One of my earliest memories is from when I was four years old, when my mom asked me if I wanted to play piano. All her friends were signing up their kids for either violin or piano lessons, and it seemed like it would be a good idea for me to do it as well. I said yes. Asian “tiger” parents forcing their kids to play an instrument is a well-known stereotype, and … [Read more...] about Universities’ Problem with “Asianness”
Humanities
Vietnamese History Through Pho
As popular as pho is today, restaurant-goers have little idea about its complex history, which almost directly reflects Vietnamese history during the last century. However, pho tells a story of fierce Vietnamese survival with three distinct chapters, specifically French colonization, civil war, and globalization. Before French colonization, Vietnamese people ate … [Read more...] about Vietnamese History Through Pho
I Want to Break Free: Confinement and Liberation in Plath’s Colossus Poems
In Sylvia Plath’s The Colossus and Other Poems, one of the most prevalent motifs is the speaker’s feeling of confinement or suffocation. The majority of poems in this collection depict the speaker resigning and accepting their state of imprisonment. Many scholars, such as Maher A. Mahdi, find that Plath’s poetry reflects “a suppressed state that inspires a fervent de … [Read more...] about I Want to Break Free: Confinement and Liberation in Plath’s Colossus Poems
LOTL: Donald Trump’s Travel Ban and Principles of Justiciability
In late January of this year Donald Trump signed an executive order that caused massive nationwide protests, and sparked a dialogue surrounding the issues of executive authority, race and ethnicity, and foreign relations. The decision to ban the immigration of individuals from specific countries, despite its shaky judicial foundation, raises an important question … [Read more...] about LOTL: Donald Trump’s Travel Ban and Principles of Justiciability
LOTL: Concerned about Gerrymandering? The Supreme Court Is
The Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments today in the case of Gill v. Whitford. This is a case that has the potential to reshape the political landscape across national and state electoral maps. However, before diving into the issues raised by Gill v. Whitford it is important to understand the history of gerrymandering both in principle and how it functions a … [Read more...] about LOTL: Concerned about Gerrymandering? The Supreme Court Is