Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) has teamed up with student organizations to host the third annual Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage month. Taking place from March 15 to April 15, the event is set to end with the Night Market on April 9 outside of Talley Student Union.
The Night Market will take place from 6pm-9pm and feature an assortment of traditional, ethnic foods from multiple countries.
According to Marcela Torres-Cervantes, the assistant director for community outreach and engagement for MSA, Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated during the full month of May on a national level. However, because of spring break and finals, NC State decided to designate March 15 through April 15 as the full thirty day recognition at NC State.
In addition, Torres-Cervantes stated that MSA decided to add ‘Desi’ and ‘American’ to the title, in order to be more inclusive towards all Asian identification specifically, to those in Southeast Asia.
The APIDA has had several events that have been successful in the last month, Torres-Cervantes said. MSA has helped involve students by going to local Asian markets and buying regional candy.
“It is very reminiscent of ‘I have not seen this since I was a little kid,’ or ‘oh my gosh, we have these at home,’” Torres-Cervantes said. “For non-Asian students it’s like, ‘we have never heard of this type of candy so let’s try different things.’”
Jeremy Dela Paz, a third year studying communications and co-head of APIDA, stated he thinks this year has been the most successful of the three.
“The past two years there was not much participation with the normal student body and event with student organizations going to the event,” Dela Paz said. “Compared to this year, there is a stronger theme which allows for student organizations to have their own identity and be willing to come and table about it.”
However, Dela Paz mentioned that NC State could do a better job at making the general public more aware of ADIPA heritage month because APIDA is not as well-known as other minority heritage months celebrated at the university.
“When you think about the Latin heritage month, or Pan-African week, or Black History month, those seem to be covered and marketed throughout campus,” Dela Paz said. “Departments and colleges should be more aware of these events, knowing that they have a large demographic.” Both Torres-Cervantes and Dela Paz said that APIDA heritage month should continue to gain momentum as it receives more recognition this year and hopefully, for the years to come.
“The more and more it becomes stable on campus, I think we will be able to recognize that it is something happening just like how everyone knows February is Black History month, September and October are Hispanic history month and November is native American history month,” Torres-Cervantes said.
