Clarification: AASC Article

On February 28, The Student Life published an article under the headline "Deans Reject Asian American Student Center." The headline itself was misleading, as the proposed student center was rejected by the Claremont University Consortium's Council of Presidents, rather than the Claremont College deans. On March 2, Pomona College Dean of Students Ann Quinley sent an email to all Pomona students in which she outlined what she claimed were inaccuracies in that story. Specifically, Quinley wrote that the CUC Presidents, rather than "indefinitely rejecting" AASA's $750,000 proposal for an Asian American Student Center, "expressed concern at the $750,000 annual budget, since that is more than is spent on most other consortial programs, but they did not reject the idea of such a center." TSL's article did not claim that the concept of an Asian American Resource Center had been rejected, only that AASA's $750,000 proposal had been rejected at the December 10 meeting of the Council of Presidents. This claim was based on a December 10 memorandum sent by Pamela Gann, President of Claremont McKenna College, and Chair of the Council of The Claremont Colleges. In that memorandum, the Council writes: "Given the many financial constraints that each and all of the Colleges and Claremont university Consortium face in the current economic climate, it is not possible to consider the establishment immediately of a new common student support service." That memorandum appears here in its entirety and was the basis for the claim that the Asian American Resource Center had been "indefinitely rejected."

MEMORANDUM
TO: Asian American Student Alliance
FROM: Pamela Gann, President, Claremont McKenna College
Chair, Council of The Claremont Colleges
SUBJECT: Proposal for Asian American Student Center

The presidents of The Claremont Colleges met on Monday at their regular Council meeting and discussed your proposal for the creation of an Asian American Student Center. We want to thank you for your thoughtful, well-researched proposal and to affirm our shared commitment to the academic and personal success of all Asian and Asian American students at the seven Claremont Colleges. This commitment is evidenced by the current programs at Pomona, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, in addition to the mentor programs on other campuses. Through these campus-based services, significant resources are currently available to Asian American students in Claremont.

The Claremont Colleges established the two ethnic student centers at Claremont University Consortium over two decades ago. Their primary purpose was to address the needs of those two groups that have been underrepresented historically in higher education and have faced particular challenges with regard to retention and academic achievement. We view the needs of Asian American students as being different from those of Chicano/Latino and Black students and thus question some of the statements made in your presentation. While retention rates may vary at individual colleges, proportionately Asian Americans retain and graduate in high numbers and are successful in their academic programs of study. Also, we believe that variances exist across the Asian American subgroups, which include East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islanders. We believe that further institutional research is needed to help us and the student deans better understand the arguments in favor of a single service in support of Asian American students.

Given the many financial constraints that each and all of the Colleges and Claremont University Consortium face in the current economic climate, it is not possible to consider the establishmet immediately of a new common student support service. Further, you should understand that the scope of the service that you have proposed is significantly beyond that provided by either of the two other ethnic student centers. Should an all-Claremont center for Asian American students be established at some future date, it is altogether likely it would by necessity replace some or all of the campus-based services.

In closing, the Council does take your proposal seriously. We have asked the Student Affairs Committee of the Colleges to advise us on how best to respond to the issues you raise. The chairperson of this committee is Jeanne Noda, Vice President and Dean of Students at Harvey Mudd College.