By Addison Howard, Viking Fusion News Reporter
The AAPI group’s officers pose together for a picture at their first official meeting this month. Left to right: Emma Allen, head of social media; Hannah Blanton, vice president; Shekinah Duthie, events coordinator; and Sage Martin, president. 
Members and officers of the AAPI group play a card game together. Left to right: Kelley Ozier, Emma Allen, Allie Brock and Hannah Blanton. Photo taken by Shekinah Duthie. 
Students gather at the first meeting of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander Interest Group to talk, laugh, play games and discuss the future of the group. Left to right: Hannah Everette, Kate Reese, Josh Hurst, Dori Van Skike,Tira Uzzle and Caroline Cleland. Photo taken by Shekinah Duthie. 
Group officers confer together during the first AAPI meeting on January 18. Left to right: Emma Allen, Hannah Blanton, and Shekinah Duthie.
Berry’s new Asian-American and Pacific Islander Interest Group (AAPI) held its first official meeting last Tuesday, January 18.
The AAPI’s founders started the group in response to surging anti-Asian hate crimes amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. They hope to combat hatred through ongoing conversation on campus. Their first meeting was just a few months prior to the one-year anniversary of the infamous Atlanta “spa killings,” which occurred on March 16, 2021.
The AAPI group–the first of its kind at Berry–welcomes people of Asian heritage as well as anyone interested in learning more about Asian cultures and identity at Berry.
Sage Martin, a sophomore and president of AAPI, said the club plans to host a mixture of social and advocacy events this year.
During meetings, students will engage in open conversations, celebrate various Asian holidays, play minigames, and enjoy traditional dishes, drinks, and snacks from Asian and Pacific countries. At this first meeting, the group shared Hawaiian poke, Japanese milk tea and various caramel candies.
As a biracial Filipina, Martin realizes there is a diversity in Asian identities. She gladly invites anyone to the interest group who wants to learn more.
“We’re welcoming to everyone, regardless of what your background is, because ‘Asian’ encompasses all kinds of very different identities, but we’re also all connected by this,” Martin said. “Everyone is welcome.”
Emma Allen, a sophomore and the group’s head of social media, said her passions for both her Chinese-American heritage and social media inspired her to help spread the word about the group. She hopes the AAPI group will provide a safe haven for all at Berry to share their experiences and beliefs.
“We just want it to be a space that people can be respected and heard,” Allen said. I feel it is important we’re sharing our stories and being authentic with one another.”
Sophomore Allie Brock, a Chinese-American member of the AAPI group, hopes to focus on her heritage this year and get in touch with her roots. She said participating in the group has already helped her feel more comfortable.
“I feel like I belong more at Berry, because I still have a small struggle with identity,” Brock said.
Brian Carroll, department chair of communication and the AAPI faculty advisor, said in a press release he is excited about the potential for this new club and hopes it enriches a culture of diversity and wisdom at Berry.
“I’m excited about the connections our Asian and Asian American students and friends will be able to make and about the opportunity to deepen understanding that engages us all in dismantling systems and attitudes of hate and oppression,” Carroll said.
The AAPI group is currently in communication with the Student Diversity Initiative Office (SDI) in hopes of a future partnership and collaboration down the road.
The group’s next event will be a Lunar New Year celebration in February with dumpling-making and Chinese paper cutting.