Layout and Design Jonathan Jacobs Administrative Assistant Guest Commentary

• Main Authors: Lift Every, Voice Asian, American Advisory Group, Phyllis S. Lee, B. Thowpaou Bliatout, Carol Suzuki, Thach Nguyen, Kim Nguyen, Tou Meksavanh, Farah Ibrahim, Not Pictured, Claire Oliveros, Sho Shigeoka, Dr. Phyllis, S. Lee
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Indian; Pacific
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.370.1784; http://www.ous.edu/sites/default/files/programs/commdiv/files/Spring2006LEV.pdf

The question is often asked, “Who are Asian Americans? ” Or, more pointedly, “What are you? ” The answer may be “It depends. ” It depends on who’s asking and who’s responding. We’re typically identified as Asian Americans by governmental agencies. Some of us proudly choose this identification; others prefer to be recognized by their national or ethnic heritage. While not universally agreed upon, it has been said that geographically, Asian Americans include people from nations that were formerly identified as comprising Asia Minor eastward to the Pacific Ocean, and from the northern reaches of the Asian Arctic southward to the Indian subcontinent and the Philippine and Indonesian archipelagos. Within this vast area are a multitude of nations owning myriad differences (and some similarities) of history, ethnicity, physical characteristics, language, governance, values, customs, food, and other social, cultural, and human dimensions. In this issue, students, teachers, university faculty and professionals share experiences and information that describe academic success as well as the obstacles that may hinder such achievement. The sweeping assumptions of Asian Americans as