UCI Program Is Dynamic, Strong

I was very pleased to see front-page coverage of developments in UC Irvine’s Interdisciplinary Program in Asian American Studies (May 13).

As a faculty member and administrator keenly committed to supporting the growth of Asian American studies at UCI, I applaud your efforts to bring attention to this high-quality program.

The article was unclear about several important issues.

The program in Asian American studies does indeed hold its own faculty positions, and, like its counterpart programs in Chicano/Latino studies and African American studies, has made a series of important appointments of outstanding scholars over the past several years. The strong faculty and increased visibility of the program--as well as the enthusiasm of students--will ensure the success of the major in Asian American studies.

There currently are no plans to fold Asian American studies into an undergraduate ethnic studies major at UCI. Each of UCI’s ethnic studies programs is developing its own reputation for academic excellence and the programs provide a point of entry into the campus culture for students, faculty, staff and community members of a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

JANE NEWMAN

Faculty assistant

to the executive vice chancellor

UC Irvine

* Your May 25 editorial [on Asian American studies at UCI] failed to touch on one very important aspect of any ethnic studies program major.

What marketable skills or talents does the ethnic studies graduate (and that includes all majors related to ethnicity) put on his or her resume and-or discuss with the employer at an employment interview?

Your editorial utilized all the politically correct phraseology but did not touch on the reality the ethnic studies graduate will face when he or she tries to find employment in the marketplace.

S.W. GUZY

Garden Grove