Across the nation, there are thousands of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) clubs, intending to prioritize inclusivity and diversity at the forefront of student life. This year, Saint Mary’s College added its own student-driven AAPI club.
Last year, junior Avery Lazaro, founder and AAPI president, served as secretary of the Student Diversity Board (SDB). While serving, Lazaro realized Saint Mary’s doesn’t offer an AAPI club and felt students of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent “were so underrepresented, there was nothing for us.”
When applying to SDB, Lazaro made it her mission to increase awareness of the gap in AAPI inclusion. She later learned there used to be a club similar to AAPI prior to her attendance at the College.
“They had their version of an AAPI club, but by the time that I was a freshman, it wasn’t even on Belle Tower. Like, it has not existed for probably well over a decade,” Lazaro said.
In starting the club, “I think it's just a matter of celebrating diversity and raising awareness,” Lucy Vung Nu, sophomore and AAPI vice president, said.
Regarding the importance of bringing an AAPI club to Saint Mary’s College, Vung Nu touched on the underrepresentation of the AAPI community.
“If we look at the demographics, specifically the Asian community, [it's] not [large],” Vung Nu said. “I think it’s just really important to kind of empower the women here who really do want to learn more about their culture, or even just learn about other cultures.”
Lazaro reflected on her history with her culture and the impact of her AAPI club in high school.
“In high school, we started our own AAPI club, and we did have a large Filipino group at our school. So that made it super fun, because it’s like, ‘Okay, I’m just there with my friends,’” Lazaro said.
Prior to high school, Lazaro’s immersion in her Filipino heritage felt limited and distanced.
“I guess, personally, I’m not very immersed in Filipino culture, just because when my grandparents immigrated here, they wanted their kids to just focus on living the American lifestyle and didn’t even teach them Tagalog or anything, just so that they could focus on English,” Lazaro said.
Lazaro’s involvement in her high school AAPI club allowed her to be further immersed in her heritage.
“It's just kind of nice to be able to touch on those roots,” Lazaro said. “And I guess it gave me that sense of community.”
Once Lazaro graduated high school and came to Saint Mary’s, the environment proved noticeably different, especially as a student of a mixed background.
“Coming here, when I didn't have that [community] at all, it was kind of intimidating ... It just felt like I needed something more.”
That “something more” for Lazaro would be trying what she did in high school, starting an AAPI club at Saint Mary’s.
“I felt like by establishing an AAPI club, it was able to help me bring that [community] in more and give other students more opportunity as well,” Lazaro said.
Vung Nu referenced the impact AAPI has had on students within the community. She relayed the experience she had while being involved in the Asian American Association’s showcase at Notre Dame. Vung Nu had encouraged many Saint Mary’s students to participate.
“I think we created a cute little community there too,” Vung Nu said. “I could tell there was a complete difference from day one to when we were getting ready to perform. They felt very comfortable with each other.”
Vung Nu attributed this sense of community to the shared identity many Saint Mary’s participants enjoyed.
“It was just comforting having each other’s presence, because we share this identity of not only being a smick, but also being an Asian American here. And just all of this, [with] the identities that we shared, we really, I think, found community.” Vung Nu said.
The impact of the club has spread beyond club leadership to the student body more broadly.
Freshman Hannah Walsh is a member of the AAPI club. In an email, Walsh noted the impact the club had on her readiness for college.
“I initially followed the club’s Instagram a year ago when I was still a prospective student. Knowing that this opportunity was available to me encouraged me to make my membership official once I stepped foot on campus,” Walsh said.
Walsh further shared her opinion of the club and her hope for its future.
“I think [the] AAPI club has created a greater community for Asian American and Pacific Islander students at Saint Mary’s. I think collaboration with the other clubs on campus such as SDB and clubs in the tri-campus community such as the Asian American Association (AAA) at Notre Dame is just what this club needs,” Walsh said.
Freshman Jinely Pineda-Martinez also felt impacted by the club.
“As someone who wasn’t as close or in tune with their Asian side, coming to Saint Mary’s and being a part of a community and being seen and learning more about their Asian heritage, it’s been nice being able to see events [by AAPI]” Pineda-Martinez said. “In a way, they make me feel seen and a part of something I thought would be a lost part of me.”
