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Event to examine lives affected by Vietnam War

By Margaret Wade '08
April 29, 2008

On April 30 -- 33 years to the day since U.S. forces withdrew from the Vietnam War -- St. Olaf will host an event to look at how that conflict changed the lives of people around the world. Community activist and former refugee immigrant Yee Chang '93 and Northfield Human Rights Commission Vice Chair Judy Dirks will discuss the significance of the anniversary.

The discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Holland Hall 501. The event is free and open to the public. Hmong Culture Outreach, a student organization on campus, is organizing the event as part of St. Olaf's focus on "Civic Engagement and the Liberal Arts."

Students in Professor Katherine Tegtmeyer Pak's Asian Studies seminar course, titled "Human Rights in Asian Context," will present their research at the event. The course is largely driven by one question: "Who speaks to human rights in East Asia?" The students have examined a variety of case studies presented through memoirs, films, reports and multidisciplinary analyses to understand ethical perspectives.

"My students will report on their research in progress about how Vietnam War events continue to shape the lives of Hmong people in Southeast Asia," Tegtmeyer Pak says. "They've taken the lead in creating this event. It is a pleasure to work at a college where good, motivated students are able to make connections between their classroom studies and contemporary politics."

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.