Bang! The drummer slams the drum sticks down on a tanggu, a traditional Chinese drum. To his right is a man with cymbals matching his beat. A giant white dragon weaves onto the center stage of Medallion Plaza. Every eye in the crowd is locked on the two person dragon dance. The dragon continues to go around the plaza rhythmically dancing and jumping to the drummer’s song. By the end of the number, the dragon reveals a banner that reads, “Wishing for prosperity and growth.”
This traditional Chinese dance is commonly presented during festivities to wish fortune on those who witness the performance.
On April 3, students celebrated Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the third annual kickoff event. API Heritage Month is usually celebrated in May, but the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education plans events for April due to the semester ending in the next month.
The event featured various Asian cuisines, Asian owned businesses and dance performances.
Table of snacks and prizes at the API Heritage month kick-off on April 3.
This year's theme is “Building Bouquets: Coming Together,” where the CREDE hopes to bring people together within the community to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander culture and heritage.
For assistant director of the CREDE, George Dou, finding a theme is often challenging because the API identity encompasses so many backgrounds. However this year Dou decided to create a flower motif symbol that contains different national flowers from various Asian and Pacific Islander countries.
“We like to doing that as sort of making this recognition that there are some similarities in the community, but we are all individually different,” Dou said.
Besides bringing students together, the kickoff brings different campus organizations and clubs together in one spot. The Asian Pacific Islander Student Association and the Chinese Club each gave out their own prizes after students participated in their games. Attendees at the event were encouraged to visit every table after being given a map that featured the different stations. After a student completed the map, they were eligible to win some grand prizes that the CREDE offered.
“We get to share what’s meaningful to us and what makes us who we are. Whether that is sharing our values from our families who have immigrated here to the U.S. or whether it’s those traditions that we have always celebrated,” sophomore Elizabeth Shum said.
Shum said she likes events like the kickoff because it is an opportunity to see students like herself share parts of their Asian culture with the Elon community.
“One reason we celebrate our heritage month is recognizing the contributions that different communities have made on the U.S,” Dou said.
Alison Van Norman speaking with visitors at the API Heritage month kick-off on April 3.
For senior J’Lynn Poplin, she initially came to events like the API kick off to fulfill her cultural hours for her sorority, but she quickly realized that this was more than just checking a box.
“They want to share who they are and allow all of us to explore and see the beautiful cultures,” Poplin said.
Poplin now cheers on her friend who is a part of the KDNS, Elon’s K-pop dance group, that performed at the kickoff. She said her favorite part of the event was receiving a tarot card reading.
In 2023, Elon’s asian student population only made up 2.3% and Pacific Islander 0.2%. With the recent rollbacks on DEI with the Trump Administration, Elon President Connie Book has said that Elon will not be affected by Trump’s executive orders. Some neighboring universities such as the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill had to lay off positions and eliminate initiatives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion due to the recent legislation. Instead, for example, at North Carolina State student-led organizations are having to put on events for Asian Pacific Istander Heritage month.
For Freshman Jordyne Lewis, a lot of what she saw at the kick off was the first time she had ever been exposed to certain Asian cultural practices such as the dragon dance.
“To be able to explore these different cultures and different backgrounds, I think is important and helps expand your mind,” Lewis said.
Dou said that events like the kick off can give people this sense of awareness and connection; however, it can also give Asian and Pacific Islander students a chance to explore their own identities and history.
“I’ve seen students grow,” Dou said. “I’ve definitely seen students more prideful in their identity and also experience their asian identity specifically doesn’t have to be a painful thing.
The kickoff was only the start of events to celebrate API Heritage Month hosted by the CREDE. Next week on April 11 is Elon's annual Holi Celebration located in Speaker’s Corner.
Every Monday in April
Communi-Tea
Noon to 2 p.m. | CREDE
Hosted by the CREDE, each week will have a different theme and a variety of teas and snacks.
April 7: Rainbows of Asia
April 14: Floral Teas
April 28: International Coffee & Teas w/ the GEC
Tuesday, April 8
Spicy Food Challenge
5:30 to 7 p.m. | El Centro Kitchen
Participants can sample a variety of spicy foods from different Asian cultures. RSVP required to attend.
Friday, April 11
Holi Celebration
4 p.m. | Speaker’s Corner
Holi is the Hindu spring festival of color and sharing love, and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The spring festival includes colored powder — or gulal — or colored water. The event will also feature crafts, food and other ways to celebrate the holiday.
Friday, April 11
Language Hour: Qingming Festival
7 to 8 p.m. | Carlton Commons
Hosted by Chinese Club, the club’s second language hour will have participants practice Chinese and learn about the Qingming Festival, which is a traditional holiday dedicated to honoring ancestors.
Friday, April 11
Tanghulu and Dance Workshop
7 to 8 p.m. | La Rose Student Commons
Hosted by APSA and K-DNS, this event will feature Tanghulu, a Chinese candied treat where fresh fruit is coated in melted sugar, and a K-pop dance showdown.
April 14
Speaker: Collecting Oral Histories with Asian Diaspora
4 p.m. | Moseley 224
Talk with Maydha Devarajan, the interviewer for Southern Mix, an oral history project.
Thursday, April 17
Community Dinner
5 to 6:30 p.m. | Lakeside 214
Hosted by the CREDE and APSA, this dinner will allow faculty, staff and students to connect and enjoy different Asian foods. RSVP required to attend.
Friday, April 18
Vamos A La Cocina: APIHM Edition
1 to 3 p.m. | El Centro
A cooking demonstration event hosted by El Centro.
Tuesday, April 22
“Upstream” Movie Screening
6 p.m. | Global Media Room
Hosted by the Asian Studies department, “Upstream” delves into the challenges of China’s gig economy, highlighting issues such as age discrimination, labor exploitation, and the resilience required to navigate such hardships.
Wednesday, April 23
Food For Thought: Pacific Islands
5:30 to 7 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)
This event will explore Pacific Islander culture with Hawaiian food. Food For Thought is a monthly event where the CREDE explores different Asian & Pacific Islander cultures, communities, and personal experiences.
Wednesday, April 23
Painting 101
10 to 11 p.m. | Upstairs Lakeside
Hosted by the Chinese Club.
Friday, April 25
Paint at the Plaza
TBD | TBD
Hosted by APSA, attendees can follow a guided tutorial or paint their own picture outside on Medallion Plaza.
Monday, April 28
Rainbow Boba
4 to 6 p.m. | CREDE
Rainbow Boba is an event created to form a space for gathering and discussion on topics related to the intersections of the LGBTQIA+ and API communities. Drinks and boba will be provided.