The Jacobs House soon will be the new home of the Asian American Center.

“I’m just delighted that Asian-American organizations can call a place home,” NIU Trustee Robert Boey said. “It will be a great place for them to hang their hats and be proud.”

The Asian-American Task Force unanimously endorsed the move to the Jacobs House, which will have room for informal and formal gatherings, such as presentations and lectures.

“It will be a fine academic and non-academic resource for Asian-American students,” said Robert Wheeler, vice provost and task force chair.

The Office of the Provost approved it Wednesday, according to a press release from student trustee Jesse Perez, also a task force member.

Finding a home for an Asian-American center had been one goal of the Asian-American Task force since its creation in 1999.

NIU President John Peters said in his State of the University Address two weeks ago that he hoped to find space and resources for an Asian American center, based on a feasibility study initiated in 2001.

Wheeler hopes to see the center open sometime during the 2003-2004 school year.

“[The task force] weighed the advantages of moving into Jacobs House,” Wheeler said, “and Executive Vice Provost [Ivan] Legg approved the decision.”

Currently, the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences occupies the Jacobs House. It is expected to eventually move into Wirtz Hall. This is a direct result of the space provided in Wirtz Hall after the College of Business moved to Barsema Hall.

“I think the Asian-Americans need representation on campus,” Legg said.

He also believes the Asian-American Center will provide it.

Wheeler and Boey hope it someday will provide space for a faculty member to oversee an Asian-American Studies certification. The certification program is one of the next things the task force is specifically trying to accomplish.

“It is very important for Asian-Americans to know their heritage,” Boey said, concerning a future Asian-American Studies program. Boey also said the importance of having a place for Asian-Americans to meet cannot be understated.

“A conflict between home and life away from the family can be very difficult for Asian-Americans,” Boey said.

He explained how having parents born in another country and then being born in the United States can make it hard on Asian-Americans, based on cultural conflicts that can occur at home.

“It can take a while for young Asian-Americans to find their place,” Boey said.

He thinks the Asian-American Center will create an environment to help young Asian-Americans deal with this type of conflict.

“Where else can they expect to meet and relate with peers dealing with the same problems?” Boey said.

Peters expects the center to assist also in the continuing diversification of NIU’s campus.

“The Asian-American Center gives Asian students, and those who want to learn about Asian-Americans, [a chance] to meet and express each other’s cultures,” he said.

Peters expects the task force will continue to achieve its goals of providing an understanding of the Asian-American student body and developing a stronger and more supportive community for Asian-American students.

“This is not something that can be accomplished overnight,” he said. “[The center] is a positive move and I’m very pleased with the decision.”