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8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
1/32FALL 2011 ALIN
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW #NEWS #FASHION #FOOD #ENTERTAINMENT
A L I N E
IN THIS ISSUENEW BEGINNINGS
BATTLE RAP
MANAN DESAI
STREET STYLE
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
2/32ALINE FALL 2011
UNIQUETEAHOUSE
171 MARSHALL ST
SYRACUSE, NY
2ND FLOOR
T 315.422.7385
Monday - Thursday11AM - 12AM
The original boba house on SU Campus!
OPEN FROM
12PM - 2AM
12PM - 12AM
Friday - Saturday
Sunday
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
3/32FALL 2011 ALIN
Photography Zixi Wu
Korean-American rapperDumboundead (JonathanPark) perorms on stageNov. 5 at the Schine Stu-dent Center. Get up close
and personal 17
CONTENTS FALL2011
6A FAIR ELECTIONSan Franciscos frstAsian-dominatedmayoral election dis-sected, plus insightsrom the citys resi-
dent technophile
WIRED
8TOXIC SOCIALThe new trend olight smoking gainsground among youngAsians here andbeyond
10ON THE SOAPBOXThe frst hire or the
new AAA minor talkspassions and lie sto-ries that inspire him
ON CAMPUS
13PRESIDENTS CLUBThe aces o Asianculture on campus
14CAMPUS, DIVIDEDAn incisive look atthe cultural partyscene on campus.How segregated is ourcampus?
STYLE
20FASHION'SNIGHT OUT
A look at how theannual ashion renzyhas been recession-proofng itsel or theyear and beyond
17ORIENTAL CHARMThe rise o the Asianmodel at major ash-ion houses
COVERVIBE
24DUMBFOUNDEADThis Asian Americanbattle rapper spitsabout reestylin,
YouTube, chas ing girls,and a record deal. Gobehind the scenes inan exclusive Q&A
18STREET SPYProwling campusstreets with acamera
23KOLLABORATIONEven without its ounderat the helm, the ultimateAsian American talentcompetition continuesto wow
BITES
22OBESITY IN ASIAEveryone's avoriteclown has madeinroads into Asia.And it looks like he'shere to stay
23WHINE & DINERead about ourdining experience atBrickstone Eatery
and Chorong House
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
4EDITOR'S LETTER5MASTHEAD
22DESIGNER DOSSIER
THIS ISSUE
New Asian designerson the scene to lookout or this season
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
4/32ALINE FALL 2011
EDITOR
'SLETTER
Each issue oALINEis a relection o its editors. Andthis issue is no exception, eaturing an eclectic collection o articles, illustrations, and photography thatdisplays an integral part o counterculture here inSyracuse. From Korean rappers to ast ood conglomerates,ALINEMagazine is still searching or its voiceand style, even ater its 21st year o publication.
Youll notice the layout is distinctly dierent romanything weve done beore. You will have seen thatthe cover is no longer an illustration, but a photo shotby some o the most talented photographers. Alas, theoutstanding and bold vision or art direction and lay
out were not my creation but should go ully to twoo the most beautiul, brilliant, and visionary peopleIve ever met-my managing editor Audrie Tan, andart director Katie Perez. Your diligence, understanding,and mastery o Adobe Suite sotware serve as a greatsource o intimidation or me. I dont say this enough,butALINEloves you and Im really happy we'reworking together this year.
Along with our bold new layout comes an event oconsiderable monument. I am humbled to be able to say that Im editor in theterm o the irst aculty hire or the new Asian and Asian American Studiesminor, a petition that has inally been granted ater nearly 20 years o determination and silenced voices. Our resh new ace eatured in this issue is ProessorManan Desai in "On the Soapbox," page 10.
Special thanks to Dumbfoundead and DJ Zo or making a cover aboutAsian hiphop even conceivable today. You guys killed it.
We as Asian American writers, artists and photographers have come togetherto produce a publication that represents the everchanging ace o AsianAmerican culture and identity-on campus, nationwide and globally.
This is ALine on our grind. Well always dream bigger and reach higherthan we can ever possibly imagine. Thanks or sticking around. Thanks or waiting. And or those who have ound this publication in your hands or the veryirst time, heres to a celebration o Asian American culture and the hope that
youd pass it on.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
FIRSTS
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
5/32FALL 2011 ALIN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
WIRE EDITOR
ON CAMPUS EDITOR
STYLE EDITOR
VIBE EDITOR
BITES EDITOR
ART DIRECTOR
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
ADVERTISING SALES
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
CO-CULTURAL DIRECTORS
SECRETARY
DIGITAL PUBLIC RELATIONS
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS
TREASURER
FUNDRAISER
POLITICAL EDUCATION OFFICER
HISTORIAN
JOSHUA LEE
AUDRIE TAN
ELIZABETH LEE
YUHAN XU
CARMEN REYES
CHRISTINE BAEVICTORIA LI
KATHLEEN PEREZ
KAITY WONG
HEIDI CHU
STAFF
ASIA E-BOARD
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS BENJAMIN FANG,
HARRIS LEUNG, WENDY FENG, JONATHAN TAM,
CAMILLE BAUTISTA, JOURDAN MOR, XIANG WANG,
VANIA MYERS, BETSY HAN, STANLEY HUANG,
SHIRLEY DON, MAVIS REN
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS AUDRIE TAN,
EMILY WEN, DANIELA GOMEZ, AIMEE OTSU
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS AMABEL
CABA, EMILY RAMON, MOLLY SNEE, SEAN BASISTA
TIM HUYNH
DIANA HUYNH
JENIFER LA
WAYNE MENG
JUDY WANG
TY LIEW
YUMING HUANG
REBECCA NG
LIMI LO
NEVILLE SUN
SHARON LEE
Asian Eye began in 1990 as a publication dedicated to promoting awareness o
cultural, social, economic and political issues that aect Asians and Asian Americans.
The magazine evolved intoALINE as the expressive voice or these students on
the Syracuse University/SUNY-ESF campus. Every issue oALINE is a collection o
work rom dedicated writers and artists willing to share their individual perspec-
tives. Contributors o all ethnicities are welcome to submit their works as well.
Our main goal is to bring these perspectives to the entire campus, and to educate
the SU community and beyond on issues pertaining to race and diversity. Syracuse
University emphasizes diversity as one o its main assets andALINE is an integral
part o that ideal. This publication is an outlet or Asian and Asian American stu-
dents to express their views on culture and society with creative reedom. It is also
an opportunity or students to understand the issues that aect Asian communities
in the U.S. and overseas.ALINEMagazine is an aiate o, but is not restricted to
the members o the campus organization Asian Students in America (ASIA).
STAY IN THE LOOP
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER
@ALineMagazine
OR LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
A-Line Magazine
READ OR CONTRIBUTE
alinemagazine.wordpress.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS RACHEL
FISHER, ZIXI WU, YUKI MIZUMA, ALEX KIM
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
6/32ALINE FALL 2011
A FAIRELECTION
The San Francisco mayoral elections this November
may be a groundbreaker in Asian American politics.
W I R E D
Text by HARRIS LEUNG
SAN FRANCISCO WILL VOTE FOR A NEW MAYOR Nov.
8, but unlike any mayoral election, six o the 15
candidates in this election are Asian American.
This is perhaps the upshot o a generation
that grew up in a culture o activism during the
Asian American advocacy movements in the
past three decades. It is an ambitious, inspired
generation that has pushed at and now crackedthe upper echelon o American politics.
Among the candidates are: Incumbent Mayor
Ed Lee; Public Deender Je Adachi; David
Chiu, president o San Franciscos Board o
Supervisors; Leland Yee, Caliornia State Senator
or District 8; Wilma Pang, a proessor at the
City College o San Francisco; and Phil Tang, an
AssessorRecorder or the city o San Francisco.
All six candidates have a shared history as the
children o immigrantsnot o elected ocials.
The unprecedented number o Chinese Ameri
can candidates is sure to raise several questions
about how the Asian populationnearly one in
threeo San Francisco would vote.
The two candidates to watch in this election
are Ed Lee and Leland Yee. Lee had initially not
intended to run or reelection despite being
an immensely popular mayor since assuming
oce beginning o this year. However, Lee was
persuaded to declare candidacy in August ater
a planning committee successully collected
12,000 signatures on a petition. Lee is also lead
ing strong against his closest potential challenger
by a margin o 31, and has avorable views
rom all o the citys ethnic groups.
On the other hand, Leland Yee is a veteran
legislator, having served our years in the Cali
ornia State Assembly; he was also elected to the
State Senate in 2006. Yee passed 133 pieces o
legislation, with 100 o those chartered into law,
making him an extremely eective candidate.
Terry Lautz, a visiting proessor at the Max
well School o Citizenship and Public Aairs
specializing in Chinese culture and politics, said
he believes this is a generation o Asian Ameri
cans who is no longer constrained by the past,
in terms o limited opportunity, prejudice and
selimposed cultural barriers.
Their pursuit o a typically unpopular career
path among Asian Americans was a long time
coming, and they are now gaining visibility,
along with their successul counterparts in aca
demia, business and other proessions deemed
prestigious by many Asian Americans.
This is their lielong passion, and with a more
politically conscious voter base, they may have a
shot at orming a more representative govern
ment. A
Illustration by AMABEL CABA
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
7/32FALL 2011 ALIN
BRUCE REYES-CHOW KEEPS IT REAL. A native o
Stockton, Cali., Chow is a supporter o
Avalos, one o San Francisco's mayoral c
dates. He is not part o Avalos paid sta-
says he just agrees with John Avalos libe
views on politics.
Chow describes politics in San Fran
cisco as the let against the leter. It is n
ordinary politics, he says. Case in point,
liberal ideology is what makes San Franc
San Francisco.
With a large Asian American populati
San Francisco is a perect platorm or A
Americans to voice their opinions. One
thing special about this election, Chow
is that it has not one but six Asian Amer
candidates, which could potentially br in
more Asian people into both politics and
public service. Which is always nice to se
he added.
I asked i this was a air representation
Asian American politics, given the ve C
nese candidates and one Japanese candid
Chow agreed without hesitation. But all
Asian American mayoral candidates addr
progressiveness, and economic, educatio
and social issues in dierent ways, he saiWe wonder i Asian San Franciscans w
vote or an Asian candidate just because
they are Asian. Chow said he hopes not.
all depends on every individual. You wan
everyone to vote because they support t
candidates ideas, but not everyone is go
to do that," he said.
What are the chances o seeing an As
mayor in a city with a relatively small A
American population? "It all depends on
how much time they put into the com
munity and how much they understand
component o race and identity," Chow
And how about an Asian president?Bruce chuckled and said he would lo
see that in his lietime. He'll leave that to
14yearold daughter, he said. A
TO SAY ASIAN AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN
American politics has been insignicant is
a gross understatement.
Even todays political landscape reects
a dire lack o Asian Americans leaders on
Capitol Hill. According to the National
Asian American Survey (NAAS) in 2008,
Asian Americans make up only 1.8 percent
o Congress. This is a relatively small gure,
considering that Asian Americans comprise
nearly 5 percent o the United States popula
tion. Political scientists have attributed this
underrepresentation to the act that most
Asian Americans are highly concentrated instates like Caliornia, New York and Hawaii,
where Asian Americans make up a majority
o the population at 57 percent.
However, Asian Americans have recently
made progress on the political ront. Daniel
Inouye is one o two Asian American sena
tors; he is a Japanese American who currently
holds the position o President pro tempore, a
position given to the longestserving member
o the majority party. Senator Inouye is the
highestranked Asian American in congressio
nal history, holding one o the most impor
tant positions in American politics. The other
is Daniel Akaka, a Chinese American juniorsenator rom Hawaii.
Asian Americans have also made tremen
dous political advancements in the White
House. Two Asian Americans currently serve
in the cabinet. U.S. Secretary o Commerce
Gary Locke, a Chinese American, joins
Steven Chu, Secretary o Energy and Eric
Shinseki, Secretary o Veterans Aairs in the
administration with the most Asian Ameri
cans to date.
Chinese American Elaine Chao, who
served as Secretary o Labor in the Bush
administration, was the only emale Asian
American cabinet member in history.
At the local and state level, Bobby Jindal, a
Republican rom Louisiana, became the rst
Indian American governor in U.S. historyour years ago. In 2010, Indian American
Nikki Haley became the youngest governor
at 39, and continues to serve as governor o
South Carolina.
One notable name is John Liu, the New
York City Comptroller. Liu, a Chinese Amer
ican, is currently on the ballot or mayor o
the city with the largest Chinese population
outside o China (nearly 500,000 people).
In San Francisco, a city with one o the
largest Asian populations, six Asian Americans
in the mayoral race are vying or the top
executive position. This is an election that
could shake up the political demographic
and set the stage or more Asians in American
politics.Talk about a reason to be glued to the
TV screen this month. A
ASIAN AMERICAN POLITICS
A TIMELINEText by BENJAMIN FANG
byWENDY FENG
Pastor and social
media guru, Bruce
Reyes-Chow
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
8/32ALINE FALL 2011
PICTURE THIS.Its Friday night and your nightmarish weekis nally coming to an end. You attend a local party with a ew
o your riends, ready to relieve some stress. A ew hours into
the estivities, your riends decide to get some air, which you
think sounds like a great idea. But once you are outside, enjoy
ing the cool breeze, your riends start lighting their cigarettes.
Problem is, youve never had one o thosenow what?
This is the situation encountered by many young adults,
mostly students. More oten than not, to avoid coming across
as antisocial or worse, a party pooper, the teenager or young
adult will accept the cigarette in an attempt to t in. This is
the relatively new trend o social smoking a common sight
on college campuses and in social settings elsewhere.
Two reshman girls living in Flint Hall, who wished to re
main anonymous, said they smoke two to three times a day. I
dont think Im addicted, I just enjoy it, one o them said.
According to the American Lung Association, overall smoking
has declined more than 50 percent between 1965 and 2009.
While percentages are still considerably high or White
Americans and Arican Americans (22 percent and 21 percent
respectively), only 12 percent o Asian Pacic Americans
(APAs) adults are smokersthe lowest among racial and
ethnic groups surveyed. Moreover, according to a recent study
conducted by the Centers or Disease Control and Preven
tion in 2010, only 14.7 percent o APA males and a mere 4.3
percent o APA emales were smokers.
The problem is that these statistics do not tell the entire
story. The numbers only apply to heavy smokers who, accord
ing to the Asian Pacic Partners or Empowerment, Advocacy
and Leadership (APPEAL), smoke ten or more cigarettes a day.
They do not account or light or intermittent smokers, some
o whom do not even smoke daily.
That said, it is conceivable that Asian Pacic Americans are
greatly aected by this evergrowing trend. A recent study o
479 APA smokers, conducted by researchers rom APPEAL,
shows that APA smokers are more likely to be light or inter
mittent smokers than White Americans.
Social smoking is a cause or concern because o the
potential health risks involved, says Dr. Elisa Tong, an assistant
proessor at the University o Caliornia Davis Cancer Center.
According to Dr. Tong, light or intermittent smoking is
capable o causing ser ious illnesses, such as cardiovascular and
pulmonary disease.
In addition, cessation methods are mostly targeted at heavy
smokers, even though lighter smokers also ace detrimental
health issues.
But why is social smoking especially common among
Asians and Asian Americans?
Dr. Tong believes it is a result o both social and biological
actors. Research has shown that APAs have a slower nicotine
metabolism; Chinese Americans, in particular, show a lower
intake o nicotine per cigarette than White Americans.
But all these reasons are only part o the picture. Smoking
is still a highly social activity that is becoming the norm or
many young Asian Americans, who are willing to light up just
to t in. Social circles oster a sense o companionship among
smokers and establishes a socially exclusive ingroup, which
may reject those who dont play by their rules. But those who
are in get a high o the exper ience.
A lot o Asians and international students smoke, said one
o the girls at Flint Hall. Its un. You just call your riends out
and smoke together. A
W I R E D
PhotographyZIXIWU
by BENJAMIN FANG
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
9/32FALL 2011 ALIN
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
10/320 ALINE FALL 2011
O N C A M P U S
Photography
RACHELFISHER
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
11/32FALL 2011 ALIN
SPECTERS, GHOSTS AND LOOMING FIGURES FILLED A
high school classroom, skimming across a sea o
white aces. Bursts o belie grew as voices spokeout, giving strength to the visions, not o the
paranormal, but just as haunting.
These gures and illusions were o the eared
immigrant, discussed by students and leaving an
imprint on the only brown ace in the crowd,
Manan Desai.
The high school debate on immigration
and the vitriol spoken against oreigners was
a pivotal experience or Desai, who had never
beore heard such negative racial opinions rom
his white peers. The event, among many, served
as a catalyst that drove the second generation
IndianAmerican to delve into a world o the
Asian American experience.As the rst aculty hire in the Asian and
Asian American studies program at Syracuse
University, Desai carries a breadth o histori
cal knowledge, rom his amiliar ity with 1960s
movements to caste identity in India, all the
while bringing a resh perspective with ocus on
student participation.
Its really exciting and I think its a big deal,
Desai said. I eel grateul. I know theres been
an attempt to create this program or years and
being the rst hire, thats important. Theres a
huge responsibility to that legacy.
Legacies have been a ocus or much o his
academic career, concentrating on the political
movements and impact o South Asian history.
His amily overseas was involved in the Indian
nationalist movement, spurring him to learn
more about his ancestral story.
Raised by immigrant parents who came to
the United States in the early 70s, Desai grew
up in San Jose, Cali., where there was a large
Asian American population. The amily soon
moved to Michigan, where he was exposed to
the black/white racial dichotomy and heavily
inuenced by the Arican American struggle.
It was in a Michigan high school where
ethnic walls were ortied, where riends rom
elementary school were egged on by a teacher
posing skewed questions such as, What i your
immigrant neighbor cooked ood that smelledbad? The moment was both poignant and
traumatizing, but the impetus to search or
something more.
I still remember that so vividly, Desai said.
I was horried because it turned out so many
o those students were absolutely opposed to
immigration. But Im almost grateul or that
moment, when you learn so much rom your
surroundings. Yeah, it was really traumatic in
some ways but holy cow, did it open my eyes.
He sees himsel in many o his students, he says,
students who are in the process o develop
ing the language or understanding their own
identity. His personal experiences and child
hood o being the other, allows him to relate
to students.
Desais rst semester o teaching at Syracuse
University include Introduction to Asian Amer
ican Literature and Language o South Asia and
its Diaspora. In it, students examine the writings
o authors such as Maxine Hong Kingston, John
Okada and Gene Leun Yang. In his belie that
literature courses should deal largely with his
tory, he aims to have courses where the student
will not only get an exploration o the texts but
also a solid grasp o the history that ormed the
identity.
The rst recognized proessor in the AAA
program hopes to build participation o student
organizations and establish the importance o
history in connection with literature.
Students are going to be the backbone o
this program, he said. Without students, you
dont really have a program, especially an ethnic
studies program at that.
He says he believes the classes in the program
benet not only Asian Americans, but also a
broader population, saying that everyone has a
stake in it i talking about the depth o race in
America.
Kimberly Powell, a reshman in Desais Asian
American Literature class, is considering a mi
nor in AAA studies.
I had no clue the struggles o AsianAmericans, not only rom the past, but simple
stereotypes they still battle today, Powell said.
Manan, hes such a great teacher. He really
conducts great discussions. He is a really helpul
teacher, and it is obvious he values the art o
education.
Desai compels his students to make connec
tions to the texts in discussion. He reaches out
to them through conversation and Powell says
she believes he is eective through his handson
approach.
Since his undergraduate career, Desai has
ound delight in teaching. Graduating as a biol
ogy and English major, he taught chemistry,
composition, Shakespeare, as well as literacy
in Detroit. He later pursued his doctorate in
English, where he ocused on the 1960s and the
political and aesthetic movements that came out
o the era that shaped new identity ormations.
Trips to India and studies o black power
were inuential in his interests. From 2007 to
2008, he spent time in India getting in touch
with Dalit writers, traditionally known as the
Untouchables.
Again, it was a milestone where his eyes were
opened to a struggle ormerly unknown. It was
important to make connections to politics and
migration and to be absorbed in a history so
instrumental to the present.
I knew that I loved hip hop and later in col
lege I gravitated towards black literature because
it was able to express something about race, it
was close, he said.
ON THE SOAPBOX
"I KNEW THAT I LOVED HIP HOP AND
LATER IN COLLEGE I GRAVITATED TOWARDS
BLACK LITERATURE BECAUSE IT WAS ABLE
TO EXPRESS SOMETHING ABOUT RACE."
Once singled out as "the other" in a predominantly white high school, Manan Desai, the frst acultyhire in the new-and long awaited-Asian and Asian American Studies program, is now bringing
together students rom all cultures into one classroom
by CAMILLE BAUTISTA
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
12/322 ALINE FALL 2011
By helping students realize the intercon
nectedness o race, Desai says he hopes to build
on the existing program and ocus on student
activism, a key actor that brought AAA studies
into ruition. It is important to him to have a
strong emphasis on Asian American studies as
opposed to Asian, as well as bringing in Asian
American scholars to the university.
Prema Kurien, director o the AAA program,
said development or the program was very slow
to reach out to aculty who worked on Asian
American issues. She noted that the department
has made rapid progress in a short amount o
time, including the new aculty hire and seven
new courses.
I am thrilled that he is here, she said o
Desai. I think that it is great to have someone
who is young, dynamic, and doing cuttingedge
work.
Not only is he a dynamic aculty member, he
also brings his passion to all that he does in lie,
said his cousin, Haley Naik.
Sharing Desais zeal or Asian American
studies, she helped to bring a similar program
to the University o Illinois at Chicago. Though
they spent much o their childhood together,
Naik took great interest in getting to know her
cousin all over again as adults.
Manan is a person that ollows his heart,
she said. He wouldnt do anything that he
wasnt 100 percent passionate about. I tell him
this a lot and he doesnt believe me, but hes
extraordinarily brilliant.
As a child, Desai enjoyed burying his head in
books and sketches, Naik said. He was talented
in painting and drawing as well. Each sum
mer they spent together allowed her to see his
insight.
Hes a really calm orce in our amily and
you always got the sense that he was deep in
thought, always thinking about something.
Currently, Desai says he is thinking o ways to
engage the student body, particularly through
collaborating with student organizations to
create a lm series, as well as working with the
Asian American Writers Workshop.
He says he also hopes to help develop mate
rial in SUs library, where students can explore
the world beyond the classroom with available
resources.
In the spring 2012 semester, he will be teach
ing two courses, including an upper level Asian
American literature course.
Outside o SU, Desai is involved in the South
Asian American Digital Archive and is a con
tributor to Hyphen, an Asian American magazine
covering arts, culture and politics. A
O N C A M P U S
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
13/32FALL 2011 ALIN
PRESIDENTS CLUB
TIM HUYNH, ASIA
MIDORI SHIROYAMA,JSA
HE JIAO, CSSA
DENNIS OH, KASA
COURTNEY YEH, HKCO
FIRDAUSARASTU, SASA
LORENZ CHIU, TAIWAN CONNECTION
ASH SINCHAWALA, THAI SOCIETY
We tried to provide a better platorm or Chinese
students to become closer with each other and let
other people learn about Chinese culture.We're looking into collaborating with groups that wehaven't approached beore, especially or Asian Pacifc
American Heritage month so please be on the look out!
I eel like a lot o the Asian groups here do try a
a variety o other Asian culture and cliques. But it
really hard here because people just like to stick wown people because they have their own connec
We dontwanttomakeJSAjustforJapanese
students.Wewanttoopen ourdoor, andwelcome
more studentswho are interestedin Japan.
Weve always believed in a community service or the
greater Syracuse area. I think thats a place where we
can really use the support o other Asian organizations
on campus. SASAhelpsmegrowandteaches meapprecia
t
theSouth Asianculture,aswell asmyowniden
t
incollege.
Our organization is a platorm which enables students
to realize that although we don't reside in the most hap-
pening city in the U.S., we are or tunate enough to have a
large international community ull o interesting people!
I just wanted a social organization at
and then we'll see where it goes rom
Now that we have 20 to 30 people, w
had a BBQ with Taiwan Connection. W
getting somewhere.
We caught up with some o SU's Asian Organizatio
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
14/324 ALINE FALL 2011
ACCORDING TO THE 2012 PRINCETON REVIEW,
we are the 12th best party school in the nation,
sandwiched between collegeriendly titles
like Lots o Beer at #13 and Lots o Hard
Liquor at #19. Even at the cusp o the Top 10,
we couldnt have been prouder o our new
ound ame. Even rapper B.O.B. pointed out the
sobering math o the situation when he cameto perorm in this year's Juice Jam. Thousands o
staunch party goers excitedly cheered and hol
lered back in agreement.
THERE ARE 2,618 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES and
universities nationwide and we ranked 8th on
Least Race/Class Interaction this year. Even
or Syracuse, a school some would call white
washed, that was quite a lot o segregation to
live up to. And i you were here in 2010, I'm
sure you remember your reaction when you
rst heard about this ranking. I remember non
chalant responses along the lines o, Yeah that
makes sense. One things or sure: it did not
take most by surprise.
Segregation is not just a separation o
the races but also social, cultural, and socio
economic dierences; however, many think its
only the ormer. But or our purposes, well
use mainly racial segregation even though the
Princeton Review included socioeconomicdierences.
So how did we manage to bag that coveted
ranking in the rst place? Personally, I wanted
to know how these barriers were created in
the rst place, and who better to ask than those
who may have experienced it beore?
I was able to gather interviews rom an
eclectic group o undergraduate upperclass
men-all SU students rom dierent cultural
backgrounds, majors, and organizations includ
ing those with Greek aliation. They were
two Asians, three Latinos, our Caucasians, and
two Arican Americans. Out o the 11, seven
were male and six o them were afiated wit
Greek organization.
They were majoring in Supply Chain
Management; Finance; Computer Engineer i
Sociology; Visual and Perorming Arts; Entre
neurship; Inormation Technology; Advertisin
Public Relations; French; Computer Science
Architecture; Psychology; and Music and Hitory Culture.
SU nightlie is such a hot topic among th
students here that it would be the most relev
one to examine. I asked the interviewees i th
thought the SU's greek nightlie segregated a
they unanimously answered yes.
As they revealed more about their identity
within their own social groups, two groups
stood out the most:
Those who were o the same ethnicity as
people they interacted with on a daily basis a
partied with people o the same ethnicity.
The ones who interact with dierent ethn
DIVIDEDby JOURDAN MOR
O N C A M P U S
1
2
CAMPUS,Photography
ALEXKIM
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ties during the day and at social events do not
automatically identiy with those culturally
similar to them.
When asked i they would eel comortable
in a setting outside their ethnic community,
most said yes. One emale even commented that
she sees people and not as a specic entity o
racial or social identity. Although they are will
ing to be a minority at a party or social event,
the students still agreed segregation was still ap
parent on campus. The group said they believeit is due to multiple social dynamics:
For instance, obvious visual cues. The emale
students agreed it is the male who oten gets
rejected when trying to enter parties. However,
some emales interviewees pointed out that
male minorities get rejected more oten, and
due to the packed crowd at these parties, they
are given little reason besides the party is ull.
Sometimes, another group o males (usually not
minorities) are granted entry at the same time.
According to a Greekaliate in the Multi
cultural Greek Council (MGC), Ethnocentric
Greek organizations are established as a state
ment o representation due to underrepresen
tation o their own identity in a predominantly
Caucasian majority.
The ip side with an Ethnocentric Greek
organization is that these establishments
unknowingly-or intentionally-reinorce seg
regation by separating themselves as an ethnic
entity rather than serving as a bridge or cultural
awareness with those signicantly dierent rom
themselves.
It is inevitable that these segregated interaction will occur, the Greekafiate said. This
would minimize the social interactions between
the underrepresented minority and the majority
because the ormer may eel the pressure to
identiy with or stick to those similar to them,
and may be inadvertently segregating themselves
rom others. On the upside, another Greek
afiate insists, i handled correctly, the ethno
centrism would not translate to segregation
but rather to more diverse relations between
dierent ethnicities.
Most o the time, its not similar interests that
bring people together, but rather similarities in
skin color. In act, the students I interviewed
spent the majority o our time interacting with
others o the same ethnicity as them, although
they insisted they were open to interacting with
others culturally dierent rom them.
One student said people attempt to gain
social acceptance subconsciously and would
rather conorm than stick to their own person
ality when the roles are reversed and they are
the minority. He said he does not believe this
would be considered stereotyping since socialacceptance is important.
It takes eort to impress and some might eel
out o their comort zone-it's easy to see why
students would rather party with those ethni
cally similar to them.
But at the end o the day, everyone parties
or the same reasons. The same ingredients are
still involved: alcohol, music, and the contest to
have the best story at next mornings brunch.
However, this is no way pits the majority against
the ethnic minority as there is no dichotomy in
segregation, despite the irony o the statement.
It is ar too complex or that. A
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F A S H I O N
Big-name designers are taking the world o aordable ashion by storm. Versace or H&M just debuted in stores
Nov. 19, and already the talk o the town is buzzing about a new collaboration-Jason Wu or Target.
Wu's collection hits stores Feb. 15 and can be ound online at target.com
rt--Porter
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ORIENTALCHARMText byVANIA MYERS
MOVE OVER, LONDON AND NEW YORK. Fashionistas,
say hello to the Asian invasion in high couture
ashion.
Fashions avorite goth-Givenchy creative di
rector Riccardo Tisci-is ocially obsessed with
Japan. No, not geishas or obis. Try something
a little dierent: robots and legendary Japanese
Butoh dancer, Kazuo Ohno, or instance. Tisci
was inspired by the masculine and eminine ele
ments in the dance orm, which he borrowed orhis Spr ing/Summer 2011 Collection. The palette
colors, inspired by dried, pale owers, comple
mented the lightweight gowns and showcased
distinct Asian style elements such as structural
shapes o the dresses, the origami olding tech
niques on some o the bows, which was inspired
by cranes, and edgy, uturistic headgear borrowed
rom the world o Gundam ghters, a Japanese
animated TV ser ies.
Even better? Tisci chose an allAsian model
lineup or this collection.
The cast o models included Shu Pei, Ming
Xi, Tao Okamoto, Kye Rim Park, Fei Fei Sun,
Liu Wen, Jiang Xiao Yi, Ai Tominaga, So Young
Kang and Du Juan-all upcoming models on the
ashion scene.
Asia is ashions next destination because o its
maturing ashion markets. Shanghai and Moscow
are currently the two largest consumers o high
ashion products. Luxury labels continue to stage
their ashion shows in Asia while major ashion
and beauty brands are hir ing more Asian models.
Asia is making remarkable progress on the
ashion ront. For one, there was Marc JacobsAsianinspired Spring show or Louis Vuitton at
Paris Fashion Week, which eatured bright, orien
tal prints and variations o the iconic cheongsam,
a tted traditional Chinese dress. Miuccia Prada
held a Asianinspired Spring presentation in
Beijing. The worlds rst male Asian supermodel,
Taiwanese Godrey Gao, was the newlynamed
ace o Louis Vuitton last January. Chinese model
Liu Wen is the ace o Este Lauder and is the
tenth highestpaid emale model in the world.
But Asian models still have some way to go
beore they can be on even playing eld with
western models, simply because o how the
industry works.
One o the major downalls o the high
couture ashion world is that it cant depart rom
the image o the stickskinny Caucasian model
Arican American and plussize models have be
trying to break into the ashion industry or yea
but still, its without overwhelming success.
Project Runway alum Daniel Vosovic held his
rst show at New York Fashion Week February
2010, in which he cast only Asian models. I e
like we ound 15 amazing girls, but it was a reaing struggle. Some agencies just had no Asian
girls. It just threw me or a curve. This is the r
time Im showing, and I eel like it was a huge
awakening. You hear about it all the time, and
then youre in the position to request it, and Im
like, this is insane.
Now he sees the modeling world dierently.
It seems really unny that people have been
casting allwhite shows orever and thats never
discussed, he said. And its like, Why did you
cast all white girls? And Im like, Well, thats
what the designer wanted. A
Illustration by EMILY RAMON
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STREET
Clockwise rom top let:
HANNAH KIM, Sophomore, wearing
geometric cube earrings bought
rom a vendor in Brazil;
CHRISTOPHER NOMURA, Assistant
Proessor at SUNY-ESF sporting a
coieured mohawk;ERIC MUN, Sophomore, wearing
Yankee love on a hat;
DU YOUNG,Senior, layering with a
preppy varsity cardigan S T
Y L E W
A T C
H
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F A S H I O N
How is the annual shopping extravaganza weathering the recession?
ECIAL REPORT
Red and black: The cast o Glee at a Fashion's Night Out-themed shoot
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SHOPPING. EVERYONE LOVES IT. For many women
around the world, the thought o buying that
extremely sot but expensive cashmere sweater
is the only incentive let to keep them moti
vated to go to work or the rest o the week.
But what is it about that $450 Vince sweater
that we so resolutely try to convince ourselves
is worth it or its quality? The answer is
simple: one is a luxury and the other, a necessity. This distinction is one that put the ashion
industry in great peril when the economic
recession hit three years ago.
Although clothing is part o the big three
necessities to survive (along with ood and
shelter), the ashion industry rarely revolves
around the concept o utility. Fashion is
associated with glamour; it was never really
intended to be practical.
In 2009, the ashion industry was badly
shaken by the economic crisis as global con
sumerism trac plummeted. As i the ashion
industry wasnt cutthroat enough to begin
with, as consumerism took a dive in 2009,
designers expressed their concerns.
Alessandra Facchinetti, appointed in 2007 to
replace Valentino Garavani as creative direc
tor at ashion house Valentino, let the position
ater only a year, because she was unable to
deliver results as quickly as Garavani had.
The very class o people that have driven
the whole boom in all these international
brands are the very people who are going to
lose their jobs in the nancial sector, Godrey
Deeny, senior ashion critic at Fashion Wire
Daily, reported to AP Television News in 2009.
Designers concerns were also reected
on the runway. Observers recognized that
designers, themselves budgetconscious, usedlessexpensive materials to trim cost and oer
buyers a more reasonable price. It eels as
though many designers have opted or abrics
that are o lesser distinction and or more
seasonless items versus heavyweights, observed
Tom Julian, New Yorkbased director o trends
or the global advertising agency McCann
Erickson.
Amid what had looked like the end o the
era o ashionable extravagance and the begin
ning o aordable, recessionproo clothing,
Vogueand the Council o Fashion Designers
o America (CFDA) teamed up to create the
ashion event o 2009: Fashions Night Out.
Taking place in one o the ashion capitals
o the world, New York, Fashions Night Out
served as a means to encourage consumers to
shop and support the ashion industry during
the dicult nancial climate. With appearances
rom the editors o top ashion magazines like
Vogue, ashion designers, and the worlds most
beautiul supermodels, the event was deemed
a great success. The event has been an annual
tradition since and has expanded into a global
event with 16 dierent countries participating
in 2010 and 19 by this year.
Ater the Asian debut o Fashion's Night
Out last year, many Asian countries remain on
the list o places set to host the annual shop
ping extravaganza. These countries include
South Korea, China, India, Taiwan, and Japan.
Ater a dazzling opening in New York and
parts o Europe in September, Fashions Night
Out is anticipated to ourish in Asia. Just a ew
years ago, many cities in Asia were not consid
ered as ashion capitals, but many speculators
now believe Asia is the uture o ashion.
With emerging Asian designers in the indus
try who have enjoyed success in recent years,
such as Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, and Phillip
Lim, Asia's inuence on the ashion world is
about to be reevaluated.
And as consumerism continues to grow in
parts o Asia-especially China-designers aregearing their designs to better suit the taste o
the Asian, or Chinese, consumer markets.
Tracking the growth o the Chinese ashion
market, veteran designers such as Karl Lager
eld o Chanel and Miuccia Prada have been
requenting their visits to China in an attempt
to raise their proles there and to better un
derstand the exponentially growing market in
dierent regions o Asia.
Currently China makes up less than 10
percent o the global US$206 billion luxury
goods industry, but analysts have predicted
this gure to double by 2015. A recent report
published by McKinsey & Company also pre
dicted that the number o wealthy household
in China with an annual income will increase
rom 1.6 million in 2008 to more than our
million by 2015, lending cause to optimism
that the ailing ashion industry will soon n
a new niche.
With design houses launching ashier and
sleeker boutiques across the country, there is
no doubt that the ashion industry has pinned
China as a large potential market.
Until recently, the brands most desired in
China were divided evenly and predominantl
among Louis Vuitton (43 percent), Chanel (20
percent), and Gucci (20 percent).
However, as dierent labels are beginning
to enter the Chinese market and opening
boutiques in Asia, consumers' tastes are shitin
away rom mainstream to more niche brands
in the likes o Marni, Balenciaga, Lanvin, and
Stella McCartney. A
Text by BETS
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ESIGNER DOSSIER
DANIEL NGOOis a resh-aced designer who, at 22, wonthe Star Creation competition, a ashion design competi-
tion recently star ted by the Textile & Fashion Federation
Singapore to uncover new talent. Ngoo put his entry
together in just our days and blew viewers away with his
collection titledAge of Sobriety. A native o Malaysia, Ngoo
has honed his signature look, which incorporates mixed
abric and heavy draping to create a grunge-eminine look.
SHEGAR CHANDRA is defnitely an up-and-coming designer to keep an eye
on. On top o being a skilled ashion designer, he is also an interior designer,
hair stylist, makeup ar tist, wedding planner, and most recently, an artistic
director. Shegar and his designs have already gotten a stamp o approval rom
supermodels, such as Liya Kebede and Cindy Craword. His most recent
collection accentuates owy tops and dresses that incorporate a marriage
between classic and modern avor.
JEZMINE ZAIDANis the owner o the successul vintageboutique Old Blossom Box Store. She came into the
limelight when she entered as one o the contestants or
Project Runway Malaysia. Besides her career in ashion, Zaidan
also dabbles in jewelry design and writes or magazines such
as Life & Time NSTandMarie Claire. With experience as a
designer, writer, and manager o her own store, she is able to
run the ashion industry rom all dierent angles.
F A S H I O N
MODERNCLASSIC
QUIRKYVINTAGE
GRUNGE CHIC
THE OLD BLOSSOM BOX STORE
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IT IS MORE THAN JUST A TALENT SHOWor Asian
Americans; it has become a movement. Kollaboration has become a key stepping stone
or many AsianAmericans to enter the enter
tainment industry.
Starting with one show in Los Ange
les, ounder Paul PK Kim has expanded
Kollaboration to 15 shows throughout 13
North American cities such as LA, New York,
Toronto, and Seattle. With Asian Americans
not prominently shown in entertainment, Kol
laboration stays true to its mantra giving Asian
Americans a chance to showcase their talents
through Empowerment through Entertain
ment.
Thanks to Kollaboration, talents such as
Far East Movement, Quest Crew, and Clara
Chung have launched their careers.
In regards to whether Asian Americans
are making an impact in the entertainment
industry today, Kim believes that we are in
the middle o the (Is this italicized because
you added it in? It should be [the] i thats the
case.) historic time or Asian Americans with
Far East Movement making it big with their
breakthrough album, Free Wired.
Kollaboration played a big part o that be
cause were the rst ones to give a large audi
Modern, Ben Chung rom the Jabbawockeez,
Clara Chung, David Choi, Kina GrannisImean, like, you name any Asian star and they
were a judge, they were either a comedian, or
they were either a perormer at Kollaboration
and Im really proud o that.
Clara Chung, winner o Kollaboration
10, has gone on to pursue a career in music
ulltime. Some may remember Clara rom her
recent visit to Syracuse University as the head
liner or Korea Night 2011. She has already
had her own minitour in LA, Boston, Seattle,
and San Diego. Clara has also just announced
her shows in her rst Asia/Australia tour.
Kollaboration supports and helps elevate
all kinds o entertainment. I you appreciate
music and outdoor entertainment, there is
Kollaboration Acoustic in Caliornia. Kollabo
ration Acoustic ocuses on vocals, acoustics,
guitars, and other nonelectrical instruments
with seating in the Ford Amphitheatre in Los
Angeles.The uture or Kollaboration is bright. Kim
conrms that a Kollaboration Hawaii is slated
to open some time next year with a Kollabo
ration Asia in speculation. Yes, you read it here
rst. However, it is still a speculation and Kim
is hopeul that Kollab will eventually reach
Asia. Paul PK Kim who ounded Kollabora
tion is no longer with the show because heis working on his own television show as the
host and producer, Beats Per MNet. He also
has his own YouTube channel: Youtube.com/
ChannelPktown.
I you have the talent and ambition but
have yet to showcase it to the world, what are
you waiting or? Kollaboration is hosted in 13
North American cities and is still expanding.
You can take part now! Kollaboration can be
your boost to ame i you have a talent or
music, dancing, or standup comedy. Whatever
your talent is, you can take part in being a part
o history. A
KOLLABORATION:A MOVEMENT
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH
ENTERTAINMENT[ ]
Text by STANLEY HUANG
Illustration by MOLLY SNEE
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IN A WAY, THE SONG PUSHIN EXEMPLIFIES the importance o
KoreanAmerican rapper Dumboundead in the Asian
American and internet communities. His story about
nding ame is a genuine testament to the success that
comes with pushing and persevering. Today, Dumboun
dead has a large online presence in the Youtube world,
with new songs receiving at least 200,000 hits per song.
Growing up in Koreatown o Los Angeles, Caliornia,
Dumboundead, born Jonathan Park, was immersed in a
community where hiphop painted the cultural landscape.
At the age o 14, the West Coast HipHop Movement
created a desire in Park to rap. His love or reestyle moti
vated him to perorm at hiphop shows and rap battles in
the area, eventually leading him to an open mic oppor
tunity or aspiring rappers, Project Blowed. It was at this
early stage o his career where Dumboundead, sometimes
reerred to as Dumb, developed his crat.
Dumboundead ound himsel amongst other Blowed
ians in two rap groups that he joined: Thirsty Fish and
Swim Team. His work with the Thirsty Fish saw the re
lease o the 2007 album Testing the Waters, ironically get
ting his eet wet in the commercial hip hop world. As his
experience grew along with his exposure , Park became a
master lyricist that dabbled in written hiphop as well.
Although known to the underground LA hiphop
scene, Park didnt win publicity in the masses until his
participation in the west coast edition o Grind Time
Now. A hiphop battle league, Grind Time Now is a
competition or rappers, challenging participants to dam
age the ego o their opponents through spoken word. In
act, his Youtube exposure came initially rom Grind Time
Now videos that were released online; a 2008 video o
Dumboundead battling ellow Caliornianative Tantrum
boasts over a million views.
DUMBFOUNDEAD
What the hell dude, stop rapping and go sell shoes /
Ater he lost that battle he went to his dad, got down on
his knees and said, I have ailed you, he preaches as the
crowd gasps and laughs over his visibly intimidated oppo
nent. The video is Grind Time Nows most popular battle.
His calm demeanor but quick wit won him incredible
respect in the underground rap community.
The YouTube community lited Dumboundead to
even greater ame, adding his name to a comprehensive
list o AsianAmericans who ound success through the
online video medium such as: Nigahiga, Wong Fu Pro
ductions, Kevjumba, and Clara Chung. This helped him
create a an base with the release o Fun With Dumb, a
2009 album under his independent label.
Perhaps one o the most signicant steps in his career
was his appearance on South Korean group Epik Highs
[e]nergy album, a cult classic among KoreanAmericans.
The popular song Rocksteady brought Dumboun
deads talents to the oreront o AsianAmerican culture,
illuminating his name among other star Asian perormerslike Kero One and MYK. With the incredible momentum
that Dumboundead amassed, he released the mixtape
Music in January o 2010, eaturing a remix o songs by
Aloe Blacc and Lily Allen.
Dumboundead loved the concept o using collabora
tion projects to show the power o the Internet to uniy
musicians and artists all over the world. The most notable
number on his 2010 album was Jam Session 2.0, a
song about world peace that gained incredible ame on
Youtube because o its production with eight musicians
rom our dierent continents by using the Internet to
communicate. The music video, eaturing blackand
white clips o each musician, became hugely popular and
earned national attention on huge networks such as Foxand NBC.
The hustlers o the world trying to make that sound, keeppushing," an inspired voice sings
V I B E
Text by STANLEY HUANGIllustration by DANIELA GOMEZ
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In 2010, Dumboundead produced a string o singles
to coincide with his launch o Knocksteady, a group o
musicians trying to defne their own liestyle brand by
releasing positive media to the masses.
Since the creation o Knocksteady, Dumboundeadhas produced music with upliting and inspiring mes-
sages, contrasting sharply rom his hip-hop battling
days. But as ambitious Asian-Americans look to him or
inspiration, Dumboundead fnds himsel in a power-
ul position where he can become a beacon in the
minority community. This doesnt mean however, that
he has abandoned his unique style. Today, he continues
to represent Koreatown and the City o Angels. He is
a loyal partner to his collaborators, and still produces
music with DJ Zo, his ellow Blowedians, Sam Ock, and
many other Asian-American musicians.
In November, Dumboundead will come to Syracuse
University to perorm at the Elements o Hip Hopshow, which showcases both proessional and student
talent. The event serves to promote awareness o the
Hip Hop art, while additionally explaining its signif-
cance in the Asian American community. Every year,
the campuss Asian Students in America organization
plans the event and donates proceeds to a designated
charity. Dumboundeads presence at the event will
undoubtedly sharpen the vision that ASIA seeks with
Elements o Hip Hop.
I know I look crazy cause I push daily, and I keep
pushin till I push daisies, he says. Through the story o
his success, one can see how he has pushed to get
where he is now.
And he wont stop anytime soon.
Theyre all in totally dierent places, but thanks to
the Internet, theyve hooked into basically the same
eed, Josh Levs o CNN commented, and theyre all
putting this show together.
Additionally, or the Dierent Galaxies music
video, Dumboundead combined video ootage ohimsel rapping in Los Angeles with ootage o Sam
Ock singing a chorus and background vocals in Elliot
City, Maryland. He also collaborated with Beatnik8,
a law student in London who provided him with the
beat or Pushin. They communicated online, and
never met in person. A
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one o the ew Asians, I always elt like that was an advantage , you know. I stood out,
and Hip Hop is always about standing up and being unique, you know what I mean.
The act that theres less o us like I was happy about that. It was gonna help us
grow. And its gonna help us like really fnd those leaders out in the hip hop com-
munity and help us grow, you know. So I think thatyeah as ar as Asian-Americans
in Hip Hoptheres been pioneers. From Mountain Brothers, back in the day, to
Denizen Kane, Typical Cats, like, uhmbunch o poets. Theres a history to it that us
too that Asian-American kids need to learn about with Asian-American artists in the
game. Like yeah, Far East Movement is in the mainstream but thats not the Asian-
American history. Yeah, theyre like the frst ones to go mainstream but theres ucking
ten, fteen, twenty years o history o Asian-Americans in Hip Hop, way beore them,
you know what I mean. Weve been there.
ALINEHow do you defne your position as a Korean-American in
defning Asian-Americans in the rap movement? Where do you see
Asian-Americans as ar as Hip Hop culture?
DF I think a lot o peoplethere is a lot o argument on how theres a lack o Asian
representation in the Hip Hop community. But I think thats alse . I you look at the
ndependent movement, theres tons o Asian American ar tists, you know what I
mean, rom the Blue Scholars to the DJ community to the dance community. Theres
tons, you know. Yeah theres not too many in the mainstream. But I think thats going
to change once weve gotten enough o us involved in the independent community.
And thats where my role is. Im independent, you know what I mean. And Im doing
my thing. And Im building my an base large enough to the point where mainstream
abels and stu wont be able to ignore that. In the end, even i they do ignore it, likem gonna get to the point where its not even going to matter. Im going to have
enough o a big ollowing where I can do my own thing, you know. Major labels are
ailing anyways, you know what Im saying. Its all getting to the point where there is no
mainstream and underground anymore. It just, all comes down to numbers and how
many ans you have. There is no separation o mainstream and underground anymore.
think my role as an independent Asian-American hip hop ar tist like, Im gonna do
whatever I want and what I represent is really an Asian kid rom Los Angeles who is
not your typical Asian dude, who doesnt really talk about Asian shit. I just- I represent
Asian-Americans in music mainly because I am Asian-American. I dont need to preach
t or anything, you know what Im saying. People see me and I think thats one reason
they can relate to me. Is thatthe struggles that a lot o Asian-Americans go through
are the same struggles o anybody ucking else, you know what Im saying. A lot o
Asian-Americans try to use that as a crutch. And oh but us Asians, we dont get
respect in the Hip Hop community. Thats total bullshit. Like Ive always elt like being
one o the only Asianslike everytime I stepped into a Cypher or a battle and I was
V I B E
B
ACKSTAGEWITH
D
UMBFOU
NDEAD
FRONT ROW
ALINEYoursel, Jin, Blue Scholars. Your type o Hip Hop, through your lyrics and
the messages youre saying, is a lot dierent than what people think o Hip Hop
and the mainstream. As an artist, what kind o message are you trying to send?
DFEverything I talk about is me, you know what Im saying. Thats me. My method
is the things that I believe in and that reects me. I think that one thingmy overall
message to everybody else is just do you, you know what Im saying. There is no
type o message. Im not necessarily a political guy. Im not a lovey dovey rapper. Im
kind o a little bit o everything. Yeah I can be a scumbag with girls but I can also be
a sensitive dude. Thats just who I am, you know what Im saying. My overall message
is just do you. Dont be the Asian rapper. Dont be the political rapper. Be you,
you know what Im saying. I think thats why people can relate to me is because
I can be the good guy in one video where Im talking about positive things. And in
another video, I just like to have un, you know, and drinking and smoking weed or
something. Thats my overall message. Is thatus Asian-Americans there isnt just
one type o message. Were all over the place, you know. I am trying to promote
that individualism amongst Asian-Americans.
nterview by BRIAN CHEUNG
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ALINEHow does that play into Knocksteady?
DFKnocksteady is a collective o artists. We allIm not the head o Knocksteady
or anything. We have a collective and were all equal and we just promote things
that we think are dope. Its not Asian. Its not this. Its not just Hip Hop. Its everything
we think is dope. So we interview ar tists that we think are dope. Have podcast
videos. And we sell merchandise through our clothing company, namely to und the
things that we like to do, you know. With putting out concerts.
ALINEWhy reestyle instead o written word at frst?
DFI mean, I write my songs now. But my roots in reestyle were mainly because
when I was our teen or fteen, I was part o an open mic in Los Angeles called
Project Blowed. Its one o the most amous open mics in Los Angeles. And theyre
really inamous or reestyling. And thats where I got exposed to some o the most
incredible reestylers like, you know, o my lietime. I would go there every Thursday
night. I was like the only Korean kid and I would listen to these guys reestyle and
they were ucking amazing. You know, and I think that reestyle really reects my
liestyle. I kinda go with the ow or things. Im the type o artist that, i on stage, i
something were to go wrong, with like a piece o equipment, like the beats arent
playing, or my mic power goes out like Im not gonna stand up there, Im gonna be
able to do something, you know what Im saying. I will be able to go with the ow
and create a show out o that, you know. And I think that lie is l ike that. Shit goes
wrong all the time. You gotta reestyle things. I always enjoy that reestyling and that
reedom to go into dierent things, you know. Ive always been that kind o ar tist.
And eventually, I defnitely got into writing songs because, you know, I wanna be able
to control what I write, and you know, get my message across more clearer thanreestyle because in reestyle, you pull whatever the uck out o your ass.
ALINEHow do you describe your style?
DJ ZO I dont know, just being in the studio and whatever we fndthe synergy o
us being in the studio, messing around until we stumble across something.
DF Our shit is un, man. We loveI mean you can tell that in every song we do,
its un. You can tell were having un. Whether you like it or not, thats what we like
to do and its un. I think in my career, back in the day, I remember when a bunch o
Asian artists were around, and I was doing my thing. A lot o Asian artists didnt like
me. They thought I was weird. You know, that was the big thing. Like they thought
I was weird. And I looked at them and I thought they were too normal. Like, too
regular. You know what Im saying? And thats what I think I did dierently rom a lot
o other Asian artists back then. All the Asian artists back then sounded like typicalNew York rappers with like, you know, the same shit likenothing was unique
about it, you know what Im saying? Their unique- their straighttheir rebuttal to
that was like no we are unique, were Asian. But when they rap, they still sound
like everyone else. And the unny thing, the ironic thing is that Im Asian and I dont
talk about being Asian but I almost eel like I represent Asians more because the
act that I stand out and Im more unique, you know what Im saying. And thats the
ironic thing about that whole situation. And I think thats what dierentiated mysel
orm other artists. I think being weird ucking helped me. You know, like I love being
weird. Because i youre not weird, youre just ucking regular.
READ MORE INTERVIEWS
WITH DUMBFOUNDEAD
AND DJ ZO AFTER THESHOW
CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS
OF THE PERFORMANCE
alinemagazine.wordpress.com
Dumboundead, a.k.a Jonathan Park, is a Korean American battle rapper rom Los An-
geles., Caliornia. Dumboundead perormed at Schine Underground Nov. 5 with DJ
ZO. Dumboundead is involved in several projects, including Kollaboration and Knock-
steady, a hip hop movement based in LA, which aims to "push new music and media
to the masses via select musicians and ar tists to create a unique liestyle brand that
promotes positivity and originality without losing sight o the greater social power."
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WESTERN EXPANSION OF FAST FOOD IN ASIA has been
occurring so ast that some people say that it
seems like Ronald McDonald is becoming like
a ather gure to Asian children everywhere. In
China alone, there are around 3,200 KFCs, 500
Pizza Huts, and 1,300 McDonalds restaurants.
Although Asian Americans typically have
lower rates o obesity than many other groups
in the United States, all Americans including
Asian Americans are now at risk with the r ising
obesity rates in the U.S.
As technology advances, it reduces the need
or physical activity and increases the accessibil
ity o oods that are available in large and cheap
quantities. And when the adage o quality over
quantity gets ipped on its head, numeroushealth hazards are bound to surace.
In Morgan Spurlocks documentary, Super
Size Me, Spurlock was able to demonstrate
exactly how easy it was to access a ast ood
restaurant. He showed how consuming large
quantities o cheap ast ood or 30 days could
aect the overall quality o lie, by causing seri
ous health issues like cardiac arrests.
The spread o western ast ood is extremely
prevalent overseas because it has proven to
generate large amounts o revenue at a relatively
low cost. Ater studying abroad in Hong Kong
or one semester, I noticed there was at least oneast ood chain in every subway station.
This was mainly because each subway station
was connected to a large mall. Western ast ood
companies oten alter menu items, giving them
a more local avor and adding to local demand.
I you travel to Asia and visit dierent
McDonalds locations you would nd similar
menu items in addition to a ew things that you
may not have seen beore in the McDonalds
chains here. There were a ew items on the
McDonalds and KFC menus that I have never
seen beore. Instead o the usual apple pie, the
McDonalds in Hong Kong had taro pie and
the KFC served egg tarts. Western companiesroutinely change the menu so that it would be
more compatible with Asian taste buds.
Here, ast ood chains do not sell ne dining
experience as part o their appeal. But in places
like China, Pizza Hut oers a dining experience
compatible with some o the more expensive
restaurants in the U.S.
The increase o western ast ood in China
has caused a growing concern or obesity in the
Chinese media. According to the World Health
Organization, more than 30 percent o Chinese
adults are now overweight. However, the
denition o overweight or obese is completdierent rom that in the U.S.
In the U.S., anyone with a Body Mass Ind
(BMI) o 25 to 29 is considered overweight
obese i BMI exceeds 30. In contrast, the BM
or Asians to be considered overweight is 23
27 and anything above 27 is considered obes
The standards are dierent because Asians
have traditionally had a dierent diet, physiq
and build rom Americans. But the increase
in western ast ood chains in Asia is quickly
overturning a ood culture that has stood or
thousands o years by creating an obesogenic
environment, where oods high in saturated
ats are increasingly and shockingly (g iven thserious health implications) accessible. Herei
lies the bitter and sad reality in the McDona
success story. A
STUFFED
B I T E S
Text byMAVIS RENIllustration by SEAN BASISTA
8/3/2019 Aline Fall2011
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AFTER COUNTLESS SIGHTS OF PIZZERIAS and
burger joints coming and going along the well
trwaveled Marshall Street, Brickstone Eatery
brings a resh perspective on Asian dining to
the SU community. Serving up an array o dim
sum dishes, madetoorder noodles, and congee
(Chinese style rice porr idge), youre sure to be
in or a savory surprise.
Dim sum is the traditional Hong Kong style
o sharing plates o bitesized deliciousness
amongst a table o amily and riends. Popular
dishes such as roasted pork buns and shu mai, a
pork and shrimp based dumpling, are just some
o the Chinese style comort oods that can be
ound on Brickstones menu. For those who
dare to eat, they oer sweet glazed chicken
eet, a delectable tangy delicacy.
But whether youre in the mood or a bite
o Hong Kong style scrumptiousness, or just
want a nice hot and calming bowl o noodles
or congee, you might have trouble remem
bering youre in an Asian restaurant. From
the name itsel, to the music and dcor o the
restaurant, youll quickly realize that the oodthey serve might be going through some sort
o identity crisis. The dcor resembles a quiet
and cozy coee shop; a great look or coee,
not so much or dim sum.
Petite yet decadent, the dim sum plates
range rom $2 to $5 per dish. For a heartier
serving, madetoorder noodles start around
$89 with additional toppings available at
an extra cost. A warm and soothing bowl o
congee goes or around $7.
The next time youre looking or a casual
and un bite, stop by Brickstone Eatery and
take a couple o riends with you. Theres
always plenty o seating. And while it maynot be the most visually attractive place to
dine, your taste buds will welcome the unique
cuisine that has now been made available to
the campus community. A
CHORONG HOUSE
BRICKSTONE
EATERY
Review byJONATHAN TAM
Review bySHIRLEY DON
147 Marshall St
(315) 565-5674
IT'S NO SECRET THATGOOD, HOME-COOKED Asian
ood is hard to nd around here. Chorong
House is a diamond in the rough. Despite its
sketchy location, it is worth the trip. ChorongHouse has a homely eel to it, rom the inside
and out. The environment eels just like a
Korean home. Once you step inside, you will
nd two sections, one or usual dining and
another or larger groups. In the usual dining
section, there are small tables and booths set up,
t or two to our people. When entering the
section or larger groups, you are kindly asked
to remove your shoes. Two rooms make up this
section; one with several booths similar to those
in the usual dining area, and the other urnished
with long tables and olded chairs or six people.
Ater being seated, the waitress serves big cups
o warm tea and hands out the menus. There
is a limited variety o dishes, but the staples
o Korean ood can denitely be ound, such
as kimbap, bibimbob, samgyupsal, and kimchichigae. Several side dishes are also served. These
small dishes o kimchi and other ermented
vegetables are ull o avor and can appease
customers during the short wait. The prices may
be a bit heavy or the amount o ood you get,
but there are several lunch specials to lighten
the burden o the bill. Although the appetizers
and smaller dishes lack in avor, the main dishes
make up or it. One o the dishes that did the
restaurant justice was the bokumbap, ried rice
topped with a ried egg and a choice o bee,
shrimp, or kimchi. The jajangmyun was kind o
bland, but the rice was so amazing I didn't care
about that disappointment, I just wanted more
o the rice, junior Vincent Fang recalls, It was
unique with a certain avor that you could not
get anywhere else on campus. It was clearlymade with a graceul touch o homecooking,
a rare commodity in ood consumed by college
students. The kalbi, short bee rib barbeque with
special garlic and soy saucebased sauce also
received praise. The meat was awesome, it was
just like the Korean barbeque I could get back
home, said junior William Kwan, It was crispy
but somehow, melted in my mouth at the same
time. Chorong House is a place or college stu
dents with a craving or genuine Korean ood,
extra money to spend, and the determination to
walk urther than Marshall Street. A
For more photos o oodrom Brickstone Eatery, visit
our site atalinemagazine.wordpress.com
Photography
ZIXIWU
WHINE&DINE
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