Ashoka presents South Asian Heritage Month

Washington University Ashoka is celebrating South Asian Heritage Month with the theme “Representation: South Asian Creators Going Against the Grain.” Their goal is to honor creators that use the arts—including the visual, performing and literary arts—to highlight important social issues affecting the South Asian community.

Ashoka will put on several events per week throughout the month. Last week, they organized a “Painting After Dark” event and held their formal April 5. This weekend, they held their annual basketball tournament, as well as “Chit Chaat Chai,” a speaker panel on representation in the arts featuring representatives from the Council on American-Islam Relations in Missouri (CAIR-MO) who helped organize the Muslim Arts Exhibitions of St. Louis. The panel also included recipient of the 2015 Women of Achievement Award Dr. Ghazala Hayat, former UN Pakistan photojournalist Syed Ali and Dean Maya Ganapathy.

The following week, there will be a discussion on “Violence, Activism and Social Media” April 17, as well as Holi April 20. The last week will include a talk from speaker and actress Tanvi Lonkar, best known for her role in “Slumdog Millionaire” on April 23, and a bazaar on April 28.

Second round of Washington University’s college prep scholars graduate

Washington University’s College Prep Program Graduation will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22 in Emerson Auditorium. The graduation will celebrate the second group of the University’s College Prep Program, a free, three-year program aimed at preparing regional, low-income and first generation students for success.

The second class consists of 34 students, all of whom will be attending college in the fall. At least seven of these students will be attending Washington University.

Speakers at the graduation will include: Leah Merrifield, founder of the College Prep Program; Lori S. White, vice chancellor for students; Chancellor Mark Wrighton; two College Prep 2018 graduates, Delton Utsey and Antoinette Tipton; and John Sondag, president of AT&T Missouri.