FASA's main objective is to promote a greater
understanding and appreciation of the rich Filipino-American culture to
all students of the college and community. FASA's main emphasis is on
cultural awareness and the organization focuses on the contributions
Filipino-Americans have to American society and current issues
affecting them today. FASA's major goals are to increase its visibility
on campus through various cultural activities and to support and
participate in cultural programs with Filipino-American organizations
from other colleges and universities.
The Filipino-American Student Association (FASA) at
the College of William and Mary was founded by a group of
Filipino-American students in 1991. Now in its thirteenth year, FASA at
William and Mary has grown to be one of the most diverse and largest
organizations on campus.
Fostering approximately 100 members under the
leadership of 18
officers, FASA strives to
share the rich Filipino and Filipino-American cultures on campus and
the greater community and promote relationships with Filipino
organizations at other colleges. It is FASA's duty to improve the
social and academic environments, at the College especially, through
service and education. FASA provides not only a forum for
Filipino-American students to blend their Southeast Asian cultures with
their American ones but also a platform for educating the entire
student body about Filipino and Filipino-American culture. (See
Constitution)
In 1998, FASA presented its first Culture Night.
Through the medium of Culture Night, FASA has been able to showcase
rich culture and talented members to a large audience. Highly
anticipated each year, the Culture Night production consists of skits,
dancing and an authentic Filipino dinner. Both entertaining and
educational, Culture Night allows FASA members to explore the Filipino
culture and share it with a wide audience.
In addition to Culture Night, FASA's largest annual event, FASA
hosts many events throughout the year to promote awareness about the
Filipino and Filipino-American cultures and to foster fellowship among
its many members. Tagalog lessons, co-rec football, basketball,
volleyball, community service, cooking, dancing - folk and modern,
Thanksgiving potluck, Christmas gift exchange and FIND
events are just a few of the things FASA does.
A large part of the FASA experience is expanding knowledge about the
Filipino and Filipino-American cultures and building relationships with
similar organizations at other colleges. The Filipino Intercollegiate
Networking Dialogue (FIND) was created to encourage networking between
Filipino organizations at colleges. FASA at the College of William and
Mary is a member of District VII. Two elected officers serve as
representatives to FIND D7.
FASA is a member of the Asian Student Council (ASC) at the College
of William and Mary. ASC is the umbrella organization that unites all
seven Asian student groups on campus. These include: Chinese Student
Association (CSO),
Filipino-American Student Association (FASA), Japanese Cultural
Association (JCA),
Khmer Student Association (KSA), Korean-American Student Association
(KASA), South Asian Student Association (SASA), and
Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). FASA also participates in ASC functions such
as picnics, flag football, Shades Date Auction, Taste of Asia. We also
try to support all of our sister multicultural organizations by
attending their events. In fact, many FASA members are members of other
culture organizations - reiterating the fact that you do not have to be
Filipino or Filipino-American to join FASA!