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“There were individuals, and there were groups,” Asian Pacific American Coalition President Ho Nguyen said, adding that approximately 40 remembrance cards were crafted. They were placed around campusčon sidewalks, in buildings, and on benches-to serve as silent reminders of the struggles faced by those individuals.

This was the Day of Remembrance, and it kicked off Asian Heritage Month.

The day was created as a way to “show respect and remember fellow Asian Americans who have been victims of anti-Asian violence and hate crimes,” Nguyen said.

The theme for this year’s Asian Heritage Month is “Lilies, Roots, and Seeds of Change.” Nguyen explained that the lilies signify mourning for violence against Asian Americans, but also for celebrating the outcomes and actions born from them. The roots symbolize where Asian Americans have come from and the seeds of change represent where they are going, she said. T-shirts with the slogan’s design will be given out as prizes at each event throughout Asian Heritage Month.

Other APAC events this month were a leadership retreat last weekend and a spoken word event last night. They will be hosting a dance and drum festival Friday, followed by a night of ghost stories in Manor Main Lounge. Other events this month will focus on subjects such as Korean adoptees and the way Asian males are portrayed in the media. There will also be an Asian Family Feud night, where contestants will test their knowledge of Asian culture. The month will end with a visit from Chinese-American comic Ali Wong.

“People don’t see that there are Asian people who are beyond Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee. We are poets, we are writers, we are activists,” Nguyen said.

According to Nguyen, “Asian American” is an umbrella termč within it, there exist many different cultures, with heritages rooted in places like Vietnam, China, North or South Korea, Thailand, and many others. They are distinctions that Nguyen says are often overlooked.

Nguyen says that APAC is working to raise awareness about generalizations like the one above. She says that the organization is dedicated to encouraging its members to be active and political components of their communities.