CAS Newsletter

As people are experiencing a rise in discrimination against Asian-Americans in the United States, Dr. Dennis Kratz, Founding Director of the Center for Asian Studies made a timely public statement to clearly announce our position: Prejudice against Asian-Americans has no place in America! Read Director Kratz's full statement here.

Besides this statement, the Center continues to fulfil our commitment: "to foster knowledge and understanding of Asian and Asian American cultures through our academic programs and educational opportunities."

On March 23, Director Kratz presented a discussion on the topic of “US-China Relations through a Superheroic Lens” for the Business Council for Arts. His presentation provides insights on how to educate ourselves and others on the topic of intercultural empathy. On March 27, on the Center's 8th Asian Culture Forum, Dr. Kevin Caffrey, Professor and Director of Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at The University of North Texas, gave a presentation on the topic of Chinese Muslims and China's ethnic policy moment. Watch Dr. Caffrey's presentation recordings here.

There will be two more featured events about Asian culture in April. One is the lecture on US - China relations and global governance on April 14, which will be presented by Dr. Huiyao Wang, the Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization; another one is on April 24, which is about Japanese culture and society in Hayao Miyazaki's animations and movies. The presenter is Nami Kroska, Visiting Assistant Professor of Japanese at the School of Arts & Humanities at UT Dallas.

We believe that the best way to eliminate prejudice and discrimination is to learn and understand each other’s culture. For this purpose, the Center for Asian Studies will continue to "make the best use of our diversity to make vital contributions in creating a dynamic society enhanced by complex interactions rather than constrained by stale sameness!"

To register the upcoming events in April, click the event title: "US-China Relations and Global Governance", "Japanese Culture and Society in Hayao Miyazaki's Animations and Movies".

CAS International Advisory Council is composed of 21 members from different countries of the world. These members are either distinguished scholars/educators in Asian studies/higher education or successful entrepreneurs in different fields. They are generously providing their advice regarding projects, programs, speakers and partnerships and support.

1. Multicultural Center holds Webinar about Islam on April 1. The goal is to provide UTD an overview of the Islam religion beliefs, practices, and informing about Ramadan. Read more and register for the courses here...
   
2. Intercultural Programs kicks off International Week (iWeek) on April 5. The week-long celebrations of international cultures are popular springtime campus traditions. 2021 iWeek events include cultural sparks, Indian language and culture workshop, Chinese tea ceremony and more. Check iWeek events and register here...
3. Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies holds Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 8: Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, was first observed in 1953 to remember and honor the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and to celebrate those who survived. In 2016, the Ackerman Center began commemorating the day by having students, staff, faculty, and members of the community recite poems in various languages. Read more and register here...

1. New session of non-credit Asian language courses will start on April 5. Courses include Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Hindi and Korean. All courses are taught virtually live. Check the course schedules and register here...

2. COVID-19 vaccinations at UT Dallas: UT Southwestern Medical Center has opened a new community vaccine site on The University of Texas at Dallas campus. The site will provide vaccinations for UTSW patients and community members who are eligible to be vaccinated. Read the site information and make appointment here...

Email: asianstudies@utdallas.edu
Website: https://asianstudies.utdallas.edu/
Location: 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-883-4860
Facebook: facebook.com/asianstudiesutdallas
Twitter: @ciutdallas