The results of the presidential election struck a sense of togetherness in UF’s diverse Asian community.
On Thursday, Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs hosted an Inaugural State of the Union Address in the Reitz Union. The event was inspired after Donald Trump was named the next U.S. president and members of the department saw a rise in hate crimes at UF, including an incident in which Gator Adaa, a nationally competitive UF Bollywood dance group, was confronted with racial slurs.
At the event, panelists from various Asian American student groups on campus discussed adding desi, which means “home,” to APIA’s name to help students with ethnic origins from countries such as India and Bangladesh feel more included in the organization.
Krystie Nguyen, the director of APIA affairs, said the about 50 students in attendance were family.
“We must continue to build more bridges and have more discourses of our struggles,” she said.
Shaina Panchal, a Gator Adaa member, reflected on the incident when the group was confronted during one of their practices by men who compared them to an “invasive species.”
Up until the incident occurred, she said she felt respected for her cultural background at UF.
“Having someone call me an invasive species here at UF definitely made me feel like an outsider again,” the 21-year-old UF health science senior said.
Nashrah Ahmed, the social justice and advocacy chair for APIA, said the team’s experience wasn’t isolated, adding that she’s seen a rise in hate crimes following the election results.
Islam on Campus received a message on Facebook about someone who tried to run over a student who was wearing an Islam on Campus backpack, she said.
“Hate crimes aren’t just rising around our country, but right here at home,” the 21-year-old UF political science senior said. “When home rejects you like that, it’s really hard to move on.”
Praveen Varanasi, the president of UF’s Indian Students Association, said he cried after he learned about the election results.
But the 21-year-old UF economics, political science and sustainability studies senior said not to lose hope in the American people.
“At the end of the day, we have to identify the fact that we are all Americans,” he said. “We all have a right to be here.”
