Students and faculty members lobbying for the addition of tenure track professors in Asian American studies are awaiting administrative decision on their requests. The creation of at least one such position will be the subject of administrative debate this semester.
Tufts currently has an Asian Studies department that focuses on East, South, Southeast, and Central Asia, but no legitimate cluster for studies of the Asian diaspora.
While the administration says it is working to augment the diversity of its disciplines, faculty and students involved in the Asian American Curriculum Transformation (AACT) are insisting - in some cases, not optimistically - that the need for professors and courses specializing in the area is pressing.
Last semester, 1300 students signed a petition that called for the hiring of at least two full-time tenure-track professors to teach Asian American studies courses. The petitions were circulated by a committee of concerned students.
According to sophomore Cecilia Chen, one goal of the petition was to "make sure the administration knows that we're serious about getting Asian-American courses at Tufts. It wasn't just a one-semester thing, and we're still working to make sure that these courses materialize."
English Lecturer Ruth Hsiao, who teaches Asian American literature, has been an active participant in efforts to draw attention to the need for a stronger program. Even with the AACT, Hsiao is doubtful that the administration will act decisively to upgrade the Asian American aspects of the University's curriculum.
"So far, I see no promise, no indication that the administration is moving ahead," Hsiao said. "It's shameful for a university of Tufts' size. We need to have new tenure track lines open for Asian American studies."
But the administration says that while requests abound to give financial priority to departments, programs, and the creation of new programs, Asian American Studies is being given serious consideration. Dean of The School of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst said she has met with both members of the faculty and students interested in the AACT, and was impressed with their presentation.
"I'm very interested in the Asian American Curricular Transformation project," Ernst said. "The group has given it a great deal of thought." She acknowledged that a tenure track position would probably be necessary for a strong Asian American Studies cluster to be created.
For this reason, satisfaction is not guaranteed.
"Although it's often difficult, it is the administration's responsibility to make our decisions for sound educational reasons, while considering priorities and making sure we have the financial resources to be able to do things," Ernst said. And while the AACT has lobbied the administration heavily, Ernst insisted that the disciplines being advocated for most passionately will not necessarily be given priority.
Several years ago, Tufts instituted the Faculty Diversity Initiative, which allows for two new hires a year. Departments request positions - which will be granted this year in the Arts and Humanities - in the fall, and this year's decisions will be made in the coming weeks.
One department that has requested a position in Asian American Studies is the English department. Elizabeth Ammons, a joint professor of English and American Studies, said the administration has been supportive in the past, but that more work needs to be done.
"There are no tenure line professors who specialize in the area," Ammons said. "Now the program is at a critical juncture, where the institution needs several tenure line faculty whose expertise is in Asian American studies."
Ammons said that faculty and students feel the English department is ideal for a professor of Asian American studies, and it has submitted a request - likely under the Faculty Diversity Initiative - for such a professor. Ernst's office will decide which department gets the new faculty line, and the department chosen may then begin the search for a person to hire.
Sophomore Vera Tatel is having problems filling her culture requirements because of the lack of classes with an Asian American focus. Tatel took Professor Jean Wu's American Studies class entitled "Asians in America" and then Hsiao's Asian American literature class.
"I'm trying to use these classes for my culture option, but it's hard because there aren't enough classes being offered," Tatel said. "There's a chance I won't be able to take [a class on Asian-American theater and film] if I go abroad, and then I would have to do a completely different culture option."
Tatel said she thinks all students could profit from a greater breadth of classes on Asian-American topics. "There was a diverse group of students in the classes I took," Tatel said. "Asians and Asian Americans are not the only students who would benefit from more classes."
While many students agree that more Asian American studies classes should be created, some say a major or minor isn't necessary. Junior Samantha Diamond worries that creating new departments could be detrimental to the Tufts curriculum. She believes that Asian American studies should instead be part of the American Studies program.
"The American Studies program should grow before separate departments are made [for ethnic studies]," Diamond said. "The essential core departments need to be strong; there should be depth rather than breadth."
Junior Laura Horwitz jumped on board the AACT campaign even with the understanding that any new courses or professors specializing in Asian-American studies will most likely come after her graduation.
"By the time changes are made in the curriculum, it will probably be too late for the people involved in this project to benefit from them," Horwitz said. "I just wish other people could have a chance to learn what I did - 'Asians in America' was the best class I ever took."
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