Purdue students push for Asian cultural center

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Balls of curry fish and Coconut Tea were just some of the items on the menu at Saturday's Taste of Asia Food and Cultural Festival at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

The purpose of the event was to get people wondering about the Asian population on Purdue's campus, our sister station WLFI reports. Multiple Asian student groups joined together to help educate guests about their cultures and even educate themselves.

"We might look the same, but we don't always get along," said Purdue student Jason Lee. "So, this allowed us to kind of get together and get to know some of the other Asian cultures."

A majority of the proceeds will help further the plan to create an Asian Cultural Center at Purdue. Asians make up the largest group of minorities on Purdue's campus.

"We're the only school in the Big Ten that doesn't have an Asian Cultural Center," said Purdue student John Nguyen. "This is the perfect opportunity to broadcast that there is an Asian presence here."

Nguyen said the student government plans to suggest a plan for an Asian Cultural Center to Purdue administrators. Different Asian student associations were happy to help the cause, with plates famous to their homelands.

"It's actually really exciting," said Purdue student Vania Evelyn. "Usually, we do have a food and cultural festival of our own, but usually every year we have it with just Singapore. This is the first time Purdue is bringing the Taste of Asia."

The event lasted all day, ending with traditional Asian performances. Organizers said the turn out was more than they imagined and hope the Taste of Asia can continue to give the Asian community at Purdue a new image.

"It gives them the opportunity to ask questions about the ethnic foods if they want to know more about it, and about the culture itself," said Lee.

It's still unclear if Purdue's administration will okay an Asian Cultural Center.