The Asian Pacific American Caucus (APAC), a related group of APSA, was established in 2000 to promote research on Asian Pacific American (APA) politics and address concerns of APA students and scholars in the profession. Currently, the group has about 150 members, who are connected by e-mail listserve. APAC was a driving force for the publication of the PS symposium on APA politics in September 2001, and the creation of the APSA Committee on the Status of Asian Pacific Americans in the Profession in 2003. APAC works closely with the status committee, although the latter functions as an official APSA committee and a separate entity.

At the 2004 Annual Meeting in Chicago, APAC hosted three panels, including one co-sponsored by the APA status committee and another co-sponsored by the Race, Ethnicity, and Politics section. APAC and the status committee held a reception together, drawing guests from not only political scientists but also community leaders in the Chicago area. Our most valuable guest of the night, however, was incoming APSA President Margaret Levi (left), who visited us when APAC Co-Presidents Daphne Kwok (center) and James Lai (right) were speaking.

APAC welcomes anybody interested in APA politics and issues, in particular graduate students, including those who are not Asian Americans. APAC hosts a few panels at Annual Meetings independent of organized sections, and invites your attendance in Washington D.C. this summer and in panels at future Annual Meetings.

To become a member and join the APAC mailing list, e-mail Andy Aoki <aoki@augsberg.edu> at Augsburg College. There is no membership fee. Please visit APAC's web site: http://www.apa-politics.org, which archives a directory of scholars in the field, a reading list of Asian American politics and history, working papers and other academic information (including auxiliary tables for “Political Science Scholarship on Asian Pacific Americans” in the July 2004 issue of PS). APAC welcomes your participation and input as growing attention is given to APA issues in the profession (APSA's Minority Identification Project now includes Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) and in the community (a massive voter registration drive was conducted for new APA citizens last year).

APSA President Margaret Levi (left), with Daphne Kwok and James Lai, co-presidents of the Asian Pacific American Caucus (an APSA Related Group), at the reception sponsored by APAC and the Committee on the Status of Asian Pacific Americans in the Profession, Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, September 3, 2004.