The University Record, September 3, 1997
By Tait Sye
Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs
The University of Michigan was named one of the top universities for Asian American students in a recent article in A. Magazine: Inside Asian America.
The August/ September issue of A. Magazine lists the top schools for Asian Americans based on a wide variety of criteria, from retention and acceptance rates of Asian Americans, to the percentage of Asian American students, faculty and staff and the resources available for Asian Americans. The U-M is ranked 15th among research universities.
The U-M’s Asian American population has increased 40 percent in the 1990s to 3,642 students. Asian Americans are the largest student-of-color population on campus, representing 11.3 percent of the student body. The retention rate for Asian Americans is 85 percent.
There are 320 Asian faculty members on campus, representing 8.2 percent of the faculty.
Another reason for the high ranking is the active Asian American student body. More than 18 Asian American student groups including ethnic-specific student groups such as the Thai Student Association, Asian American Acting Troupe Descendants of the Monkey God and Asian Pacific American Women’s Journal, an Asian American literary magazine. Students are active in planning cultural shows and workshops, promoting Asian American awareness and pride, and participating in community service.
In the past year, a number of Asian American speakers have also visited the campus. Norman Mineta, the former U.S. congressman from California and one of the first Asian Americans elected to Congress, visited during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Urvashi Vaid, an Indian American gay/lesbian rights activist, also spoke to students. Yuri Kochiyama, a leading civil rights activist and confidant of Malcolm X, addressed students when she was on campus to be honored by the University.
A. Magazine is a bimonthly magazine written for and about Asian Americans. It covers a wide range of issues including politics, entertainment and fashion. Since its debut in August 1992, A. Magazine’s circulation has grown from 40,000 to 100,000.
