History

Then ...

CUB Asian American Association is a student organization formed for those students interested in interacting with the Asian American community and promoting Asian awareness of Trenton State College's campus. The Asian American Association was founded in 1989 by a group of student leaders who were interested in having an organization for Asian students. In the spring of 1989, the Asian American Association (AAA) was formally recognized as an organization under the College Union Board (CUB).

CUB AAA began with ten people working toward the goals of promoting Asian Awareness throughout TSC's campus and forming a support group for Asian students on campus. Over the years, the Asian American Association had grown considerably and gained over 40 active members. Many of the organization's programs were social as well as educational. The social activities have included movie nights, ice skating, trips to the Aztec Club in Philadelphia, and picnics at a local park while some of the more educational and cultural programs have included Javanese Shadow Theatre, lecturers, Japanese and Filipino dancers along with other programs and activities done in conjunction with TSC.

Now ...

It didn't take long for AAA to break away from CUB and become an independently recognized organization. AAA still has the same goals as when it started, but it has also grown in recognition both on campus and outside. The Asian Awareness week has been extended to a whole month in November and has been renamed Experience Asia Month. During this month, professional performers, well-known speakers, comedians and others are brought in to campus, displaying, discussing, and educating Asian culture to the rest of the community. Experience Asia Month has seen performers such as Dance Beijing, speaker Kip Fulbeck, comedian Elliott Chang, comedy troupe Stir-Friday Night, and Taikoza Drummers.

In November 2002, the Experience Asia lineup include: Cambodian Genocide survivor Dith Pran, "Faces of America" one-woman act Fran DeLeon, belly dancer Alexia of the Nile, and the Asian Dialogue dance troupe. In the spring semester, "Mystique of the East" dominates AAA members' schedules. "Mystique" was born in 1992 as a one-night only showcase of Asian dances, songs, poetry, and martial arts. Through the years, it has grown to be the hottest ticket on campus, annually packing in more than 700 spectators in Kendall Hall every spring. Spring 2002 marks the 10th anniversary of "Mystique." This is the biggest, most colorful, most beautiful production from AAA, and it's a show that makes AAA what it is now, a show that binds the members, and a show that is always memorable for the performers as well as the audience.

In addition to these two events, AAA's activities include: going to Broadway shows, trip to Chinatown, movie nights, picnics, camping, and others. AAA is a group of students enjoying the Asian culture - they learn, they celebrate, they educate and along the way they have fun and become a family.