After 750 pieces of sushi, Asian Week was off to a running start.
According to Asian Week's organizers, Asian Students Association (ASA) Co-Presidents Linda Tan '07 and Jenny Wong '07, some 250 people came to eat fresh sushi made by a Portland chef at Jack Magee's Pub on Monday night. At three pieces of sushi each, that's 750 pieces. And some people came back for seconds.
Monday's sushi night was only the first event in the school's annual Asian Week. Other events include an appearance by comedian Hari Kondabolu '04, a film screening and panel discussion regarding Southeast Asian immigration to America, a reading by a Vietnamese writer, and Bollywood dance lessons. The ASA's annual fashion show will cap off the week on Saturday night.
Kondabolu, who has appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," performed for a packed Kresge Auditorium on Wednesday evening, during which he tested some new material, showed a 13-minute film, and conducted a question-and-answer session with Associate Professor of English Peter Coviello.
"We thought it would be great to bring him back," said Wong.
Wong and Tan also spoke with enthusiasm about the fashion show, which is traditionally done in conjunction with the Bowdoin Experience Weekend, held to encourage minority students to enroll at Bowdoin.
According to Wong, the fashion show is designed "to try to get Asian students to matriculate."
"We estimate that 55 to 60 percent of the audience is prospective students," she said.
"It was one of the things that made me want to come to Bowdoin," said Tan.
Wong and Tan stressed that the success of the week's events was due to the ASA officers that helped organize them.
"It's really thanks to all the officers who put in all the time," Wong said.
"This has been an exceptional year for ASA," Tan said.