The Real SASA
During my trip to LA over the MLK break, I attended a SASA conference on Saturday and Sunday. Since I am not of South Asian (SA) descent, I felt some what uncomfortable at the event. Why? Because only like 5 out of a couple thousands of attendants did not come from SA descent.
The reason(s) why I attended: I had no plans over that weekend and I had to
find something…so the SASA event continently occurred at this time. I
had planned going to this event on the last minute.
In addition, maybe to get a glimpse of Parminder since she won an award for
outstanding actor. However, Parminder did not attend the formal awards dinner
in order to
accept her award.
To be completely honest, I am glad she did not attend. The SASA event was not
well organized and lots of drunken “Desis” especially at the after
parties (a specialty of a SASA/ISU conference).
Thanks to a colleague of mine, I received this letter about the SASA event.
I agree completely with what this student wrote. I could not have written it
any
better.
So…Without further a do:
The REAL SASA 2005 by an Indian Student at UCLA
The much anticipated, but highly disappointing South Asian Students’ Alliance
(SASA) was held in Los Angeles on January 13-17, 2005. SASA was basically a weekend
of nonstop partying as there were four straight days of partying at a different
club each day. During Friday and Saturday, there were workshops presented, ranging
from “Indian Dating and Mating” to “Masala Workout.” Bowtie
wearing, woman loving Raj Bhakta from “The Apprentice” and greatly
appreciated Vijay Uncle (with 800 friends on Friendster) were speakers. The Culture
Show was held on Saturday with rappers, DJs, and participants from all over the
country being judged by “celebrities.”
Overall, I feel SASA was a waste of money and time. I would have had more fun
in my dorm writing my ethnography paper. At least I would not have felt cheated.
I strongly believe that SASA exploits students, organizations, and volunteers.
And I am not just talking about this particular SASA, but also many of the
previous conventions. Our host, UCLA ISU, whose officers and members tirelessly
volunteered
and helped organize events under SASA for practically no cost. Last year, SASA
was held at Houston, Texas. Texas A&M provided countless volunteer hours – getting
speakers and manning all the events – and were only given a measly $2500
for their work.
Now specifically speaking about this convention, I have concerns about the
future SASAs. I have heard many complaints about what SASA has done and will
not attend
another one in my life. This SASA was falsely advertised on all levels. First,
the SASA people tell everyone that the only way to attend every party was to
be registered or else they will not let you in. From the website, “Individual
tickets for these 3 S.A.S.A. after-parties will not be available; you must register
for the conference to be admitted. If you don't register, you won't get in. Period.” After
paying over $110, so many SASA registrants were denied entry into the Friday
party. Fights did break out in the lines because people were upset they could
not get into the club they were guaranteed to get into and also security violently
pushed everyone back. The security guards also unnecessarily mased women and
men that were trying to get into the club. There was no reimbursement or compensation
given out to anyone that did not get in or to those that were mased. Later, the
club was accepting outside people into the club if they paid at the door. Next,
they say that the only way we can get a transportation band (that picks and drops
us off from the parties) was if we were registered in the “Official Hotel” Grand
Wilshire. However, on the first day of registration, they were selling these
transportation bands to those not registered in the hotel. SASA also clearly
knew that this hotel was undergoing serious strikes from the underpaid workers
and yet they still chose it as the sponsored hotel.
There were many other ways that the organizers working for SASA were “shady” like
sending out emails telling us of which famous celebrities would be coming to
SASA to speak, including the Indian star from “Bend It Like Beckham.” They
also never told us the only way we would be able to see most of the speakers
including Gurinder Chadha, Vinod Dham, etc. was to pay and attend the Formal
Awards Dinner.
SASA was not at all what I expected or hoped to get out of it, so I know
that by next year I will make sure that potential convention goers understand
how
corrupt and conniving SASA is.
