In light of the earthquake that devastated Sendai, Japan and many other areas of the country on March 11, the Asian Students Association (ASA) decided to reorganize its annual week of cultural events as a fundraiser for the Japanese Red Cross.
"All of our planning for the week changed after the earthquake," wrote ASA Co-President Angela Kung '11 in an email to the Orient. "ASA Co-President Grace Cheung emailed me almost right away, saying that we should really take the opportunity...to raise funds for Japan. That was the Friday right before Spring Break."
Asian Week has occurred yearly since "at least" 2006, and traditionally coincides with Experience Weekend. It constitutes a "week of events that include food events, a lecture or a panel discussion, [and] a performance," wrote Kung. "The week culminates in the fashion show."
"We usually start planning...as soon as we come back from Winter Break," Kung said. "For our performer this year, stand-up comedian Hari Kondabolu '04, we actually invited him during the fall because we wanted to ensure that he would be able to come for Asian Week."
"A big goal of ASA this year has been to bring our own Asian studies professors to the forefront," wrote Kung. "So instead of inviting a speaker from an outside institution, this year we wanted to choose a Bowdoin professor. By a vote, ASA officers chose to invite Professor Henry Laurence."
After the 9.0 magnitude earthquake, Laurence contacted leaders of ASA and proposed changing his lecture to a panel discussion on Japan.
The panel, entitled "Perspectives on the Earthquake in Japan," took place on Tuesday evening in Lancaster Lounge and featured various Japanese studies professors who offered different points of view regarding the tragedy.
Professor of History and Asian Studies Tom Conlan first talked of his experience living in Sendai from 1989 to 1991, remembering parts of the city that no longer exist. Assistant Professor of Asian Studies Vyjayanthi Selinger then delivered her speech "Godzilla and Earthquakes in the Public Imagination" which addressed the cultural implications of earthquakes and nuclear catastrophes.
Laurence followed up with discussion of the crisis' political implications before Japanese lecturer Mitsuko Numata concluded with an introduction to the history and goals of the Million Crane Project.
The Million Crane Project is a recent initiative to help raise awareness of the tragedy in Japan. The bird became a national symbol of peace in the aftermath of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima, when the friends of a girl suffering from leukemia made 1,000 origami cranes to inspire her recovery. This time, the aim is one million.
To contribute to this sum, Cynthia Cammarn '14 is looking to coordinate the folding of 1,000 paper cranes. These will be sent Japan along with the week's fundraising.
Other Asian Week events include the "Bubble Tea and Asian Nibbles" event, which took place at 30 College Street on Monday evening. In the past, the gathering had been held in Smith Union or at Jack Magee's Pub, but the event was relocated to create a more "intimate setting."
Comedian Hari Kondabolu '04, who has appeared on Comedy Central and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, also performed last night in Smith Auditorium of Sills Hall. On Saturday, the traditional ASA Fashion Show will take place at 9 p.m. in Sargent Gymnasium, upstairs from the main entrance of Smith Union. The show will feature guest models and dance groups Elemental, Obvious, Anokha and Intersection, along with Bowdoin Cheerleading.
Laurence will also be at Reed House at 7:30 this evening to continue discussion of the effects of the earthquake on both Japan and the United States as an unofficial part of Asian Week. The conversation will be informal and will feature a question and answer session.
Donations at all ASA events are encouraged. According to Laurence, "the problem is distribution now, not money...but the problem will become money." He cited the eventual rehousing projects to be undertaken in Japan, and noted that the country is in for a "very long haul."