Asian Student Union (ASU) is an organization at Moravian University that provides a safe space and a spotlight on Asian students and community of the university. Although the number of undergraduate Asian students is quite small – less than 3% of the total Moravian undergraduate population – it still carries a strong impact on the commutative and inclusive goals at Moravian by providing Asian students with a place to gather, support each other, celebrate their heritage, and represent their cultures.
ASU celebrates Asian holidays, educates peers about Asian cultures, and invites students of any background to participate in their campus events. Through their work and shared experiences, ASU strives to build a strong bond between the union and students.
The club was founded in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. It was established to create a space for Asian students to connect with each other, and to find people who relate to their culture.
“It’s really important to have that representation so that people know and are aware that you can’t just assume all Asians fall under the same category,” former ASU Treasurer Angelique Lee said.
In Lee’s personal experience at Moravian, ASU has become a place where she can relate to other students who share similar backgrounds and also become one of the first representations of her own culture.
“When I first came to Moravian, I definitely felt singled out. I started to have an all White friend group, and I could relate to them, but not really in the sense where we shared that same backstory,” she said.
“. Then, when I started to actually meet other people of a different race or other Asians, like my E-board right now, we all can talk about how we grew up, which is really cool. My Asian experience has been fully lived, and I’m glad to have been maybe one of the first Hmong people to come here.”
There are approximately 140 members in the club, with the overall population of undergraduate Asian students being 2.63%. The organization has grown quite significantly throughout the years, as its events have brought great exposure around campus.
They have created a community for Asian students on campus through their creative events and holiday celebrations, as they have also made appearances through their I See You AAPI Vigil and The Center for Inclusive Excellence Bridging the Gap Conference, both of which occurred in 2022.
Through their events, they are able to connect with fellow Asian students and create a space that is open to teaching others about the culture of the university’s Asian peers.
“We specifically find events that everyone would want to learn how to do and do it together – emphasizing the importance of community,” said ASU Secretary Earianne Evangelista.
“We want the audience of AAPI and non-AAPI to want to learn more about Asian cultures that may differ from their own.”
Last year, ASU collaborated with Moravian Activity Council (MAC) to celebrate the Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake. Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is very significant in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and many other Eastern and Southeast Asian countries. The year is signified by symbols of the Chinese zodiac, as each animal sign occurs every 12 years.
2025 is the Year of the Snake, as it symbolizes good luck, rebirth, and the pursuit of love and happiness.
Through this collaboration, ASU was able to expand its audience and share its knowledge and experiences with students of Moravian.
“Being President of ASU at that Lunar New Year event, it really hit me to know that I am a face at Moravian that people are seeing throughout campus,” ASU President Emily Nguyen said.
“That I am sharing my culture, sharing what I grew up with, and that I can share it with other people, and to have them experience the same thing I’ve been experiencing, I think that’s so beautiful within human connection. It just means the whole world to me– and I take huge pride in that, and I take great joy in it too.”
If you are interested in joining the Asian Student Union, follow them on their Instagram @moravianasu, or email them at [email protected] to join their email list and stay updated about the club.
