Honolulu resident Anna Sakamoto conducts summer research on Asian and Asian American experience
Sakamoto is an environmental studies major at Hamilton College
Clinton, NY (09/01/2021) — Honolulu resident and Hamilton College junior Anna Sakamoto was part of a summer research group that examined the social relevance of Asian and Asian American film. The project, which originated last winter, ultimately became a nearly 100-page paper written by Kothiya and two other students, and this summer it involved 11 students, three professors, and several other members of the Hamilton community. The research was supported by Hamilton's Arthur Levitt Public Affairs Center.
Sakamoto and other students watched a number of Asian and Asian-American movies and dissected key themes, in addition to relaying personal narratives concerning their individual experiences being Asian or Asian American. This summer, along with eight more students, they turned their attention to Hamilton itself by examining the experiences of Asian and Asian Americans at Hamilton from a holistic standpoint.
Three teams of students each focused on a different topic: historical research on Asian and Asian Americans at Hamilton; a look at statistics from the College's Office of Institutional Research; and, a collection of personal narratives.
Their combined work will be displayed on a website, Asians at Hamilton, which is still under development. Team three said they are focusing on gathering and editing interviews, adding that all the groups have been developing a base of knowledge with which to inform further research.
Though it is still fairly early in the process, Sakamoto said they expect to see plenty of common themes emerge in the personal narratives. Reflecting on their own time at Hamilton, the students noted that the Asian and Asian American student experiences tend to vary by person, with some feeling more supported and comfortable than others. They recently concluded a survey of Asians and Asian Americans on campus that collected information on their experiences.
With this variation in mind, the group plans to propose steps that can be taken to improve, across the board, life on the hill for Hamilton's Asian and Asian-American students. For this, they will also consult alumni and faculty, in order to design a thoughtful and thorough way forward. As with everything that will be coming out of this project, a plan for "what's next" is included under a designated tab on the website.
Anna Sakamoto is a graduate of Punahou School
Originally founded in 1793 as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy, Hamilton College offers an open curriculum that gives students the freedom to shape their own liberal arts education within a research- and writing-intensive framework. Hamilton enrolls 1,850 students from 49 states and 49 countries. Additional information about the college can be found at www.hamilton.edu.
###
Media Attachments
Anna Sakamoto
Hamilton College
Holly Foster, 315-859-4068, hfoster@hamilton.eduShare this Story
Recent News
- Plainsboro resident Adrienne Thayaparan awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain
- Seymour resident Ariana (Ari) Wheeler awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Bulgaria
- Nyack resident Hana Namkung awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Taiwan
- Fort Plain resident Quinn Jones awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Spain
- Boise resident, Hamilton College graduate Abigail Moone awarded college's $30K Bristol Fellowship
- Ho Ho Kus resident, Hamilton College graduate Charlie Ratner awarded college's $30K Bristol Fellowship
- Iowa City resident, Hamilton College grad Salwa Sidahmed to Embark on Watson Fellowship Travel
- Mount Sinai Resident Earns Most Prestigious Award for Seniors from Hamilton College
- Acton Resident Andy Jian Modeling Ecosystems With Mathematical Equations in Summer Research Project
- Verona Resident Philip Chivily Researching Black Catholics in Antebellum America