Advice Column: But I Don't Want Advice...
By Ada Leung, Columnist

We all absolutely hate the girl that every Abercrombie-ad-worthy guy ends up surrounding at a party. She’s the same girl that also has the interest of all the cute dorks in your classes. While you’re still trying to look as if you’re not dancing with yourself, she’s already grinding with every guy you only dream of talking to. You and your friends all agree she’s a slut who’s an aspiring prostitute, but you secretly wished you could be like her, sans the boobs hanging out of her patent leather halter-top aspect. [more]

Dragon Boat Racing: Symbols of Teamwork and Cooperation
By Cindy Au-Kramer, Special Contributor

Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month and is one of the three most major Chinese Festivals. The Dragon Boat Festival began as a rite to drive off evil spirits during the summer months, in which competing teams row to the beat of pounding drums. Later, the boat race came to symbolize the search for a famous Chinese scholar named Chu Yuan, who sunk to his death, after the emperor he served would not listen to his good counsel. In modern times, these races are a testament to the Chinese virtues of cooperation and teamwork. [more]

Eyelid Surgery: Is True Beauty Only A Crease Away?
By April Gu, Special Contributor

Some of my earliest memories recall a painful sensation in my neck and a longing in my heart. I am five years old, shifting excitedly in the middle of an aisle, staring fixedly at a shelf that is slightly above eye level. On it stands a perfect Barbie doll in a princess costume wrapped in a whirl of pink, purple, and clear plastic. She is perfect – thin, blonde, with blue eyes and a high nose. I remember dragging my mother into the aisle with me so we could admire her together. [more]

"I Got A Little Yellow In Me"
By Elsa Rodriguez, Special Contributor

I often hear complaints that there aren’t enough Asians in the entertainment industry or media. The fact is there are Asians making a difference in the industry, both internationally and in the States, but we can’t see their “Asianness” so blatantly sometimes. Most of these celebrities are bi-racial. Since they don’t talk about their Asian backgrounds much, their Asian heritage is not recognized. The following is a listing of mixed-Asian celebrities who have made us laugh, smile, and go “wow.” Some celebrities made contributions that are larger than others, but they are all forerunners and inspirations to other Asians wanting to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. [more]

Indian American - Finding True Identity...
By Anurag Gupta, Special Contributor

As a bewildered freshman last year, I attended an APASS (Asian Pacific American Student Support) meeting to become acquainted with other new faces on-campus. At the meeting, a student asked me what I was doing at there since I was not Asian; I was Indian. Unsure about how to respond, I gave him the general answer about India’s geographical location in Asia but, at the same time, his comment raised a question in my mind: What exactly does it mean to be “Asian,” not only at NYU, but in America at large? Should people of Indian origin identify themselves as Asian or Indian? [more]

The Telling of An Asian American Story
By Sharon Ching, Staff Writer

Ever since learning how to read, I have been smitten and impassioned by the written word. Its ability to evoke emotions, to question my thoughts and ideologies, to provide questions, and to entertain have been a source of learning and developing as an individual. As an aspiring writer, I seek to delve within my own experiences, questions, and musings to reveal a story and share it with others. The art of writing is personal, and so when a writer shares a story, no matter how farfetched or different it may be in reality, there is an autobiographic element in the story. [more]

There's More To The ABC
By Tiffany Lee, Staff Writer

A few weeks ago, before I would head to the A/P/A Department for a student summit, I stopped at the bookstore to pick up the last book I needed for this semester’s classes. Sadly, I had about an hour to kill so I figured I’d roam over to the Reference section to check out the foreign language books. I ended up buying this Cantonese/English pocket dictionary, which I plan on putting to good use. Fortunately, it’s written in "Yale Romanization," because there’s no way I could read the characters. [more]

The Danger of the "Model Minority" Myth
By Beverly Cruel, Staff Writer

“Look at the Asians.” This is a phrase many people, Asian and non-Asian alike, have no doubt heard since the great wave of Asian immigration began in the 1960’s. It is a sort of reprimand directed at non-Asian minorities, often repeated by individuals appalled with the state of affairs which they perceive are plaguing those minority communities. Educators, unsure of what to do with “low-achieving” black and Latino students, have uttered those words in exasperation in public conferences and in the privacy of break rooms. Political commentators have used those four words as evidence to back up their arguments opposing affirmative action and social welfare programs. [more]

More Than Just Bad Health: Asian Americans and
Kidney Disease
By Phung Tran, National Kidney Foundation

It’s bad enough that finals will soon be underway. This means your full night sleep will turn into an eight-hour study session and your three square meals will consist of Coco Puffs, Pop Tarts, and cold pizzas. But here’s another concern to add to your plate: chronic kidney disease. [more]