University celebrates Asian American Heritage Month

By Pablo Tobon

Published: Monday, April 6, 2009

Updated: Monday, April 6, 2009

Diana Soliwon ~ Daily Egyptian

From left, Joshua Fielder, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., studying percussion performance, Derrick Kay, 4, of Marion, and Bryan Pumphrey, a junior from Chicago studying information systems and applied technologies, take lessons on drumming from the St. Louis Osuwa Taiko Drummers Troupe after the group performed in the Asian American Heritage Month opening event at Parkinson Hall Saturday. Taiko means “great drum” in Japanese, each one typically being constructed from a single piece of wood.

Click for schedule

not as mellow

Thu Apr 9 2009 12:12

Cambo,

Spoken like a true katonk. I happen to agree with mellow yellow. While lots of people might come out to such an event, it is not clear that it is for cultural appreciation than just a good time. I guess there's a fine line between mockery and respect. The university could get sumos if they tried. Several years ago, a group of Tibetan monks came to SIUC and created a mandala. Imagine how ridiculous it would have been if we simply gave passing by students a robe ans some colored sand and said go for it. It would have been disrespectful. There was a stand set up though where people could try it, which was good. Unfortunately, it's all in the presentation, and as with mellow yellow, I find the sumo exhibition in poor taste. What other cultural appreciation events do students get to play dress up? I'm guessing not many because it might be viewed in poor taste regardless of the potential turnout.

Terrence S. Kiolbassa

Thu Apr 9 2009 06:31

Asian Heritage Month, Hmmm. Well at least get it correct.

Show some picture of South Korean women studying.

Terrence s. Kiolbassa
formerly of 319 E. College
Carbondale
SIU 68
former Sp4 US Army Korea

Cambo

Wed Apr 8 2009 17:56

in reply to mellow yellow you are full of CRAP! and YOU are an IDIOT! First off where would one find "real" sumos in this area or even this part of the country. I mean "real" sumos nowadays aren't even asian. Around 90% of sumos now are American, mainly Hawaiian. And you should be flattered that these non-Asian college kids are even showing up to see what all the deal is about with Asian people! For the turnout that the UAAC has been getting for all their activities should be a good tribute to how much people care and want to know about our Asian culture. So my response to your comment....BOOOO!!! and to the UAAC and President for arranging an awesome schedule of events....WOOO HOOO!!! I just had to respond to mellow yellows comment because it's comment like yours that make people not even try to understand anothers culture....and just because non-Asian people are doing something that doesn'tmean that they are "mocking" our culture it actually does show that they want to learn. And isn't that why we are in college? Is to learn?

MiMi

Tue Apr 7 2009 20:18

Cute picture of derrick (4 yr. old) on the drums. Looks like he had a really good time.

mellow yellow