Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Compiled Bid 1
Compiled Bid 1
INTRODUCTION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION OPENING LETTER ....................................................................................... 5 VISION STATEMENT ................................................................................... 6 STAFF BIOGRAPHIES .................................................................................. 7 WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD CAMPUS DESCRIPTION ............................................................................. 12 PROVIDENCE .......................................................................................... 13 BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS ......................................................................... 19 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...................................................................................... 15 WORKSHOP SESSION ONE ......................................................................................... 23 SESSION TWO ........................................................................................ 25 SESSION THREE ....................................................................................... 27 SESSION FOUR ........................................................................................ 29 DINING @ BROWN ......................................................................................... 31 TRANSPORTATION ........................................................................................... 35 BUDGET OVERVIEW ......................................................................................... 37 LETTER OF SUPPORT ......................................................................................... 40 KOREANS @ BROWN ...................................................................................... 43 KOREANS @ RISD ............................................................................................ 47 T-SHIRT PROPOSAL .......................................................................................... 48 PERSONAL STATEMENTS ................................................................................... 49
INTRODUCTION
OPENING LETTER
KASCON
was
initially
a
string
of
facts
and
fragmented,
secondhand
stories
from
friends
who
had
attended
KASCON
23
at
UPenn.
Over
1,000
student
participants.
Established
at
Princeton
University
in
1987.
Michelle
Rhee.
James
Sun.
Kollaboration.
We
did
not
truly
understood
the
potential
of
a
conference
to
change
perspectives
and
act
as
a
facet
for
larger
social
change
--
not
until
much
later.
We
were
simply
drawn
to
the
idea
of
a
student-organized
national
Korean
American
conference
that
brought
together
student
from
all
over
the
nation.
We
heard
that
Brown
University
had
never
hosted
the
conference
and
decided
to
take
part
as
bid
committee
members.
The
past
two
years
have
had
its
ups
and
downs:
days
spent
scrambling
for
a
graphic
designer,
learning
that
we
did
not
win
the
bid
last
year,
losing
graduating
members,
starting
a
new
committee
this
year,
and
many
hours
in
classrooms
working
feverishly
towards
an
abstract
deadline.
We
particularly
struggled
trying
to
find
the
overlap
between
our
personal
goals
and
motivations
for
KASCON,
which
spanned
from
defining
the
Korean
American
identity
and
networking
to
need
for
grassroots
political
movement
in
our
community.
We
ended
up
conducting
one
online
poll
after
another
to
vote
on
our
theme.
However,
in
the
end,
when
the
bid
packet
was
compiled
and
designs
were
set,
we
stopped
and
took
a
step
back
--
and
realized
that
the
packet
itself
was
a
mere
secondary
product
of
the
larger
process
we
had
gone
through.
What
had
started
as
background
research
of
Maria
Yoon
for
the
conference
had
led
to
discussions
about
marriage
and
our
own
pressures
to
marry
a
Korean
man
or
woman.
The
conference
planning
gave
us
a
safe
space
to
talk
about
our
own
unspoken
stories,
challenge
each
others
views,
and
overall,
better
understand
the
multidimensional
nature
of
the
social
issues
that
we
wished
to
discuss
through
the
conference.
Now,
there
are
faces
and
personal
stories
attached
to
the
cold,
hard
statistics,
and
an
individualized
sense
of
drive
when
we
talk
about
hosting
KASCON
26.
We
hope
KASCON
26
will
facilitate
the
same
type
of
conversations
that
led
to
our
own
realizations
about
Korean-American
issues
and
self-identity.
The
discussions
will
hopefully
examine
topics
that
may
be
taboo,
discover
inspirational
ideas
amid
conflict,
and
expose
problems
that
were
once
hidden
behind
a
veil
of
contentment
and
status
quo.
We
wish
to
make
participants
comfortable
with
being
uncomfortable.
We
must
move
past
the
safe
and
repetitive
reexamination
of
our
history.
The
next
step
requires
that
we
break
down
our
white
picket
fences,
push
ourselves
until
we
reach
a
breaking
point,
breakthrough
our
chains,
and
break
out
from
this
cycle
of
contentment
and
self-oppression.
Our
Korean
American
community
requires
action.
With
this
drive
for
change,
we
present
to
you,
Brown
Universitys
KASCON
26:
BREAK! Margaret
Kim,
Juhee
Kwon Brown
University
KASCON
XXVI
Bidding
Committee
Co-Directors
5
INTRODUCTION
VISION STATEMENT
6
INTRODUCTION
STAFF BIOGRAPHY
juhee_kwon@brown.edu 763-300-7508 CONCENTRATION: Biology, Ethnic Studies CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Mock Trial, Brown Asian Sisters Empowered (BASE), Minority Peer Counselor Friend, Rhode Island Korean School Assistant Teacher, Asian Students United
INTRODUCTION
STAFF BIOGRAPHY
SUNG HYUN CHO 13
Brown
University
sung_hyun_cho@brown.edu
415-745-5432
CONCENTRATION:
Political
Science
CAMPUS
INVOLVEMENT:
Korean
Adoptee
Mentorship
Program
(KAMP),
Hansori,
Fusion
Dance
Company
andrew_chung@brown.edu 401-489-1700 CONCENTRATION: Biomedical Engineering CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Brown Korean International Student Association, Brown Global Medical Brigades
INTRODUCTION
STAFF BIOGRAPHY
DENNY KIM 14
Brown
University
denny_kim@brown.edu
917-843-5009
CONCENTRATION:
Biology
CAMPUS
INVOLVEMENT:
Korean
American
Student
Association,
Korean
Adoptee
Mentorship
Program
(KAMP)
hyun_j_kim@brown.edu 551-579-2610 CONCENTRATION: Chemistry, Economics CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Korean Adoptee Mentorship Program (KAMP), Korean American Student Association
10
INTRODUCTION
STAFF BIOGRAPHY
HANNAH LEE 14
Brown
University
hannah_lee@brown.edu
201-694-4319
CONCENTRATION:
Biology/History
CAMPUS
INVOLVEMENT:
Korean
American
Student
Association,
Meiklejohn
Peer
Advisor,
American
Cancer
Society's
Relay
for
Life,
Community
Health
Advocacy
Program,
Dash
for
Diabetes,
MedLife,
Asian
Christian
Fellowship,
Korean
Adoptee
Mentoring
Program
(KAMP),
Brown
CareerLab
Student
Ambassador
min_jung_yoo@brown.edu 9177330308 CONCENTRATION: Applied Mathematics - Economics CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT: Learning Exchange, Korean Adoptee Mentorship Program (KAMP), Korean International Student Association
11
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
CAMPUS DESCRIPTION
Located
in
historic
Providence,
Rhode
Island,
BROWN
UNIVERSITY
is
a
private
Ivy
League
institution
founded
in
1764
the
seventh-oldest
college
in
the
United
States.
Its
main
campus
is
located
on
College
Hill
and
constitutes
143
acres
and
235
buildings
that
reflect
the
Georgian
style
of
American
colonial
architecture.
The
Brown
campus
is
open
to
its
surroundings
and
pedestrian-friendly
walking
from
one
end
of
campus
to
the
other
takes
about
15
minutes.
The
Brown
community
consists
of
a
very
vibrant
diversity
with
students
from
all
50
states
and
more
than
100
countries.
Named
the
#1
College
in
America
for
Happiest
Students
by
Princeton
Review
in
2007
and
2010- 2011,
Brown
is
recognized
its
unique
sense
of
style,
global
reach,
numerous
cultural
events,
and
active
student
community.
The
iconic
Van
Wickle
Gates
that
enclose
the
Main
Green
consists
of
academic
and
dormitory
buildings.
The
campus
outside
of
the
gates
also
consists
of
University
buildings,
dormitories,
libraries
and
Victorian-era
houses
acquired
from
the
outer
neighborhood.
Thayer
Street
is
easily
accessible
as
it
runs
directly
through
campus
and
hosts
many
restaurants
and
shops
popular
with
students
and
faculty.
Additionally,
College
Hills
special
Wickenden
Street
is
another
commercial
district
offering
restaurants
and
shops.
At
the
base
of
College
Hill
is
the
exceptional
fine
arts
and
design
college,
RHODE
ISLAND
SCHOOL
OF
DESIGN.
Its
main
art
museum,
the
Rhode
Island
School
of
Design
Museum,
has
the
twentieth
largest
collection
in
the
country.
Brown
and
RISD
share
many
academic
and
community
resources
and
offer
joint
courses.
12
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
PROVIDENCE
PROVIDENCE is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region. Situated at the mouth of the Providence River, the city limits enclose a small geographic region characteristic of eastern seaboard cities, and includes many historic buildings. The Brown campus is within a walking distance (10-20 min) to various downtown restaurants and shops, the Dunkin Donuts Convention Center, the Providence Place Mall (among the largest in southern New England), the Biltmore hotel, and the Bank of America Skating Center. College Hill is beautifully situated in a larger city that offers much to college students in Providence. While countless restaurants and variety stores are near College Hill, the downtown of Providence is definitely a place to explore. Simply a fifteen-minute walk to the core of the city from the top of College Hill, students can explore streets lit with lights from tree to tree and different stores at every corner. Cuisines offered in Providence range from French dining to authentic Thai food and Italian tastes. A creative capital of Rhode Island, Providence combines the accessibility and friendliness of a small town with the culture and sophistication of a big city. It encompasses a thriving art community, vibrant neighborhoods, various shops, and of course the scenic beauty of Providence River running through the city. 13
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
PROVIDENCE
14
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY
02:30
PM
-
06:00
PM
02:00
PM
-
06:00
PM
06:30
PM
-
08:00
PM
08:00
PM
-
09:00
PM
09:00
PM
-
11:00
PM
11:00
PM
-
01:00
AM
Check-In
&
Registration
Providence
Tour
Opening
Ceremony
Classy
Mixer
Basketball
Tournament
Museum
After
Dark
Movie
Screening
Scavenger
Hunt
Multipurpose
Room
(KASPAR)
Starts
at
the
Hotel
Salomon
101
&
001
Sayles
OMAC
RISD
Museum
Granoff
Center
Multipurpose
Room
(KASPAR)
PROVIDENCE TOUR
To
showcase
the
city
of
Providence
The
Creative
Capital
where
Brown
University
and
Rhode
Island
School
of
Design
(RISD)
are
located,
there
will
be
tours
allowing
KASCON
attendees
to
explore
the
city
and
absorb
the
citys
role
in
history.
Stops
will
include
the
artsy
RISD
Museum,
the
historical
Benefit
Street,
and
the
lively
downtown
area
of
Providence.
The
tour
will
finish
at
one
of
Providences
downtown
restaurants,
where
attendees
will
be
able
to
relax
and
enjoy
the
Providence
dining
experience.
OPENING CEREMONY
Brown
University
and
RISD
will
officially
welcome
students
to
KASCON
26
with
an
opening
speech
from
the
Executive
Director
presenting
this
years
theme,
BREAK!,
and
outlining
the
itinerary
of
activities
and
events
for
the
duration
of
the
conference.
The
opening
remarks
will
be
followed
by
the
keynote
speaker,
who
will
offer
an
insightful
and
current
perspective
on
the
issues
and
movements
relevant
to
contemporary
Korean-Americans.
Moving
forward
from
the
current
issues
of
Korean
America,
the
speaker
will
discuss
the
need
for
more
proactive
participation
by
young
Korean-Americans
in
their
communities
and
beyond.
In
conclusion
of
the
opening
ceremony,
a
multimedia
presentation
will
be
shown,
featuring
board
members
of
KASCON
26
and
a
quick
glimpse
of
various
conference
seminar
sessions,
speakers,
and
events.
CLASSY MIXER
Attendees
will
be
given
a
chance
to
meet
new
people
and
get
to
know
students
from
other
university
through
a
tastefully
executed
speed-dating
event.
Through
one- on-one
chats,
they
can
learn
about
the
Korean
American
community
in
other
universities
and
also
make
new
friends.
15
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Athletic
students
who
like
a
little
competition
can
show
off
their
skills
and
represent
their
schools
through
the
Basketball
Tournament.
Held
at
the
Olney-Margolies
Athletic
Center,
there
will
be
necessary
referees
and
equipment
to
enable
the
5-on-5
basketball
tournament.
As
an
incentive,
the
winning
team
will
win
a
prize
and
the
title
as
the
KASCON
26
Basketball
tournament
champions.
MOVIE SCREENING
As a way of promoting the works of Korean Americans in the film industry, we will be showing a movie featuring Korean American actors/directors for the avid movie-goers and film fanatics. Popcorn and beverages will be provided to make this movie experience even more pleasurable.
SCAVENGER HUNT
To those who want to explore Providence but dont know where to start, we will provide a checklist of places to visit and each locations highlights! Given the checklist, attendees can check-off each place they visit, and when they finish, one of the finished groups will win a surprise prize. 16
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SUNDAY
08:00
AM
-
12:00
PM
CAREER FAIR
At
the
KASCON
26
Career
Fair,
various
companies
and
employers
will
set
up
booths
in
order
to
offer
KASCON
participants
opportunities
to
converse
and
ask
questions.
A
considerable
amount
of
diverse
companies
and
employers
will
be
represented
from
industries
such
as
Consulting,
Education,
Energy,
Finance,
Government,
Health,
Law,
Non-Profit,
and
Technology.
Business
casual
attire
and
resumes
are
recommended.
SEMINAR SESSION
The
attendees
will
be
able
to
get
to
the
core
of
the
conference,
the
examination
of
the
theme,
BREAK!.
During
each
session,
students
will
be
able
to
select
from
multiple
seminars
focusing
on
variety
of
topics
related
to
Korean
American
involvement
in
our
society.
Guest
speakers
who
are
expertise
in
their
respective
fields
will
lead
the
seminar
by
discussing
their
own
knowledge,
experience,
and
inspiration
with
the
attending
students
at
each
seminar.
To
stimulate
the
students
minds,
the
guest
speakers
will
be
encouraged
to
promote
student
participation
throughout
discussion.
Each
seminar
session
will
be
an
hour
long
and
there
will
be
15
minutes
available
for
travel
time
between
each
site.
17
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
KOLLABORATION
We
leave
the
best
for
the
last,
Saturday
night
ends
with
Kollaboration
and
an
after-party.
Kollaboration
will
present
fantastic
live
performances
by
musicians,
dancers,
and
more!
The
fun
continues
at
the
after-party
at
one
of
our
hotspot
clubs,
Colosseum,
where
the
music
will
be
bumping
and
the
crowd
will
be
jumping
CLOSING CEREMONY
At the closing ceremony, attendees will reflect on their experience at KASCON 26 at Brown University and RISD.
18
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS
WILSON HALL
Wilson
Hall
was
built
through
the
bequest
of
George
Francis
Wilson
for
the
use
of
the
Physics
Department.
In
1965,
the
physics
department
moved
to
Barus
and
Holley,
freeing
up
the
space
for
classrooms
and
lecture
halls.
Regularly
used
for
a
cappella
rehearsals,
weekly
meetings
for
extracurricular
activities,
and
small
discussion
sections,
Wilson
Hall
has
a
recently
renovated
lecture
hall
seats
112
people
and
has
been
updated
with
advanced
teaching
technology.
SALOMON CENTER
The Salomon Center for Teaching, which has for its full name the Richard and Edna Salomon Center for Teaching, was dedicated on May 6, 1989. The two auditoriums of Salomon Center are used widely for large classes, special lecture series, and guest speaker events. The De Ciccio Family Auditorium seats 594 people and was used in 2011 to accommodate speaker events featuring prominent people such as actor James Franco and American anthropologist and physician Dr. Paul Farmer. The lower lecture auditorium seats 224 people and is most often used for mini-lecture series as well as class lectures. 19
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS
SAYLES
HALL
Sayles
Hall
was
dedicated
on
June
4,
1881,
a
memorial
to
William
Clark
Sayles
1878
donated
by
his
father,
William
F.
Sayles.
Built
in
a
Romanesque
style,
the
hall
consists
of
a
front
section
two
stories
high
with
a
central
tower
one
story
higher.
A
variety
of
classes,
including
classes
in
the
language
programs,
is
held
in
Sayles
Halls
small
classroom
settings.
The
large
meeting
hall
on
the
ground
floor
contains
portraits
of
all
the
past
presidents
of
Brown
University
and
used
frequently
for
events
such
as
the
Research
Fair
and
Career
Fair.
Sayles
Hall
is
best
known
for
the
organ,
which
was
a
gift
in
1903
from
Lucian
Sharpe
in
memory
of
his
parents.
Every
year
at
midnight
on
Halloween,
students
cram
into
the
Sayles
Hall
for
the
famous
organ
recital.
J. WALTER WILSON J. Walter Wilson was originally dedicated on October 5, 1962 for the Biology Department. Since the fall of 2008, the former biology building has changed into an administrative center comprised of offices, a campus mail room, and 11 seminar rooms equipped with smart boards with large flat display panel displays for both classroom use and study space. As Browns main student resources and service building, it represents the key objectives of Browns liberal academic philosophy as it is home to the Advising Central, Office of International Programs, and Writer Center. W. DUNCAN MACMILLAN HALL W. Duncan MacMillan Hall, completed in 1998 and named for its largest donor, Duncan MacMillan 53, was built to create a shared teaching and research space for Environmental Studies, Geology, and Chemistry. The building contains the CV Starr Auditorium that regularly holds large science course lectures with a 300-seat capacity. The hall is also equip with smaller lecture halls and small student study areas
20
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS
21
WELCOME TO BROWN/RISD
BUILDING DESCRIPTIONS
RISD MUSEUM
Located
through
the
Chace
Center
entrance,
the
prominent
Rhode
Island
School
of
Design
(RISD)
Art
Museum
owns
over
84,000
art
works
from
all
around
the
world.
It
is
southeastern
New
Englands
only
comprehensive
art
museum
and
is
accredited
by
the
American
Association
of
Museums.
The
museum
is
a
great
resource
for
artists,
students,
and
residents
of
the
greater
Providence
area.
It
welcomes
faculty
and
students
to
teach
and
conduct
research
directly
from
its
collection
all
year-round.
While
displaying
works
ranging
from
ancient
decorative
art
to
contemporary
installations,
the
museum
lends
its
space
to
various
exhibitions.
RISDs
Act
of
Incorporation
listed
three
objectivesinstruction,
career
training,
and
the
general
advancement
of
public
art
education
by
the
collection
of
and
exhibition
of
works
of
art.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Session
one
features
lecture-style
workshops
where
speakers
introduce
their
research
and
work.
The
workshops
ease
participants
into
the
conference
by
giving
background
information
about
the
work
of
Korean
Americans
in
current
society.
Dr. Chyng Sun, Clinical Associate Professor of Media Studies at NYU Many of our own childhoods were filled with Disney films that seemed to tell us stories of innocence, magic, and fun. However, the underlying messages about race, gender and class draws a disturbing picture about the kinds of values that are propagated under the guise of fairytales and quests of knights on white horses. In this workshop, Dr. Chyng Sun will analyze Disneys cultural pedagogy, examine how it was influenced by the Disney Corporation and helps us reexamine the childhood stories that we have been told and have innocently believed.
23
BREAKING IT DOWN
YUL KWON
Yul
Kwon
was
born
in
Flushing,
New
York
to
South
Korean
immigrant
parents
and
graduated
with
a
B.S.
in
Symbolic
Systems
from
Stanford
University.
He
attended
Yale
Law
School
and
has
worked
with
a
variety
of
positions
in
law,
politics,
business,
and
technology.
Yul
Kwon
is
best
known
for
his
role
in
the
CBS
reality
show,
Survivor:
Cook
Islands.
After
the
show,
Kwon
appeared
in
numerous
television
shows,
including
Live
with
Regis
&
Kelly,
recognized
for
his
inspiring
character
and
for
breaking
stereotypes
of
Asian-American
men
in
entertainment
media.
JENNIFER 8. LEE
Jennifer
8.
Lee
is
a
journalist
and
author
of
the
book,
The
Fortune
Cookie
Chronicles,
about
Chinese
food
in
American
culture,
which
hit
#25
on
the
New
York
Times
best
seller
list.
She
has
been
featured
on
a
TED
talk
speaking
about
the
origins
of
General
Tsos
chicken
and
produced
the
documentary
The
Search
for
General
Tso.
She
is
involved
in
the
Knight
News
Challenge,
an
initiative
to
support
news
innovation.
Ms.
Lee
was
vice
president
of
The
Harvard
Crimson
during
her
time
in
college
and
also
spent
nine
years
reporting
for
The
New
York
Times
covering
technology,
politics,
crime,
poverty
and
culture,
and
wrote
for
City
Room,
the
Times
New
York
City
metro
blog.
24
BREAKING POINT
This
session
brings
the
participants
into
a
smaller
space
and
within
closer
proximity
with
the
speakers.
The
sessions
are
small
group
workshops
that
are
discussion-focused
and
based
on
sharing
individual
narratives.
25
BREAKING POINT
DANIEL KIM
Professor
Daniel
Y.
Kim
is
the
Professor
of
Ethnic
Studies
at
Brown
University.
He
specializes
in
20th-century
U.S.
literature
with
a
particular
focus
on
the
Asian
American
traditions,
ethnic
studies,
gender
studies
and
the
Cold
War.
He
is
currently
working
on
a
book
titled
The
Korean
War
in
Color
where
he
examines
how
the
Korean
War
was
depicted
in
U.S.
popular
culture
as
it
was
taking
place
with
a
particular
focus
on
how
it
catalyzed
a
wholesale
transformation
of
both
domestic
and
transnational
narratives
of
race.
PAULINE PARK
Pauline
Park
co-founded
the
New
York
Association
for
Gender
Rights
Advocacy
(NYAGRA),
a
state-wide
transgender
advocacy
organization
in
1998
and
the
Queens
Pride
House
in
1997.
She
is
currently
the
chair
of
both
organizations
and
has
spearheaded
numerous
projects
in
New
York
involving
equal
rights
and
protections
for
transgendered
or
gender
non- conforming
people
in
health
care,
education,
and
work
force.
Park
completed
her
B.A.
at
the
University
of
Wisconsin-Madison,
her
M.Sc.
at
the
London
School
of
Economics
and
finally
her
Ph.D.
in
political
science
at
the
University
of
Illinois
at
Urbana-Champaign.
She
helped
to
oversee
the
first
fully
transgender-inclusive
legislation
enacted
by
the
New
York
state
legislature
in
2010
and
has
had
her
literary
works
on
LGBT
issues
published
in
countless
publications.
26
BREAKING CHAINS
The
third
session
will
feature
larger
lecture-style
workshops
discussing
the
proposed
solutions
for
problems
within
our
communities.
Rather
than
identifying
issues
relevant
to
our
community,
the
workshops
take
a
broader
look
at
our
community
and
propose
social
activism
models
as
a
method
of
moving
forward.
Did
I
Just
Laugh
At
a
Racist
Joke?
Helen
Hong,
Standup
comedian
Helen
Hong
often
uses
her
sense
of
humor
to
address
other
racial
stereotypes
to
bring
the
crowd
together
with
laughter.
She
will
speak
about
how
to
diffuse
the
Asian
stereotype
and
how
to
assert
the
Korean
American
identity
through
humor.
At
the
same
time,
she
will
discuss
the
fine
line
between
funny
stereotypes
and
racism
in
the
comedy
world.
I Chink, Therefore I Am
Kate Riggs, Performer, Spoken Word Artist Kate Riggs has worked extensively with college students of color, and thus developed various methods on workshops and group discussions. This is not for the weak-hearted, as her hands-on workshops are intended for students to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. She will use her valuable experience from travelling as a performer and the encounters with the Asian American communities to provide a forum to discuss the nature of race in America from the Asian American perspective.
Franny Choi, Spoken Word Poet, Community Organizer Franny Choi is a fervent spoke word artist that has earned numerous recognitions and awards nationally. She currently works in the area of community organizing. Choi will discuss her personal experiences as a college student trying to mobilize the campus community. She will also examine whether the difficulty to organize social movements in the Korean American community stems from our culture, our generation, or our contentment with the status quo. She hopes to talk about larger Asian American organizing and where we as Korean Americans fit into the fight for social justice. 27
BREAKING CHAINS
HELEN HONG
Helen
Hong
is
a
comedian,
TV
host,
dating
coach,
and
star
of
Logo
Channels
reality
dating
series
Setup
Squad.
Helens
adorable
stage
presence
and
mischievous
point
of
view
have
landed
her
on
The
Huffington
Posts
Favorite
Female
Comedians
list
and
a
profile
in
The
New
York
Times.
As
a
standup
comedian,
Helens
cute
little
Asian
girl
demeanor
leaves
audiences
totally
unprepared
for
her
naughty
and
irreverent
material.
She
was
a
semi-finalist
in
the
2011,
2008,
and
2007
NYs
Funniest
Stand-Up
Competition,
was
selected
for
the
Emerging
Comics
Showcase
at
the
2007
NYC
Underground
Comedy
Festival,
and
was
a
semi-finalist
in
the
2006
Californias
Funniest
Female
Contest.
KATE RIGG
Kate
Rigg
is
a
comedian
and
Spoken
Word
artist.
Shortly
after
graduating
from
Juilliard
with
a
degree
in
acting,
Kate
Rigg
became
a
stand-up
comedian
and
musician
in
New
York.
Her
work
often
features
socio- political
commentary
about
cultural
stereotyping
and
discusses
issues
related
to
race,
women,
and
tolerance.
Her
shows,
including
Kates
Chink- O-Rama:
featuring
the
chinkorama
dancers
and
Birth
of
a
nASIAN
have
toured
at
many
comedy
festivals.
She
has
spoken/written
publicly
about
Asian
American
culture
and
representation,
and
her
words
have
been
featured
in
publications
such
as
Time
Magazine,
NPR,
The
Globe
and
Mail.
KATHERINE CHON
Katherine
Chon
founded
the
Polaris
Project
during
her
senior
year
at
Brown
in
2002
after
hearing
about
women
being
forced
into
prostitution
near
her
hometown
in
South
Korea.
The
Polaris
Project
is
a
Washington,
D.C.-based
nonprofit
that
provides
transitional
housing
and
case
management
to
human
trafficking
victims.
Ms.
Chon
helped
establish
one
of
the
first
community-wide
Human
Trafficking
Task
Forces
in
the
U.S.
and
played
a
part
in
passing
federal
legislation
that
would
create
services
for
human
trafficking
victims.
She
is
a
recipient
of
the
Do
Something
BRICK
award,
the
Peoples
Voice
award,
and
the
Legacy
award,
among
others,
in
honor
of
her
leadership
and
social
entrepreneurship.
Polaris
Project
has
grown
rapidly
since
its
beginning
and
has
become
one
of
the
largest
and
recognized
anti-trafficking
organization
in
the
U.S.
28
BREAKING OUT
The
final
workshop
session
will
embody
the
theme
of
the
conference
Break!
and
urge
students
to
take
action
in
their
communities.
The
discussion
focused
workshops
provide
multiple
facets
for
participants
to
speak
and
act
out
against
injustices
through
art,
writing,
speech,
or
activism.
Maria Yoon, Artist For many Korean women, the duty of getting married weighs down upon them during their 20s. Even men are actively discouraged from staying single. Why is marriage so necessary in Korean culture? Maria Yoons workshop will involve the dismantling of an institution that has been a part of American culture as well as of many other cultures for hundreds of years. By discussing her work and projects in depth, Yoon will speak about her personal difficulties with societal expectations and obligations as a first generation Korean-American unmarried woman.
PJ Kim, NY City Council Candidate We should speak up boldly, fluently, and persuasively as assertive individuals and as a community. This workshop is for anyone who feels that they have great ideas and opinions but wish to find better means of communicating them to get the attention they deserve. PJ Kim, Harvard Business School graduate and NY City Council Candidate, will teach participants about effective public speaking to make our voices heard loud and clear in any public forum related to politics, business, or anywhere else. Angry Asian Girl: Our Silenced Narratives Lela Lee, Author of Angry Asian Girl comics Korean women are socialized to be feminine, to be quiet, to be polite, to be nice. And our anger is denied us. What can we do to break out of this repressive cycle of thinking and feel free to express justified anger like men do? This workshop for women and men will raise awareness for the issues that Asian American women and women in general face because of societys unrealistic and belittling expectations. She will discuss how this affects our lives in subtle ways.
Anida Yoeu Ali, Artist How does our perception of who we are conflict with images and stereotypes of who we are not? This workshop will explore the complicated truths of what it means to be Asian American. Through popular theater games, exercises, and writing prompts, participants will learn to write about their lives. We will address issues related to our names, home, neighborhood, family life, childhood memories and more. This workshop is meant to provoke, inspire, and extract stories from our personal experiences so that we may better understand our identity politics. 29
BREAKING OUT
MARIA YOON
As
a
Korean-born
artist,
Maria
Yoon
holds
a
BFA
from
the
Cooper
Union
and
currently
works
in
New
York
City
as
a
Contractual
Senior
Educator/Consultant
for
the
Education
Department
at
museums
across
the
city.
In
2001,
she
began
an
ongoing-project
involving
a
unique
artistic
series
of
works
entitled
Maria
the
Korean
Bride.
Maria
the
Korean
Bride
is
a
multi- media
performance
that
includes
photography-collages
and
videos
that
highlight
social
pressures
as
a
Korean-American,
and
it
has
received
widespread
attention
from
Asian-American
communities
in
the
New
York
area.
As
a
part
of
her
project,
she
married
fifty
men
in
fifty
states
across
America.
Yoons
work
is
exhibited
throughout
the
US
and
Korea,
and
she
is
an
annual
guest
lecturer/performance
artist
for
the
Metropolitan
Museum
of
Art
in
New
York
City.
PJ KIM
Former
NYC
Council
Candidate,
PJ
Kim
is
a
first
generation
immigrant
who
ended
up
receiving
his
BA
in
public
policy
at
Princeton
and
his
MBA/MPA
at
Harvard
Business
School.
Instead
of
going
into
the
corporate
finance
world,
Kim
decided
to
enlist
his
passion
for
public
service
and
business
experience
to
expand
economic
opportunity
for
all
New
Yorkers.
He
is
currently
helping
to
start
and
lead
numerous
nonprofit
anti-poverty
programs
that
have
helped
tens
of
thousands
of
low-income
residents
in
NYC
and
across
the
country
to
access
public
and
private
assistance,
move
out
of
economic
crisis,
and
begin
to
build
assets.
LELA LEE
Lela
Lee
created
the
comic,
Angry
Little
Asian
Girl
during
college
in
response
to
her
frustration
at
sexism
and
racism
in
popular
culture.
After
graduating,
she
became
an
actress
but
continued
working
on
this
comic
strip
about
an
Asian
American
girl
named
Kim
who
dealt
with
stereotyping.
Her
comics
became
wildly
popular
and
have
been
turned
into
a
series
of
short
films,
books,
and
web
comic.
She
also
began
a
companion
comic
strip
called
Angry
Little
Girls
with
new
characters
of
all
different
races.
30
DINING @ BROWN
ON-CAMPUS
Dining
facilities
on
the
Brown
Campus
will
be
the
most
convenient
and
accessible
option
for
visitors
while
they
are
attending
events.
Eleven
dining
halls
and
satellite
cafs
serve
variety
of
meal
and
snacking
options
throughout
the
day,
from
7:30
a.m.
at
the
earliest
to
2:00
a.m.
at
the
latest.
LOCATION: 144 Thayer Street, Wriston Quad HOURS: Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Sun 10:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. The Sharpe Refectory is the largest buffet-style dining location at Brown. It has four different stations (Bistro, Grill, Roots and Shoots and Tastes of the World) and salad, cereal and omelet bars. Vegan option is also offered daily.
THE GATE
LOCATION:
194
Meeting
Street,
Pembroke
Campus
HOURS:
Everyday
4:00
p.m.
to
2:00
a.m.
Located
in
proximity
to
the
Verney-Woolley,
the
Gate
is
a
popular
late-night
snack
options,
including
deli
sandwiches,
specialty
pizzas
along
with
soups.
IVY ROOM
LOCATION:
144
Thayer
Street,
Lower
Level HOURS:
Mon-Fri
11:30
a.m.-1:45
p.m.,
7:45
p.m.
12:00
a.m.
Located
on
the
lower
level
of
the
Ratty,
Ivy
room
serves
hot
entrees,
grilled
sandwiches,
homemade
soups
and
breads
at
lunch.
It
provides
variety
of
vegetarian
snacks
at
dinner,
including
omelet,
falafel,
frozen
yogurt
and
smoothies.
31
LOCATION: 135 Cushing St., Pembroke Campus HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Located on the northern part of the campus, Verney-Woolley provides All-you-care-to eat dining services similar to the Ratty. It accommodates wide range of food choices including its grill line, pasta bar, stir-fry line, salad and cereal bars, deli bar, and fruit, dessert and waffle stations.
JOSIAHS (JOS)
LOCATION: 144 Power Street, Vartan Gregorian Quad HOURS: Mon-Sun 6:00pm - 2:00am Josiah's is known for its selection of American all-time favorites. Opening until 2:00 a.m. everyday, it is a reliable choice for dinners and late Night meals. Items include sandwiches and burgers from the grill, along with salad, soups, quesadillas, ice cream and some snacks. For more information, visit http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Food_Services/
32
DINING @ BROWN
OFF-CAMPUS
THAYER STREET
Plentiful
restaurants
are
located
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
Brown
Campus.
Thayer
Street,
running
right
through
the
campus,
is
a
convenient
and
affordable
destination
with
numerous
shops
and
restaurants.
CHAIN RESTAURANTS Chipotle Johnny Rockets LOCAL RESTAURANTS Antonios Pizza Nice Slice Better Burger Co. Extreme Pizza & Wing Soban* Haruki Express
Au Bon Pain Subway Kabob-N-Curry Shanghai Paragon Caf Shark Bar and Grill Spice Thai Bistro Sushi Express
Ben & Jerrys Starbucks Coffee Andreas Restaurant East Side Pockets Karta Bar Gorditos Burritos Bajas Tex & Mex
LOCAL CAF AND DESSERT SHOPS: Froyo World* Blue State Coffee Meeting Street Caf Juniper* La Creperie Tealuxe Bagel Gourmet * - Indicates that the restaurant/ establishment has promised to provide discounts 33
WICKENDEN STREET
Wickenden
Street
is
located
about
10
minutes
from
campus.
Filled
with
art
galleries,
independent
shops
and
cafes,
Wickenden
Street
will
be
a
great
weekend
brunch
option
for
the
attendees.
Abyssinia
Brickway
on
Wickenden
Sakura
Amys
Place
Duck
and
Bunny
Tokyo
DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE
Resting just below College Hill, downtown Providence is about 15 minute walks from the Brown campus. There are both affordable chain restaurants and fancy high-end places. Caf Nuovo Finnegans Wake Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gracies Bar and Grille La Laiterie Local 121 McCormick & Schmick's Ten Prime Steak and Sushi Sura * Fire and Ice Teriyaki and Korean House * Alforno Capriccio Hemenways Seafood Cuban Revolution Pot Au Feu and many more!
FOOD TRUCKS
Mama
Kims
Korean
BBQ*
De
Las
Olas
Taqueria
El
Taconazo
Hewtins
Dog
Mobile
Like
No
Udder
Poco
Loco
Tacos
PVD
Juice
Company
Sugarush
Rocket
Truck
Plouf
Plouf
Mijos
Tacos
Providence
Coffee
Roasters
TRANSPORTATION
GETTING TO BROWN
Conveniently
located
on
the
College
Hill
near
Downtown
Providence,
Brown
University
is
easily
accessible
as
there
are
a
variety
of
available
transportations
near
Brown
Campus.
The
major
train
(Amtrak
and
MBTA)
and
bus
(Megabus,
Peterpan
Bus
and
Greyhound)
stations
are
in
10-15
minutes
walking
distance
from
the
Brown
Campus,
and
T.F.
Green
airport
is
within
a
15-minute
driving
distance.
BY PLANE
T. F. Green Airport is about 10 miles south of Providence. Participants may take advantage of the Airport taxi service or Aero-Airport Limousine Service. Limousine service costs $11 for a one-way trip. It runs from 5am to 11pm, leaving the airport every hour and stops at Browns Faunce arch 27 minutes after the hour.
BY TRAIN
The Providence Amtrak station is located downtown, about a 15-minute walk from the Brown campus. Cabs can also be taken for a low fare, typically around 6 to 8 dollars. There are two train services offered: Amtrak and MBTA. Northeast Regional line of Amtrak runs from Virginia to Boston, passing through Washington D.C., Philadelphia, NYC, New Haven, and Providence. MBTA commuter rail runs from Boston South Station to Providence in an hour (one-way $8.25). Trains usually run from 5:00/6:00 a.m. in the morning to 12:00/1:00 a.m. at night.
BY CAR
FROM THE NORTH OR SOUTH: From either I-95 South or I-95 North, take Exit 22A, Downtown, Memorial Boulevard. At the fifth traffic light, turn left onto College St. Cross the bridge and proceed up the hill following College St to the end. At the top of the hill, you will see Browns Van Wickle Gates. Turn left onto Prospect St. At the next light, turn right onto Waterman St. FROM THE EAST: Follow I-195 West until exit 2, South Main St. Travel down South Main St to the first light. Turn right onto College St. At the next stop sign, go straight. At the top of the hill, you will see Browns Van Wickle Gates. Turn left onto Prospect St. At the next light, turn right onto Waterman St.
BY BUS
The Providence bus stop is located in the Kennedy Plaza, which is also located at downtown Providence. It is a 10-minute walk from the Brown Campus, and cabs can be taken to campus for a low fare. The two bus services, Peter Pan and Greyhound, provide transportation from the Northeast regions to Providence at reasonable prices. Megabus is also a good option when traveling from New York City. Ticket price is usually under $20. Buses usually run during the day from 5:00/6:00 a.m. in the morning to 12:00/1:00 a.m. at night. 35
TRANSPORTATION
GETTING AROUND
TAXI
From
anywhere
in
the
Providence,
attendees
can
call
for
taxi
services
whenever
needed.
There
are
many
taxi
companies
around
the
campus.
A
list
includes:
Yellow
Cab
(401-941-1122),
Checker
Cab
(401-944-2000),
Dominican
Taxi
(401-421-3787),
East
Side
Taxi
(401-
521-4200),
Economy
Cab
(401- 944-6700),
Bay
Taxi
(401-461-0780),
and
Gonzales
Taxi
(401-331-9560).
RIPTA is the main public transportation system in Rhode Island, and is a convenient mode of traveling when exploring providence neighborhoods such as Federal Hills, Fox Points, and Wayland. The fare for buses and trolley is $2 per ride, and daily pass is available at $6.00. Children under 5 ride free when accompanied by an adult.
ZIPCAR
There are two locations of Zipcar, one of the largest car rental company, near Brown. During the stay, attendees may borrow cars at low hourly ($7-8) and daily($60-80) rate. Locations are shown on the map below. 36
BUDGET OVERVIEW
COST SUMMARY
SPEAKER COSTS
Transportation
Lodging
Meals
East
Coast
West
Coast
Friday
Saturday
Friday
Dinner
Saturday
Breakfast
Saturday
Lunch
Saturday
Dinner
Sunday
Breakfast
Costs
Per
Unit
$100
$350
$100
$100
$25
$10
$10
$25
$10
Units
20
11
31
31
31
31
31
31
31
Total
$2000
$3850
$3100
$3100
$775
$310
$310
$775
$310
Subtotal:
$14,530
EVENT COSTS
Brown
Facilities
Registration
(Including
Beverages)
Opening
Ceremony
Classy
Mixer
(Including
Food
and
Beverages)
Career
Fair
Basketball
Tournament
(Equipment)
Movie
Screening
Closing
Ceremony
Scavenger
Hunt
Workshops
Museum
After
Dark
RISD
Art
Workshop
Providence
Tour
Kollaboration
(Rhode
Island
Convention
Center)
Afterparty
(Club
Roxy
Rental
&
Shuttles)
Total
$1303
$963
$350
$625
$100
$50
$845
$300
$8330
$2500
$100
$1000
$4200
$2000
Subtotal:
$22,666
37
ATTENDEES COSTS
Lodging
Friday
Saturday
Dorms
(Friday
and
Saturday)
Saturday
Lunch
Shirt
Program
Folder/Name
Tag/
Misc.
Costs
Per
Unit
$120
$120
$0
$7
$6
$4
$4
Units
125
125
100
500
500
500
500
Total
$12500
$12500
$0
$3500
$3000
$2000
$2000
Subtotal:
$35,500
PUBLICITY COSTS
Internet
Facebook
YouTube
Myspace
Website
Posters/Banner
Flyers
Gas
Other
Costs
(Food,
Lodging)
KoreAm
Journal
(Full-page
Ad)
Others
Total
$0
$0
$0
$100
$500
$200
$200
$600
$3000
$3000
Subtotal:
$7,600
TOTAL
COST:
$80,296
Advertisement
1. All speaker, attendee, and publicity costs have been estimated with the exception of lodging where quotes have been obtained for the Radisson, Courtyard Providence, Marriott, and Biltmore, which roughly averages to a group rate of $100. 2. The events and logistics costs have been obtained with direct quotes from the school.
38
BUDGET OVERVIEW
REVENUE SUMMARY
REVENUE SUMMARY
Registration
Fees
Total
$10000
$30000
$21000
$2500
$5000
$500
$500
$2000
$500
$1000
$250
$2000
$10000
$3000
$500
$1500
$2500
$22000
Subtotal:
$86,750
Early
Registration:
$100,
100
Attendees
Regular
Registration:
$120,
250
Attendees
Late
Registration:
$140,
150
Attendees
Brown/RISD
Attendees:
$25,
100
Brown
University
Office
of
the
President
Office
of
Campus
Life
and
Student
Affairs
Dean
of
College
Alumni
Association
Watson
Institute
for
International
Studies
Third
World
Center
East
Asian
Studies
Department
Office
of
Continuing
Education
Undergraduate
Finance
Board
Office
of
Student
Life
Local
Sponsorship
Restaurant
Deals
Program
Advertisement
Corporate
Sponsorship
HanYang
University
Miscellaneous
1. Registration estimates will be appropriately adjusted once precedent attendance information is obtained from schools who have hosted in the past five years: Yale, Pepperdine, Penn, Emory, Rutgers 2. The departments marked with an asterisk (*) are not finalized values but estimates based on funding given to other conferences of similar length and scale. 3. Local sponsorship will primarily be derived from restaurants near Brown and RISD, which will have a vested interest in drawing customers during KASCON XXVI with the aid of our pamphlet advertisements. 4. Corporate sponsorship search has already begun with seeking contact points. Judging by the sponsorships from previous years, the majority of funds stem from Korean study abroad programs, Korean firms interested in recruiting Korean college students, and alumni of the host school.
39
LETTER OF SUPPORT
PRESIDENTS OFFICE
40
LETTER OF SUPPORT
41
LETTER OF SUPPORT
42
LETTER OF SUPPORT
STUDENT PETITION
Full
Name
Ross
Geiger
Brian
Kundinger
Hwajin
Lee
SangWon
Sim
Erica
Kahn
Catherine
Bautista
Jisun
Kim
Francisco
Oliveira
Janett
Bass
Jane
Park
Esther
Kim
HyunJin
Yoon
Hyun
Jung
Kim
Charles
Kim
Victor
Chang
Wendy
Suh
Jennifer
Lee
Justina
Lee
Lan
Mei
Juhee
Kwon
Margaret
Kim
Stephanie
Pak
Michelle
Ko
Jesse
Yoon
Seon
Yeong
Park
Nara
Shin
Haruko
Hashimoto
Richard
Park
Audrey
Chang
Christina
Choi
Jae
Eun
"Jane"
Lee
Flora
Jin
Krystii
H.
Kim
Sarah
Shin
Jeremy
Korn
Leora
Kava
Denny
Kim
Ji
Eun
Kim
Vanessa
Flores-Maldonado
Richard
Park
Class
Year
2013
2014
2014
2015
2014
2014
2014
2013
2013
2015
2013
2015
2013
2012
2014
2013
2012
2015
2014
2014
2013
2012
2014
2014
2013
2013
2014
2015
2013
2015
2013
2014
2013
2014
2013
2012
2014
2015
2014
2015
Phone
Number
925-876-8934
631-965-6351
401-440-3926
401-419-9449
973-951-2990
340-332-1858
201-757-3312
401-480-8384
401-580-7110
551-579-2610
917-293-3161
516-319-6909
302-668-9198
323-829-1308
763-300-7508
908-461-2250
9733031128
408-568-7688
347-401-0363
310-365-1369
917-327-9684
678-799-0805
213-507-9272
401
339
7259
909-241-2402
315-345-3294
917-843-5009
213-453-4555
6787990805
Email
Address
Ross_Geiger@brown.edu
briankundinger@gmail.com
Hwajin_Lee@brown.edu
Sang_Won_Sim@brown.edu
ekahn92@yahoo.com
catherine_bautista@brown.edu
jkim36@risd.edu
foliveira13@yahoo.com
Janett_Bass@brown.edu
Jane_park@brown.edu
esther_kim@brown.edu
hyoon01@risd.edu
Hyun_J_Kim@brown.edu
charlesjwk@gmail.com
victor_chang@brown.edu
wendy_suh@brown.edu
jlee01@risd.edu
justina_lee@brown.edu
lan_mei@brown.edu
juhee_kwon@brown.edu
margaret_kim@brown.edu
stephanie_pak@brown.edu
mko01@risd.edu
jesse_yoon@brown.edu
seon_yeong_park@brown.edu
nara_shin@brown.edu
haruko_hashimoto@brown.edu
richard_park@brown.edu
audrey_chang@brown.edu
christina_choi@brown.edu
jae-eun_lee@brown.edu
flora_jin@brown.edu
krystii.kim@gmail.com
sarah_shin@brown.edu
Jeremy_Korn@brown.edu
leora_kava@brown.edu
denny_kim@brown.edu
jkim54@risd.edu
vanessa_flores-maldonado@brown.edu
richard_park@brown.edu
43
LETTER OF SUPPORT
STUDENT PETITION
Full
Name
Susie
Ahn
Eugene
Hwang
Yeon
Seung
Hong
Jonathan
Sit
Joo
Yeon
Jung
Daehyun
Kim
June
Yoon
Hwajin
Lee
Carol
Kim
Jhong
Hyuck
Lim
Christine
Choi
Christine
Moon
Hannah
Lee
Richard
Nguyen
James
Yoo
Wonmin
Lee
Class
Year
2013
2012
2012
2015
2014
2015
2012
2014
2015
2012
2013
2013
2014
2015
2015
2013
Phone
Number
5109261692
781-888-8262
562-756-8661
401-489-5566
480-577-3694
631-965-6351
917-346-5779
401-523-9596
401-647-1277
201-694-4319
703-638-4396
718-309-7773
Email
Address
Susie_Ahn@brown.edu
eugene_hwang@brown.edu
yeon_seung_hong@brown.edu
jonathan_sit@brown.edu
joo_yeon_jung@brown.edu
dae_hyun_kim@brown.edu
juneyoon0713@yahoo.com
Hwajin_Lee@brown.edu
carol_kim@brown.edu
jhong_hyuck_lim@brown.edu
christine_choi@brown.edu
christine_moon@brown.edu
Hannah_lee@brown.edu
Richard_Nguyen@brown.edu
james_yoo@brown.edu
1min@brown.edu
44
KOREANS @ BROWN
ORGANIZATIONS
Brown
University
has
two
Korean
student
cultural
groupsKASA
and
KISA,
both
of
which
have
been
around
for
more
than
ten
years.
Although
both
groups
are
distinct,
they
collaborate
on
a
variety
of
events
throughout
the
year
and
are
largely
intertwined.
Indeed,
the
Brown
KASCON
Bid
Committee
features
members
from
both
groups.
KAMP is devoted to providing adopted Korean children and teens in the New England area with an opportunity to learn about their identities as Korean Americans through relationships with mentors at Brown who have cultural and/or linguistic knowledge of Korea. The goal of these relationships is to teach the children about Korean culture and to introduce resources and social settings illuminating their cultural heritage.
45
KOREANS @ BROWN
ORGANIZATIONS
As
members
of
the
greater
Brown
community,
we
understand
the
significance
and
benefits
of
stimulating
political
discussion.
Through
documentary
screenings
and
co-sponsored
events
with
groups
such
as
LiNK
(Liberty
in
North
Korea),
KASA
and
KISA
try
to
raise
awareness
about
political
questions
relating
to
Korean
and
Korean-Americans.
As
2010
marked
one
hundred
years
since
Japan's
annexation
of
Korea
in
1910,
the
Brown
Korean-America
community
co-hosted
a
panel
discussing
colonial
history
and
examining
their
influences
on
nationalism,
antagonism,
and
resolution.
We
also
screened
a
documentary
about
the
L.A.
riots
and
held
a
discussion
afterwards
with
Professor
Daniel
Kim
of
the
English
Department.
Lt.
Dan
Choi
has
also
come
to
campus
to
discuss
LGBTQ
issues.
HANSORI
Hansori,
meaning
a
unified
or
great
voice
in
Korean,
is
a
student-run
group
where
students
with
a
deep
enthusiasm
for
Korean
culture
can
further
explore
through
samulnori,
a
form
of
traditional
percussion
music.
Not
only
does
the
group
annually
perform
at
the
Korean
Culture
Show,
but
they
also
get
invited
throughout
the
year
by
other
universities
in
the
New
England
area
to
perform.
As a chapter of the national NGO LiNK, the purpose of LiNK at Brown is to raise awareness of the North Korean human rights crisis on the Brown campus and the larger Brown community, and to raise money to make opportunities for North Korean refugees possible.
East Asian Studies is a multidisciplinary department, teaching and creating new knowledge about East Asian countries, and whose societies are based on the Confucian tradition. Its mission is to provide rigorous and varied exposure to East Asia through the teaching of three languages - Chinese, Japanese and Korean - and substantive courses on these cultures, both individually and in comparative contexts. Courses on cultural issues draw upon many disciplines, particularly the humanities and social sciences 46
KOREANS @ BROWN
EVENTS
KASA holds a free Food and Film Festival every year, in coordination with Asian-American History Month at Brown, in which they screen two current Korean films and offer delicious catered Korean food to the public. This past year's offerings included "Cyrano Agency and Seoul Train.
ALUMNI PANEL
Last year, KASA and KISA decided to hold their first annual alumni panel where former members of KASA and KISA were invited to come and speak to current students about jobs in their respective fields. Guests are various fields such as medicine, law, business and finance, and even fashion showed up to discuss their experience at Brown and how it prepared them for life in the job-world after. The event also serves as an excellent place where students can network and form valuable relationships with alumni.
CLUB PARTIES
Every semester, KASA and KISA host parties at clubs in downtown Providence such as Colosseum, Tantric, and Ultra. These frequently draw over 300 people from Brown, RISD, and JWU but also students from universities in the New England area. 47
KOREANS @ BROWN
EVENTS
CULTURE SHOW
For the past 5 years, KASA, KISA and RISD KSA have held an annual Korean Culture Show in the spring, featuring dance and music performances, video clips, and even fashion shows to inform the Brown and RISD community about Korean culture. In addition to showcasing student talent from Brown and RISD, the Culture Show also presents student groups from other universities. An extremely rewarding and fun experience, the show draws a large crowd each year with students from all over the Northeast including Wellesley, Boston University, Boston College, Yale, Harvard, and Penn.
WINTER FORMAL
Every winter, KISA hosts a winter formal to celebrate the end of the fall semester. With great food, performances by the freshmen, and fun games, the winter formal is always a wonderful time to dress up and enjoy time with fellow group members. 48
KOREANS @ RISD
KSA EVENTS
CLUB PARTIES
Like
Brown
KASA
and
KISA,
RISD
KSA
host
parties
at
clubs
in
downtown
Providence.
Past
parties,
such
as
R
U
FRESH,
brought
together
college
students
from
all
over
Providence
to
provide
the
type
of
fun
and
entertainment
distinct
to
Koreans.
They
also
hosted
a
party
in
Seoul,
Korea
named
The
LOL
(Laugh
Out
Loud)
Party,
allowing
RISD
Korean
students
to
stay
connected
to
each
other
and
for
prospective
students
to
get
to
know
RISD
students.
To promote Korean culture and to inform the general student body of RISD about it, KSA held events like Korean Barbecue and Street Food to give out free food like rice, kimchi, kalbi, bulgogi, japchae, chocopie, and shikhae. Along with delicious food, KSA also showcased Korean music videos and Korean movies that best represent Koreas strengths and magnificence. DJs were hired to mix music to provide further excitement and create a more enjoyable environment.
RISD students have a hard time in declaring their majors, not only because they have insufficient information, but also because they have no connections to upperclassmen to ask for advice. Therefore, this year KSA created an opportunity for Korean and Korean American students at RISD to learn more about major declarations. KSA invited upperclassmen to talk about their majors, their processes in decision-making, and their experiences in their specific department. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions to the upperclassmen afterwards. 49
T-SHIRT DESIGN
PROPOSAL
50
PERSONAL STATEMENT
MARGARET KIM 13
When
I
was
living
in
Korea
more
than
ten
years
ago
as
a
young
girl,
my
parents
had
called
one
of
our
family
friends
living
overseas
in
America
a
kyopo.
At
the
time,
the
word
did
not
mean
anything
to
me.
My
parents
had
told
me
I
was
born
in
the
United
States,
and
I
was
technically
a
kyopo
for
one
year.
However,
I
could
only
remember
the
life
I
had
in
Korea.
I
could
not
feel
any
connection
to
my
birthplace
other
than
a
birth
certificate.
I
was
Korean,
not
a
kyopo.
Later,
by
coincidence,
the
word
kyopo
was
brought
up
again.
This
time,
kyopo
was
not
just
two
syllables
in
a
conversation.
She
was
a
fourth
grade
Korean-American
girl
from
the
United
States,
who
was
visiting
Korea
for
a
month.
My
classmates
and
I
were
excited
about
this
newcomer.
Asking
her
about
America
satisfied
our
curiosity
and
augmented
our
fascination
with
America.
Listening
to
her
read
English
and
say
random
English
sentences
with
an
authentic
American
accent
made
English
class
all
the
more
fun
and
cool.
In
retrospect,
she
was
not
a
peer
student
but
the
object
of
amazement
and
wonder.
Even
during
my
interactions
with
her,
I
was
still
merely
one
of
the
Korean
kids
looking
at
America
from
the
outside
through
this
girl.
However,
that
changed
when
I
moved
to
the
United
States
that
same
year.
Now
that
I
was
the
kyopo,
I
was
on
the
inside.
Living
the
American
experience
was
different
from
hearing
about
it.
My
first
day
of
school,
I
felt
alone.
In
Korea,
I
never
had
to
ride
a
school
bus
to
get
to
school,
I
simply
walked.
Yet
here
in
America,
I
had
to
wait
for
a
school
bus
to
show
up
and
get
on
it.
When
homeroom
started,
I
was
sitting
at
a
cluster
of
desks
with
three
other
girls.
None
of
them
were
Korean,
or
even
Asian.
I
wanted
to
make
friends
but
since
I
did
not
know
English
well.
I
had
no
way
of
introducing
or
expressing
myself
I
was
mute.
Throughout
the
day,
the
teacher
would
give
instructions
to
our
class,
but
I
would
not
understand.
The
school
also
had
rules
and
customs
that
I
never
had
to
follow
in
Korea,
such
as
asking
for
the
bathroom
pass
to
go
to
the
bathroom
and
going
to
a
cafeteria
rather
than
staying
in
homeroom
to
eat.
I
ended
up
spying
on
other
students
and
copying
them.
Back
in
Korea,
I
was
one
of
the
smartest
kids
in
my
class,
but
in
America,
I
had
to
rely
on
other
kids
because
of
the
language
and
cultural
barrier.
It
was
humiliating.
I
missed
Korea,
and
I
wanted
to
go
back.
In
that
first
year
as
a
kyopo,
I
had
to
quickly
adapt
to
the
new
culture.
I
became
used
to
seeing
people
with
blonde,
brown,
and
red
hair;
I
learned
English
through
an
ESL
class;
I
made
friends
with
non- Koreans;
I
trained
myself
to
say
Bless
you
automatically.
I
tried
hard
to
fit
in
with
the
rest
of
my
peers,
and
my
efforts
paid
off:
I
developed
my
own
American
identity.
However,
as
the
American
identity
took
hold
of
my
life,
a
part
of
my
Korean-ness
was
lost.
The
more
English
words
I
learned,
the
less
Korean
words
I
recalled.
It
became
more
difficult
to
picture
my
old
neighborhood
in
Korea,
to
51
remember what it felt like to live there. The Star-Spangled Banner replaced the Korean national anthem. This was my inevitable transformation from a Korean to a Korean American. While I had not realized this metamorphosis occurring, I was made to see the end result of the changes and accept my identity as a Korean American. This ultimate moment of truth occurred when I went back to visit Korea for the first time in eight years. The trip was a graduation present from my parents. I had no real expectations other than to feel back at home. But during my first few days back in Korea, I realized I did not belong in Korea anymore. When I was watching Korean news with my grandparents, I could not understand half of the words that were spoken. While conversing with relatives in Korean, each sentence felt awkward and wrong. And walking around in the city of Seoul, my not-so-skinny body and my American clothes made me stick out like a sore thumb. I had finally returned to Korea among the mass of black-haired Koreans. But I came back as a Korean American - a kyopo. So now that I have noted my transformation, how do I feel about being Korean American? I cannot say that I have absolutely no problem with it. For instance, I do not truly have a country to call my home. I call America home but only because my parents and my siblings are here in America with me. I speak both English and Korean but I feel that I lack proficient literacy skills in both languages. Despite these problems, I am still very much grateful to my parents who moved our family to America and thus began my journey of being a Korean American. I never felt utterly unhappy or ashamed of being a Korean American because I had the best of both worlds: discipline and awesome food from Korea, and freedom and good education from America. There are different kinds of kyopo: the 1st generation, the 2nd generation, and the in-between, the 1.5 generation. I am a 1.5 generation Korean American. I embody two different cultures and am bi-lingual to an extent. My story about my identity struggle is only one of many stories of the 1.5 generation Korean Americans. There are also many stories to be shared by the 1st generation and the 2nd generation Korean Americans. When KASCON was first held in 1987, I believe one of its purposes was for Korean American students to come together and celebrate the stories of Korean Americans. For KASCON 26, I want to be the one to help organize such celebration. After all, all of us have experienced ethnic and cultural estrangement in one way or another. All of us have stressed out about thriving in the American society as a member. And all of us have struggled to keep our Korean heritage alive. We all should be able to contribute because through these stories, we can become confident in our own Korean American identities, our past and future as Korean Americans, and the success of our growing Korean American society. As a member of the Brown University KASCON bidding committee, I will be more than dedicated and responsible to making sure all attendees can share their stories, whether through speech or through discussion with peers. I will put my time, my thoughts, and my heart into making the next KASCON a success because I want to share my story not only with you but also with the attendees of KASCON 26 as a fellow Korean American, as a kyopo. 52
PERSONAL STATEMENT
JUHEE KWON 14
I
am
currently
going
through
the
American
citizenship
process.
After
the
visa
and
Green
Card,
a
citizenship
seemed
like
the
natural
next
step.
However,
in
the
process
of
filing
my
N-400
forms,
there
was
a
sudden
sense
of
hesitation
and
reluctance.
The
process
was
not
just
another
form
of
federal
documentation,
but
rather
a
conscious
self-assertion
of
my
identity.
This
oath
of
allegiance
required
me
to
decide
between
my
Korean
and
American
identities
-
to
choose
one
side
and
forsake
the
other.
But
I
am
a
Korean
American.
I
have
undying
love
for
my
Korean
motherland,
a
place
where
I
can
always
return
to;
I
respect
the
American
land
of
opportunities
that
taught
me
how
to
throw
a
baseball
and
grill
a
steak
medium
well-done.
With
roots
in
both
countries,
I
constantly
battle
with
the
inconsistencies
between
my
ethnic
category
and
personal
identity.
We
Korean
Americans
are
cross-cultural
identities
living
in
a
binary
world,
and
I
believe
the
conscious
identification
of
ourselves
as
Korean
American
is
the
beginning
of
engaging
in
and
advancing
our
community.
This
bold
declaration
of
our
identities
is
one
of
the
focuses
of
Brown
Universitys
Korean
American
Student
Conference
(KASCON).
For
many
years,
KASCON
has
worked
to
foster
a
supportive
environment,
solidifying
individual
Korean
American
identities
and
providing
network
for
these
students.
We
have
heard
from
numerous
successful
Korean
Americans
about
their
success
stories.
The
dangers
of
this
type
of
approach
lies
in
complacency
and
the
inability
to
actively
move
towards
change,
because
often
it
requires
that
we
step
out
from
the
enclave
of
our
safe
community
into
an
area
of
discomfort.
I
believe
change
should
start
at
the
base
from
within
the
Korean
American
community.
KASCON
should
be
a
place
of
inspiration
and
empowerment
for
its
participants,
instilling
them
with
a
sense
of
awareness
and
need
for
change.
I
have
been
actively
involved
in
Asian
American
activist
groups
and
have
always
come
up
against
a
barrier
of
resistance
for
change.
As
a
member
of
the
Asian
American
Students
Caucus
for
Change
(AASCC)
at
Brown,
I
have
presented
the
demands
of
the
Asian
American
community
to
the
University,
calling
for
the
establishment
of
an
Asian
American
Studies
Department,
cross-listing
of
courses,
and
more
Asian
American
professors
teaching
Asian
American
history
and
culture.
Unfortunately,
the
students
supporting
this
petition
remains
small
many
are
not
interested
in
addressing
these
issues,
and
others
merely
disregard
the
importance
of
Asian
American
Studies
in
the
scope
of
their
American
education.
As
the
co-chair
for
the
KASCON
bidding
committee,
I
have
worked
to
shape
our
conference
around
this
particular
issue.
The
result
is
the
theme,
BREAK!,
a
loud,
declaratory
title
to
the
conference
that
encompasses
challenges
of
the
present
and
a
bold
move
towards
the
future.
53
We hope to present a changed KASCON with more interactive and personal workshops. As a Minority Peer Counselor Friend, I have helped facilitate a pre-orientation program for students of color at Brown, often addressing controversial issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. The programs workshops were incredibly effective and inspirational; I hope to model KASCONs workshops in a similar way to facilitate discussion rather than lecture, and self-realization rather than bombardment of facts. In the end, I hope KASCON helps participants not only discover how their individual narratives fit into the larger Korean American story, but also move together as a community to more clearly establish the Korean American identity within the American society. So that when I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, I am looking on a society that does not force my identity to fit into the simple binaries of being either Korean or American and can accept me as who I am.
54
PERSONAL STATEMENT
AUDREY CHANG 13
A
clear
indication
of
true
assimilation
into
a
culture
is
whether
you
can
comfortably
speak
and
think
in
that
cultures
language.
A
large
part
of
being
Korean
American
is
conversing
fluently
in
both
English
and
Korean;
everyone,
including
Koreans,
assumes
and
expects
it.
All
the
times
my
Caucasian
friends
have
asked
me
to
teach
them
curse
words
in
Korean,
and
all
the
lectures
I
have
received
from
older
Koreans
to
honor
my
heritage
can
attest
to
this.
But
for
all
of
my
life,
Ive
had
trouble
living
up
to
this
expectation
of
being
a
Korean
American.
While
many
of
my
Korean
American
friends
can
jump
between
languages
instantly,
I
have
difficulty
trying
to
speak
and
think
in
Korean,
even
with
more
than
enough
exposure
to
the
language
during
my
time
living
in
Long
Island
and
New
Jersey.
I
can
read
it,
write
it,
and
recognize
it
in
a
crowded
room,
but
I
cant
seem
to
hold
a
basic
conversation
without
pausing
and
stumbling
over
phrases.
My
other
Korean
American
friends
spoke
Korean
because
it
was
their
first
language
or
out
of
necessity
to
communicate
with
their
parents.
I
never
needed
to
speak
Korean
at
home.
Both
of
my
parents
moved
to
the
U.S.
with
their
families
during
their
teenage
years.
They
attended
college
in
the
States,
listened
to
the
Beatles,
and
were
fans
of
Audrey
Hepburn
(hence
my
first
name).
With
parents
who
are
assimilated
into
American
culture,
I
never
needed
to
claim
my
Korean
identity.
I
was
perfectly
fine
not
speaking
Korean,
not
socializing
with
other
Koreans
at
hakwons
and
not
hanging
out
in
Flushing,
because
being
Korean
felt
like
an
unnecessary
complication
more
than
an
important
part
of
my
life
and
a
privilege.
My
perspective
changed
in
my
senior
year
of
high
school,
when
I
went
to
Gambia
for
a
short-term
medical
volunteer
trip.
In
this
tiny,
remote
country
in
Western
Africa,
a
Korean
American
missionary
and
his
family
welcomed
us
into
their
home,
feeding
us
their
homemade
kimchi
and
treating
our
group
like
long-lost
family
members.
Despite
battling
with
my
Korean-ness,
having
that
side
of
me
turned
out
to
be
extremely
comforting
in
a
country
that
seemed
like
completely
different
world.
Traveling
outside
of
the
Long
Island
bubble
gave
me
a
perspective
of
how
thankful
I
should
be
to
be
a
part
of
the
Korean
American
community.
Here
at
Brown,
all
the
people
Ive
met
in
the
Korean
American
Students
Association
(KASA)
have
such
different
backgrounds
that
its
impossible
for
me
to
feel
like
the
odd
one
out.
In
such
a
diverse
environment,
I
can
feel
my
Korean
voice
becoming
stronger
and
more
confident.
I
no
longer
feel
like
a
fake
or
poser
Korean.
I
have
come
to
realize
that
Korean
Americans
like
me
who
may
feel
a
weaker
connection
to
Koreans
or
have
communication
barriers
still
need
to
be
active
in
the
Korean
American
community,
because
it
is
an
undeniable
part
of
our
identity.
55
Until college, I thought being Korean American required fitting a prescribed description of the term. I want KASCON 26 to be an opportunity for Korean Americans to challenge what this label really means by breaking out of the conventions that we so comfortably follow. Brown and RISDs proposed KASCON 26 is a forum with a focus on creation and innovation, as individuals and as a community with shared experiences. The Brown and RISD KASCON Bidding Team envisions a conference that will reflect the academic environment of collaboration, personal expression, progress, empowerment, and individuality that is fostered at our schools. The conference will encourage the development of our community into bold leaders and innovators, who not only communicate and support each other but also create a resounding impact outside of the community - together. We are dedicated to make the next KASCON a starting point of exploring new paths and aspirations.
56
PERSONAL STATEMENT
and exploring my identity, I am proud to say that I am no longer scared to put myself out there and be a unique person. KASCON 26 will be a forum for discussing our origins and roots as Koreans but will also provide a creative atmosphere to embrace distinctive characteristics and identity as Korean Americans. KASCON is not about placing everyone into the same category, but rather offering students the opportunity to re-affirm their own identity. KASCON 26 will challenge the topics that are controversial and work to inspire and strengthen Korean American students as well as the Korean American community -- to break out of their comfort zones and expand their horizons.
58
PERSONAL STATEMENT
feel American or even Korean, how could I be a fusion of the two, a Korean American? What does it mean to be Korean American? In an attempt to find my answer to this question, I have dedicated much of my time to activities related to Korean identity. After entering college, I have participated in both the Korean American Students Association (KASA) and served as an Executive Board member of the Korean International Students Association (KISA) for four years. This year, I have had the privilege of serving as the President of KISA. During my career as a KISA and KASA member, I have organized many events such as the Korean Culture Show, which draws up to 300 student participants from all over New England. Through my experiences, I have come closer to my own definition of Korean American. It is true that I am neither Korean nor American. However, after meeting so many other Korean Americans, I realize being Korean American means to be part of a distinctive culture of its own: not a fusion of part Korean and part American, but a separate, unique identity in itself. Being Korean American means being part of closely knit community of others that have had similar experiences and questions as I have. To me, being Korean American means to be at home. As David Pollock describes it, I am a Third Culture Kid. My sense of belonging is in relationship with others of the same background, other Korean Americans. The place where I belong is not with a city or a nation but with a community, my fellow Korean Americans. To me, being Korean American is not only my culture but also my identity, my friends, my life, and my home. Through constantly challenging my own thoughts I have come to design my own definition of what it means to be Korean American. Our KASCON team at Brown University is ready to challenge others in the same way. KASCON 26 BREAK! will serve as a place for self-reflection. The Brown Bidding team and I urge participants to come and challenge their own views, to question the labels of society, to use KASCON 26 as a foundation for designing unique definitions and identities of their own. BREAK! dares participants to create their own individual paintings of the Korean American world and bring together these paintings to design a mural that is- uniquely Korean American.
60
PERSONAL STATEMENT
FLORA HWANG 14
For
me,
the
issue
of
Korean
American
identity
has
always
been
vague.
I
was
born
in
California,
raised
in
Korea,
and
then
I
went
to
school
back
in
the
United
States.
These
various
shifts
allowed
me
to
speak
both
languages,
Korean
and
English,
and
experience
both
Korean
and
American
cultures.
It
made
me
wonder,
where
do
I
belong?
So,
what
is
being
Korean
and
what
is
being
Korean-American?
Being
Korean,
to
me,
meant
speaking
the
language
and
living
the
culture,
whereas
being
Korean- American
implied,
despite
having
Korean
ethnicity,
following
American
culture
and
acting
or
speaking
like
Americans.
Therefore,
as
a
self-proclaimed
Korean,
when
I
produced
artwork,
I
always
tried
to
incorporate
Korean
culture
even
if
it
did
not
seem
appropriate.
For
example,
whenever
I
drew
a
self- portrait,
I
would
imagine
putting
myself
in
a
Han-bok
(Korean
traditional
clothing)
or
something
that
represents
Korea.
The
reason
I
tried
so
hard
to
be
Korean
was
because
I
thought
I
would
not
be
true
to
myself
by
being
Korean-American.
After
all,
I
saw
myself
as
obviously
Korean:
I
had
Korean
parents
who
spoke
Korean,
and
I
was
raised
in
Korea
for
most
of
my
childhood
speaking
Korean.
I
thought
being
Korean
American
as
being
neither
one
nor
the
other,
and
I
felt
I
had
to
find
a
concrete,
definite
ethnicity.
Soon
I
realized
that
I
was
judging
people
based
on
their
looks
and
the
language
they
speak.
I
was
not
trying
to
break
out
of
the
stereotypes
but
rather
creating
them.
Everyone
has
their
own
ethnicity,
and
I
should
not
have
judged
them.
When
I
came
to
RISD,
due
to
the
diversity
at
school,
I
learned
that
stereotypes
were
there
for
me
to
break,
not
to
follow
and
to
submit
to
them.
Where
a
person
comes
from,
what
language
he
or
she
speaks,
or
the
ethnicity
of
his
or
her
parent
does
not
matter.
Who
they
are
now
and
what
they
consider
themselves
as
are
the
things
that
I
have
to
respect.
Each
individual
is
proud
of
his
or
her
backgrounds.
Also,
participating
in
the
KASCON
committee,
I
was
able
to
have
the
opportunity
to
think
once
more
about
my
views
for
Koreans
and
Korean-Americans.
Although
I
am
still
not
sure
which
ethnicity
group
I
belong
to,
it
does
not
matter
anymore
for
me.
The
important
thing
is
that
I
am
proud
of
what
I
have
right
now.
61
PERSONAL STATEMENT
DENNY KIM 14
I
should
probably
start
off
by
saying
something
about
how
I
struggled
with
my
identity
some
point
in
my
life,
but
I
grew
up
reasonably
comfortable.
However,
little
did
I
know
that
I
was
living
in
blissful
ignorance.
Born
and
raised
in
a
large
Korean
community
in
Bayside,
New
York,
I
have
been
constantly
surrounded
by
as
many
Koreans
as
Americans.
I
learned
to
become
proficient
in
both
Korean
and
English
and
adopted
both
customs.
From
elementary
school
all
the
way
to
high
school
it
was
not
hard
finding
other
Korean
or
Asian
peers.
I
had
a
good
number
of
American
friends
but
for
the
most
part
most
of
my
friends
that
I
became
close
with
were
Korean.
During
the
weekends
I
was
usually
in
a
Korean
cram
school
or
at
church
hanging
out
with
friends.
I
watched
just
as
many
Korean
dramas
as
American
shows
and
listened
to
American
Top
40
just
as
much
as
the
top
K-pop
hits.
I
enjoy
cheering
on
the
Korean
Devils
during
the
World
Cup
as
much
as
I
enjoy
rooting
for
the
Yankees
during
the
World
Series.
It
was
nave
of
me
to
expect
a
similar
atmosphere
at
college.
Nonetheless,
I
was
surprised
at
the
small
Korean
presence
at
Brown
and
how
many
of
my
peers
came
from
towns
with
few
or
no
Koreans.
Instead
of
being
able
to
speak
fluent
Korean
or
identify
K-pop
songs
they
understood
American
customs,
had
friends
from
multiple
ethnic
groups,
and
often
rejected
their
parents
efforts
to
Koreanize
them.
After
talking
and
spending
more
time
with
these
peers,
I
realized
that
I
had
actually
been
living
and
interacting
largely
in
the
insular
Korean
community
back
at
home.
I
noticed
that
Koreans
largely
tend
to
congregate
only
amongst
themselves.
Even
though
I
may
have
grown
up
in
such
a
multi-ethnic
city,
I
had
not
taken
full
advantage
of
it.
Instead,
I
had
stayed
in
my
comfort
zone
along
with
the
other
Korean
Americans.
I
feel
this
trend
of
remaining
complacent
and
insular
is
especially
common
among
many
Korean
American
college
students.
Therefore
I
find
it
is
appropriate
to
present
our
proposed
theme
of
BREAK!
for
KASCON
26.
The
theme
encourages
activism
and
empowerment
of
the
Korean
American
community.
At
the
conference,
students
will
be
encouraged
to
become
comfortable
with
being
uncomfortable
by
breaking
down
interpersonal
boundaries
to
discuss
sensitive
issues,
breaking
social
norms
and
stereotypes,
and
ultimately,
breaking
the
cycle
of
ignorance
and
complacency
in
society
as
well
as
within
our
own
community.
62
PERSONAL STATEMENT
KRYSTII H. KIM 13
When
a
Korean-American
is
from
LA,
you
can
probably
assume
that
person
is
either
a
FOB
or
a
Twinkie.
I
was
born
and
raised
in
Southern
California,
but
my
story
is
different
from
many
Cali-born
Koreans.
Korean
was
the
only
language
spoken
in
my
house,
and
I
spent
all
my
time
going
to
Korean
church,
watching
Korean
news,
and
poring
over
countless
volumes
of
European
classics
translated
Korean
versions,
of
course.
Therefore,
it
should
hardly
be
a
surprise
that
I
walked
into
kindergarten
knowing
only
my
ABCs,
Roy
G.
Biv,
Hello,
Please,
and
Thank
you.
Literally.
From
the
first
day
of
school,
I
found
myself
sent
to
the
corner
for
time-out
almost
everyday
for
not
following
directions.
Frustrated
with
my
inability
to
communicate
with
anybody
there
were
just
two
other
Korean
students
and
they
were
about
as
American
as
it
got
I
buried
myself
in
English
books,
working
my
way
up
from
Curious
George
to
Roald
Dahl
to
Little
Women
to
Pride
and
Prejudice.
I
spent
hours
at
the
local
library
and
at
Barnes
and
Nobles
ravenously
downing
the
literature
that
would
single-handedly
turn
this
ESL
student
into
a
Gifted
and
Talent
Education
(GATE)
program
student.
At
this
point,
I
guess
I
should
say
something
like
Because
of
the
above,
I
rejected
my
Korean
culture.
After
all,
I
had
struggled
to
learn
English,
to
rival
the
kids
who
had
learned
English
so
naturally,
and
to
be
American
like
them.
I
watched
every
episode
of
Fresh
Prince,
memorized
the
lyrics
to
Barbie
Girl,
and
carried
N*SYNC
folders
to
fit
in
with
the
cool
American
kids
at
school.
However,
I
actually
not-so-secretly
knew
the
Candy
dance,
could
name
each
H.O.T.
and
Shinhwa
member
and
watched
all
the
K-dramas
well,
the
good
ones;
there
was
rarely
a
meal
without
kimchi;
and
I
spoke
in
my
parents
native
tongue
every
day.
Only
in
junior
high
did
I
realize
that
our
city
had
more
Asians
than
the
three
Koreans
from
my
grade
school.
During
these
formative
years,
I
met
my
first
Korean-American
friend.
Granted,
she
was
culturally
more
American
than
I
was,
but
our
friendship
allowed
me
to
express
my
Korean
pride
in
an
old-fashioned
community
that
continued
to
insist
I
audition
for
the
part
of
Mulan
but
not
Belle.
By
my
third
year
in
high
school,
Koreans/Korean-Americans
had
the
strongest
Asian
presence
in
school,
and
Korean
was
the
third
most-spoken
language
on
campus,
after
English
and
Spanish.
Other
students
Koreans,
other
Asians,
Caucasians,
African-Americans,
and
Hispanics
alike
would
come
to
the
Korean
Students
Association
(KSA)
I
had
humbly
started
with
just
three
other
friends
to
learn
the
Tell
Me
dance,
eat
Korean
BBQ,
and
watch
My
Sassy
Girl.
63
While growing more confident and passionate in sharing my culture with my friends and even the community at large, I was confronted by my first identity crisis. Somewhere along my KSA career, somewhere in the relationships I had built with fellow Korean-American students, I suddenly came upon a depressing and stressful realization. Korean-American friends sometimes thought I was too Korean to appreciate the American aspects of our daily lives, and Korean friends struggling with high school English felt I was too American to fully empathize with their situations. It hit me as an unexpected and even unwarranted cultural shock when I did not know where I fit on the Korean- American spectrum: I was not a FOB (Id been in the motherland all of fifteen days and two were spent midair!) but I was not a Twinkie either. After sending in my commitment card to Brown University, I was more worried about having to make new friends who may not understand what I believed to be an unusual background. I came to the university still shaken in confusion, and I continued to struggle with this internal baggage for a while. As I became immersed in campus life and forged new, intense friendships in Korean American Students Association (KASA) and Korean International Students Association (KISA) and Asian American Students Association (AASA), however, I arrived at an extremely simple conclusion: our world is a BIG pond. My story is one in a myriad. And I am one individual on an ever-widening spectrum of peoples. In that train of thought, KASCON is that colorful tapestry that comprises the colorful experiences and stories of our growing community. I want to help create a forum that allows our community members to share their parts of the tapestry with one another. I want for us to break apart the self-created divisions between FOB and Twinkie; Korean and Korean-American; and all of us in between so that every one of us can weave our special stories together to present it to the greater population. My experiences as a former high school KSA President, a member of the Brown KASA executive board, and now as a member of the Brown KASCON Bidding Team; my newfound understanding and appreciation of all personal stories; my alacrity to work with and for my team and all who are committed to our movement and impact; and my conviction in the importance of the entire gamut of our experiences, dreams and accomplishments all speak to my devotion I am and will remain committed to delving into that pool of Korean American experiences and being part of the movement to empower those voices and communicate our ever-prominent position in the greater community. They once told me that I was the fobbiest Twinkie ever. I listen to Big Bang and Girls Generation and Bruno Mars and Eminem; I watched Boys Before Flowers and Secret Garden and still keep up with Glee and Gossip Girl; I eat rice and In N Out; I speak Korean, English and especially Konglish fluently; I am Korean and I am American. I will continue to struggle with this identity question from time to time, but I think they may have gotten me just right.
64
PERSONAL STATEMENT
WILLIAM KIM 13
I was born and raised in Seoul for nine years before immigrating to the United States. Like many other Korean immigrants, my family and I went through the similar immigrant experience and integrated into the large Korean community in New Jersey. While I was attending a magnet high school, I did not give much thought about my Korean identity since I had many Korean friends. We motivated each other to succeed, spoke English at school but Korean at home, rooted for the Korean soccer team, and talked about Korean pop culture in English. We had an inherent connection just by being born to Korean families; we joked about how similar all Korean parents were, but some days, talked seriously about what kind of obstacles Korean immigrants face. I thought I had this all compartmentalized in my head; I thought that the term Korean American simply referred to a Korean living in the United States. All this changed before my junior year when I moved to and attended an international school in India; from day one, I had a hard time adjusting to the new environment. It was one of the hardest times of my life and I just wanted to go home. Due to my parents persistent persuasion, I decided to change my attitude since I had no control of my environment. I soon found out that the international school I attended had an interesting student body composition; obviously, the Indians were the largest ethnic group, but the Koreans surprisingly made up the second largest ethnic group in the school. I was excited to see some Koreans at an unfamiliar place and thought that I would befriend them easily. In reality, I had a harder time making friends with Koreans than with students of other ethnicities. They were quite different from Koreans I knew back in the States. I was confused; how was it possible for people who all claim to be Koreans be different? Just like me, they spoke English and lived outside of Korea. They were used to the Korean style of upbringing from their Korean parents. I did not get along with them because my American way of thinking conflicted with their way and these differences made me turn away from the other Koreans at school. Eventually, I started to become friends with them, yet they kept referring to me as the American in the group. However, when I was with my Indian friends, they referred to me as the Korean. This threw me into a state of confusion because people had a different perception of me. Not until I got to Brown as a freshman, I realized that the word Korean American would describe me the best. I was amazed to find that Brown had many cultural groups and it was comforting to find KASA, the Korean American Student Association. The group immediately welcomed me to Brown and I was able to fit right in. It definitely helped me to connect with Korean American upperclassmen and enabled me to rely on them. 65
As I started to become more active in KASA, I heard about KASCON and it intrigued me. I had heard of plenty of conferences, but a conference focused on Korean Americans? My first conference was BAASIC 2010 at MIT, which was an all-encompassing Asian American conference. I could relate to some of the issues we discussed about Asian Americans as a whole; however, issues that are specific to Korean Americans were never discussed. One of my motivations to host KASCON 26 at Brown University is to provide a forum for stimulating discussions about Korean American issues and to network across generations of Korean Americans. My vision for KASCON 26 is to bring Korean American college students from across the nation to hear about the bold moves made by prominent Korean Americans. I realize that KASCON is a huge conference and needs meticulous planning. I believe that teamwork is going to be crucial; the team members will need to each carry their weight and the group dynamics will determine our effectiveness in the planning process. Luckily, our bidding committee is comprised of capable individuals that can work together harmoniously. I know the committee members through various activities on campus. In addition to my participation in the KASCON bidding committee, I am serving on the KASA executive board as Vice President for the past two years. I am also the financial signatory of KAMP, the Korean Adoptee Mentoring Program. Bringing KASCON to Brown has never been done before and I believe that we are ready to host KASCON next year. 66
PERSONAL STATEMENT
HANNAH LEE 14
If
my
father
had
not
met
my
mother,
life
would
have
followed
a
very
different
path.
It
had
always
been
my
moms
dream
to
live
in
the
United
States
this
country
that
appealed
to
her
with
ideals
of
freedom
and
independence
and
together,
my
parents
fulfilled
her
dream
by
arriving
in
the
United
States
in
1990.
I
was
born
as
an
American
citizen
in
New
Jersey
to
a
mother
who
barely
knew
any
English
and
a
father
who
struggled
to
complete
his
studies
as
a
pastor
and
support
his
family
in
a
foreign
country.
The
first
language
I
learned
at
home
was
Korean,
and
for
the
first
two
years
of
elementary
school,
I
had
to
take
ESL
classes.
However,
by
third
grade,
I
was
more
fluent
in
English
than
both
of
my
parents
and
was
already
teaching
English
to
my
toddler
sister.
At
a
young
age,
I
followed
my
family
to
new
homes
in
New
Jersey,
Texas,
and
New
York.
I
never
gave
much
thought
to
the
fact
that
I
was
Korean
when
I
was
younger
and
with
no
restraint
on
the
expression
of
my
young
self
to
others,
I
always
made
a
great
group
of
diverse
friends
wherever
I
moved,
willing
to
talk
to
anyone
who
would
lend
a
ear,
despite
their
race
or
ethnicity.
I
never
really
struggled
with
my
Korean-American
identity
until
I
moved
back
to
New
Jersey
in
2003
to
a
hometown
that
was
different
from
how
I
had
left
it.
The
town
was
now
burgeoning
with
Koreans.
Within
the
last
few
years,
many
Koreans
had
begun
to
immigrate
to
this
particular
county
in
NJ,
particularly
known
for
its
well-rounded
education.
On
my
first
day
back
at
school,
I
found
myself
being
identified
as
another
new
Asian
student.
Instead
of
the
diverse
group
of
friends
I
had
made
in
the
past,
I
found
myself
in
a
large
clique
of
solely
Korean
girls.
They
introduced
me
to
the
latest
Korean
pop
artists,
to
Korean
dramas,
and
openly
spoke
Korean
in
front
of
me.
Pretty
soon,
besides
when
class
was
in
session,
I
was
speaking
Korean
both
in
school
and
at
home.
At
that
time
in
my
life,
I
had
convinced
myself
that
being
as
much
Korean
as
possible
was
being
cool.
Then
in
middle
school
that
I
realized
all
my
efforts
to
be
Korean
had
been
fruitless.
For
the
first
time
in
my
life,
I
experienced
bullying
from
the
clique
of
Korean
girls
who
spread
rumors
amongst
each
other.
At
a
time
of
adolescence
when
transitioning
is
difficult
between
cliques,
I
felt
abandoned.
There
were
many
days
in
school
when
I
would
burst
into
tears
on
the
ride
home
with
my
dad.
In
a
way,
this
was
the
first
crisis
of
my
Korean- American
identity.
Even
today,
I
still
bear
the
scar
of
that
experience.
I
had
thought
I
could
fit
in
with
those
girls
who
were
of
the
same
ethnicity
as
I
was
and
lived
in
America
as
I
did.
Somehow,
the
fact
that
Korean
was
still
my
first
language
and
that
I
was
born
into
a
Korean
family
did
not
make
me
the
same
as
them.
As
we
matured
in
high
school
and
rumors
eventually
dissipated,
I
learned
to
make
new
friends
and
led
a
very
normal
life
until
the
summer
before
my
junior
year.
My
dad
decided
to
make
a
decision
that
would
drastically
change
the
lives
of
himself
as
well
as
the
entire
family.
After
sixteen
years
of
dealing
67
with, what I like to call as, political struggles of Korean churches, my dad decided to join the U.S. Army as an army chaplain, counseling soldiers who would truly need and seek his guidance. My father had been the pillar of my life, helping me in every single endeavor, from walking to solving algebra problems, and he was suddenly to be absent from my life. We were only able to see him twice a year as opposed to every day of the year. Moreover, the entire family was encouraged to follow the same transition my dad had embraced trying to immerse ourselves fully into American society. Despite my indignation, we stopped going to our regular Korean church and participated in an American church service for the first time. I remember crying during that service, realizing reality and unable to grasp how my life was going to change from then on. After the first long year, my family finally visited my dads home and his U.S. army fort in Texas. There, I realized the homogeneity of the U.S. Army. Almost every soldier I ran into was a Caucasian male. In such an environment, with my family, I felt exposed like I had never been before. I was so aware of the color of my skin and my ethnicity. In this structured army society, my dad perseveringly dealt with experiences of racism and adjusting to a culture that would never fully be his. Legally, he was an American citizen, but he would be unable to fully embrace and understand American culture as I found Korean culture difficult to accept. However, both my dad and I learned an important lesson. When I asked my dad what he thought of the Korean-American identity, he described it in a simple way: The most important thing to realize is that you should never feel indebted to one identity. I think this depicts my stand on the experiences related to my Korean-American identity. I never need to feel like I need to make up for either my Korean or American identity because I am not complete in both. I believe the Korean-American identity to be unique for each person each has a different life story and distinct struggles. I hope KASCON to be an experience that encourages each of us Korean Americans to be proud of our individual identity and to help us realize that we never need to feel indebted to one identity. If we can fully embrace the unique personalities and life experiences that define each and every one of our Korean-American identities, then I think the things we can accomplish individually as well as a whole are endless. We can BREAK through barriers, BREAK through expectations, and build on our individuality to define who we are as Korean Americans.
68
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Despite
a
gap
between
what
is
expected
at
home
and
at
school,
I
did
not
have
much
trouble
adapting
to
the
new
circumstances.
Living
between
different
sets
of
values,
I
gradually
learned
how
to
reconcile
these
two
seemingly
opposing
expectations.
It
was
only
after
befriending
Korean
American
peers
that
I
realized
I
am
not
the
only
one
who
sensed
this
gap
and
consciously
thought
about
living
between
the
boundaries.
Surprisingly
many
of
my
friends
were
confronted
with
conflicting
values
at
early
ages,
and
had
reflected
upon
their
identities
living
in
the
United
States.
Since
I
grew
up
in
Korea,
an
ethnically
homogenous
country,
I
never
imagined
I
would
have
an
identity
crisis.
My
Korean
heritage
was
something
I
naturally
accepted
and
lived
with;
the
idea
that
my
Korean- American
peers
struggled
and
sometimes
denied
it
shocked
me.
I
became
curious
about
the
possible
underlying
reasons.
In
an
effort
to
understand,
I
began
to
take
part
in
Korean-American
student
groups,
workshops,
and
seminars.
I
soon
recognized
that
despite
the
commonality
underlying
their
lives,
their
experiences
as
Korean
Americans
could
not
be
summarized
into
a
single
idea;
it
affected
each
person
to
different
extents,
and
every
persons
own
unique
experience
could
not
be
generalized.
I
envision
KASCON
to
give
people
the
opportunity
to
accept
their
identities
as
Koreans
and
Americans.
Stereotypes
may
still
persist,
but
I
am
certain
that
the
extent
of
its
influence
upon
us
can
be
curbed
both
at
the
individual
and
community
levels.
Being
Korean
American
does
not
prescribe
us
to
behave
in
a
certain
fixed
way;
it
indicates
where
we
are
from,
but
does
not
dictate
to
where
to
go.
By hosting KASCON 26, I hope to provide an environment in which Korean American students can freely exchange ideas. As each of us brings unique experiences to the table, we may find a collective theme that resonates through us while accepting variants, and then we may seek to find the solution. It will also be an opportunity to bring different generations together, as inspirational speakers will provide words of insight. The conference will also serve as a place where we may cooperatively form a support network and raise our voices to make improvements. I believe that KASCON will confirm our ability to create identities for ourselves and to create change. 69
PERSONAL STATEMENT
71