4.16.2002

As you can tell in the lapse since my last entry, been too busy to make one! But I finished my finals that took all last week. Was pretty intense, especially the embryology, but I think I did well overall, and I'm now taking a much needed 3 week "spring" break before the next trimester starts. Next trimester I start learning about herbs and points. Those who are a few trimesters in front of me tell me it's damn hard, because you have to know the pinyin name (phonetic spelling of Chinese characters), the Latin name, properties, indications, and contraindications for each, and you memorize about 50 each class. Perhaps I'm more insane then I already am, but I'm really looking forward to it nonetheless!


I know it's short notice, but I’ll be delivering the keynote speeches at 2 Take Back the Night events this week, one in Washington, and the other in California:

Wednesday, 4/17 6:30pm
Take Back the Night
Western Washington University
WWU Performing Arts Center Concert Hall
Bellingham, WA

Thursday, 4/18 6pm
Take Back the Night
University of California-San Diego
Price Center
San Diego, CA

If you’re in the area, do come and show your support! I believe these events are free to the public, and are usually attended by survivors and allies. I’ll be speaking right before we march.

Take Back the Night, an event/march/rally held at many college/university campuses each year, are created to help empower women to speak up for themselves, to realize the importance of defending oneself, verbally and physically, and to take back the streets from violence, assault, harassment, other uglies, and those who perpetrate them. As far too many women know, these are things we must endure on too frequent a basis.

Do note that also on Thursday, 4/18, New York University will be having their Take Back the Night event as well. The Campaign for Safer Subway Stations (CSSS), a personal campaign launched by myself and other outraged women in response to the rape, beating, and robbery of an Asian American woman in the Canal Street Subway Station of Chinatown, will unveil the Wall of Survivors, a large sewn quilt with patches of artwork and words by survivors and allies. See full info below.


CSSS Unveils Public Art Project @ NYU Take Back the Night , Thurs. 4/18, 5pm

Increased Sexual Violence Against Women -- Asian Women Targeted

Please Come Out and Support and Enjoy -- the unveiling of a very special public art project, "Wall of Survivors". It is curated by members of CSSS (Campaign for Safer Subway Stations). CSSS was formed in February 2001 after an Asian female NYU student was beaten, raped and robbed at the Canal St. Subway Station. The unveiling of "Wall of Survivors" is part of the annual observance of Take Back the Night nationwide. Please be advised that TBTN is a program for rape survivors and friends only. No press is invited due to the sensitive nature of the program of sharing personal experiences. Locally TBTN will be held at NYU:

Thurs., April 18 at 5 pm
Washington Place (between Greene Street and Washington Square East)
Rain Location: Student Events Center Room 103

This beautiful and powerful "Wall of Survivors" is one of several CSSS activities organized this past year in order to unite and act on these goals:

** public education -- esp. to the Asian and women's communities -- to develop awareness and popularize preventative measures against crimes in especially the subways.

** pressure the MTA, NYPD and NYC government to make the Canal St. Subway Station

Specifically the Wall of Survivors' aim is to:

** Help lift the veil of silence and taboo around the experience of rape and rape survival

** Use Creative Self-Expression for survivor identity, survivor empowerment

The Wall of Survivors is -- thus far -- made up of 18 canvases sewn together into two wallhangings of multimedia. These canvases are created by survivors, allies, visual and literary artists -- including prominent Asian women artists like Christina "Ling" Quisumbing, Sophia Babael Gaboury and Ching Valdes-Aran. We hope the liberating and empoweing beauty of the Wall of Survivors will inspire similar efforts elsewhere --just as the AIDS quilt project has done nationwide.

PLEASE NOTE: Sex Crimes in NYC has soared dramatically this year -- including the rapes of 2 Asian NYU students off campus and another attack on campus this past April 4. In the week of March 4-10, rape and sex crimes in NYC soared 138% over last year -- 50 rapes and sex crimes vs. 21 last year for the same week!

Come make our presence and identity strong. Help raise Asian women's voices of protest, support and unity. CSSS will have a literature table with a petition for important legislation regarding the Department of Justice and we have postcards for people to sign for a campaign to help re-establish the defunct Mayor's Task Force on Rape as well as to pressure the MTA to make high-risk subway stations safe.

Besides CSSS, the Take Back the Night program is sponsored by NYU's Inter-Sorority Council, LGBT Student Services, NYC Anti-Violence Project, NYU Womyn's Center, OASIS; Office of Sexual Assault Prevention, Education and Support; One with Heart NYC, Organization of Black Women and Voices for Choice.

CSSS is endorsed by Asian American Women's Alliance, NYU Asian/Pacific/American Studies & Insitute, FilCRA-Filipino Civil Rights Advocates, United Sikh Association, New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, NYU Metropolitan Studies Program, Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA-NY Chapter) and others.

SAVE THE DATE! Next Thurs., April 18, 5pm at NYU: Washington Place (between Greene Street and Washington Square East)
Rain Location: Student Events Center Room 103

Program followed by March to NYU residential halls at 7:00 pm and refreshments at Student Activities Ctr Room 103 at 8:00 pm)


Anti-War Demo in DC

I’ll probably be seeing some of you on Saturday in Washington, D.C., where there will be a massive anti-war mobilization.

One of several events during the weekend of april 20 will be a cultural event organized for the Asian/API community that will feature dancers, spoken word artists, and musicians, entitled "Positive Resistance!" I’m fortunate enough to be part of the performance line-up.

It’s being organized by a grassroots API activist group in Washington, DC - DC Asians for Peace and Justice. The group formed in the wake of September 11 out of a desire for local API activists to organize in their own communities regarding issues of justice and peace. You can find out more about them on their website: http://www.dcapj.org

Here are some details on “Positive Resistance!”:

Description: DCAPJ’s post-protest convergence event for the Asian community featuring Asian and Asian American musicians, dancers, drummers and spoken word artists.
Date: Saturday April 20
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Location: St. Stephen’s Church
Address: 16th & Newton, NW
Donation: $5 suggested (free admittance for 18 and under).



ANNOUNCING THE CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER SUBWAY STATIONS (CSSS) WOMEN'S SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP!

[co-sponsored by the Asian American Women's Alliance (AAWA), the Office Of Sexual Assault Prevention, Education and Support (SAPES) and the Center for Health Promotion at New York University]

When: Tuesday April 23rd, 7-9 PM
Where: Center for Health Promotion, Main Conference Room, 726 Broadway, 3rd Floor

Instructors: RUCKUS

Why?
In the very early morning of Monday, January 29, 2001, an Asian American woman was raped and beaten at the Canal Street Station of the #6/N/R trains. In order to transfer from the number 6 train platform to the N/R train platform, she had to walk through a long, isolated and deserted passageway. It was in this place that she was raped, beaten, and robbed.

With an alarming rise in sexual violence (a 138% increase in NYC over the past year) ? including the rapes of 2 female NYU students off campus this past March, plus 1 attack on campus this past April 4, the Campaign for Safer Subway Stations remains committed to raising awareness about safety and crime prevention.

Who is CSSS?

The mission of the CSSS is to make the Canal Street Subway Station safe from crime. We also advocate that the entire New York City subway system be made safe. We want to bring awareness to commuters, residents, & businesses of Chinatown about community help & resources for crime prevention & reporting.

Who is RUCKUS? 

Founded in 1993, RUCKUS Safety Awareness began as a unique group of Asian women martial artists who came together to promote safety awareness and self defense skills within the Asian Pacific Islander (API) women's community. Today, they offer workshops not only for API women, but also women of all backgrounds, youth, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities.

This event is open to the community, so all are welcome! This is a free workshop and for women only! Please wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending, please RSVP by contacting CSSS at (212) 894-3747 x9177 or at CSSSny@aol.com (include your name, phone number, and email address)

For more information:
About CSSS: http://csssny.tripod.com/CSSSny/
About AAWA: send email to aawa.club@nyu.edu.
About SAPES: http://www.nyu.edu/pages/health/programs/sapes.html
About RUCKUS: http://www.makearuckus.org