Political Committee
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Overview
The Asian American Alliance Political Committee (AAAPC) is a subgroup of AAA (main page), headed by the Political Chair. Unlike the AAA board, AAAPC has no official positions other than the chair; membership is largely self-declared, although members are still expected to attend weekly meetings and participate in events. Members include current and former board members, and other individuals committed to the group and its work. While the chair does facilitate weekly meetings and provides a general direction for the committee, AAAPC largely operates through collective decision-making, and members often spearhead their own projects.
Mission
AAAPC has several functions--for one, it has served as a forum for discussion on critical issues such as Asian American identity and issues that arise, such as racially offensive comments in the media or occurrences of anti-Asian violence in New York City. Secondly, it has worked in significant capacity with other organizations of color and activist groups on campus, such as the United Students of Color Council, Students Promoting Empowerment and Knowledge, the Black Students Organization, and the Student Organization of Latinos. AAAPC also has ties to Asian American organizations throughout New York City that organize and advocate for social justice, voting rights, immigrants' rights, and labor rights, such as the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Chinese Staff and Workers Association, Desis Rising Up and Moving, and others. Members of AAAPC have also contributed to the annual New York Asian American Student Conference, a collaborative effort between students at Columbia and other New York City colleges, and the National Asian American Student Conference, which will next occur this October in Atlanta.
Events
Since its founding in the fall of 2005, AAAPC has hosted and/or co-coordinated teach-ins, speaker events, conferences, protests and demonstrations, an annual Asian American trivia quiz bowl, round table discussions, a concert, and much more.
