Chinese Student Association

[Ian_Lee]

In early '70s when I attended a 45,000+ college in US, there was a "Chinese Students Association". By that time there were hardly any students from Mainland China in US. Most of the members in the Association were students from Taiwan and Hong Kong. They staged Chinese cultural shows and even organized the "China Night" and cooked Chinese food to entertain local population.

In early '90s when I furthered my study in a 20,000+ college in US, I found out that there were 3 organizations -- "Chinese Student Association", "Taiwan Student Association and "Hong Kong Student Association". They organized their respective activities on their own and hardly did they jointly work together. (But on individual level, I would say there are more interactions.)

[smithsgj]

In the UK it's the same. There are also often Spore and Malaysia socs (for huaqiao really) which also keep themselves to themselves. Further evidence that there is no pan_chinese identity or nation.

What these groups do have in common is that they make very little effort to integrate themselves into student life, or life in Britain in general. They only make friends with people from their own country, don't go to pubs and clubs (not a "Chinese" thing, you say? but the pubs and clubs are pretty full here in Taiwan). They don't do anything at the weekends except arrange parties to bao shui-jiao with their compatriots. They don't explore Britain, or the city where they live. They only share flats with their compatriots, and never eat out, preferring to cook every day for themselves with what's available in the Chinese supermarkets. As far I can see they have themselves a perfectly horrible time; but perhaps they like it that way.

A lot of British students think these people could make more of an effort to join in!

[pazu]

The only Chinese Student Association I could recall is the one headed by Chow Yun-fat, in 秋天的童話. He once said in the movie, "不要欺負我們中國同學會的人啊!" ;P

[Ian_Lee]

秋天的童話 was produced in the early '80s. Probably today Chow Yun Fat will only be member of Hong Kong Student Association if he goes back to school. (But of course he will be welcomed in the Chinese Students Association too given his popularity.)

But actually unlike Smithsgi said, the Chinese Student Association in the early '70s which I participated witnessed good collaboration between people from HK and Taiwan. In fact, I got very well-acquainted with the Taiwanese girls since Taiwanese guys were much older. (They had to go thru military training before they could come out.)

In fact, I picked up my mandarin from then.

[ala]

In early '90s when I furthered my study in a 20,000+ college in US, I found out that there were 3 organizations -- "Chinese Student Association", "Taiwan Student Association and "Hong Kong Student Association". They organized their respective activities on their own and hardly did they jointly work together. (But on individual level, I would say there are more interactions.)

I think it depends more on the size of the school and the length of stay in the US, rather than specifically Mainland Chinese or Taiwanese. I find those Mainland Chinese who have stayed as long as the Taiwanese in the US are just as likely to interact and get along in the same association. In fact, the Taiwan Student Assoc and HKSA are usually the fringe associations ("optional", further specialization), and most members end up joining the main Chinese Student Association as well. The different student groups have different activities (obviously), but the associations often overlap the same members (or at least draw participation from members in other groups). The dominant ethnic Chinese student association is still called something like CASA, CUSA, CSA, CSO... even though Mainlanders are only a portion of the membership. I really don't see the emergence of Taiwan and HK student associations as a sign of the lack of "pan-Chinese" identity, but rather as the availability of options for something more specific and relatable. At least I think that is how it is in small private universities (with 20-25% Asians). I believe one can have a pan-Chinese outlook and still hold a certain degree of regional identity. In fact, the regional identity allows for greater discussion and meaning into being Chinese. It doesn't also have to follow political demarcation either (Mainland, Taiwan, HK, Singapore, etc) as clearly the Mainland is quite big and mosaic, and Taiwan also quite diverse.

[Quest]

The reason for the separation is probably language. It is understandable.

[niubi]

when i was a graduate student at the university of washington (seattle) from 1993-1996 i think i was a member of 5 'chinese' student organizations: CSA (chinese student association), TSA (taiwanese student association), HKSA (hong kong student association), TSS (taiwan study society), and CSSA (chinese students and scholars association). there were other organisations with chinese student populations - i.e. singapore student association, malaysian student association, etc. - and a third taiwanese student association called the chinese betterment society. CSA, TSA and HKSA the major undergraduate chinese student groups - tended to share members though of course they did not completely overlap in membership and they all had their own activities, though occasionally they would have joint activities. the CSA and TSA shared the same office in the student union. TSS, CSSA, and the chinese betterment society were all mainly graduate student organizations though they did have some undergrad members - more so in the CSSA though the overwhelming majority of CSSA members were graduate students. my understanding is that as the numbers of foreign students and those who had come to the u.s. while they were high school students from china, taiwan, and hong kong increased in the 80s and especially the 90s, the variety of student groups also emerged. the overlapping of membership in undergraduate student groups is due to the fact of having lived in the u.s. for some time before college and sharing an experience of life in the u.s. as high school (and now junior high and elementary school). in comparison at the graduate level there is very little overlap in membership. another factor at least at the university of washington (and i am sure its true at other universities) is the factor of outside influence and support from the chinese communities. CSA's on american university campuses developed out of the 1960s/1970s student movements. TSA's on large university campuses get funding and support from the taipei consulates. CSSA's are supported by the chinese embassy/consulates. other groups like the TSS at the university of washington are linked to the DDP. i think the chinese betterment society was supported by the guomingdang. these sources of support in some cases were instrumental in the founding of such student groups on campuses.

p.s.

the group i liked the most was the TSS (taiwan study society) who were mostly graduate students from taiwan, there were a couple mainland students and a couple americans of european descent such as myself. while having some link to the DDP at least in its founding, the group had many DDP or independence supporters, other members were supporters of the GMD, and members with other points of view. as the name suggests this was a more intellectually minded organization. there were social activities, but the core of the group was based on members making presentations based on their academic research or sometimes their passions (a great example was a talk on jazz by a ph.d. student in physics) - these talks were all in mandarin. i gave a talk on how han chinese represent ethnic minorities in painting/woodblock prints, etc. and film (in english).

[Amdir_Flassion]

At my uni, there are also separate student societies for Hong Kongers and Taiwanese apart from the pan Chinese Cultural Society. But to me, they really don't organise anything that represents their more specialised local cultures... they may have a few clubbing nights and ski trips every year, but that's about it. That's pretty much the same for the Singaporean and Malaysian societies at my uni too - nothing more than clubs for people from the same area to get together and have fun.

But the Chinese Cultural Society is different. It has sub-groups that specialise in theatre, music, literature and debating. The theatre is the best! It has Canto and Mando productions each year, and often combine with the music group for the choir and music. Did/does your uni's CCS have anything like that? It's really vibrant, active and the largest society on campus. And it's pan-Chinese. Plus it's got financial support from the Taipei rep office, which is very generous. (But I wonder, if Taiwan does turn into ROT by dec independence, would the office still fund a Chinese cultural society? That'd be bad to lose the funding )

But back to the point of this topic, I think the real motivation behind having these different societies is just personal. One society can only have one President, and the more societies there are, the more opportunities to be a club president, which would look smack good on the CV. My uni even has a beer club too!