Perhaps Eric Wang was baiting us into sharing a “diverse” viewpoint by calling out APALSA in his column last week. Although we all remember this conversation from last year, we are happy to help fill the pages of the Law Weekly.
In large font in the middle of his article, Wang claims that “there are no ‘Asian-American issues.’” By this we suppose he means that there are no issues on which all Asian-Americans agree. If that’s his claim, Wang is certainly right, but it does not follow that there are no Asian-American issues. If all Democrats are not pro-choice, does that mean the right to abortion is not a Democratic issue? If all Republicans are not gun owners, does that mean the right to bear arms is not a Republican issue? In politics, as in law, issues are rarely all-or-nothing.
For all his writing on this subject, Wang has yet to criticize any specific actions of either APALSA or BLSA. It is clear that he is not happy with the state of race relations in this country, and on that subject we agree. What is unclear is why the ethnic clubs at this law school are his target. Maybe he is confused about what APALSA actually does.
The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association is not pushing the agenda of the “social elite,” and we are not trying to build an “Asian America.” We have social events, provide academic support, and give career guidance like many other clubs. Our programming reflects what Wang might call “Asian-American issues:” diversity programs and scholarships targeted at APA’s, workshops with APA political leaders, tutoring non-native speakers in English, and increasing awareness of race in the study of law at U.Va.
Even Wang must agree with that last point, because he has written more about race than anyone else in the Law Weekly over the past year. If talking about race is what he wants to do, we certainly support that goal. As John Edwards said immediately preceding the quote that Wang used in his article, “I have heard some discussions and debates about where, and in front of what audiences we should talk about race, equality, and civil rights. Well, I have an answer to that question: Everywhere.” We are happy to talk more about race at the law school, but we would ask that Wang refrain from attacking APALSA until he can point to something concrete and specific to improve upon. We’re listening.
[Printed in the September 10, 2004 Law Weekly]
[See also the September 3, 2004 Law Weekly]