A class focusing on American people of Asian descent will be offered for the first time this spring.

“This class is geared to the interests of everyone seeking to understand the significant piece of the American multicultural mosaic,” said Eugenio Matibag, professor of foreign language and chair of the program’s Ad Hoc Steering Committee.

“Asian American Culture: History and Community” will be an introduction to the growing study of history, culture and experience of Asian Americans, Matibag said.

“The course and all other activities of the Asian American studies program are definitely for anyone,” he said.

“Since the course involves the disciplines of history, literature, cultural anthropology, sociology and urban planning, all students researching those fields would benefit academically from the readings and discussion,” Matibag said.

He said the class will cover the years 1850-1950 because the greatest number of Asian immigrants came to the United States during this time period.

“This was the time of the Gold Rush, the building of the transcontinental railroads, the development of sugar cane plantations in Hawaii and of produce agriculture in California — all made possible in great part by the labor and resourcefulness of Asians in America,” Matibag said.

Some of the things that will be covered in LAS 325X include readings of literature, sociology, history and politics. There will be movies and videos to present information, and the students will study the Asian-American population centers, like Chicago’s Chinatown, Matibag said.

Matibag said Asian Americans want to be aware of their ancestry and yet call America their home.

“They want all America to know their perspective and their experience,” he said. “This is the way we progress toward creating a society in which all can participate without the obstacles of ignorance and prejudice.”

Matibag said the Asian perspective and experience has already infiltrated American popular culture.

“Just think: How many people do you know that practice the Asian martial arts?” Matibag asked. “Who hasn’t eaten in a Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Korean or Filipino restaurant?”

He said he hopes the class will help increase awareness of other cultures on the ISU campus.

“By raising the visibility of Asian American culture and disseminating the news about Asian-American activities at ISU and in this country, we would do our part in creating a university culture that could come closer to what we could call ‘universal,'” Matibag said.

“Such a culture would create a more welcoming environment for learning about the world, and I don’t mean just in the classroom,” he said.

The course will be taught by Marie Rose Wong, assistant professor of community and regional planning.

LAS 325X is not included in the schedule book, but the course number is 6719005 for anyone wishing to register. For more information, contact Wong at 294-8958 or Matibag at 294-7867.