2 I East Wind
Spring 2005
Arman Tolentino
Why read East Wind?
merica has historically labelled Asian
Americans as the “model minority.”
.Asians have integrated so well that at
times their efforts and voices go unrecognized
and unheard. That’s where East Wind comes in.
The first issue of East Wind, sponsored by
UNO’s Asian Students Association, arrived in
December 1993 amidst the University’s bicenten
nial celebration. Its overall goal was to educate
the University community about Asian American
issues as well as serve as a voice for a minority
that has historically been silent in America.
The creators of this news magazine believed
East Wind would be a positive step in exploring the Asian American identity
from an Asian American point of view. With this in mind, they hoped the mag
azine would serve as a forum for education, social understanding and diverse
opinions for all Asian Americans on campus and for the entire University com
munity.
Unfortunately, several years ago, East Wind came to an end.
This year, I was honored to take on the responsibility of resurrecting the
news magazine. Although UNC has its fair share of student publications, from
Blue & White to Boiling Point to the more recent ones such as Passport and
Patchwork, I knew deep down inside that East Wind offered something new
to the table. After reading through old copies and talking to former editors,
I realized that this was something that needed to be done. I realized that the
University needed an outlet for the Asian American student voice.
I started by meeting with Professor Chuck Stone, East Wind’s faculty advi
sor during its first several years. His words of wisdom inspired me to come up
with this issue’s theme — Balancing Act: Being Asian in America.
Stone said that Asian Americans, like African Americans and other minori
ties, struggle with their identity and connecting with their heritage. We have
a difficult time balancing between adapting to the American mainstream and
carrying on the culture, language and legacy of our parents and grandparents.
Are we Americans, Asians, or both? Some may argue they are more American,
some more Asian, and some say they are a balanced mixture of both.
But whether you are Asian American, African American, Native American,
white, Hispanic or any other race and ethnicity, you are a human being first and
foremost. You are a human being with a history and with a culture and with
parents who made sacrifices so you could have a better life and better opportu
nities.
That is what this issue, and this magazine as a whole, is all about. East Wind
strives to identify with everyone, not just Asian Americans. We are here to in
form the entire campus about issues concerning race, ethnicity, culture, lan
guage, family, religion and all the things that make us who we are.
So I invite you to read this issue and respond with any questions, concerns
or suggestions you might have. You can reach me at atolenti@email.unc.edu.
Sincerely,
Arman Tolentino
Editor-in-Chief
East Wind
Editor-in-Chief
Arman Tolentino
Assistant Editor
Hanna A. GorcJoia
Design Editor
Diana Suryakusuma
Contributing Writers
Stephania Bernahe
Carolyn Chanthavon
Caroline Chen
Katliy Ct'io
Kelli Clancy
Danny Fii
Stephen Fti
Corina Gonzalez
Hanna Gordola
Andrew Hartsell
Yoon Hie Kim
vJennifer L.ee
Chriesy L.in
Monica Ma
Satish Mlsra
Arman Toientino
Mike Vikit.=3reth
Ethan Wang
John Zhang
Faculty Advisor
Chuck Stone
Students Association.
This publication is funded.
least in part by Student I
which were appropriated
and dispersed by Student
Government.