Posted: 9/12/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Tessa Pelias A red ribbon is cut to celebrate the grand opening of the Asian American Cultural Center Friday, Sept. 9, 2005. This center is connected to the Asian American Studies program house. The two organizations intend on working together to provide a place of community for Asian American students.

Throngs of people listened earnestly to the speeches and cheered on the raffle giveaways and various performances while sitting in the scorching Sept. 9 afternoon heat for the Asian American Cultural Center's grand opening celebration. University students, officials and alumni joined together to commemorate the event amid Chinese Yo-Yo demonstrations, a lion dance, speakers, a ribbon cutting ceremony and piles of free food.

The building, located at 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana, is a brand new, two-story 6,800-square-foot facility. It has a commercial kitchen, lounge and study areas, offices and a resource room for student organizations. The center is a culmination of a yearlong project, costing $1.3 million.

But to the people who have been fighting for the center, the wait has been a lot longer than a year. Betty Jang, officer in the University's Asian American Alumni Network and University alumna, said in her speech at the grand opening that the struggle for a cultural center began in 1974, citing a newsletter written about the troubles of Asian American students in that same year.

"I ask the University with a smile, 'What took you so long?'" Jang, a University professor, said in her speech.

Jeffrey Sichaleune, assistant director of the center, said the organized push for a center started about 15 years ago.

"For 15 years, students have made demands to the University to create more resources for Asian American students inside the classroom and outside the classroom," Sichaleune said.

The center is uniquely able to address needs of Asian Americans inside and outside of the classroom because of the way it is situated. It is attached to the Asian American Studies building, and the two centers share a conference room.

"This is a unique opportunity for a significant group to have a place to meet and find ways to reinforce culture," Chancellor Richard Herman said. "(The center) speaks to the idea that we ought to be a fusion of students and academics. This is the first instance where ethnic studies and a cultural center have been put together."

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