Otterbein Asian Community (OAC) is an up-and-coming student organization seeking to expand students’ knowledge about different Asian cultures and provide a space for Asian students on campus.
Otterbein has a diverse student body and various student organizations related to culture and diversity, like the Black Student Union, FreeZone! and Men of Vision. However, first-year criminology and justice studies (CJS), and sociology major Dylan Truong felt something was missing.
“When I had a tour at Otterbein, I had noticed there weren’t any Asian organizations already established, and I didn’t see much for just the Asian community," said Truong, the president of OAC. “In high school, I was involved in similar groups like this, and I brought some of that knowledge and skills here, so I knew I wanted to start up quickly after that.”
Truong, and a handful of other students, like Gauri Subedi, a first-year nursing major and the vice president of OAC, have been working to establish the new group, which is currently in a probationary period as the members work out the details necessary for becoming a fully registered organization.
Though OAC’s first meeting on Jan. 16 included mostly its board members, Subedi says the group has been utilizing social media and working with other student organizations to help get OAC’s message out.
“We want to welcome any students. Our main goal is to bring the Asian community out and let people know there’s an Asian community at Otterbein,” Subedi said.
The group also aims to give students the opportunity to expand their knowledge about Asian cultures and issues.
“Just learning about different experiences or food or music, like I think that’s really cool, and it helps to have a more immersive college experience instead of just being stuck with your classes,” said Champa Bista, a senior nursing major and OAC’s event planner.
Peter Ke, a senior nursing major and the community outreach coordinator for OAC, says he’s hoping to meet more people through OAC.
“I’m mostly hoping just to see this group flourish because I think the idea of it all is really great, like having a space not only for Asian students on campus but [for] other students to come into as well,” Ke said. He says he hopes OAC can be a place where Asian students can connect.
“There’s like this sort of comfort, I guess, about being around people who are similar to you [and] being able to see people who have kind of lived the same experiences that you have had,” Ke said.
OAC currently has eight board members, but it is looking to expand its membership, emphasizing that all students are welcome.
“We also want to make, just a home for anybody. If you feel misrepresented, we just want to show you that you’re valued,” Truong said. “We want to be a beacon of light for everybody.”
