This week, as part of our “On The Margins at DU” column that investigates the successes and failures of inclusive excellence at DU, The Clarion spoke with second-year Alyanna Ferrer. She serves as the president of the Asian Student Alliance (ASA), an affinity organization with the mission of “provid[ing] a support group for each Asian American student on campus while addressing the academic, political, and social issues” relevant to their lived experiences. 

To get involved with ASA, email them at udenver.asa@gmail.com to join their newsletter or follow them on Instagram @du.asa. Their weekly meetings are Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Nagel classroom, and all DU students, regardless of identity, are welcome. 

Kiana: In general, do you feel like DU is inclusive of the Asian community? What has been your personal experience? 

Alyanna: I would say that DU is inclusive in some aspects. We have an Asian Student Alliance on campus. But the people who come to the club are mostly Asian, and we want to branch out beyond those with Asian ethnicity. It’s difficult—not a lot of people support it, and it’s usually Asians or the POC community. It’s hard to see outside ASA where we get support or inclusion. 

K: In what ways has DU succeeded in taking this community into consideration in the past? 

A: I don’t think I’ve ever seen DU do anything proactive to be inclusive of the Asian community. They’ve never made events for the Asian community. It’s usually ASA who puts on the events. Lili Rodríguez—one of the [former] vice-chancellors—she’s taken on a big role in helping all the affinity groups and checking up on us and what we need. Not with the Asian community specifically, but with the affinity groups overall. 

K: In what ways has DU failed and continue to fail to take this community into consideration? 

A: I would say that it’s not specific to the Asian community. Last year, we had check-ups with the Chancellor to see how we were and what we were doing, and I think some of the demands we asked for—like changing the Pioneer ID cards—when we tried to check up on them, our needs weren’t met all the way. [Administration] has failed us in that way. Our needs aren’t always met when we tell them what we’re expecting. 

K: What do you hope to see in DU’s future of inclusive excellence with the Asian community? 

A: I would like them to make more of an effort where it’s campus-wide. I hope that DU would make these events inclusive for everyone on campus and encourage those outside the POC community to attend. They need to make people more aware that these events are happening since ASA can only do so much. 

K: Why is it important to have organizations like ASA present on campus? What role do they serve? 

A: I think it’s important that we have affinity groups on campus because it shows the people of color coming into this school they have a community they can find. I think a big part of why we have our meetings and why we’re here on campus is 1) yes, to make it inclusive but 2) to educate those on campus who are not comfortable with affinity orgs. They need to know about what’s important to Asian history and the Asian community so you don’t have things like cultural appropriation happening on campus. 

K: How can people get involved with ASA and help support the Asian community?  

A: By going to our general meetings, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Nagel classroom. Winter quarter, we’re doing a Lunar New Year event, and we also have a Tea Workshop going on. Spring quarter, we’d love to have people come out for our Taste of Asia event. 

Through this column, we hope to shed light on the range of identities and experiences that exist on campus, create a space where their voices can be heard and highlight their contentious relationship with DU. We hope to represent them with as much journalistic integrity as possible, but are aware that there are stories we will fail to communicate with the same voice. We aspire to do better than student organizations and institutions, including The Clarion, have done in the past at treating these topics with the thought and consideration they deserve. 

If there is feedback you would like to give or issues you would like to see covered in this column, please reach out to duclarioneditorialteam@gmail.com.