Lower ASAM budget criticized

Last week the University notified officials in the Asian American Studies department that their budget, which was decreased for this academic year, will likely remain at the same lower level for the 2008-2009 academic year.

This decision, however, has received negative feedback from many students and department officials.

University administration cut back on the budgets of several departments, including ASAM, this past academic year to allow for certain expenses, like bringing Kalpen Modi to campus.

In discussions about next year's budget, the administration intends to work from this lower budgeted amount, instead of the higher amount from last year, according to College Dean Dennis DeTurck.

The decision was made without any formal discussion or meeting with the department, according to ASAM department administrators, who preferred that their names be withheld because of the sensitive nature of the matter.

Benjamin Alisuag, College junior and chairman of the Asian Pacific Student Coalition, has started a petition to reverse the University's decision that he plans to deliver to Penn President Amy Gutmann early next week. He is one of many students voicing their opposition to the decision.

"To me, this is the University saying to students of all races that we are done learning about ethnic struggle in America," College freshman Franklin Bi said. "It's made me review whether or not Penn is still the right place for me to learn."

But DeTurck - who is directly in charge of ASAM funding - said he was confused about the reaction of the student body to the recent budget plans.

"This year's budget is less than last year's. When thinking of next year, it makes sense to use this year's as a guideline and not last year's budget. So it won't necessarily go back up to what it was previously," DeTurck said. "This isn't a budget cut."

The ASAM Undergraduate Advisory Board has already met with student leaders from APSC to determine courses of action to show the importance of the ASAM program.

"This budget cut is ridiculous, unnecessary and detrimental to those interested in Asian American Studies, be they members of the Asian Pacific American community or members of the broader Penn community," said Mary He, College junior and member of the ASAM UAB.

ASAM director Grace Kao said the department would only be able to offer one course that is not cross-listed with any others. It normally relies on partial funding by cross-listing courses with other departments.

In addition, the ASAM department is already at a point where there are no full-time staff members, said department administrators.

But whatever the case, ASAM administrators are determined to keep the department afloat.

"I can't watch the program die," Kao said.

Comments (12)

Nandanie, thanks for giving this issue coverage. Great job! I am a little outraged with Dean DeTurk's comments about the budget, which are a little misleading. When he says certain departments budgets were cut to help with the funding of Kal Penn this year, he makes it sound as if this was some outrageous expense. I don't know what I'm allowed to say in public, but maybe you should ask him to clarify exactly how much the university contributed to having Mr. Modi here this year. Yes, ASAM's budget and other departments were "cut" to pay for the expense. But this was a form of indirect payment for having the class offered by the program. In my opinion, the University has done little to help with the effort, but yet want all the benefits(Ask Amy Gutmann). In my opinion, when it comes down to it, it is simply ridiculous to justify using ASAM's current "budget" to set next years. Our budget was sacrificed to have Mr. Modi here this semester because the benefits out weighed the costs. When he is gone, we would at least expect our normal funding to return its previous (yet underfunded) level. I have no idea why Dean DeTurck would be confused by student response to this budget cut. Clearly he doesn't understand how this cut represents a lack of commitment to the Asian American Community. This lack of understanding may be acceptable given this administration's lack of an opinion on the Asian American Community. Just last week, in an open forum, Amy Gutmann was asked, "Do you support the Asian American Community at Penn?" The question was differed and we have yet to hear a response from anyone in the administration. If you want to sign our petition please go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/saveasam/petition.html Thanks!

now we know better. http://www.petitiononline.com/saveasam/petition.html

Penn is like other white organizations that may talk diversity and inclusion. The white power structure operating there is only interested in what Asians can do for its bottom line. The silent and invisible minority of their imagination can remain voiceless.

Help Save Asian American Studies at Penn! http://www.petitiononline.com/saveasam

A RALLY to save Asian American Studies at Penn in front of COLLEGE HALL ('the Green') on THURSDAY, APRIL 3rd from 12-4 PM

You have to laugh (or cry) at the sentiment, "this isn't a budget cut" by Dean DeTurck. It's clearly a decrease in budget from previous years. A budget decrease is a budget cut no matter how you slice it. Just because the budget decrease came last year, doesn't mean it didn't happen. I am not sure, but it sounds like the budget cut was justified for this year only because Kal Penn is teaching and it was expected that the budget would go back to normal levels after his departure. If that's the case, then ASAM has been crippled for striving to be relevant and engaging for students looking to expand their education in novel ways. Penn is sending a message that it doesn't value finding new ways to educate its students; it's only interested in bringing grossly overpriced speakers like President Bill Clinton to campus. Is the University is much more interested in making a name for itself than actually educating students?

University administration cut back on the budgets of several departments, including ASAM, this past academic year to allow for certain expenses, like bringing Kalpen Modi to campus Really? This department is budgeting to bring "scholars" like Harold & Kumar to campus...and they are arguing for MORE money.

I'm extremely disappointed to see this happen to the Asian American Studies department, after taking many of its courses during my years at Penn. I have consistently donated to Penn and been part of the Ben Franklin Society since I've graduated, but this seriously gives me tremendous pause considering that President Guttman just began this "making history" fundraising campaign. If they're really trying to improve education in the university, why would they choose to cut funding to a department that deals with the history of nearly 25% of campus? -Ray Liu

I am extremely disappointed to read of the university's decision regarding the asian american studies department. Not only do the asian americans comprise a very intergral part of the penn community, they are also amongst the brightest student in the classes..! and only a department like ASAM can attract keynote lecturers like mr. kalpen modi..!

The Budget SHOULD be cut. If there was more interest in the department, then I doubt its budget would be cut. Penn should offer many things, but it is hard to justify not reallocating resources if students aren't interested in primarily studying Asian American studies as a major. As it is now, students can take a few Asian studies courses through other departments if they want to. If students want to "save" this department, they should switch their majors and course loads and actually study in these courses. The attitude seems to be, "We should have a department for Asian-American studies, and people should want to study this, but I don't actually want to." Unfortunately, that can't sustain a department. Does it make sense to keep a whole department open for maybe a few students?

[QUOTE id="9a8ad4d9-2b89-4437-a692-5c836d50299f"]The Budget SHOULD be cut. If there was more interest in the department, then I doubt its budget would be cut. Penn should offer many things, but it is hard to justify not reallocating resources if students aren't interested in primarily studying Asian American studies as a major. As it is now, students can take a few Asian studies courses through other departments if they want to. If students want to "save" this department, they should switch their majors and course loads and actually study in these courses. The attitude seems to be, "We should have a department for Asian-American studies, and people should want to study this, but I don't actually want to." Unfortunately, that can't sustain a department. Does it make sense to keep a whole department open for maybe a few students?[/QUOTE] First of all my friend, Penn's Asian American Studies program is exactly that, a PROGRAM, and NOT a department; hence, it is already at a disadvantage when it comes to promoting itself or its courses (including drumming up the interest you refer to)...amongst other disadvantages that accompany a lower-than-department standing at Penn. Secondly, the fact that ASAM is a program means that it does not and cannot offer a MAJOR...so the "switching majors and courseloads" solution is impossible. The only available offering is a MINOR. Please do take the time to conduct some research before making glaringly erroneous statements that question the credibility of your statements, opinions though they may be. But beyond these points, keep in mind that these funding cuts will essentially render the program defunct; how can the administration expect to increase interest in ASAM by crippling the existing program to such an extent that it cannot possibly offer students the variety or diversity of courses other DEPARTMENTS can offer the larger student body? They simply won't be able to compete and so the "solution" becomes the means by which the program will die -which must not be allowed to happen. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE come out to support the program at the rally on Thursday 12-4. It took a long and hard fight to bring this dream to fruition over ten years ago and we cannot let it go without a fight. Good luck to those of you who are fighting for ASAM!

The university is not overseeing a market. Budget allocations shouldn't be made according to course enrollment. As a major research university, it's important that Penn maintain its broad disciplinary scope, and it is untrue that a university of Penn's means cannot afford an Asian American studies program. In fighting this poor decision, however, I am embarrassed to see some activists using simplistic arguments like the one listed above: either Penn must fully fund this program or it doesn't care about diversity. Penn's administration isn't perfect, but it undermines legitimate grievances to attack it in this fashion. It's not enough that activism be right or passionate. It also has to be smart.

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