Description:
This is an interview with Dr. Victor Jew, an Asian American graduate from UW–Madison, where he discusses his experiences as a student at UW. The first part of the interview covers Jew’s experience on deciding to come to UW, specifically his concerns about Wisconsin coming from a more racially diverse area. The second part considers how Jew attempted to find community at UW and meet other Asian American students. The third part is a discussion about how the Minority Coalition impacted Jew and its importance for students of color at UW more broadly.
Audio File:
Click Here to listen to segment one (2 mins).
Click Here to listen to segment two (6 mins).
Click Here to listen to segment three (6 mins).
Click Here to listen to all three segments (12 mins).
Click Here to view the interview transcript.
Discussion Questions:
What does this oral history reveal about being a member of both the UW and larger Madison community?
How does this oral history connect with broader histories of discrimination and resistance in both higher education and the United States?
What are the advantages and limitations of using oral histories? What challenges arise when selecting participants, generating questions, and sharing only certain segments of people’s stories?
What challenges did Victor first encounter when he arrived in Madison and how did he attempt to find community?
Why was the Minority Coalition so important socially and politically for students of color on campus?