The new Asian Culture Club was created to address issues including stereotypes and racism. The club meets in Mrs. Michelle Richardson’s room on ‘C days’.

It was founded by Class of 2019 member Michael Mauro and Class of 2020 member Lawrence Liu. They see racial stereotyping as a large issue in this community. They thought that by creating this club they can help solve the problem.

Their main goals are to help their classmates have a greater understanding of Asian culture, so students can be more tolerant and understanding of not only Asian cultures, but also of all cultures, and to incorporate the culture and spark discussion through the activities during meetings.

Part of the problem is that there are few Asian students at LHS (2.2%) so these kinds of misconceptions are frequent. “We saw a need to incorporate and recognize Asian culture in our school and provide students with an outlet to learn more about Asian culture,” said Mauro.

This club is open for all students to join, and the club is trying to gain a larger following.

“Because the two kids who asked are great students and this is something I believe we need to share with people at Linganore, I believed it was something I should sponsor,” said Richardson.

In an average meeting, the leaders plan to start with a short PowerPoint slideshow, which will include an Asian cultural aspect, like teaching a new Mandarin word. Afterward, there will be an Asian movie or game or we’ll eat Asian cuisine.”

During the meeting on March 23rd, 2018, Mauro and Liu will be giving out red envelopes traditionally known as hongbao. These are normally filled with money, but during the club they will be filled with chocolate.

“A lot of people will talk about how smart you are and assume you have to be the best student in your class because you’re Asian, and this is one of the things we’re trying to address,” said Liu.

Xhixing Ni, Liu’s mother is proud of her son’s initiative.  She said, “The club is a great place for students to share ideas and [spread their culture].”

Liu and Mauro intend to keep the club a lasting tradition at Linganore and need the help of the students to make that possible. Since the club is only in its first year, they are currently trying to build a larger audience and from there will move onto things such as having guest speakers and incorporating field trips.

If you want more information on the club or are interested in joining, speak to Mauro, Liu, or Mrs. Richardson. The next ‘C’ club meeting is February 23, but there will be another meeting in March.