NU KASA

Taekwondo Shuffle

2011-12-08T22:59:00.001-08:00

I don't know if you guys have already come across this ridiculously ridiculous video but basically ...
"a group of young men and women mix pop music and a fighting style by putting Taekwondo moves to the tune of LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.” When the tune switches over to 2PM’s “Hands Up,” the young men and women show off very skillful martial art moves. They spin and flip to break wooden boards and one young woman in particular has no fear of gravity as she runs upward to kick a board held extremely high in the air. The surprising mix of music and martial arts entertained the spectators as well as over a million online viewers".

Now here's one more reason to be proud to be a Korean and yes, we can do more than just play Starcraft.

Source: KoreAm

Post-Dance 4 Me 2011

2011-12-08T21:34:00.001-08:00

YOU GUYS KILLED IT! KASA is so proud of all the dancers!
Thank you everyone who came to watch and support !!
Special thanks to Soo & Wil who choreographed these sets.
Get PUMPED for next semester's dances =)

Dance 4 Me 2011

2011-12-06T08:47:00.001-08:00

HEY KASA
Come support your fellow koreans on campus by coming out to Dance4Me!!
We'll be dancing to 2NE1, 2PM, LaRoux and LMFAO.
Happening Thursday December 8th, 2011 @ Blackman Auditorium
TICKETS ON SALE NOW for $5 on myNEU !!
Show starts at 6:30PM (but go early for good seats where you can feast your eyes on KASA and all its glory)

Here's the fb event link:
Dance 4 Me 2011 Event Page

SEE YOU ALL THERE
Peace,
Marianne Park

Annual Christmas Potluck

2011-12-02T13:57:00.001-08:00

Description

340 Curry Student Center

Who: YOU
What: KASA CHRISTMAS POTLUCK
Where: 340 CSC
When: December 8th, 2011 6PM-8:30PM
How: 잘

Finals are coming up and what's better than taking a small break from this academic chaos with good people and good food?
Nothing. B|

So join us for our christmas potluck!
There will be food, games, activities, a movie and YOUR chance to vote for YOUR freshmen representative for SPRING 'TWELVE.

REMEMBER: MUST BRING FOOD or else you GET NO FOOD jk, half jk.
Tentative games: Poker, GO-Stop, Monopoly Deal
Movie: Home Alone

Freshmen rep: You will be representing the freshmen class, delivering any concerns, questions or suggestions to eboard. Rallying the freshmen together, you will be the umma or appa of the freshmen class :). You will be an official member of eboard and will attend our eboard meetings helping to manage and plan events for KASA.

Benefits:
1. Leadership experience
2. Exposure to the the logistics of operating a club/organization
3. FUN! Network with the freshmen class as well as upperclassmen
4. Your level of coolness will up by 5 levels--no 7 levels.

Nominations are now open!
Email us at kasa.neu@gmail.com

BYOB Movie Night

2011-10-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

BRING YOUR OWN BLANKET MOVIE NIGHT !
'tis getting cold in the (617) yo

11/11/11
only happens once in your lifetime
make your ultimate 11:11 wish, overdose on Peppero, whatever you do, spend it with your gajok :)

Who: YOU
What: 아저씨 Ahjusshi (The Man From Nowhere)
Where: AAC Asian American (on Hemenway)
When: Friday- November 11, 2011 (Peppero Day ! teehee) @ 7:00PM
How: 잘

Synopsis: A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug- organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend. An ex-special agent CHA Tae-shik's only connection to the rest of the world is a little girl, So-mi, who lives nearby. Her mother, Hyo-jeong smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization and entrusts Tae-shik with the product, without letting him know. The traffickers find out about her smuggling and kidnap both Hyo-jeong and So-mi. The gang promises to release them if Tae-shik makes a delivery for them, however it actually is a larger plot to eliminate a rival drug ring leader. When Hyo-jeon's disemboweled body is discovered, Tae-shik realizes that So-mi's life may also be in danger. Tae-shik becomes enraged at the prospect that So-mi may already be dead and prepares for a battle, putting his own life at risk.

Come join us for a movie night @ the AAC

Ladies, come out for this stud muffin at least ;).

아저씨 was the #1 top box office movie for 2010.

Cast:
원빈- Won Bin (dude on the left...)
김새론- Kim Sae Ron

It's cold during the night so stay warm and bring a blanket if you please. Please do not be late! We want everyone to start the movie with us :)

Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime

Check out the trailer below:

FB EVENT LINK : HERE

노래방 NRB NIGHT !!!

2011-10-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

leggo
Midterms, exams, practicums, quizzes are all done!
Come join us to stress 풀어 (relieve stress) :)
Let the inner Beyonce, Gaga, Jackson shine through your pores!

KASA will be hosting a NRB night on Saturday October 29, 2011 at 7:00PM.
Meet in front of Marino by 7:00PM.

We will be going to Jin noraebang on Harvard Ave!
Bring approximately $10, your T-card and your vocal cords.

Don't be shy. Seriously.
Hope to see you all there! Hoohah!

Oh and Albert Sung will personally be dedicating IU's-Good Day 좋은날 to you lot so BE. THERE. to witness this ~~atrocity~~ moment of glory.

Click here, here,
or here for the fb link!

Stay classy B),
Marianne Park

LiNK Reliance Tour

2011-10-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

KASA will be hosting a LiNK Screening for their Reliance Tour on November 10th, 2011 (107 Robinson) from 6:00PM-7:15PM. A short GM will proceed after the screening.

LiNK (Liberty in North Korea), is an organization that aims to redefine the North Korea crisis through creative storytelling, while providing emergency relief to North Korean refugees and pursuing an end to the human rights crisis. The Reliance is a human network of individuals committed to seeing every North Korean refugee free.

We always hear stories about the North Korean refugees and how it is "over there" but rarely do we hear real stories from real people whose lives are at stake every moment of their lives.

Human Rights Crisis:

A Cult of Personality:Indoctrination programs to worship Kim Jong Il start in nursery school, every citizen has a Kim pin on his/her lapel, there are Kim portraits in every household, and there is no tolerance for criticizing or “subverting” the Kim regime in any way.

Food Crisis: 33% of the population is currently undernourished, 23% of children under the age of five are underweight, and a near-total breakdown in the public health system has left an entire generation of children physically and mentally impaired.

Lack of Fundamental Freedoms: The North Korean government prohibits freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association. Not only wrong-doers, but "wrong-thinkers" are punished, the press is centrally controlled, and there is virtually no access to outside information.

Imagine living in a place like this.

Moving hearts, screenings have touched and changed lives; many students and young adult become nomads to rescue the refugees while raising awareness of the North Korea crisis. Now is your chance to take look inside the North Korean regime and to find out how we're all connected.

Learn more about LiNK:
http://www.linkglobal.org/index.html

Trailer of "Hiding":
http://www.linkglobal.org/hiding/

TNT RECAP

2011-10-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks for coming out to the Tufts Northeastern Throwdown!
Shout out to the upperclassmen who came out and played and to those who cheered for the players as well :) you guys did an awesome job!

RECAP:
Northeastern took the game for both the competitive games for volleyball and basketball.
Tufts took the game for both the non-competitive games.
S'all good, great job everyone !

Here are some pictures from the event and stay pumped for next year's TNT =)
Photo credit: Dfung our PR

:D

Stay classy B),
Marianne

Freshmen Bowling Night!

2011-09-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!
Come out to our first event for the Fall semester.

We'll be having a bowling night on Friday, September 30, 2011.
This isn't just for the freshmen but for all of KASA!
Meet at Marino Gym (near Qdoba) by 5:40PM.
Location will be at..
Jillian's Lucky Strike
145 Ipswich Street
Boston, MA 02215

It'll be the freshmen vs. E-Board ...for bragging rights and ice cream!!
Come out and show us what you got you little freshmen.... >:)

KASA 2011-2012 T-SHIRT

2011-08-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Ya digg??? GO BUY!!

A shirt designed only for Northeastern's finest ;) Represent KASA by sporting this to events, GMS, class, girl's night out, dates, man-dates and more! Printed on a white American Apparel V-neck, the shirt comes in a S, M, L and if you request a smaller or larger size please do contact anyone from e-board.

We will take orders the first GM!
Shirts are going for $15 a piece and prices will rise in the near future (ahem, second semester).
Cash and checks will be accepted and I apologize, our KASA isn't 21st century enough to accept credit cards just yet.

If you would like to place an order right now, please e-mail us this form to kasa.neu@gmail.com
Name:
Size:
Payment method:
Quantity:
Total:

Stay classy my friends B)

Peace,
Marianne Park

p.s pssssssssstt ....go buy a shirt!

Student Activities Fair

2011-08-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

Hey KASA!
Come out to this year's Student Activities Fair where you can browse other on campus activities and learn more about our very own KASA.
Don't forget to stop by our table to sign up and grab a flier for more information on our first GM.
See you all there! :)

Date: September 8, 2011
Time: 3:00PM - 5:00PM
Location: Quad in front of Curry Student Center & Snell Library

Korean American Foundation Scholarship

2011-04-26T12:22:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone!

If you're looking to apply to that perfect scholarship, look no more! The Korean American Scholarship Foundation has an incredible scholarship opportunity for us -- the deadline is June 25, 2011 and there is an awardees reception in New York on September 10, 2011. Please, please apply! The following is taken from their online website:

What is KASF?

The Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) is a non-profit, volunteer-managed organization established to help meet the financial needs of Korean-American students seeking higher education.

Founded in 1969 by a small group of concerned individuals in Washington, D.C., the KASF began as a local organization with limited focus and funding resources. However, with the dramatic growth of Korean immigrant communities in the U.S., the KASF has expanded to include other regions and to broaden its funding base.

Goals

The KASF seeks 1) to assist Korean American students in pursuit of academic and personal achivement, 2) to encourage community and civic service as an integral part of leadership development, and 3) to nurture the sense of pride and confidence in Korean cultural heritage and tradition.

We hope you'll apply! Good luck!

A Bittersweet Adieu!

2011-04-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU everyone for coming out to the KASA End of Year Banquet! We laughed, we cried, we ate. Everyone couldn't have looked brighter in well, gray and black ;)

If you missed the slideshow, here's a bulleted recap of our 2010-2011 year together! Oh the memories...

- Welcome Week Fall 2010
- KASA Shore Episode 1- Community Service Day
- Hiding Screening by LiNK
- Pepero Day
- PAAC Banquet
- Dance For Me
- Secret Santa Gift Exchange
- Freshmen Bowling Outing
- Rice Sticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry December Gift Drive
- Judging at Boston Debate League's High School Debate Tournament
- NU KASA/ASU Scavenger Hunt
- Taekwondo Lesson at Jae Hun Kim Taekwondo Institute
- Bahay Kubo
- Celebr(asian)
- KASA Skills Auction for Relay For Life
- KASA Mixtape Vol. 2 Tim Be Told
- Inspir(asian)
- End of Year Banquet and Awards Night
- And more :)

And of course our KASA Awards!

Most Spirited: Marianne Park
Best Potential Couple: Albert Sung and Paola Jeon
Ladies' Man of the Year: Joshua Ra
Most Likely to Become a Korean Celebrity: Susie Lee
Most Improved Member: Derrick Fung
Unsung Hero: Seor Kwak
Miss KASA: Jenny Lee
The 'I Was Born in the 80s' Award: Phil Park and Gloria Lee

Lastly, congratulations to our new E-board for the 2011-2012 school year. Best of luck to you all!

President: Albert Sung
Vice President: Marianne Park
Secretary: Susie Lee
Treasurer: Kevin Seo
External Liaison: Derrick Fung
Public Relations: Joshua Ra
Performance Coordinators: Soo Kim and Wil Hsia

Wishing you all the best this summer and we'll see you again in the fall!

Your 2010-2011 E-board <3

Yeouido Spring Flower Festival

2011-04-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

This year's theme is "flowers that bloom from the sky". Taking place at Yeouiseo-ro, a street in Korea near the National Assembly Building, the festival will bring over four million visitors. Spring has arrived!

KASA E-board Elections

2011-04-11T09:30:00.001-07:00

Come out and Vote for your new 2011-2012 E-board! Elections will take place Wednesday 4/13 at 6 PM, Location TBA. We hope to see you all there!

Relay For Life: Team KASA

2011-04-01T15:34:00.001-07:00

Team KASA at Relay For Life 2011!

KASA Skills Auction for Relay for Life

2011-03-28T14:03:00.001-07:00

A big thank you to all who participated in the KASA Skills Auction for Relay For Life! We raised over $360 for the American Cancer Society all because of your generosity and kind spirit. Thank you!

2011-03-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

KASA's Taekwondo lesson at the Jae Hun Kim Taekwondo Institute!

A Warm Welcome

2011-02-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

"Today's Photo" Chosun Ilbo --Dancers welcome an International Olympic Committee delegation visiting Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province to probe its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Free Taekwondo Lesson for NU KASA

2011-02-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

Join NU KASA for a free Taekwondo Lesson at the Jae Hun Kim Taekwondo Institute this Saturday 2/12 from 12-2 PM.

Meet us at Marino at 12 PM and we'll take the T altogether to the school near Fenway. Wear comfy clothes and bring your friends! The instructor was trained by the founder of Taekwondo, so this is an opportunity that you do not want to miss!

For more information visit their website at: www.tkd-boston.com/

See you this Saturday at noon! :)

KASA T-shirt Design Contest

2011-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

CALLING ALL FASHIONISTAS! :D

Want to design the all new, 2011 KASA T-shirt?? Up for a little friendly competition?? ;) Draft and submit your very own designs by Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at midnight. All appropriate submissions will be presented and voted on at the next following KASA General Meeting.

Please include (somewhere, anywhere, everywhere) in your design:

- "NU Korean American Student Association" or "Northeastern University Korean American Student Associatin", and

- a look for BOTH genders

E-mail your designs (Photoshop, Word, Paint, etc.) to: kasa.neu@gmail.com

Be creative and good luck!! :D

“Unlikely Enemy: Korean Americans, World War II, and the Transnational Struggle for Justice on the Homefront”

2011-01-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Speaker Event!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

4:00pm - 5:30pm

CGIS South, Room S250

1730 Cambridge Street

Cambridge,

MA 02138

NUCALLS: Teach or Learn Korean

2011-01-18T17:53:00.000-08:00

As some of you may already know, NUCALLS (the culture and language learning society here at Northeastern University) is now holding classes in Korean! Below are some important dates that were sent out to prospective instructors and students. Visit their website at www.nucalls.neu.edu for more information or send them an email at nucalls@gmail.com :)

This is a great opportunity to use your fluency in Korean to teach your peers at Northeastern or learn some Korean yourself, in an informal and non-accredited course!

"Wednesday 1/19 -- Deadline to register to be an instructor
Please follow this link to sign up to teach a NUCALLS class: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDBGTmVDbkZwVkh2LVBsNjBTQjc1Wnc6MA

Thursday 1/20, 7pm ISSI Lounge -- Open House
Come to the ISSI Lounge (4th floor Ell Hall) to learn more about NUCALLS, what we do, potential opportunities, and to meet your future language instructors. Food will be served!

Friday 1/21 -- NUCALLS classes open for registration
In order to register for NUCALLS classes, you must first request to be a member of the organization via OrgSync. Please follow this link:https://orgsync.com/join/28318/northeastern-university-cultural-and-language-learning-society and submit this form:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEJkdk5OcS1LbWJkZGNncEwycHRQclE6MQ

Monday 1/24 -- Classes Begin!
Go to the classes you enrolled in, and begin learning a second, third or fourth language!"

Q & A with Korea Expert David Kang

2011-01-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

Director of the Korean Studies Institute at USC and top Korea expert David Kang, answers questions from KoreAm Magazine readers following the attack on YeonPyeong island. Read on here for his take on the incident and his views on the future of North-South rapport.

Campaign to Globalize Korean Food

2010-12-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

In 2008, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MIFAFF) launched an international campaign to make Korean food one of the top five international cuisines by 2017. The initiative was unveiled by MIFAFF Minister Chang Tae-pyong at the 2008 Korea Food Exposition. The effort aims to increase the number of Korean restaurants overseas to 40,000. "The foundation will be in charge of charting strategies and implementing programs to make home-grown cuisine popular worldwide" he said. One of the first stages of this campaign seeks to unify the names of Korean food in order to bring more consistency and clarity to foreigners. Chang's top priority is to standardize and improve the inherent quality of Korean food. He hopes to execute this through research, refinement and marketing. MIFAFF, a cabinet-level division of the South Korean government, has invested heavily in research; several state-run agencies have been appointed to analyze the key ingredients in Korean food, such as "kimchi", "deonjang" (soy bean paste) and "gochujang" (chili paste). Chang also noted that "culture is inseparable from cuisine" -- he believes that interior design and tableware is critical to the global marketing of Korean food.

Although these efforts are presumably made with the best intentions, the proceedings have aquired a considerable amount of discontent. Joe McPherson, journalist from Hi Seoul, an online travel website for Korea published an article that outlines some of the dangers to this plan.

"A manager for one major Korean restaurant group admitted that it is common for upper management in corporations and the government to create grand schemes. They either don't listen to constructive criticism, or their underlings are too timid to give their feelings. This has spawned some embarrassing public blunders and awkward slogans and has even angered some of the target consumers." McPherson finds that tourists in Korea are not impressed by the "white tablecloth restaurants", but rather, are most enchanted by the rustic restaurants that serve home-style, comfort food. He argues that Chang's approach is too "one-size-fits-all" and that it should be more inclusive of Korea's demographics and traditions. He writes, "[t]he promoters of Korean food globalization need to shirk off the upper class pretension. Korea's rustic traditions are its strengths, not embarrassments. It needs a multi-pronged approach that targets hardcore foodies, casual diners and people on the go. It also needs to actually be based on market research and not an imperial fantasy of global conquest. Ask what people want. Don't force it down their throats. Korean cuisine will become popular, whether anyone promotes it or not. Yet it takes long-term planning, actual market research and realistic goals to make Korean food stick as a favorite and not fade as a fad." With many dissenting views on properly globalizing Korean food, these next seven years will be an exciting turning point for Korean cuisine in the international food scene.

+ http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/08/123_54497.html

+ http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/10/123_32807.html

+ http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/reports_view.php?idx=1271

Inspired by Hangeul (한글)

2010-12-09T10:11:00.000-08:00

Paris-based, Korean designer Lie Sang Bong brings to life the Korean writing system, Hangeul (한글). Lie's vision of recreating the "big city life of Seoul" into his designs is artistically and creatively portrayed in his work. Notably, Lie's creations were displayed in the Korean Cultural Center in London last summer, showcasing both his talents and cultural identity. Fashion critic, Susie Bubble writes, "Whether the pieces took literal inspiration from the Hangeul characters or not, a variety of pieces from Lie's archive of work were on display." To the left, Lie poses with Kim Yuna (김연아) in an ensemble custom-made for her figure skating program.

Lie is determined to embrace both his Korean heritage and Western culture. He believes that too few Korean designers are participating in the global fashion scene. "In truth, I don't know why there are so few Korean designers who make it over to the West. Korea is the 11th economy in the World but it is strange that there are so few Korean designers who participate in the global fashion scene. However I think there will be more people coming forth in the future." Lie's designs are dramatically enhanced by his cultural heritage and his unique use of Hangeul.

+ london.korean-culture.org/

+ http://dianepernet.typepad.com/diane/2009/04/lie-sang-bong-exhibition-in-london-at-the-korean-cultural-center-.html

+ http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/2838/1/lie-sang-bongs-hangul-spirit

"Korea's Rediscovered Colonial Films: History, Culture, and Legacy"

2010-12-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

Roundtable Discussion –

Date: December 9, 2010 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Contact Person: Dima David Mironenko-Hubbs
Contact Email: dmironen@fas
Contact Phone: 617-496-3061
Location: CGIS South, Room S250

Street: 1730 Cambridge Street
City: Cambridge, MA

Program Schedule:

Sunday, December 5 –

Angels on the Streets (Chip ŏmnŭn ch’ŏnsa, 1941) // by director Choi In-kyu

Spring of Korean Peninsula (Pando ŭi pom, 1941) // by director Lee Byeong-ilMain Lecture Hall, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., 7:00 p.m.

Monday, December 6 –
Sweet Dream (Mimong, 1936) // by director Yang Joo-nam
Military Train (Kunyong yŏlch’a, 1938) // by director Seo Gwang-jae
Porté Seminar Room (S250), CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge St., 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 7 –

Fisherman’s Fire (Ŏhwa, 1939) // by director Ahn Cheol-young

Volunteer (Chiwŏnbyŏng, 1941) // by director Ahn Seok-young

Belfer Case Study Room (S020), CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge St., 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 8 –

Straits of Chosun (Chosŏn haehyŏp, 1943) // by director Park Ki-chae

Dear Soldier (Pyŏngjŏngnim, 1944) // by director Bang Han-joon

Belfer Case Study Room (S020), CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge St., 4:00 p.m.

For more information please visit this link: http://korea.fas.harvard.edu/events/2010/11/29/koreas-rediscovered-colonial-films-history-culture-legacy

Fusion: The Modern Hanbok

2010-11-29T09:25:00.000-08:00

It's the 21st Century and an all new take on the traditional Korean costume, the hanbok or 한복 has arrived. The hanbok, traditionally composed of a jeoguri or a blouse jacket and a chima which is a full wrap-around skirt tied at the chest with the goruem, a long, wide ribbon, has recently emerged as a more modern piece -- embracing light airy fabrics and unconventional compositions. Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) the hanbok was worn for both formal and informal occasions. Influenced by Korea's nomadic lifestyle and harsh terrain, the hanbok was designed to facilitate the ease of movement. Korean designer Kim Min Jeong débuted these dresses with a more feminine and ethereal feel, bringing a breath of fresh air to the heavier and more conservative hanbok of the earlier years. The hanboks shown here are wedding dresses; the neutral colors symbolize heaven and earth or yin and implicit values. A Korean culture website describes the hanbok from a cultural perspective: "Hanbok forms a highly effective expression of Korean identity and changes in hanbok design from the past to the present parallel the nation's historical development. Moreover, forms, materials and designs in hanbok provide a glimpse into the Korean lifestyle, while its colors indicate the values and world view of the Korean people." For centuries the hanbok has flourished as the national costume, striking, vibrant and purposeful. Today the fusion of new and old is more fluid than ever: the fusion of the modern hanbok.

+ See more of Kim Min Jeong's designs here: http://www.weddinginspirasi.com/2010/08/20/fusion-korean-wedding-dress-fashion-colorful-modern-hanbok-lynn/

+ Learn more about the hanbok here: http://www.koreanculture.org/06about_korea/symbols/01hanbok.htm

December Gift Drive

2010-11-23T07:51:00.001-08:00

Holiday season is just around the corner and KASA is holding a December Gift Drive for 'Ricesticks and Tea'. Rice Sticks and Tea (RST) is an Asian Food Pantry that serves the Boston area's Asian community, low income, non- or limited- English speaking immigrants. As an organization that provides culturally appropriate food staples and linguistically appropriate services, RST is dedicated to bettering the lives of over 120 families or 300 adults, children and elderly each and every month. The December Gift Drive is a special holiday program aimed at giving each family member one small gift, from a generous heart.

Please donate one gift to the KASA and Ricesticks and Tea December Gift Drive! A gift collection box will be stationed at the AAC shortly or you are encouraged to bring your unwrapped gifts ($20 -- less, or more) to our next GM on Wednesday, December 8th. The Ricesticks and Tea organizer has requested that we shop specifically for seniors. She mentioned that food-related care packages (non-perishable, Asian friendly ;)), health and wellness/beauty care packages (i.e. lotions, soaps) and warm hats, gloves and scarves are most needed. Please help us help the greater Boston Asian community in need!

The Big Picture: North Korea

2010-11-21T12:39:00.001-08:00

"Boston.com: The Big Picture"

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il (center, seated), poses with the newly elected members of the central leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the participants in the WPK Conference at the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang in this picture released by the North's KCNA news agency. Kim Jong-un, the youngest son of Kim Jong Il, was recently promoted to senior political and military positions. (REUTERS/KCNA)

North Korean soldiers attend the Arirang mass games to mark the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.

North Korean dancers perform during the Arirang mass games on the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Oct. 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

Dancers perform during a gala show to mark the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

North Korean soldiers react during a massive military parade in Pyongyang on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

A boy wears a North Korean army hat near the Party Foundation Monument in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang October 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un attend the massive military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

NU KASA and LiNK Present: Hiding

2010-11-12T11:39:00.001-08:00

While the world focuses on North Korea’s security issue, hundreds of thousands of North Koreans continue to be enslaved in prison camps today. Up to 300,000 have also escaped to China – seeking food, medicine, work, or freedom from political and religious oppression. Among the 300,000, 70 to 90 percent of North Korean women are trafficked and sold into the sex trade, and more and more refugees are fleeing to Southeast Asia to escape imprisonment upon repatriation by China.

Through LiNK's networks, these refugees can be helped and given new lives. "Hiding" is a film about a group of North Korean refugees hiding in China today, and exposes their struggles to survive.

Join NU KASA and LiNK (Liberty in North Korea) for a free movie screening and discussion to help spread awareness about this issue; an issue that affects our entire global community. The "Hiding tour" will not only raise awareness about the plight of North Korean refugees but it will also take part in raising the funds necessary to help rescue more North Korean refugees currently in hiding.

Click on the following link for a preview of "Hiding":
http://www.linkglobal.org/hiding/

When: 7 PM Wednesday, November 17
Where: 102 West Village G
Who: YOU and all your friends :)

See you there!

Perseverance

2010-04-28T00:44:00.001-07:00

At first glance, Eun-Sun Oh, who is 34 years of age and stands at a height of 5'1, may seem like an ordinary woman. However, her ambition and perseverance has proved her to be a national hero.

On Tuesday, April 27, 2010, Eun-Sun Oh, a South Korean woman, became the first woman in history to climb the 14 highest mountains in the world. After 13 tumultuous hours, she finally reached the summit of Annapurna in central Nepal. At 26,545 feet above sea level, she waved the Korean flag and remarked that she wanted to savor the moment with the South Korean people. (Read more here.)

Throughout generations new and old, South Koreans have shed sweat and tears for the country it is today. Perseverance is in our blood.

As this school year comes to a close, I'd like to wish everyone (especially our graduating seniors and those leaving on co-op) good luck in realizing passions, chasing dreams, and conquering mountains.

Upcoming Events

2010-03-17T17:40:00.000-07:00

1. Celebr(Asian) March 20, 2010

Come out to support all the NU PAAC groups! KASA also has a great line-up for you, so make sure to get your (free) tickets at Blackman Auditorium.

2. KASA MIXTAPE, Volume 1. March 26, 2010

We'll be bringing in Seriously from California and we have great opening performers! The event is free, as long as you're an NU student+1.

3. Relay for Life at Northeastern University. March 27-28, 2010.

KASA will have a team participating in this event to fundraise for The American Cancer Society.

YUMMMMMMM....

2010-01-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

In the '90s, it was sushi. Then it was Indian. Then Thai. Now, Korean food is making its way into the mouths of Americans everywhere, and becoming the new "trendy" food. Who hasn't seen the Hanes commercial where Charlie Sheen invites Michael Jordan out for Korean BBQ??

One of the people behind this new interest in Korean food is Roy Choi, the Korean chef who made the kogi taco an absolute must eat in L.A., legitimizing truck food and becoming one of the most influential Korean-Americans in 2009, according to Korean Beacon.

Choi is now embarking on a new venture--a stationary restaurant in West Los Angeles which aims at updating the rice bowl. While the name "kogi" will not be used, the concept is similar. Choi envisions new rice bowls with some definite Korean staple ingredients (soft poached eggs, sesame seeds, spinach), mixed with fresh herbs on braised lamb, or steak. He also plans on making these rice bowls affordable, with prices being able to compete with a McDonald's meal.

One prominent Korean-American chef who supports the kogi trucks is David Chang, of New York City's Momofuku restaurants (Momofuku Noodle bar, Momofuku Ssam Bar, Momofuku Ko, and Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar). Chang put Korean food on the televisions of Americans everywhere by making kimchi on the Today Show as a way to promote his cook book, "Momofuku: The Cookbook," in October 2009.

Chang's cookbook was hailed to be one of the most highly anticipated books of 2009 by the New York Times and he is known for his fusion of Asian and American cuisine, all executed with a French technique.

With these two players making such a huge splash in the culinary world, Korean food was bound to start making an impact on the palate of Amerians.

Kogi Truck: http://kogibbq.com/
Location: you never know....they're always on the move so check their website/twitter to find out!!

Momofuku: http://www.momofuku.com/
Location: various restaurants in NYC, NY

photo credits: Kogi Taco, Korean Beacon; Momofuku Ssam Bar's Bo Ssam with kimchi brussel sprouts, denveater.com

Dance for Me 2009!

2009-12-05T12:03:00.001-08:00

Great job to everyone who participated in Dance for Me 2009! :) KASA placed 2nd in the student group category!!

Korean Wedding Traditions

2009-11-19T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody!

Sorry for the lack of updates but I assure you, KASA is alive and well!!

So I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the NY Times has had a number of articles related to Korean culture recently--from Korean adoptees, race in South Korea, and now an article that questions a tradition seen in Korean weddings.

If you've ever been to a Korean wedding, you know that the idea of a wedding gift registry is pretty much out of the question. So what do you bring the bride and groom?

CASH.

[Wedding guests handing over their envelopes of cash to a cashier, where the amount and giver are documented]

The Times goes into some background of politicians and the fact that these monetary gifts (given most often at weddings and funerals) have been used as bribes, and that Korean heads of state have recently been refusing these cash gifts at their childrens' weddings. In a culture where social standing is often measured in the number of guests at a wedding, do you see this tradition fading any time soon? What about amongst the second generation Korean Americans, where for the most part, our parents still adhere to cultural norms of Korea, and we were raised with both the cashier's table and wedding gift table?

To read the full article : NY Times ; photo courtesy of nytimes.com

KASA/VSA Scavenger Hunt

2009-10-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Join us for our first ever Scavenger Hunt event with NU VSA! More information below or on the Facebook event link.

+ When: Wednesday, November 11; 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
+ Awards Ceremony: 3:00 p.m. (refreshments and prizes)
+ Bring: T-Pass, Digital Camera (if you have one), and a positive attitude!

*Meet at Marino Center at 10:00 a.m.!

---

Description:
Each team will be given a list of clues with places and events that you will have to figure out, find, travel to, and document with a camera. Scoring will be done on a point system - some tasks will be worth more points than others. Whichever team comes back by 3 p.m. with the most points gets our awesome grand prize! Everyone on the winning team will get a prize! Refreshments and smaller prizes will be given to all the other teams so don't worry, there will be something for everyone :)

Logistics:
+ Please have at least one person on your team bring a DIGITAL CAMERA. This is how you will capture your proof so it is very important that someone has one! If no one has a camera, someone on our eboard will provide one but please note that there will be a limited number of cameras.
+ Also make sure to bring your T-PASS as some places are further away (but all are T accessible!), as well as a BAGGED LUNCH (if you do not want to waste time by stopping to eat in the middle of the hunt).
+ Eat a good breakfast before you head out and wear comfortable walking shoes!

---

Please register by emailing skpark1@gmail.com or http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AiT1NGfeQ-JldGduWkNLMk1CMW1QbkVxaUVRZy1wLWc&hl=en.

---

Hope to see you there! :)

Hahn-Bin's Debut NYC Performance

2009-10-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

Korean-American violin prodigy, Hahn-Bin (age 22), made his New York City debut at Carnegie Hall on October 8. With his all-black ensemble, black eyeliner, and trademark mohak, he wowed the audience and received rave reviews.

Hahn-Bin had recently been in the news for leaving his prized violin (an 1825 Pressenda, valued at over $500,000), in a New York City taxi cab and luckily, it was quickly returned to him.

More details about his debut recital can be found at the New York Times online.

iamKOREAM

2009-10-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

Oooohwee - look who launched their new website! KoreAm Journal has been working hard on creating a new site with lots of great features and stories. A few highlights to name: a daily blog, live web shows, Asian American events across the nation, most-talked about stories from the print magazine, a classifieds page, exclusive videos, contests, giveaways, and more! For the ladies - I think you will appreciate this Daniel Henney photo on the front page reel. :)

via angry asian man

For the full experience, please visit:

http://iamkoream.com/

Enjoy!

Pretty in Pink

2009-10-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

South Korea is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month in a unique way..

The Korean Breast Cancer Society and GM Daewoo have teamed up to promote breast cancer awareness for the month of October 2009. The Cheonggye Stream (청계천), a river and recreational area that runs through the middle of downtown Seoul, has been decorated with pink umbrellas and balloons while GM Daewoo even came up with a pink Matiz Creative to showcase throughout the week!

Successful Welcome Week

2009-09-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Hope you had a chance to catch us at one of the two activity fairs during NU's Welcome Week! We were excited to see many new and old faces. :) Take a look below for a sneak peek of "A Night at the Curry Student Center" and the "Fall Activities Fair." See you tonight at our first GM (general meeting) of the year!

KASA'S FIRST GM!!

2009-09-15T19:36:00.000-07:00

Join KASA for our first General Meeting of the year!

Who: All Northeastern University undergrads interested in Korean culture
What: KASA's First General Meeting
Where: 450 Dodge Hall
When: Wednesday 9/16 from 6-7:30pm

Our first general meeting is finally here and we'd love for you to be apart of it. Meet new people, play some games, and come see what we have in store for you this coming year!! And who knows, maybe we'll have some food for you as well!

Also, if you entered your email address to win the Red Mango gift cards, come to the meeting to find out if you won!

See you there!

New Logo/Seal

2009-09-01T18:03:00.001-07:00

Spotlight: TABLO

2009-08-19T08:16:00.000-07:00

AKA Daniel Armand Lee (Left): rapping, vocals, songwriting, composing, programming

Tablo, a third of the Korean Indie Hip Hop group- Epik High, is a popular figure in music and television. He was recently interviewed about his views on the new digital front of the music industry. He mentions the advantage of the high-performance cell phones in Korea. Everyone is using their cell phones to access digital music, which he considers "..is not only easy, it’s actually the only way." Koreans also only pay about 10-20 songs for around 5 USD. Would you buy music for $.50 per song?? Check it out the full article here.

Y.E. YANG

2009-08-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

As a Korean-American, and as a golf enthusiast, yesterday's PGA Championship game was one that caused a lot of excitement for me. Y.E Yang, 37, of South Korea, beat Tiger Woods by 3 strokes, to become the first Asian-born player to win a men's major tournament.

Congratulations to Y.E. Yang!!

For a more detailed account of his win: Y.E Yang Wins PGA Championship

End of Summer Shows

2009-08-05T17:48:00.001-07:00

Hello KASA!

Anyone going to be around Boston later this month?
Check out these two shows and let us know if you're interested in attending!

1) Free THIRST pre-screening

THIRST is a Focus Features Korean film directed by Park Chan-Wook. The film has already been a big hit in Korea and won multiple awards at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is scheduled to be released on August 21, but we have received a special offer to attend a pre-screening on the 20th at the Kendall Cinema in Cambridge. If any of you are interested, please directly contact Kelly at Focus Features - her email address is Kellyesoule@gmail.com and her phone number is 508-523-8695. Please include your mailing address. You will receive a pass that admits TWO people and it will be limited for one pass per person. If anyone is interested in attending this pre-screening as a group, please email directly back to the KASA account. For the synposis, please read below and check out the website! http://www.ThirstMovie.com

Synopsis: A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. THIRST is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a box office smash in Korea, THIRST was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.

Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived and then developed over several years with co-screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung.

Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, of The Host) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives – but now exists as a vampire. Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun’s faith is further strained when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.

2) After the Quake

Company One's (a local Boston theatre company) current show is After the Quake which is an adaption of a few short stories by the award-winning writer Haruki Murakami. It is a beautiful production that will be showing until August 15th and there are student discounts available! If anyone is interested in attending this show, please let us know and we will set up a group to go together. Student tickets are $15 with and ID, but if we get a group together, we may receive a group discount. For the synposis, please read below and also check out Company One's website.

Synposis: Writer Haruki Murakami, author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore, is one of the most acclaimed writers of our time, winning a Yomiuri Award, Japan’s equivalent of the Pulitzer. Frank Galati, Tony Award–winning director and adaptor has fashioned an enchanting and deeply moving play out of two of Murakami’s short stories. AFTER THE QUAKE is a gentle tale of life in the wake of earth-shaking disaster. A timid man woos an old flame, enchanting her anxious daughter with whimsical bedtime stories of a six foot frog’s fight to save Tokyo. Company One invites you to experience a testament to healing and hope in an increasingly vulnerable world with what promises to be a beautiful and mesmerizing evening of theatre.

Again, if anyone is interested in attending either show as a group, please let us know! We'd love to set something up. :)

Thanks!

Ling and Lee Reportedly Released

2009-08-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hi KASA -
Great news!

Kim Jong Il is reportedly going to pardon and release the two U.S. journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, who have been held custody in North Korea since May of this year. They were given a 12 year sentence to prison in June on the charges of illegally entering the country for a smear campaign. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang today and based on their meeting, the announcement that Ling and Lee will be released has been made.

To learn more about this developing story, check out the article on http://cnn.com.

Hallyu Wave Impacting North Korea?

2009-07-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lack of updates in the past month (us e-boarders have been super busy!!), but I don't want you to think that we're not keeping our eyes and ears open for info of all kinds, to pass along to you guys.

I was reading the New York Times online the other day, and I saw an article which may interest many of you. The Times is reporting that North Koreans are risking their lives for South Korean music and dramas. Pop culture from South Korea is known as "hallyu," and it's popularity is gaining all across the world. And while many of us joke that the addictive nature of these dramas is detrimental to our health, I wonder how many of us would actually risk years of hard labor as punishment for watching them?

Maybe the spread of hallyu will be a key player in the want of unifcation between both North and South by the North Koreans...?? Makes me think....

Read more here: NKoreans Risking Lives for SKorean Soap Operas

Photos from my trip to Korea

2009-06-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone :)

Just wanted to let you know that I've been posting photos from my trip to Korea on my blog:

viva la sk

Here's a sneak peak!

-SK

Spotlight: Debbie Lee

2009-06-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

A finalist on The Next Food Network Star, Debbie Lee is competing for her own show on The Food Network. She brings a lot of Korean flavor with a soulful Southern flair! Read more about her below:

Debbie, 39 (West Hollywood, Calif.), a former Hollywood caterer, now shares her branding and menu-planning expertise as a restaurant consultant. Her Korean heritage and Southern upbringing make a dynamic combination as she uniquely blends Asian and American cuisines. Debbie attributes her cooking chops to her mother, grandmother and notable chefs that she's worked with.

Food specialty: Korean with a Soulful Edge

Favorite restaurant: Buddakhan

Three foods you can't live without (other than bread or water): Bacon, fried chicken, and kimchee

Red Mango Coming to Boston!

2009-06-10T13:31:00.000-07:00

334 Mass. Ave will be home to greater Boston's very first Red Mango! It will be owned by Red Mango's youngest franchisee, Tarang Gosalia - a recent Babson College graduate. It should be open by this fall and Gosalia is expecting to open five more locations over the next seven years. This is great news to all nonfat frozen yogurt lovers! Read more about it here/here and for more yummy eye candy visit here.

Stay updated by joining Red Mango Boston's Facebook Group!

Kollaboration NY's Lineup

2009-06-10T13:29:00.001-07:00

website

Sentencing of American Journalists

2009-06-08T00:24:00.000-07:00

A verdict has been reached by the Central Court, the highest court in North Korea, on the trials of American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee and they have been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. The two journalists were detained in March near the border between North Korea and China.

Reports say that the sentencing is harsher than expected and according to officials in Seoul, the verdict is final, as appeals are not allowed in the Central Court.

More details can be found in a report by the Korea Times or at the NY Times.

Remembering A Scholar

2009-05-28T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I found out some really sad news today.

Ron Takaki, passed away last night.

For those of you who do not know who Ron Takaki is, he was a professor of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and was considered by many to be the "father" of multicultural studies. Here at Northeastern University, we were lucky to have the opportunity to bring Dr. Takaki to our campus, where he received an honorary doctorate.

Here's to Dr. Takaki. A leader, an activist, an author, an educator...an inspiration to all.

To read more about Dr. Takaki : Remembering Ron Takaki, and for a more personal perspective of what kind of impact he had on our generation: Ron Takaki, R.I.P

Breaking News from S.Korea

2009-05-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hi KASA,

This is SK reporting from Korea and this morning the media has been in a frenzy covering South Korea's former President, Roh Moo-hyun (노무현)'s death.

The media has reported that he jumped off a cliff and committed suicide while on a morning hike. He had been under public scrutiny and investigation for allegedly accepting money and bribes during his presidency. It's unbelievable that he chose to take his life, leaving his family and the nation he used to lead.

The Korean political drama ensues as high-profile Koreans continue committing suicide as if its a new trend.

ON SALE NOW

2009-05-08T11:17:00.001-07:00

BUY TICKETS HERE

Walk for Hunger - We did it!

2009-05-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, TEAM UTSAV/PAAC conquered a huge feat - 20 miles of walking around Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Newton for the awareness and alleviation of hunger! The team goal of $800 was surpassed by almost double the amount!! Thank you to all who showed your support through financial contributions or even a few words of encouragement. The Walk for Hunger was a successful event and we will most definitely be participating again next year!

Before the 20 mile trek:

After 20 miles around Boston + beyond!

Many more collaborative volunteer activities to come :)

The Chinatown Storefront Library

2009-05-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, Chinatown is one of the few neighborhoods in Boston without its own public library branch. It has been without a library since 1956 as a result of the construction of the Central Artery, despite the fact that there has been strong community support and activism for regaining this public service. Seeing that Chinatown is predominately a pedestrian community, with many elderly residents and young children with working parents, it becomes difficult to travel to the other public libraries, with the Boston Public Library in Copley being the closest branch.

The purpose of the Chinatown Storefront Library is to activate vacant commercial space with an installation that will model the potential impact of a permanent library in the neighborhood. The Storefront Library will temporarily provide a selection of much needed services for the community, such as Internet access, periodicals, newspapers, and children's books for browsing. The library will be transformed from one of the many street-level, vacant commercial spaces and will operate for approximately three months. The Storefront Library also plans to host readings, film screenings, gatherings, and become a public venue to the community.

This unique project will be exciting to follow and there are actually a couple of ways you can be involved in the process:

1) Join the team - Email info@storefrontlibrary.org and include what skills you have to offer
2) Give items - i.e. laptops for internet access, printer and supplies, furniture for reading, children seating, newspaper + magazine subscriptions in both English and Chinese
3) Volunteer your time - When the library opens, there will be a "librarian" who will be monitoring the space, as well as volunteers to collect feedback from visitors, tidy up, translate, and to basically provide additional support
4) Ideas - This is a great opportunity to experiment with what the new Chinatown library branch could be. Ideas are essential for brainstorming and implementing for the next library in the heart of the city.
5) DONATE - Last, but not least, make a financial contribution. No donation is ever too small. You can donate online @ http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/ma/2004/chinese_progressive_4099.htm through the Chinese Progressive Association, as well as through mail. The address is located at: http://www.cpaboston.org/contribute.html

Please visit

http://www.storefrontlibrary.org/

for more information!

"When a resource has been missing from a community for so long, it becomes difficult to realize its absence."

Kollaboration NY is Almost Here!

2009-05-05T08:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Kollaboration Friends,

As Kollaboration New York gets closer to the show on Saturday, June 27, 2009 one thing is certain. New York is the place for dreamers. Among its stoops, skyscrapers, and subway stations, there is an unmistakable undercurrent of dreams realized, on their way, taking shape. Getting closer.

In our pursuit of helping realize dreams, KNY has been blessed to receive the moral and artistic support of the New York music and entertainment community. A few local artists (not necessarily competitors) spent weeks to help put together this video in celebration of our mission. This project is a collaboration in the truest sense of the word. An homage to New York City, its dreamers, the pursuit of dreams...

To getting closer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90uNe08iuc

Kollaboration NY tickets go on sale next week atwww.skirballcenter.nyu.edu! Spread the good word to all of your friends!

Cheers,

KollabNY Fam

Spotlight: Anthony Kim

2009-05-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

Went to WallStreetJournal.com today and was happy to see a Korean-American on the front page!

Professional golfer Anthony Kim, 23, is ranked 14th in the world and is "the first American under 25 since Woods in 2000 to win at least twice in one year on the PGA Tour". The article mentions the pressure Kim felt from his father. Seems like a topic many Koreans our age are all too familiar with!

Read the article here.

Tufts' Official Statement

2009-05-01T08:34:00.001-07:00

Another follow up on the Tufts Bias Incident.

This email was just sent to Tufts students...

---

Dear Members of the University Community:

The racial incident that took place on the morning of April 9 in Lewis Hall on the Medford/Somerville campus has caused enormous pain and anguish. Members of the Tufts community were justifiably hurt and angry at the aggressive expression of such prejudices on our campus. As the historian Ronald Takaki and many others have shown, "stereotypes and myths of Asians as aliens and foreigners are pervasive in American society." But what happened to the members of the Korean Students Association should not happen to anyone at Tufts.

The Dean of Student Affairs for Arts, Sciences & Engineering released a statement on the disciplinary outcome of the incident this past Monday. The parties involved reached a settlement proposing a set of outcomes that they urged the university to accept as a resolution for the incident. The proposed consequences for the offending student included a public apology, a period of suspension from the university, and participation in substance abuse counseling as well as in an anti-bias/anti-hate education program. Dean Reitman imposed participation in an anger management program as an additional consequence, and indicated that the student would be eligible to return to the university after his initial period of suspension only if he has fulfilled the other requirements and can demonstrate that he has learned from this experience and will contribute positively to the community. The full text of Dean Reitman's statement is available on the website of The Tufts Daily http://www.facebook.com/l/eff10;(http://www.tuftsdaily.com/statement-from-the-dean-of-student-affairs-1.1734579) as well as in his original email.

We hope that the process of discussion between the parties offered one route to both healing and understanding. As Dean Reitman has indicated, a hearing had been scheduled in accordance with the processes of our student judicial system and would have taken place had the students involved not proposed an alternative resolution. We are committed to a judicial system that does not rush to judgment and that treats all parties fairly, but the university will not shirk its responsibility to discipline those who violate our codes of conduct and attack other members of the community.

Now that due process has been served, we wish to state unequivocally that we deplore the attack on members of the Korean Students Association. The Lewis Hall incident challenged the right of Asians and Asian Americans to full membership in our community. On other occasions, members of other groups have been similarly challenged. We will never be able to eradicate bad behavior or isolate the university from the divisive impulses in our society. But we need to get to a point where everyone recognizes that we are a stronger community because of our diversity. Moreover, we need to recognize that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

Our goal is to make Tufts a safe and welcoming environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. It is clear that we still have work to do. The Provost and the Executive Director of Institutional Diversity will release their first annual report on diversity at Tufts in the fall. That report will provide a baseline against which we can measure our efforts and make plans for the future. We recognize our responsibility as academic and administrative leaders to advance this agenda on behalf of the entire university community.

Fostering a diverse community has implications for how we recruit, orient, teach, and support our students, and for co-curricular and residential life. This agenda has a special salience in the undergraduate residential setting of the Medford/Somerville campus. There, we will review the diversity component of new student orientation and its follow- up to see how we can build on what we already do and maximize its impact. We will also continue to support a strong network of offices and programs that strengthen awareness of diversity and build leadership capacity around issues of race and identity through a rich array of programming and services. These include the culture centers in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs and the Office of Diversity Education and Development. The Admissions Office maintains a steadfast commitment to diversity, while the Center for STEM Diversity and the Graduate and Professional Student Admissions Recruitment Committee have taken important steps to ensure that we strengthen the representation of under-represented groups in critical academic disciplines. Coordinated efforts to ensure that all our promising students flourish at Tufts are a priority for the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Education. These and other colleagues in the faculty and administration all have important roles to play. So do concerned individuals and groups among our students.

These issues are critical across the university. We hope that all of you share with us a commitment to making this an inclusive and supportive community. While this work will never be completed, we look forward to your input and collaboration as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Lawrence S. Bacow

Jamshed Bharucha

Robert Sternberg

Linda M. Abriola

Lisa M. Coleman

Michael A. Baenen

James M. Glaser

Bruce Reitman

---

On another note, the Sam Yoon College Event was great last night! Lots of exciting things in store for him and the campaign. A new entry will be coming shortly with a video and a few pictures as well. Thanks + happy Friday! :)

Remembering 사이구 (4.29)

2009-04-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the 17th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots, known to most Koreans as 사이구, which literally translates to 4.29, the date the riots began.

Most people remember the L.A. Riots because of Rodney King and the stories of the Koreans involved, including the complete destruction of Koreatown, is largely forgotten.

On 4.29, 1992, L.A.'s Koreatown burned. This is the aftermath of that day.

Rodney King being beaten by L.A.P.D

A store in South Central Los Angeles burning

Aerial view of the fires as a result of 4.29

Korean store owners protecting their store fronts

Koreatown burns as L.A.P.D. watch

The heart of Koreatown in ashes

((images taken from latimes.com and wikipedia.com))

Please take the time to read up on what happened during the riots. A picture is worth a thousand words, but this is just meant to open a platform to start dialogue. Educate yourselves. Learn. Spread the knowledge. Remember.

Sam Yoon

2009-04-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

[This blog was supposed to be posted a while ago but recent events caused it to be postponed.]

The mayoral campaign is underway here in Boston and as you can tell from the last post, NU KASA is super excited about one of the candidates: SAM YOON!

Sam Yoon, with his son Nathan, and daughter Naomi.
(image taken from bostonherald.com)

Sam Yoon: current at-large member of the Boston City Council and the first Asian American to be elected into office in Boston; former public school teacher, member of the Democratic Party.

Born in Seoul, Korea, his family moved to the States when he was 10 months old and after graduating high school, he attended Princeton University. Sam then took a job teaching in an inner-city school; it was this experience that led him to attend the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he studied education reform, and took an interest in economic development and affordable housing issues.

He has worked with many non-profit, community-based organizations (including Community Builders, the country's largest non-profit developer of affordable housing), as well as serving as Housing Director of the Asian Community Development Corporation. A newcomer to the Boston political crowd, Sam decided to run in the 2005 election for an At-Large council seat, where voters resonated with his message of community involvement and good government.

...

He is currently running against the current Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino, City Councilor Michael Flaherty, and businessman Kevin McCrea.

Sam will be holding a College Night TONIGHT @ 7pm in Harvard Square at Hong Kong (1238 Mass Ave, Cambridge). Come out to learn more about his campaign and to meet other students who are supporting him.

Peering into North Korea

2009-04-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a series of photos which captures a small taste of what North Korea is like - looking into the country from the outside.

The following is quoted from the article on Boston.com.

"News stories about North Korea have been quite frequent recently, with their test launch of a rocket over Japan, withdrawal from nuclear disarmament talks coupled with a threat to restart their nuclear program, reports that their nuclear attack capabilities may be larger than previously thought - and their recent arrest and indictment of two U.S. reporters on its border with China. Even with all this attention, photographs from North Korea are still restricted and hard to come by. One way around that has been for photographers to peer inside from across the border, a pastime that has also spurred a level of curious tourism in both neighboring South Korea and China. Collected here are a some recent photographs, looking into reclusive North Korea from the outside - and some of the reactions these observations induce."

Click here to view the rest of the series.

College Night with Sam Yoon

2009-04-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

HI :)

This is a last-minute announcement about Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon's FIRST COLLEGE NIGHT event of his mayoral campaign.

This will be a great opportunity to meet other students from all the schools in the Boston area who are interested in the campaign and who are ready to get involved. Come out and see how you can help elect Sam Yoon as the next mayor of Boston!

---

DETAILS:

April 30th

7-9pm

@ the Hong Kong in Harvard Square

1238 Mass Ave.

Cambridge, MA 02138

---

For more information:

contact ed@samyoon.com or call the campaign office at (617) 825-0309

Also, visit Sam Yoon's website to learn more about him!

Hope to see you there!!

Letter of Apology

2009-04-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge:

A Follow Up

2009-04-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Following up on the previous entry, there is an online petition for the unconditional release of the two American journalists.

PLEASE SIGN HERE

Also, here is one more article with updates.

Thanks.

NORTH KOREA DECIDES TO INDICT 2 U.S. REPORTERS

2009-04-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

I was going to make the next post about Sam Yoon, but I feel that this is more pertinent right now.

N. Korea has decided to formally try Euna Lee and Laura Ling, two American journalists who were arrested 5 weeks ago at the border between N. Korea and China.

Euna Lee (Left); Laura Ling (Right)

The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea and thus, a Swedish diplomat based in North Korea has met with Lee and Ling on Washington's behalf. The journalists were detained shortly before North Korea launched a long range rocket, causing tensions between the communist country, the United Nations Security Council, and the U.S., to rise.

"The North Korean news agency, KCNA, did not say specifically what charges the journalists will face. But North Korea officials said on March 31 that the reporters would be indicted on charges of “illegal entry” and perpetrating “hostile acts” against the Communist state." - NY Times

North Korea is not known for its' fair judicial system and if convicted of illegal entry, Lee and Ling could face up to three years in prison. However, if found guilty of espionage or "hostility to the North Korean people," the crime is punishable with 5 to 10 years, and Amnesty International, an international non-profit organization which works to combat human rights violations and "demand justice for those whose rights have been violated," doubts that the American journalists will have a fair trial.

Analysts feel that the two reporters are being used as "political leverage" against the U.S., as negotations surrounding North Korea's nuclear program have halted and North Korea has withdrawn from talks.

More details can be found at the following:

KOREA DECIDES TO INDICT 2 U.S. REPORTERS

Current TV reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee face jail in North Korea

Wearing Red in Support

2009-04-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos that some KASA members took last Thursday wearing RED in support of the Tufts' rally in response to the 4.9.09 Bias Incident. Thanks again for coming out guys! :)

We couldn't be there in person, but they definitely have our support!
To see a little bit of what went down at the rally, a video has been posted on Facebook. Take a look HERE.

After the Quake

2009-04-23T10:22:00.000-07:00

ELLO.

Check out this great event for the summer...!

---

Company One, a local Boston theatre company, will be producing After the Quake from July 17th to August 15th. It is an adaptation of a few short stories by the award-winning Haruki Murakami.
You can read more at: http://www.companyone.org/theatre_show_2008_quake/synopsis.shtml. It is a great show to see when staying in the Boston area for the summer, not only because it is a beautful and mesmerizing production, but because students get discount tickets!

Student tickets are always $15 with an ID. Also the July 19th performance will be "Pay What you Can" with a $6 minimum donation.

Also, if you will be in Boston over the summer, consider spending a short afternoon volunteering for Company One. One or two hours spent distributing materials to stores in a specific neighborhood earns you a complimentary ticket to any night of the show's run. It is a great activity to do with friends as well. If you are interested in this great opportunity, email info@companyone.org and put VOLUNTEER in the subject line.

SYNOPSIS:

Writer Haruki Murakami, author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore, is one of the most acclaimed writers of our time, winning a Yomiuri Award, Japan’s equivalent of the Pulitzer. Frank Galati, Tony Award–winning director and adaptor has fashioned an enchanting and deeply moving play out of two of Murakami’s short stories. AFTER THE QUAKE is a gentle tale of life in the wake of earth-shaking disaster. A timid man woos an old flame, enchanting her anxious daughter with whimsical bedtime stories of a six foot frog’s fight to save Tokyo. Company One invites you to experience a testament to healing and hope in an increasingly vulnerable world with what promises to be a beautiful and mesmerizing evening of theatre.
July 17 - August 15, 2009 - Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre
Wednesdays + Thursdays @ 7:30 pm
Fridays + Saturdays @ 8:00 pm
Sundays @ 2:00 pm

---

On a personal note, I have read several of Haruki Murakami's books (including After the Quake) and can vouch for what an amazing writer and story teller he is. I am excited to see how the production will pan out!

Update on Tufts’ Response

2009-04-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Update on Tufts’ Response to On Campus 04.09.09 Hate Incident

In response to the 04.09.09 hate incident against the students of the Korean Students Association at Tufts University, approximately 200 of its students and faculty members rallied in front of the Tisch Library on campus on April 16, 2009. The main purposes of the rally was to shed light on the recent hate incident, as well as the history of Anti-Asian American sentiments that occur on college campuses that have frequently been rendered invisible. A petition addressed to the senior administration and the president demanded the following: 1) Increase Asian American, which should not be conflated with Asian, experiences within the Tufts curriculum, 2) Have mandatory student and faculty diversity training that will include Asian American experiences, 3) A transparent protocol that will immediately address acts of racial discrimination on campus, and 4) Public denouncement by the chief administrative officer, namely the president of the university, of acts of racial discrimination and intolerance, while offering resources to students who are victims of such incidents. This petition is still available for students and concerned members of the community to sign online. Several Asian American students and faculty, as well as their allies, spoke at the event.

A day after the hate incident occurred, a campus wide email sent from the Dean of Students indicated that the incident is under investigation. It has been two weeks and there have not been any further response or updates from the administration. Meanwhile, there have been several institutions outside the university that have emailed or sent correspondence to members of the senior administration demanding a need for action or a public statement, but to no avail. The incident has received media attention, still there has not been any response from the administration. The lack of leadership from the administration on taking a public stance on this incident has allowed a significant number of comments to be posted on the website of the institution’s student newspaper that further target and attack victims of this incident and their allies. While the administration may not be able to comment on the immediate case, broader issues regarding the overall campus climate and Tufts’ intolerance of hate have not been addressed. Students who have been deeply hurt by the incident have received no outreach or support from the administration and are further hurt by the lack of acknowledgment on the part of the administration of the occurrence and traumatizing effects of the incident. We urge individuals and organizations, Asian Americans and their allies, who support us during this time to email President Bacow (larry.bacow@tufts.edu) to express your outrage at his level of inaction.

For more information, contact +16174609916, rsiy01@gmail.com or +14012066938, jenny.lau@tufts.edu

Summer Volunteer Opportunities

2009-04-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day! :)

For those of you who will be sticking around Boston this summer, there are going to be great opportunities for you to get involved in the community and lend out that helping hand of yours!

There are three in particular that I would like to highlight for now.

1) Project Bread's Walk for Hunger

May 3, 2009 (Sunday)

This annual 20-mile walk takes place on the first Sunday of May. Walk along with 40,000 other friends, rain or shine, to help the hungry! With hunger on the rise in Massachusetts, low-income families need your help more than ever. "As the state’s leading antihunger organization, Project Bread is dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ultimately ending hunger in Massachusetts. Through The Walk for Hunger, the oldest continual pledge walk in the country, Project Bread provides millions of dollars each year in privately donated funds to over 400 emergency food programs in 128 communities statewide. Project Bread also advocates systemic solutions that prevent hunger in children and that provide food to families in natural, everyday settings. With the support of the Governor and State Legislature, the organization has invested millions in grants to community organizations that feed children where they live, learn, and play."
For more information about hunger and the walk, you can go to Project Bread's website HERE.

If you would like to register, please volunteer with our fellow PAAC group, UTSAV. You can join the team or make a contribution by going HERE.

---

2) The City Year Serve-a-Thon

May 30, 2009 (Saturday)

On Saturday, May 30, 2009 join City Year Boston for Serve-a-thon, the city's premier community service event. Join 1,500 volunteers in bringing new life to schools, playgrounds, vacant lots, housing developments, and parks. All funds raised through Serve-a-thon will go to support City Year, celebrating its 20th year making a difference in the lives of children throughout the Boston community..

GIVE your time. Join the City Year youth corps to demonstrate the power of service and see firsthand how one day can transform a community.
BUILD a stronger community. Join thousands of other dedicated participants to help transform Greater Boston into a better place to live and grow.
BELIEVE in the power of service. Invigorate the City of Boston through projects such as creating outdoor play areas, painting murals, planting gardens and renovating community spaces.

All funds raised through Serve-a-thon help the young leaders of City Year Boston make a difference in the life of a child through literacy tutoring, mentoring, after-school and school vacation programs, and community service opportunities.

Further details about registering as a volunteer : TBA!

---

3) AIDS Walk Boston 2009

June 7, 2009 (Sunday)

AIDS Walk Boston is a grassroots community event benefiting AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, New England's largest and oldest AIDS service organization. The Walk’s dedicated participants and sponsors raise over $1.2 million to support AAC’s programs, services and prevention efforts and to increase awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Massachusetts. Now in its twenty-fourth year, AIDS Walk Boston is the largest AIDS-related event in New England. The Walk attracts over 15,000 participants each year from Boston and hundreds of surrounding communities.

Further details about registering as a walker/runner: TBA!

Random Stuff...

2009-04-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

With the creation of this new blog, I now have a venue to vent and ramble, but I promise, I will only post things here that I feel are relevant to one of the following topics: Korea, Kore-Am/Asian-Am interests, KASA itself, or Northeastern.

So...here we go.

First: I have to say, that I'm super excited about the up-coming year. We've started planning out the year, and we have a lot of things up our sleeves. I'm so happy with where this new e-board is right now; so eager and so full of ideas!! As a part of KASA for the last 3 years, and an e-board member for the past 2 years (as Treasurer, VP, and then President-elect), it thrills me to see how much it's grown in the past year, and how much potential we have to grow this coming year. Seriously guys, I'm beyond elation...^___________^

Second: This came out in the news before the blog was started, but I feel like there should be a mention about the two American journalists detained in N. Korea. There hasn't been a whole lot of information released since the initial reports and I can only hope and pray not just for their safety, but for their families and friends as well.

The topic of North Korea is one I could go on and on about for hours, so I won't bore you, but if you don't know too much about it, please do yourselves a favor and google it. Especially with their ongoing nuclear program and their reluctancy to adhere to any (if at all) UN requests, I truly believe that people need to be as informed as possible about the ongoings N. Korea. I really could keep going but I won't.

Instead, I want to end this post with some good news!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GOOD FRIENDS OF NU BARKADA FOR WINNING ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR!!!

You deserve it!

~Hannah

P.S.- To those of you who came out to the Quad yesterday wearing RED, thanks so much!!

Kollaboration: NY

2009-04-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

For more information, go to http://kollabny.blogspot.com/ and http://www.kollaboration.org/

2009-04-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

GET INVOLVED NORTHEASTERN!

As you know there was an incident at Tufts on 04.09.09, now they are hoping to rally against this hate crime on their campus and they need YOUR help!

THIS THURSDAY @ 12:30- 1:30 PM the Tufts' KSA will be demonstrating against the bias report and Tufts administration

Please visit this Facebook group or Facebook event to get more information!

This public demonstration will promote awareness on not just this bias incident, but also the history of discrimination against Asian Americans on college campuses that has been rendered invisible. The rally will shed light on measures that the Tufts administration can take to prevent such and other related incidents from happening on campus. On Thursday, please wear RED to show your support for victims of all incidents of bias, racism, and racial discrimination.

Groundbreaking Memorial on Bainbridge Island

2009-04-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Read the article here: Bainbridge Island breaks ground for Japanese-American internment memorial

[Photo above] Fumiko Hayashida waits to board a ferry from Bainbridge Island on March 30, 1942 with her daughter asleep in her arms.

"This war was so long ago," she said. "I'm proud of my life. I had a good life, not a perfect one. But nobody's life is perfect. I have good family and good friends, and I feel so lucky." [from Seattlepi.com]

There was a progressive ceremony on Monday, March 30 for the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial. The name of the memorial site is Nidoto Nai Yoni, which means Let it not happen again in Japanese. Just as important as not letting it happen again, it is especially important to remember historical events such as the Executive Order 9066 and the anguish and hardships that were experienced along with it. "It reminds the public what happened, so that it will never happen again...We don't want it to happen again, never again, to any group," said Hayashida. Spoken by the oldest living survivor of the interment camps created during World War II, let her words sink in and remind us that racism and xenophobia happened in our country and that an entire community of innocent people were victimized simply because of their ethnicity and culture. What happened is something to learn from and something that should never happen again.

[photo above] Japanese Americans from Bainbridge Island head to a ferry on March 30, 1942, the beginning of their journey to internment camps, where they would spend up to the next four years. Some 227 men, women and children were forced to leave the island with just days' notice [from The Seattle Times]

---

For more information, visit BIJAC (Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community

-Allison Rhee

TUFTS UNIVERSITY BIAS INCIDENT

2009-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

Hey NU KASA,

So I'm writing you guys all again to inform you of the Tufts University Bias Incident. It seems that in the past few days, I keep giving you guys all bad news and it saddens me to have to do it, but I think that it's necessary that you all know about this. If you don't want to read the article, this is the breakdown:

A white freshmen male, who claimed he had been drinking, approached 5 male Tufts KSA members who were practicing a dance for their KSA Culture show. He repeatedly asked the dancers to teach him the dance, and then mockingly tried to imitate it, saying "This is the gayest sh*t I've ever done." When the KSA dancers asked him to leave, he responded saying "F*ck you. F*ck you, I could take all of you. I'll kill you all," and claimed that he was going to get his fraternity brothers to help. This resulted in a physical altercation, and the freshmen was pinned to the ground. He claimed he couldn't breathe, and was quickly released. As he got up off the ground, he again started cursing and saying “F*ck you all, you f*cking chinks, go back to China! Go back to your f*cking country, you don’t belong in this country.” The KSA members then reported this incident to an RA, who reported this as a bias incident.

As President of Northeastern University's Korean American Student Association, it upsets me that something of this nature happened at a neighboring University and targeted a group which so closely resembles ours. Being such a small and fairly tight knit Korean community here in Boston, I'm sure that many of you know members of Tufts' KSA, and it's important that they are aware that NU KASA does not tolerate bigotry. It frustrates me that we work so hard to promote cultural diversity and to share our love and pride that we have for our culture with those around us, and yet at a time when celebration should be found, racism and bigotry is not far around the corner. Unfortunately it truly is one step forward, two steps back.

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=70037281395&ref=share
http://www.tuftsdaily.com/alleged-bias-incident-against-korean-students-prompts-widespread-reaction-1.1652715

Please show your support for Tufts KSA and spread the word that bigotry and social injustice will NOT be tolerated, not just on the NU campus, but anywhere.

~Hannah Yuh
NU KASA President

L.A. Catholic Retreat Shooting

2009-04-10T08:02:00.001-07:00

I was checking my news feed today and I saw a headline pop-up which I thought was completely crazy, "Shooting at Korean Retreat leaves 1 dead, 3 injured" from the L.A. Times.

I urge you all to read the article here: http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-korean-retreat-shooting9-2009apr09,0,928020.story

Let's keep the friends and family of those affected in our thoughts this Easter Sunday yea?

~Hannah
NU KASA President

Meet the KASA E-board of 2009-2010!

2009-04-10T06:48:00.001-07:00

We are excited and look forward to the upcoming year :D

2009-04-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hey KASA--

If you're going to be around this summer, come out to BKIC's Annual Charity Gala!

[All proceeds will go to the Eugene Bell Foundation]

more information HERE.