The OMA now has 5 oral history interviews with APCC staff members! All interviewees were asked to share their experiences working at the APCC, give their perspective regarding the significance of the plans for the new APCC building, and offer their ideas for the future of the APCC. See below for information about all the interviews and links to the transcripts and audio files. And be sure to check out the NAL interviews from last year as well as the video of the APCC Ground Breaking Ceremony, May 2013.
Mandilyn “Mandi” Suzuki, External Coordinator
Interview Transcript and Interview Audio
Brief Biography:
Mandi was born July 5, 1991, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Her hometown is Waipahu, Hawai’i. At the time of the interview she was a fifth year studying General Science, Pre-Physical Therapy.
Interview Information:
Date: May 20, 2014
Location: Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Length: 00:37:31
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Transcriber: Desireé Gorham and Buddy Martin
Interview Description:
Suzuki discusses her fond memories of working at the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center for the past three years; her current position as external coordinator and the role of providing a guidance support network for support staff; developing relationships with other organizations and departments on campus; the difficulties of increasing student attendance to educational events; the successes of the APCC staff; the joys of seeing the staff become more culturally competent; goals of helping her staff find their place in the world; the benefits of the location of the new center; advice for future staff; her personal growth in cultural competency and awareness; and the impact of the APCC on the community.
Mohamed Shaker, Community Outreach Coordinator
Interview Transcript and Interview Audio
Brief Biography:
Mohamed was born November 8, 1994, in Singapore. His hometown is Abu Dhabi, UAE. At the time of the interview he was a junior studying History and Sociology.
Interview Information:
Date: May 13, 2014
Location: Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Length: 01:12:16
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Transcriber: Desireé Gorham and Buddy Martin
Interview Description:
Shaker discusses his position as a community outreach coordinator for the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center; his goals of building community between Asian students on campus; creating more engaging cultural activities; working with the Queer Studies program for combined events; struggles with scheduling and event attendance; successes of planning events with other cultural centers; relationships with other cultural centers; speaking at the APCC ground breaking; ideas for future health minded events; his thoughts on the campus Solidarity March; the challenges of losing two major API faculty members; reasons for having cultural centers; the importance of sharing stories and history; and his excitement for the coming years and new center for the APCC.
Hali’a Parish, Activities Coordinator
Interview Transcript and Interview Audio
Brief Biography:
Hali’a was born September 15, 1992, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her hometown is ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii on the island of O’ahu. At the time of the interview she was a senior studying Speech Communication and Innovation Management.
Interview Information:
Date: May 19, 2014
Location: Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Length: 00:21:06
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Transcriber: Desireé Gorham
Interview Description:
Parish discusses her transition from the Native American Longhouse to the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center in order to relate with shared identities and ethnicities; working as an activities coordinator at the APCC; personal challenges with time management; her other position as the Luau Coordinator for Hui O Hawai’i; successes of building friendships with other students, creating events such as “Dream Out Loud” and “Native Sands, Native Lands”; performing at the APCC ground breaking ceremony; desires for more collaboration between the cultural centers; advice to future staff; understanding her identity; and appreciation for the Diversity Development and staff.
Maiyee Yuan, Internal Coordinator
Interview Transcript and Interview Audio
Brief Biography:
Maiyee was born on July 7, 1993, and raise in Salem, OR. At the time of the interview she was a third year studying Microbiology.
Interview Information:
Date: May 21, 2014
Location: Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Length: 00:33:36
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Transcriber: Buddy Martin
Interview Description:
Yuan discusses her position as the internal coordinator for the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center; the APCC as a home and support center; learning about issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander communities; attending various multicultural conferences; challenges with disorganization in the APCC; working with the building the new center; goals for future events and projects; advice for future staff; insight about organization through the APCC; challenges with including a great variety of Asian cultures; the role of the APCC with the API community; and the importance of the cultural centers giving a voice to minorities on campus.
Ji-Hae Kang, Cultural Center Coordinator
Interview Transcript and Interview Audio
Brief Biography:
Ji-Hae was born on February 16, 1989, in South Korea and raised in Beaverton, OR. At the time of the interview she was a senior studying General Science with a Chemistry minor.
Interview Information:
Date: May 28, 2014
Location: Oregon State University’s Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Length: 00:37:22
Interviewer: Natalia Fernández
Transcriber: Buddy Martin
Interview Description:
Kang discusses her position as a cultural center coordinator for the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center; projects and activities including working with the center’s library, listserve, scrapbook, and programs database; her personal and professional growth in her communication skills; experiences working with her fellow center coordinators; her raised awareness of micro-aggressions and the actions she has taken to educate others; her excitement for the new APCC building; advise for future staff members including to be very mindful of how they present themselves as they are representatives of the center and the need to stand up against social injustices, however small.
Bus Tour!
Downtown Corvallis
