SBU: Petition's Claims of Defunding Asian Cultural Programs Are Untrue

In response to a petition on Change.org that suggests Stony Brook University is cutting funding for Asian and Asian-American programs, the university has released a statement saying those claims are untrue.

That petition, titled "Stony Brook University Administration: Save Asian and Asian-American Programs and Re-instate Dr. Sunita Mukhi," was started by an anonymous user going by the handle "Savethewang Center." It has more than 1,400 signatures – many of them from students, professionals and others who are not affiliated with Stony Brook.

Among its grievances, the user says: "We are disturbed by the news that your University is planning to defund the office of Asian and Asian American Programs, reduce the number of Asian and Asian American programs, and downgrade the Wang Center to an ordinary convention center."

But University administrators have said that possibility is not even on the table.

Tonjanita Johnson, chief deputy to the university president, and Nancy Squires, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said in a statement: "All centers and academic programs in the University’s Department of Asian and Asian American Studies are vibrant, supported and fully funded."

Johnson and Squires detailed two major philanthropic contributions to the University that are expected to grow and strengthen Asian and Asian-American programs:

• The "Bishembar Nath and Sheela Mattoo Professorship in India Studies," which is expected to raise the profile of the University's Center for India Studies;
• The "Dr. Gujavarty Family Seminar Fund in India Studies," which will present an annual seminar to encourage leadership among that demographic.

While the online petition also calls for the reinstatement of Dr. Mukhi, the Wang Center's director of Asian and Asian American Programs, Johnson and Squires addressed those comments by saying the University will be conducting a national search for a full-time associate director of the Wang Center to lead programming efforts.

Johnson and Squires concluded: "Stony Brook University looks forward to working with the future Associate Director, the Asian and Asian American Advisory Council, students and staff to ensure that the best possible programming is presented at the Charles B. Wang Center for many years to come."