On April 4, Asian Student Union hosted an APIDA Heritage Month mixer in collaboration with BIPOC Peer Mentoring Club and South Asian Student Association.
APIDA Heritage Month, which stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, is a heritage month in May that is dedicated to honoring the significant contributions that Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Americans have made to American culture.
The event was held in Mead Hall. The doors were opened at 5 p.m. and the program started at 5:30 p.m. The event started with students and professors getting food and socializing with each other, followed by a presentation that talked about what APIDA Heritage Month is and its cultural significance. Following that, there were discussions between the attendees regarding the heritage month and the importance of learning about different cultures on Drew’s campus.
“It’s a good opportunity to connect and get more knowledge about Asian culture,” said ASU Secretary James He (‘28) when asked about the event. The board members seemed ecstatic about sharing their culture with other students and professors.
The community members attending the event expressed their enthusiasm toward opportunities provided by the heritage month. “I’m really excited to learn about Asian culture.” said student Adam Fanane (‘27). The professors were also very eager to know more about the event. “It’s something really special about creating connections between students and faculty,” said Analytical Chemistry professor Dr. Andrea Lee. Chief Financial Officer Ria Keelan (‘27) elaborated another event that took place on April 7th in Mead Hall 102.
The event overall had amazing food and great discussions, and gave a lot of insight about Asian culture, complementing Drew’s cultural diversity.
Vedant Maheshwari is a sophomore who is exploring academically.
