On Feb. 3, the Chinese Scholar Student Association and Asian American Student Association (AASA) hosted Spring Festival at the Multicultural Center at the Culp from 5 to 7 p.m.
The event had many activities including writing calligraphy, playing Chinese Zodiac Bingo, wearing Chinese traditional garb and creating lanterns and red envelopes. They also had refreshments like tea, aloe, dried noodles, rice crackers, rice cakes, guava candy, jellies and seaweed wraps.
The AASA has had smaller events in the past, like the Cambodia Night, Cultural Jam, tabling, movie nights and Yuimaru Fundraiser. However, this Spring Festival is the first big event of the group.
The Spring Festival was inspired by the Lunar New Year, which is one of the biggest holidays in many Asian countries. Lunar New Year was on Jan. 22.
AASA said its main purpose is to spread awareness about Asian culture. It also brings a safe space to Asians at ETSU where students can form community. It is open to all ethnicities.
Ye said that she created this club because ETSU did not have an Asian club that was inclusive to all Asian groups. She said that she founded it with Coleman and Manalili. The AASA tries to celebrate every aspect of Asian culture around Asia like Central, South and Southeast Asian countries.
AASA wants all to celebrate Asian culture. AQ Hanna talked about how AASA has helped make a community where all Asian can share their experience, culture and identities.
“I think a lot of it is just to bring awareness to the Asian community that’s on campus. And then also invite people to experience it with us,” Hanna said
Hanna talked about how people who are not Asian can celebrate with the Asian community.
“Just come in and listen, and have fun, some heartache, try the food. Obviously, don’t do anything you don’t want to. You know, try to engage, talk to people, listen,” said Hanna. “You know, to the community, as it as would anything else you know, like you go to church. You go to a church function or like a potluck or anything like that.”
“Not only to see other people of my race, but also engage in the culture and hear from them and listen to them,” said Hanna.
The AASA hopes that their next event will be a Gala.
The AASA usually meets on Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. The location is to be decided, so participants should look at the AASA’s Instagram and GroupMe to find the meeting information.
The Chinese Student Scholar Association’s Instagram is @etsucssa. The Asian American Student Association’s Instagram is @etsuaasa, Their GroupMe is AASA on GroupMe. You can send an interest form through the AASA Interest Form. To contact AASA, email them at etsuaasa@gmail.com.
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