Groups & Organizations
Student Organizations affiliated with the Afro-American Cultural CenterAfro-American Cultural Center Yale African Student Association (YASA) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Xi Omicron Chapter Black Church at Yale (BCAY) Black Pride Union (BPU) |
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Black College Vote at Yale: An Undergraduate Political Organization
Contact: Charlotte Lewis
An organization devoted to educating the black community about the importance
of political involvement.
Black Student Alliance at Yale (BSAY)
Contact: Nneka Onyezia
Since 1967, the goals of the organization have been to strive for excellence,
challenge social injustices and celebrate the successes of our people through
weekly discussion meetings and planned activities.
www.yale.edu/bsay
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - Pi Alpha Chapter
Contact: Kenita Montgomery
www.deltasigmatheta.org
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Contact: Tiffanee Green
Yale University Chapter of a national organization promoting the interests of
minority engineers and other science majors.
PRISM
Contact: Christopher Jordan (caj25@pantheon.yale.edu)
A confidential discussion group for queer and questioning people of color.
Shades
Contact: John Johnson (john.k.johnson@yale.edu)
A co-ed a cappella group that specializes in African-American music such as
R&B, gospel, pop, jazz, and traditional music.
www.yale.edu/shades
Steppin' Out (Step Team)
Contact: LaTasha Crawford
Yale's first and only step performance team. Founded in the fall of 1997, this
group has performed throughout the Northeast.
Konjo!
Contact: Theresa Silla
Dance troupe specializing in traditional African dance
www.yale.edu/konjo
Yale West Indian Student Association (YWISA)
Contact: Nigel Henry
A collective of students of Caribbean descent as well as those with an interest
in West Indian Culture.
Pre-Medical African-American & Latino Society (PAALS)
Contact: Nevine Ali & Scott Thompson
An organization which fosters the interests of pre-medical students through
forums and workshops with medical school students and administrators.
When Black Men Take Action
Contact: John Johnson (john.k.johnson@yale.edu)
A discussion group for Black men at Yale.
Asian American Organizations at Yale
Asian American Students Alliance
The umbrella organization for all Asian-American associations at
Yale University. Together with the affiliated student organizations, AASA is
committed to the intellectual, cultural, social, and political development of
the Asian American student community at Yale University. AASA holds weekly board
meetings, and organizes social, cultural, and political events throughout the
year. Sample of activities include: conferences, guest speakers, cultural dinners,
dances (Prelude, Climax), and winter/spring basketball tournaments.
www.yale.edu/aasa
Student Association of Thais at Yale (SATAY)
Yale University's association of Thai students. SATAY holds frequent social
meetings, and organizes social and cultural events throughout the year. Sample
of activities include: Thai language table, celebration of Thai festivals, and
annual cultural dinner. For more information, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/satay
Vietnamese Students Association (VISA)
Yale University's association of Vietnamese students. VISA holds weekly meetings,
and organizes social and cultural events throughout the year. Sample of activities
include: cultural dinner, frosh picnic, and the Mid Autumn Festival (Tet Trung
Thu). Visit their website for more info.
www.yale.edu/visa
Malaysian and Singaporean Association (MASA)
Yale University's association of Malaysian, Singaporean, and other Southeast
Asian students. MASA organizes social and cultural events throughout the year.
Sample of activities include: celebration of the traditional festivals of the
region. For more information, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/masa
Chinese American Students Association (CASA)
Yale University's association of Chinese-American students. CASA holds biweekly
meetings, and organizes social, political, and cultural events throughout the
year. Sample of activities include: dance (Eclipse), Frosh BBQ/picnic, CASA
families, dinner meetings, and cultural show. For more information, visit their
website.
www.yale.edu/casa
Phoenix Dance Troupe
An undergraduate Chinese dance troupe (incorporates the use of ribbons and fans)
that performs at various events throughout the year. Scheduled practice meetings.
Affiliated with CASA.
Yale Chinese American Journal (YCAJ)
An undergraduate literary publication of Chinese-American interests. The journal
serves as a forum for discussion and exploration of the Chinese American experience,
shhowcasing the literary and artistic talents of the Chinese American community
of Yale and beyond. Contents include fiction, essays, interviews, poetry, art,
and photography. Published once or twice a year. Affiliated with CASA.
The Chinese Calligraphy Association
The calligraphy club meets every weekend for informal practice sessions. Chinese
painting and Japanese calligraphy are also practiced. All levels of skill are
welcome; materials are provided. For more info, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/calligraphy
Korean American Students at Yale (KASY)
Yale University's association of Korean-American students. KASY holds biweekly
meetings, and organizes social, political, and cultural events throughout the
year. Sample of activities include: Frosh picnic, bowling night, dinner meetings,
cultural show, and the Adopted Friends program. For more info, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/kasy
Unity Korean Cultural Music Troupe (UNITY)
An undergraduate Korean traditional drum troupe that performs at various events
throughout the year. Scheduled practice meetings. Affiliated with KASY.
Korean American Journal (KAJ)
An undergraduate literary publication of Korean-American interests. The journal
serves as a forum for discussion and exploration of the Korean American experience,
showcasing the literary and artistic talents of the Korean American community
of Yale and beyond. Published once or twice a year. Affiliated with KASY.
Jook Songs
An undergraduate Asian-American theatre group. Jook Songs delivers an introspective
and revealing style of theatre that tackles issues of "Asianness"
head-on. All skits are crafted individually in a collective workshop. Scheduled
meetings and rehearsals. Performs twice a year (once per semester).
Taiwanese American Society (TAS)
Yale University's association of Taiwanese-American students. TAS holds biweekly
meetings, and organizes social, political, and cultural events throughout the
year. Sample of activities include: Frosh BBQ, hiking trip, game nights, and
cooking night. For more information, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/taiwan/
South Asian Society (SAS)
Yale University's assocation of South Asian students (hailing from, but not
limited to: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka). SAS holds weekly meetings, and organizes social, political, and cultural
events throughout the year. Sample of activities include: Diwali ("A Festival
of Light"), guest speakers, seminars, Shakti (a literary magazine), and
a film series. For more information, visit their website
www.yale.edu/yalesas
Yale College Japanese Association (YCJA)
Yale University's association of Japanese students. YCAJ organizes cultural
and social activities throughout the year. Sample of activities include: sushi
dinner, and movie night.
Hong Kong Club at Yale
Informal organization of undergraduate students affiliated with Hong Kong. The
Hong Kong Club is active throughout the year; activities include dinner gatherings,
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, and a weekly Cantonese Table. For more information,
visit their website.
www.hkclubatyale.org
Filipino Students at Yale (KASAMA)
Yale University's associaton of Filipino students. KASAMA (meaning "companion"
in Tagalog) organizes social and cultural events throughout the year. For more
information, visit their website.
www.yale.edu/kasama
Khmer Intellectual Student Society (KISS)
A cultural organization dedicated to the study and appreciation of Khmer/Cambodian
culture.
Latino Organizations at Yale
Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Yale College
The purpose of Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Yale College is to provide
the Yale Community with a vivid aspect of Mexican culture, which has been missing
throughout Yale's history. Given a diverse range of colloquial dances from various
regions of Mexico, the goal is to offer a festive and educational form of entertainment
that no group at Yale has attempted before: the traditional, Mexican folk dance-Ballet
Folklórico. In its second year (1999-2000), Ballet Folklórico
Mexicano de Yale performed dances from the regions of Chiapas, Chihuahua, Zacatecas,
Veracruz, and Jalisco.
Contact: leonora.anzalduaburke@yale.edu
www.yale.edu/bf/
Chiapas Action Center at Yale
Chicano identity embraces the indigenous side of our background. For that reason,
it is important to be familiar with and be updated with the indigenous struggle
in Chiapas. The Chicano communities are marginalized in similar ways as the
indigenous communities of Mexico in the sense that our Chicano communities are
generally the most impoverished, least educated, and most discriminated against.
The Chiapas Action center is dedicated to researching the conflict in Chiapas
and disseminating our discoveries to the Yale community and other people we
come into contact with. Since its founding in spring 1998, the Chiapas Action
Center has fundraised to send 17 human rights observers to civil peace camps
in Zapatista communities.
DB
"DB" is the Puerto Rican Undergraduate Student Organization at Yale
University. Founded in 1972, the main objective of the organization is to foster
a sense of community among Puerto Rican undergraduates at Yale. DB strives to
meet this objective through advocacy efforts and by coordinating cultural, educational,
and social events. DB also tries to increase undergraduate interaction with
the New Haven community through community service initiatives. The East Coast
Chicana/o Student Forum, Yale Chapter
Contact: ariana.gallisa@yale.edu
www.yale.edu/db/
The East Coast Chicana/o Student Forum (ECCSF)
The East Coast Chicana/o Student Forum (ECCSF) builds strong ties between the
Chicana/o students at Yale and the Chicana/o students of other East Coast colleges
and universities. ECCSF meets this objective through intercollegiate conferences,
visits to other institutions for educational and social activities and ongoing
communication with students attending schools throughout the region. While the
focus of the organization is to empower and unite Chicana/o students, undergraduates
of all cultural backgrounds are welcome to join and are especially encouraged
to participate in the Forum's various activities.
Contact: virginia.flores@yale.edu
www.eccsf.org/
Latin American Student Organization
LASO assists Latin American students in adjusting to American culture by providing
a comfortable social atmosphere with emphasis on cultural celebration. There
are weekly dinners at La Casa Cultural or at a select dining hall and occassional
weekend ventures to Van Dome, a New Haven club featuring salsa and merengue
music. In order to foster a comfortable atmosphere, the organization refrains
from political activities. Please e-mail the coordinator in order to be placed
on the e-mail list server.
Contact: carla.pinto@yale.edu
La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Chapter
La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., was established to
address Latino issues that academic institutions often are unaware of or ignore
altogether. Founded in 1982 at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, La Fraternidad
seeks to take a leadership role in meeting the needs of the Latino community
through initiative, dedication, and diligence. Specifically, the Kappa Chapter
at Yale concentrates on academic achievement, community service, and cultural
enlightenment. Another vital element of La Fraternidad is the concept of Hermandad,
or Brotherhood. As Hermanos, we provide a strong support system for each other.
Offering assistance, giving encouragement, and lending an ear to listen, Hermanos
are there for each other-- no matter what. It is this dedication to and love
for each other that sets Hermanos of La Fraternidad apart from other organizations.
Contact: carlos.gavirira@yale.edu
www.launidadlatina.org/chapters/kappa/
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán at Yale
A Movimiento is a pursuit of greater gains by individuals united loyally with
one another, focused not upon the status quo but instead striving to bring about
respect and equality. The energy to lead the Movimiento stems from the creative
consciousness of Estudiantes, driven not by self-righteous motives but by the
firm belief that united as an organization the interests of the greater Chicano
community can be fulfilled. The spirit that guides these Estudiantes Chicanos
is rooted in their past, their homes, their heart, Aztlán. The spirit
that gave their ancestors life, the spirit that thrived in the soul of the Mexica,
is the same spirit that gives the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
strength to succeed and endure.
Contact: francisco.lopez@yale.edu
www.yale.edu/mecha/
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., Pi
Chapter
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Incorporated
exists to create a bridge between all women committed to seeking the political
and social advancement of underrepresented populations. The organization was
founded on December 1, 1987 at Binghamton University by four women who saw the
need for an organization that would provide sisterhood and support, while also
promoting academic achievement, service to the community and cultural enrichment.
They realized the need to create a voice for women in an academic setting. Sigma
Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. serves to bridge
a gap between the Latino community and the campuses we represent. Though Latina-based,
the organization is made up of women from all cultures, religious backgrounds
and interests. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, disability,
political beliefs, sexual preference, etc.
Contact: vindia_fernandez@yahoo.com
*All of this information was taken from the website of La Casa Cultural (the Latino Cultural Center). The descriptions of the organizations have been shortened for practical purposes and member organizations that have been inactive for the last two years have been omitted. Those interested in learning more extensive information of the Latino groups at Yale College should therefore view La Casa's website for themselves at www.yale.edu/lacasa.
Native American Organizations at Yale
The Association of Native Americans at Yale (ANAAY)
Description: The Association of Native Americans at Yale (ANAAY) is a student
run organization based in the Native American Cultural House. ANAAY's main purpose
is to support Native American students by providing a familial environment through
a variety of activities such as visiting other Native communities and cooking
cultural meals, and to educate the Yale community through powwows, conferences,
student forums, and other venues.
www.yale.edu/anaay
