As an Asian American, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) month is a special time of the year for both me and many others in the U.S.

With origins dating back to the late 1970s, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a significant event in American history. To recognize the contributions made by AAPI communities to American society, Congress presented several joint resolutions in 1977 that called for the observance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. This marked the beginning of the journey towards acknowledgment.

April is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and to honor and celebrate the many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at USC, here are all the ways you can participate and get involved, including events to go to, communities to support, and books to read!

By: Kelsey Cheng ‘25

USC dedicates Tribute Rock Garden and posthumously awards degrees to Japanese American students who were forced into internment camps.

By: Antonia Le ‘22

For students both newly arriving at USC or returning for another semester, finding a new organization to join can be overwhelming. On campus, tables used to line Trousdale as clubs competed for the attention of students just trying to get from one class to another. Over the course of the pandemic, the process of recruitment has shifted to Zoom meetings, where clubs not only had to compete with one another but also the feeling of Zoom fatigue.

One club that has made the most of the past few semesters is the Student Coalition for Asian Pacific Empowerment, also known as SCAPE.