By Sienna McDonald
El Diamante has always been a place where we are able to share culture and traditions through the many different clubs on our campus. One of these clubs include AAPI, which stands for Asian-American/Pacific Islander and is a category for those of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. AAPI Club is a club that is focused on representing these cultures and celebrating the wide variety of the cultures within our community. It is open to everyone who would like to celebrate these communities and cultures.
The club is currently run by President Wesley Shafer, a senior here at El Diamante who has been playing a crucial role in the club since his sophomore year. He became president when there was a vacancy and due to the fact he wanted to help establish a community for people who are Asian-American, Pacific Islander and for anyone else who is willing to share their culture, since most people who aren’t AAPI usually don’t understand their AAPI peer’s culture.
“I notice that most non-AAPI are unaware of the issues pressing the community. These cultures need to be represented because misinformation can lead to bigotry; more representation can actively combat [this].”
Shafer says that usually around 8-15 people on average show up to the meetings, although they do have a much larger membership. One of these members include the club’s secretary, Sean Dhaliwal, who joined the club his junior year. He believes that the club is important due to the fact that it “Gives Asians a voice through the club and a safe space to share their experiences and culture and everything”. Dhaliwal says that his favorite part about the club is their movie nights, which they do often.
AAPI Club is a great club to join if you’re a member of the AAPI community or you’re simply interested in deepening your understanding of the culture in general. It’s both educational and fun, whether it’s watching a movie or listening in on a cultural presentation. If you’re interested in learning about when and where they hold their meetings, follow the club’s instagram account: Edhs_API.
