An Indiana Historical Society traveling exhibit, “Be Heard: Asian Experiences In Indiana,” is on display now at the Shake Learning Resource Center.
Through Oct. 9, students can explore the the state of Indiana through the eyes and experiences of those from Asian countries.
“Be Heard: Asian Experiences in Indiana” allows visitors to get a deeper sense of what it’s like being Asian and living in Indiana through a variety of recorded interviews. Highlighted in the exhibit is also a section that focuses on the Japanese Internment Camps during World War II. The United States forcibly relocated and incarcerated about 120,000 people of Japanese descent in ten concentration camps operated by the War Relocation Authority, mostly in the western interior of the country. About two-thirds were U.S. citizens.
The exhibit also includes information about immigration laws of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that restricted
entry into the U.S. from most Asian Countries.
The exhibit is an extension of the IHS’s ongoing initiative to start a conversation with the Asian community in Indiana to collect and preserve their heritage.
“Thanks to the Lily Endowment, we were able to host the event here on campus,” said Director of Library Services Charla Gilbert. “To me this is a great way of letting
voices be heard and shining a light for the Asian Community.”
Since VU boasts an extensive community of students from various Asian countries, library officials thought it an ideal exhibit and experience to make available for the entire student body.
“Part of it was inspired by the history on campus and the many students that come over to continue their education,” Gilbert said. “It’s a nice tie in to what we’ve been doing for our international students.”
Getting student feedback on the exhibit is essential for the university because it shows that students are engaged and open to deeper conversations about race and hardship from a different perspective, she added.
“Seeing life through the lens of other people’s eyes is very important. By having the students come and see the exhibit, it gives us feedback for what exhibit
we could potentially do next.” she said.
The exhibit will be open to the public during normal hours at the library: 7:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday. For more Information or to plan your visit, call 812-888-4165 or visit the library’s website at https://vinu.libguides.com/shakelibrary/BeHeard.
