author: elainechen category: around the world tags: date: September 7th, 2009
Photo from LA Times
I know this is somewhat old news, but I just read this article written by Euna Lee and Laura Ling about their experience in North Korea and China. They recall the moments/research they gathered right before they got captured, their detention, and eventual release. The article goes into detail about what they discovered about the North Korean human rights travesties, specifically online sex trafficking. If you don’t know anything about North Korea besides ridiculous missile threats and the crazy dictator “Kim-something something” then you really need to read this article.
The line that stood out to me was this: Our motivations for covering this story were many. First and foremost, we believe that journalists have a responsibility to shine light in dark places, to give voice to those who are too often silenced and ignored.
This really humbled me and reminded me what a journalist’s purposes is. It’s not just to write snarky articles and have your name bolded in a byline. As an Asian American alternative newsmagazine, hardboiled can also contain articles and support writers that want to shed light in the dark places and give voices to the voiceless. Instead of just being a compilation listing off news that has Asian Americans in it, hardboiled should be that publication which showcases the news that doesn’t get covered and gets pushed aside.
What do you think?
author: elainechen category: berkeley madness tags: date: August 29th, 2009
Mine was highlighted by tabling/flyering for at least five hours, sweating through my shirt because it’s so blazing hot, and going into an Asian American Studies that ended up having no professor assigned! What an adventure. Comment here with stories of your own first three days into Fall 2009!
author: elainechen category: commemorating tags: date: July 17th, 2009
Really good news: UC Regents give honorary degrees to those Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII and were unable to finish their education. That’s pretty good, except… aren’t the internees like… pretty old now (or even deceased)? Why so overdue?
Here’s a quote from the article from our man (hah hah), UC Regents President Mark Yudof:
“This action is long overdue and addresses an historical tragedy,” Yudof said. “To the surviving students themselves, and to their families, I want to say, ‘This is one way to apologize to you. It will never be possible to erase what happened, but we hope we can provide you a small measure of justice.’ ”
But if anything, I’m glad that this step was taken — it once again brings to light the civil liberties that were harshly snatched away from legitimate American citizens, serving as a reminder for years to come…
Read the press release here.
author: elainechen category: politicking tags: date: May 22nd, 2009
More Asian Americans in politics! The 32nd District is actually really close to where I live, so while I’m down here in Southern California for the summer, it’s hard not to miss the “CHU” signs. Although I know I promised more blog posts, summer seems also equally busy. In any case, I just wanted to put out there that if Judy Chu wins, she’d be the first Asian American in the House for Southern California. Sweet! The area which she represents does seem to have a sizeable Asian American population to represent, so it’d be great to have her perspectives in the House.
She’ll have to face a runoff, though, but it seems like she’s got a pretty strong base of supporters to push her towards victory. We’ll see how it turns out in July. If you guys are registered to vote in this area, don’t forget to vote in the general election!
author: elainechen category: celebrating US! tags: date: May 2nd, 2009
That’s right guys, MAY is our month! I could totally go into great detail about the history of this month, how it originated, what fun things to do in the Bay Area are… but… you know… unfortunately for all of us at UC Berkeley, our hardboiled staff is winding down as finals approach! So apologies in advance for our upcoming SILENCE from the Internet world. It’s that time of the year where we finally begin to remember that… oh wait, we pay like, thousandas of dollars to attend this university which gives us like, grades and stuff.
Anyway, hopefully in like two weeks or so I can give more coherent and fun blog posts. In the meantime, I wanted to forward you guys to more professional bloggers over at Hyphen magazine. For the past month, they’ve been compiling immigrant stories to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Amy Tan’s Asian American novel The Joy Luck Club. Whereas that book totally speaks to only one time of immigrant experience specific to that time period, how much has immigrant stories changed? Lots of people contributed, so you should definitely CHECK IT.
Alright, back to research and immense paper writing. Woe.
author: elainechen category: berkeley madness, calling 'em out tags: date: April 2nd, 2009
I got some updates about the fight against the new UC Admissions policy, which I wrote about for issue 12.4. You know, the one that wants to increase diversity by increasing the white population and decreasing the Asian American one. Ring any bells?
Here are some follow-up links to this article. It’s reassuring to know that Asian Americans aren’t going to take this sitting down. Hell yes!
“New UC admissions policy gives white students a better chance, angers Asian-American community” By Lisa M. Krieger, Mercury News
“Asian-American education group seeks delay in UC admissions reform” By Matt Krupnick, Contra Costa Times
Some good quotes:
“How can we not be concerned?” said Patrick Hayashi, a retired UC Berkeley and systemwide leader. “The projections show our community will be decimated. We have to keep in mind that these numbers represent real people.”
“The changes over the last two years took place inside the ivory tower and closed the door, without the public’s knowledge,” he said.
Added Hayashi: “A public university should be more responsive. Private schools can do anything they want. But public schools have a different set of objectives. “It will have a devastating impact on our community. It is a fatal mistake to think it will blow over.”
“It’s affirmative action for whites,” said UC-Berkeley professor Ling-chi Wang. “I’m really outraged “… and profoundly disappointed with the institution.”
Now let me know. How pissed are YOU?
author: elainechen category: berkeley madness tags: date: March 11th, 2009
The 19th UC Berkeley Annual API Issues Conference is THIS SATURDAY 3/14 at Barrows Hall, Lipman room from 9am – 4pm.
Guest Starring… Activists Yuri Kochiyama and Helen Zia and Members of the original twLF / AAPA (Asian American Political Association).
W-W-Whaaaat??
That’s right. You did not hear wrong.
This will be a kick-ass, cuh-ray-zee, mind-blowing event. If you aren’t registered, and if you hadn’t prepared yourself for this weekend yet, what the heck are you doing?? CLICK HERE.
hardboiled will be making a strong showing there: you better too!