University community celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
The Virginia Tech community celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Typically recognized throughout the United States in the month of May, Virginia Tech celebrates the Asian and Pacific Islander culture in April in order to provide educational and entertainment programs for students before they leave campus for summer break.
Some highlights of the monthlong celebration include the International Street Fair. This event, held on the streets of Blacksburg, near campus, brings together international and multicultural organizations to collectively celebrate diversity from around the world. Organizations decorate their booths with traditional items from their countries and sell authentic food from their region of the world.
International Street Fair venue update: Due to weather forecasts, the 2008 International Street Fair's venue has been changed to Squires Student Center. The event will last from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The fair also features live music as well as students performing traditional, cultural dances. Each year, thousands of people from the surrounding communities join Virginia Tech for this event. The International Street Fair is sponsored by the Cranwell International Center a department within the Division of Student Affairs and the Council of International Student Organizations.
At 7 p.m. on April 5 the "Filipino American Student Associations 20th Anniversary Culture Night" will be held in Burruss Hall auditorium. This is a showcase and celebration of Filipino culture and will provide the Virginia Tech community a glimpse of the Philippines through performances and traditional dances all intertwined within a story.
At 7 p.m. on April 9, in Colonial Hall, Squires Student Center will host "Slam Poet Alvin Lau." Lau is a performance poet and also the son of first-generation Chinese immigrants. He speaks about the Asian-American experience, with subjects ranging from the importance of native language to Tiger Woods. Join Lau for a reception in his honor at 8 p.m. in the Multicultural Center in Squires.
On April 19 at 7 p.m. in the Burruss Hall auditorium “Chinabration 2008” will be held. This year’s annual cultural show is set in 1930’s Shanghai, China. Throughout the evening skit performances, dancing, and singing will educate the audience about the lifestyle and cultural of Chinese people during that era.
On April 25 from 7-10 p.m. in the Commonwealth Ballroom at the Squires Student Center, the Asian American Student Union will hold a concert featuring Paul Dateah and HereandNow Theatre Company. Dateah is a violinist and singer and will be the opening act of the show. Followed by Dateah will be the HereandNow Theatre Company, a group of Asian American actors who perform skits and monologues on Asian American issues and issues that concern entire communities. The cost for this event is $5 for students and $7 for non-students. Tickets are on sale at the University Unions and Student Activities Ticket Office.
Many other events are planned for Virginia Tech’s Asian Pacific American Heritage celebration. All events are free unless otherwise noted. A complete calendar of events can be found on the Multicultural Programs and Services website or by contacting Kristen Swanson at (540) 231-8584.
Asian Pacific American Heritage month is sponsored by Multicultural Programs and Services, a department within the Division of Student Affairs.
