Princeton University Asian American Students Association 24 March 1995 Key Events in the Struggle for Asian American Studies 1985 In the Spring of 1985, the late Professor James T.C. Liu of the Department of History offered History 410 Asians in America. This was the last time History 410 was offered, and it has not been listed in the Undergraduate Announcement since the 1991-92 edition. 1988 On 15 November 1988 when President Harold Shapiro was new to this campus, Asian and Asian American students had a round-table discussion with him. At that time students stated emphatically that "our long range goal is to have Asian American Studies taught on a permanent basis at Princeton." 1989 In the Fall of 1989, students had Professor Betty Lee Sung of the City College of New York offer a student-initiated seminar in Asian American Studies. 1990 The 3 April 1990 Report on Asian Pacific American Students by Director of the International Center Paula Chow and Associate Dean of the College Eva Gossman urged the university to "encourage departments to offer courses focused on the Asian Pacific American Experience." 1992 In the Fall of 1992 the Asian American Student Task Force was established. On 7 May 1992 Professor Trinh T. Minh-ha of the Department of Cinema at San Francisco State University showe her film "Shoot fot the Contents". 1993 The 26 March 1993 report of the Asian American Student Task Force recomended that the university "create a tenure-track position in an academic department of program for a specialist in Asian American Studies." On 23 April 1993 at students' invitation Gary Okihiro, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Asian American Studies Program at Cornell University, gave a talk called "Family Album History." On 17 November 1993 at students' invitation Ronald Takaki, Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, gave a talk called "Crisscrossed paths of African Americans and Asian Americans." 1994 On 13 April 1994 at students' invitation Stephen Sumida, Associate Professor in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Michigan, gave a talk called "A Life of its Own: Woman Warrior, Kingston, and Asian American Literary History." The Asian American Student Task Force's 16 April 1994 Open Letter to the Princeton University Board of Trustees reiterated the Task Force's recommendation that the University create "a tenured position in any humanities or social science department for a specialist in Asian American Studies." On 21 April 1994 at students' invitation John Kuo Wei Tchen, Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Director of the Asian American Center at Queens College, City University of New York, gave a talk called "Can We Really Get Along? Problems with Universities and Multiculturalism." The 17 May 1994 report of the Committee on Diversity and Liberal Education recommended that Princeton "represent more fully on the faculty scholars with expertise in emerging fields of studies such as Asian American and Latino Studies." In May 1994, students initiated a petition drive to document support for Asian American Studies. In his 3 June 1994 response to the Asian American Student Task Force, President Harold Shapiro indicated that there may be "the addition to the curriculum of significant content related to Asian American life." In the Fall of 1994, Asian American students formed a coalition with Latino students to work jointly for Asian American and Latino Studies. On 6 December 1994, students, faculty, and administrators meet to discuss the future of Asian American Studies at Princeton. Students are told that course development funds and funds for visiting professors are available. 1995 Franklin Odo '61, Director of the Ethnic Studies Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is a visiting professor in the Department of History and teaches AMS 318 Asians in America for Spring 1995. On 28 February 1995, students and faculty members interested in Asian American studies meet with Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel and are tld of possibilities for a total of six courses for the 1995-1996 school year and are told that funds are available for permanent appointment of Asian American studies faculty. On 12 April 1995, at the invitation of Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel, students and faculty members interested in Asian American studies are to meet with department chairs to inform them of our concerns.