In predominantly white institutions such as CC, it can be challenging to feel like all aspects of your identity are acknowledged and respected. Affinity groups can help people feel seen with respect to the various identities they hold. – Mateen Zafer[1]
Discrimination, hate, and the purposeful exclusion of the Asian American community peaked on the 16th of March when a gunman killed eight people across three different spas in Atlanta. Six of the victims: Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44, were of Asian origin.[2] Their murders highlighted the bitter reality of how various stereotypes and myths around Asian communities – whether it is the sexualization of Asian women, or the selective application of the exclusionary model minority myth – affect how safe and welcome people of Asian descent feel in the United States. One way that Asian American and other minority communities have found solidarity and support through these challenges have been through membership in affinity groups.
Affinity groups are groups that form around a shared identity or common goal, aimed at creating a sense of solidarity amongst their members.[3] Affinity groups came to prominence during the 1960s in conjunction with the civil rights movement as a path to mobilize against racial discrimination in the workplace.[4] In the college setting, affinity groups typically represent the interests of non-dominant groups on campus, creating a space of safety and inclusion. Colorado College’s campus is host to various affinity groups, such as the Asian Students Union, the Black Students Union, and the Native American Students Union, to name a few. These groups provide a space for members who share a similar identity or goal to meet, connect, and in some cases mobilize.
Colorado College’s Asian community is host to multiple affinity groups that range in size, programming, and outreach. The list of affinity groups associated with the Asian community include: The Asian Student Union, The Chinese Student Association, The South Asian Student Association, and The Korean American Student Association. Each of these groups plans programming events for their members, as well as hosting larger events for the entire campus community. The number of affinity groups has increased over time as the institution became more diverse and people of varied identities joined the community.
The Lotus explored the role that affinity groups play in the lives of Asian identifying students and staff on campus.
Jia Mei, CC’ 21
As the social media manager for the Asian Student Union (ASU), Jia works on planning events for the group in coordination with the faculty advisor. The Asian Student Union is an important part of her life as it has allowed her to find community at CC, which has been especially important during the pandemic. Events, such as the screening of the Korean American movie Minari, as well participation in the ASU book club provide Jia with a means to connect with Asian culture and engage with difficult conversations around Asian American identities. Despite the challenges of zoom fatigue, and reduced member participation, the ASU provides a voice for members of the Asian community to stand together through actions such as through mutual support and through the joint publication of the solidarity statement regarding violence against Asians.
Jennifer Lam, CC’21
Jennifer is the current chair of the Asian Student Union (ASU), and is a second generation Vietnamese American. She joined the ASU as she wanted to feel a sense of community at CC, especially after her involvement with other ASU groups. In her role as the chair, she has felt a direct “responsibility to facilitate community” despite low member turnout this year due to zoom fatigue. According to Jennifer, ASU provides a closed community to discuss issues through different forums such as the ASU book club. Jennifer recommends that all members of our community read Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hongto better grasp the challenges facing the Asian American community – including the internalization of white supremacy, and the trauma caused by our racist capitalist system – which perpetuate the current racist system.
Mateen Zafer, Coordinator of Mentoring & Diversity Initiatives at The Butler Center
Mateen and his Butler Center colleagues (Rosalie Rodriguez, Noble Gough, & Shiyanke Goonetilleke) work with student leaders of many of CC’s affinity groups. The Butler Center assists student leaders with logistical and administrative support to hold events for their members. Mateen and his colleagues are more than happy to support affinity group leaders with capacity building or any issues that they may face, given the tremendously important role that they play on campus. Mateen believes that affinity groups “provide a way for people to find community and thrive, by associating with people who can relate to aspects of their character markers.” The role that affinity groups play at a predominantly white institution range from finding community to supporting and validating peers, to creating events that are meaningful for members. Mateen noted how affinity groups also end up “supporting the broader community, including faculty and staff” despite being student focused, further emphasizing the shared sense of community.
[4] https://www.diversityinc.com/history-and-evolution-of-employee-resource-groups-ergs/
