The Presidential Task Force on Asian-Americans was formed in 1999 with the goal of providing Asian-Americans with proper cultural and academic support.

The task force takes a two-pronged approach as it concentrates on academic and student service, said Michelle Bringas, task force program coordinator.

In NIU President John Peters’ last university address, he asked that a study be done to determine if NIU should have an Asian-American Center.

Since then, the task force formed a sub-committee to do the study. Sub-committee members hope to submit a report of their study to Peters by December, said Robert Wheeler, task force chair and interim associate provost.

The task force also is requesting that an academic minor in Asian-American studies be implemented.

A proposal has been written but not submitted as of yet. Wheeler said it’s best to have faculty do an Asian-American study because of the wide variety of academic input.

The task force is also in the midst of preparing for a leadership retreat in January.

“We’re developing a leadership conference geared toward developing Asian-American students in four main areas: activism, leadership, identity and community,” Bringas said.

A student leadership council has been formed within the task force. The newly formed council is working to develop its own constitution.

The council includes student members of the task force and representatives from various Asian organizations on campus.

“There are some political aspects to it,” Wheeler said. “There are no Asian state legislatures. There is a need to build toward that kind of representation.”

Augustus Mangubat, member of the task force and a senior communication major, believes the task force reaches out to Asian-American students.

“Without the task force, our voices won’t be heard as much,” Mangubat said. “The task force takes a unique voice because administration and faculty people who work at NIU have first-hand concerns of needs for students.”

Asian-Americans include people who have been here for five or six generations, those who have recently immigrated and those who are here on visa for education, Wheeler said.

Wheeler said the biggest challenge the task force faces is trying to bring various Asian groups together. Members hope to build on activities so that all Asians can feel good about each other in the same place at the same time, he added.

Some activities scheduled for next semester are an Asian-American video series hoping to begin in January. Asian-American Heritage month in April will open up with a fashion show and reception, an Asian-American essay contest and will close with a “Taste of Asia” night that will include all types of Asian ethnic food.

“One of our goals is to inform the NIU and DeKalb community about Asian-American culture and at the same time welcome them,” Mangubat said.

Wheeler thinks that the task force has come along way since its start in 1999.

“I think a great deal has been achieved,” Wheeler said. “We’ve gone from absolutely nothing to a program coordinator, activities and a proposal for a building.”