Years of work finally produced results on Friday when the Asian Pacific American Studies minor was officially unveiled. Although students may begin declaring the minor next semester, the efforts of those fighting for an entire APA Studies department are not yet over. This new minor should be used for several years as a test run to gauge demand and operational viability; assuming the results are positive, the University should then establish a department without hesitation.
The fight for an APA Studies department began formally in 1995 when the Asian Student Union made it part of their five-year plan. Since then, the plan has been harried by criticism and, more cripplingly, the recently lifted hiring freeze. It is a sad statement that ten years later a minor is all the University has to encompass the experience of nearly 11 percent of its population, but the opportunity should be embraced.
Supporters of APA Studies have long claimed that there is high demand for such a program, which is not explicitly covered by Asian Studies or South Asian Studies. Although proponents often back up their assertions with survey data, the new minor affords a chance for a real experiment. If students are indeed clamoring to declare an APA Studies minor, it is reasonable to assume the APA Studies major that would accompany a department would be equally well utilized.
Moreover, this minor allows professors to demonstrate that there can indeed be a coherent course of study on the subject. One of the main complaints against APA Studies is that there is no singular Asian-American experience, and that unlike the relatively unified experience of African-Americans, deep rifts exist in the Asian American community that preclude a common culture which can be studied academically. Although successful programs exist at peer schools such as the University of Michigan and Stanford, a model for the University can now be developed.
Perhaps the deepest ideological opposition to APA Studies comes from those who claim the artificial segregation of cultures is frivolous at best and harmful at worse, especially in terms of dragging resources away from already beleaguered traditional departments. Yet Asian Americans have been an intrinsic part of molding this nation's core, and an institutional void exists where study should be. There is support, legitimacy and connectivity which comes from being integrated formally rather than relegated to a hodgepodge of disparate electives; this is the same logic behind Latin-American Studies and American Studies.
Moreover, APA Studies programs do not only appeal to Asian Americans; programs have been established at colleges like the University of Wisconsin with its tiny 2.2 percent Asian enrollment.
Ultimately, questions about functionality can be answered in the coming semesters. Popularity and effectiveness are two telling metrics of a program's success; one way or another, the results should be convincing. The new minor is an excellent step because it costs little and has the potential for huge benefits. Before deciding to commit the monetary and staff resources to a full department, it is prudent to ensure a sound investment. Still, Asian-American students have been waiting a decade for their department; let's not tarry too long.
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