Item 4 - UT Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective Presentation — original pdf

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SB-17 Impact on UT ADPAC Aneesha Kandikonda(Financial Director) Rachel Joseph (Co-Director of Operations) Agenda 01 ADPAC and the MEC 03 How to help 02 SB-17 04 Discussion What is ADPAC? We are the Asian Desi Pacific-Islander American Collective! We serve as a registered student organization that: - provides community resources, identity-based events, leadership institutes, - - - the tools to fight for Asian American/immigrant rights, - and plans the ONLY graduation event for Asian American students on campus, encompassing over 50,000 students. What was the MEC? The Multicultural Engagement Center, formerly Minority Information Center, has been on campus for 36 years. We are: - a hangout space for all students as often serve as a 'home away from home' for many. - provide multiple computer stations, outlets, watch tv, study desks, spaces to talk/hangout with five full-time dedicated staff! - house five University sponsored student groups: Afrikan American Affairs (AAA), Asian Desi Pacific islander American Collective (ADPAC), Latinx Community Affairs (LCA), Native American and Indigenous Collective (NAIC), Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Color Alliance (QTBIPOCA) - Mid-1980s - - campus. - Founder: Michael L. Davis university - 2014 History of the MEC and Student Activism at UT Students held sit-ins, protested on the mall and demanded UT Austin to withdraw investment and support for the South African economy. The student-led anti-apartheid struggle spurred increased awareness of racial fissures on - Goal: centralize academic, social and financial support resources available from the - Davis was honored with the Heman Marion Sweatt Student Legacy Award. Davis served as deputy assistant Secretary of Labor during President Obama’s first term and is now a member of the Global Institutional Services management team at T. Rowe Price What is SB-17? Prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, policies, and programs at state funded universities in Texas Author: Sen. Brendan Creighton Date Effective: January 1st, 2024 Date Passed: June 16th, 2023 The Breakdown Constraints on: Prospective Employment 1. 2. Current Employees 3. University Power → increased political oversight, hold on state funds, state compliance audit(every 4 years) a. anti-DEI ban by Board of Regents b. DEI trainings needed for state law approved by THECB and university counsel 8 exemptions: Course Instruction, Scholarly Research, Student Orgs & Activities, Guest Speakers, Data Collection, Student Retention & Admissions, Grants & Accreditation, Initiatives for Student Achievements or Post-Graduate Outcomes SB-17 and its Consequences Under the exemptions, we should have been fine but … - MEC was dissolved last minute AND without notice(during winter break). - MEC’s dissolving did NOT involve student input. - ADPAC is forced to lose ALL funding from the University. Where ADPAC is now: - NO funding to throw the only graduation event for Asian American students on campus, encompassing over 11,000 students. - NO funding for ANY of our signature events: AALI, internship, CE - NO AAPI alumni network to coordinate for support. *reviewed by both UT Legal and TX Students 4 DEI Our Efforts So Far - Joint Statement with other former agencies on context & demands - Affirm former MEC staff job security - Establish MEC to previous form as compliant with SB 17 - Student referendum for future decisions regarding the space - Go Fund Me raised ~$1800 - Community Partnerships - Used for community engagement events, interns, graduation - Center for Asian American Studies (CAAS) - Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) - Asian American Quality of Life Commission - News Interviews (student, local, state & national publications) How You Can Help! We are kindly asking for your support through any means: - donations in food, event sponsorships, school materials, scholarships, grants, - equipment, venues, having an employer match your donation, etc. In the scope of this commission, providing a platform for our advocacy, access to partnering with local initiatives(AARC), and being creative with your support is prioritized! Monetary donations to keep our organization going are highly preferred, especially for our GraduAsian ceremony! Please let us know if you would be able to support or sponsor our organization in any other way possible for the remainder of the 2024 school year or in the future. ADPAC Linktree: https://linktr.ee/UTADPAC ADPAC GoFundMe: http://tinyurl.com/ADPACGFM Questions?