UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 27, Page 7
April 13, 1995
New caucus formed for Asian-Americans, Pacific Islanders

     The Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus (AAPI), a new
employee organization, has been formed on the campus, at the
suggestion of the President's Commission on Diversity and in support
of the University's commitment to promote racial and cultural
diversity.
     There are 85 Asian American and Pacific Islander employees at the
University-47 are faculty, 29 are professionals and nine are in staff
support.
     AAPI members are natives or descendants of natives from China,
India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Laos, Korea, Vietnam and others.
     Serving on AAPI's governing board are chairperson Mir Islam (food
science), vice chairperson Alexander Cheng (civil engineering),
secretary/ treasurer Margaret Wang (library), and members-at-large
Larry Larraga (information technologies) and David Pong (history).
     Serving on the advisory board are Linda Graham (institutional
research and planning) and S.B. Woo (physics), who was instrumental in
forming the caucus.
     In addition to playing a pro-active role in promoting cultural
diversity, helping to support members in achieving their full
potential and providing a forum for discussion of issues of common
concern, the caucus intends to work with student groups formed by
Asian and Pacific Islander students.
     Last fall, there were 570 full- and part-time AAPI students, who
are American citizens or immigrants at the University.
     There also are nearly 500 non-resident alien students from Asia,
including 400 enrolled in graduate programs.
                                                   -Sue Swyers Moncure