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EASTWESTPLAYERS U CI\, O;\IE leE MAY 7-JUNE 7, 2009
TIM DANG, PROOUClNG ~RTISIIC DIRECTOR • Performance Run May 14-Jun7, Wed-Sat at apm, Sun at 2pm; $50 Orchesl/a, $4~BaIc~
• lIett G9neralion COlD aily lIiJht Wed, May 20 at 7pm. Free Ima, Soda, Beer! li'~ ' $1 Opportunity Df8WlDg TIckets.
PRruTS • Student RushTickets are available 30 minullls prior to curtain ofany regular performa . for $20 Wit~ validstudent I.D..

WWW. EastWe tPla (213) 625-7000

"
David Henry Hwang TheatrE! at the
120 Judge John Aiso Street in the I.illlllllmilcvil
BAMBOO OFFSHOOT
VOLUME XVI I ISSUE 5 i
APRIL 2009
EDITOR'S NOTE I DAVID YI
EDITORIAL STAFF I don't know whether to laugh or cry. It's over, it's
Joyce Chen done.
Publisher And like that--snap! boom! bam!--life hits me,
much like aJoan Didion essay, slowly unraveling reality
Dominique Fong in a surreptitiously brusque fashiop.
Publisher I've imagined this day for so long, the day that I'd
be free from the entrapment of essays, unfettered from
DavidYi the chains of midterms or finals, free of any campus
Editor in Chief responsibilities, finally able to attain one of my lifelong
goals-- moving to New York--and forget all about col­
Elizabeth Deng lege.
Managing Editor All I wanted was to be finished. Grade-approved.
Hand me that diploma, USC, and let me get the hell out
Sharon Ren of here!
Publicity But it's ironic how this mindset completely goes to
kaput once the reality of graduating sets in. I realize that
David Lau college was indeed, as trite as it sounds, the recipe for
Art Editor success.
Four years have been a blink of an eye and I real­
Joshua Sy ize that too often, I had forgotten to open them long
Joyce Chell and David Yi, crusaders of c!range, arc leaving
Photo Editor enough to witness how beautiful life was. I came to their posts at Bamboo for a /lew life ill New York
USC as a wide-eyed freshman from Colorado Springs,
Sophia Jiang, Amanda Chiu CO, excited to learn. As a broadcast journalism major, for discovering oneself and getting to know and
Business Managers I desired nothing more than to become the first Asian understand who and what you were and are.
American male in entertainment news, to be the male And this is where I say farewell and good
CONTRIBUTORS equivalent to Suchin Pak, if you will. luck to my fellow seniors, Class of2009. I send
Melanie Casabar But when life threw limes instead of expected lem­ you good wishes and ask that you, too, reflect on
Andrea Chin ons far too many times, I had become jaded. who you are, especially in this economic situation.
KevinChoi Now in retrospect, two weeks before graduation, Though we are heading into a dark, uncertain fu­
Teresa Chung with a laughable GPA and scores that even Bill and Ted ture, I have complete confidence in our generation
Daphne Ho would scolf at, I sit here writing in a small corner in and know that we will make our future.
Sophia Kang Doheny, undefeated. I hear the sounds of change made from our
Catherine Kwan Because I realize that college was not solely based generation. 1heyreverberate and echo. They
Alyson Owyang on scores, or tests, or attending classes. College was move, they shake. They are unabashed and uncom­
Nimisha Thakore about learning. Learning in every aspect whether it be a promising. This is the sound of our class, of2009.
Johnson Wang new drinking game, a stranger's foreign name, or finding Sin (crel)~
a new Korean barbecue jOint, the four years were meant David Yi, Editor in Chief
Bamboo Olfshoot is an Asian
Pacific American student
PUBLISHER'S N OTE I DOMINIQUE FONG
publication at USc. It is inde­
I hate saying goodbye. I'm not really good with the sayonara kisses and hugs after
pendently run by students on
graduation. Perhaps that is a little cruel. But I want to focus on what's next, what's new,
campus and provides a sound­
what's fresh. May is officially, Asian Pacific Heritage Month. Flip to our events page
ing board for APA voices.
on page 4 to get your butt olf campus and explore some of the many ways you can
celebrate L.A.'s diverse Asian 'communities.

April 2009 I BAMBOO OFFSH OOT I 3

 Undiscovered Chinatown Tour
Visitors are led on an off-the-beaten­
track tour of Chinatown's cultural
. and historical gems. Enjoy the best
bargains and unique shops! May 2.
1O:30AM - 1PM. Tickets $20. At
Chinatown) downtowll. 213-680-0243
or chinatow1l1a.com.
20th Annoal Pacific Islander
Festival
With traditional art presentations,
stage performances, and ethnic food,
this event recognizing Polynesian,
Micronesian and Melanesian com­
munities will be sure to impress! May
2,3. lOAM - 5PM. Free admission
and parking. At Harbor Regional
Park) 2580 Vermont Ave.) Wilmington)
Harbor City. 714-968-1785 or 310­
293-2136.
Ten to Life
The Lodestone Theatre Ensemble
will be performing Ten to Life, a play
that includes four original, twisted
acts performed by four Lodestone
veterans. 1his production will
celeb rat Lodestone's 10th anniver­
sary while promoting an enhanced
awareness ofAsian Pacific American
identity. May 2 through June 7.
2PM & 8PM. 'ickets $12 - $16.
At GT e Burbank) l 111-B West Olive
Ave.) Burbank. 323-993-7245 or lode­
stonetheatre.org.
Ho'opunipuni:
The Myth of tatehood
This year marks Hawai'i's 50th anni­
versary of statehood, an issue that has
been highly controversial and contin­
ues to be challenged by many Native
Hawaiians. Visual Communications
will be featuring short videos that
4 I BAMBOO OFFSHOOT I APRIL 2009
asian pacific islander
herit e month
elebrate your identity! May is Asian Pacific Heri­
C tage Month. From fortune cookies to railroad
construction, Asian Pacific Americans have made \
numerous contributions to American history and culture.
To recognize their impact, PresidentJimmy Carter signed a
J oint Resolution in 1978 that designated the first 10 days of
Mayas Asian Pacific Heritage Week.
May signifies the arrival ofthe first Japanese immigrants to
the United States on May 7, 1843. It also m arks the anni­
versary ofthe completion ofthe transcontinental railroad
on May 10, 1869, which involved a majority of Chinese im­
migrants. This year's theme, ((Leadership to Meet the Chal­
lenges of a Changing World;' reflects the powerful shifts in
global business and domestic politics, as well as the efforts
ofAsian Americans to maintain stability and unity duri g
these changes.
-- by DAPHNE HO
call attention to this issue and revisit the event will screen a wide range of
Hawai'i's history. A panel discus­ films, including comedies, documen­
sion will follow to analyze Hawai'i's taries, and dramas such as the Oscar­
complex relationship with the United winning film, Departure. April 30
States. May 4. 6PM, reception. 7PM, through May 7. Ticket prices and times
showtime. Free admission. At the vary. Visit vconline.orgfor more informa­
National Center for the Preservation of tion.
Democrac}'J 111 N. Central Ave.) Little Asian Pacific lleritage Month
Tokyo, downtown. 213-680-4462 or Celebration at the LA Zoo
vconline.org. Enjoy traditional music, cultural crafts,
dance performances, and of course,
Asian Pacific Film Festival animal shows. May 16 & 17. lOAM
The Asian Pacific Film Festival returns - 5PM. Tickets $12. At the Los Angeles
for the weeklong celebration of Asian Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Dr.)
Pacific movies in the U.S. and abroad. Los Angeles. 323-644-4200 or lazoo.org.
 Artist David Lau's fierce Trojan version of the c over art for

I LEAP Kanye West's album, "Graduation. " We salute all USC

graduates for all their hard work and w ish th em g ood luck.

Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra

The Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra celebrates its .
30th anniversary season in addition to Maestro Heiichiro
Ohyama's 25th year a~ music director and conductor. The Sear(h to Involve Pili pin 0 Americans
program will present the world premiere of Gordon Chin's . ktvites you to \tOWNTEER at the
T4!lTlpie Gat~\Nay Youth &. Community Cent~r
concerto for cello and chamber ensemble with interna­ In Jflstori( Ffl ip itj;Qtown near Downtown Los Atlgeles
.. 12<l1) WestT¢rript~ Street
tionally acclaimed cellist, Felix Fan. The new work will L~Angeles, CA 90026-4122
debut to raise awareness for the 2009 Asian Pacific Heri­
For. more information:

tage Month. May 21. 7:30 PM. Tickets $25. At The Broad (;a:n (213}382-1819. Fax (213)3-82-1445

Stage, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 artaiJ' 1hfo@esipa.org • Website· www.eswit~or9

YOUTH. FAMILY • CQMMUNITV

11 th St., Santa Monica. 310-434-3200 or shco.org.

April 2009 I BAMBOO OFFSHOOT I 5


ave you heard of Grai? No, it's not a typo for the
H dull, somber color straddling the fence between
black and white. It's a fashion line by Maya Yogev.
Yogev is a long-time Los Angeleno who knew since
she was a child that she wanted to make her own clothes.
Fortunately} her parents supported her decision and gave
her freedom to pursue her dreams.
She does recall} though} that her father tried to steer
her towards business when college admissions rolled
around. Little did he know that his daughter would eventu­
ally own her own fashion busll ess!
Yogev graduated in 2002 with a degree in fashion from
Otis College ofArt & Design. J ust a week after gradua­
tion} she went to Paris to work with prominent fashion
designer Rick Owens. Yogev describes her experience as
surreal, learning a new language in one of the most beauti­
ful cities in the world while being mentored by a deSigner
whom she had admired fo r so long. Two years later} Yogev
returned to Los Angeles to work on various collaborations
with designer Dr. Romanelli.
It was not long before Yogev set her sights on creat­
ing her own line. When asked how she came to call the
line Grai, Yogev confesses that the name started as a joke.
She and fellow mentor and friend, Mike Gonzales (of
Mike&Chris) were out on the fire escape on a dreary
LA day} trying to quickly decide upon a name. Gonzales
jokingly suggested gray because the weather was sort of
6 I BA MBO O O FFSH O OT i APRIL 2009
BY SO PHIA KANG
PHOTOS COU RTESY OF MAYA YOGEY
gloomy, a suggestion that Yogev decided that was perfect.
Just a few days later they agreed on Grai.
In 2006, Yogev added} "Grai was born from the con­
cept of creating the quintessential coat and jacket:'
She currently has showrooms in both Los Angeles and
New York. Yogev shows no sign of stopping now that she's
fulfilled her goal of creating the essentia11eather jacket. She
just launched a men's line and eventually plans to expand
to different divisions such as "baby grai:'
What inspires Yogev's work is that she loves what she
does. Surprisingly, she said that creative inspiration is not
the hardest challenge but running the business aspect.
She single-handedly runs Grai and is still learning about
the business aspect of fashion. She explains} "It's not all
feathers and rhinestones and hot glue gun - know what I
mean?" so she must have some natural business savvy.
What sets Grai apart from other lines? Yogev's deSigns
have gained a cult following among celebrities and have
been worn in the season finale of Samantha Who? Perhaps
the appeal of her clothes lies in how she uses fabric to
gracefully hug the body. Her leather jackets are cropped
biker-style to exude just the right amount of edginess. Her
relaxed fashion forward cuts are both casually u nd one and
futuristic chic.
Head over to Grai to break the gloom of these windy
April days.
 seni o rRE LECTIONS
PASSING THE TORCH ONTO THE NEXT GENERATION, MELANIE

CASABAR AND TROY PHI INSPIRE OTHERS TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS.

ow that I'm a senior, nostalgia regularly kicks in at the

N oddest mOf!1ents. Many of these great memories hap­
pened here at usc. It's hard to believe that in a few short weeks I
will become a usc graduate.
Just three years previously, I was in the same transitional mo­
ment as a high school senior with a big decision to make. Where
was I going to end up? As hard as it is for me to believe now,
usc was not my top college choice, let alone a choice to begin
with. I remember the day I decided to 'try' applying to USC, even
though I didn't seriously plan to attend.
What triggered that specific memory was an event I attended
on March 28, 2009. USC Troy Philippines, a club promoting
Pilipino culture, hosted its first annual Youth Conference. The
purpose of the event was to address barriers high school students
perceive about attending a private school such as usc. Though
Asian/Pacific Islanders comprise about a quarter of USC's under­
graduate population, Filipinos make up only 0.8 percent.
What's stopping us?
Troy Philippines proudly launched their first high school
outreach program after a year's worth of preparation. More than
SO students of different ethnicities from the surrounding high
schools and attended. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the students walked
around campus, participated in various icebreakers, and attended
workshops focusing on financial aid and scholarships, the ap­
plication process, extracurricular activities and student life. One
workshop was led by Annalisa Emile, a social work professor
who taught uSC's first Filipino American Experience course. The
students had the opportunity to ask questions addressing their
concerns and interests while being persuaded to attend usc.
Mike Corpuz, the president of Troy Philippines, said, "With
fewer Filipinos matriculating at USC, we felt it was necessary.to
get this outreach program up and running. It was an honor, as
Fil-Ams and as Trojans, to educate the next generation about how in order to increase the number of students, espe­
possible it is to attend this great school. The first annual Troy cially within the APA community, attending private
Philippines Youth Conference (TPYC) is undoubtedly one of the universities or universities in general.
greatest highlights of our year:' I can look back on my college memories so
The event was an overall success, garnering positive feedback fondly because I know that I went to the right
from both high school students and club members. What made school for me. I'd hate to think that I could have
it so successful was the rapport that developed from students con­ missed out on such a great opportunity due to some
necting with fellow students on an intimate level. unfounded reason.
The Youth Conference demonstrates that more can be done
to lower barriers and to raise awareness about higher education

April 2009 1 BAM BOO OFFSHOOT 17

 , lJ only realized recently, after I've be~n here f~r four
-Vears, that I do just have this
arts that I can't get over... "
Catherine Ricafort doesn't sleep.
The 22-year-old senior simultaneously conquers sing­
ing, dancing, acting, and engineering.
Ricafort, who is ethnically more than half Filipina,
a quarter Chinese and a little Spanish, will graduate this
May with a degree in industrial systems engineering and a
minor in musical theatre.
"I chose USC because it had the best of both of what I
wanted, which was engineering and musical theatre;' she
said.
In her four years at USC, Ricafort has become a "triple
threat:" dancing, singing and acting, skills she's been hon­
ing since childhood.'An active member of the USC Reper­
tory Dance Company, she's snagged a choreography award
from the School ofTheatre for one of her pieces.
"I don't know if I'm going to do it again because I think
I'm too much of an engineer," she said of choreography. "I
need it to be perfect and I spend too much time on it!"
She serves as the Visual Performance Director for the
SoCal VoCals, a campus a cappella group she's been sing­
ing with since her freshman year. Recently, Ricafort has
begun leading the music at the Catholic Center for 10 p.m.
mass - what she calls "good 01' college time:'
When Ricafort entered USC as a freshman, she didn't
have anyone particular major in mind.
"My parents didn't push me to have a solid major. If!
wanted to study arts and stuff that would be fine, but I had
to have something to back myself up;' she said.
Ricafort declared her major as computer science, but
got "kind of bored with just coding" and switched to indus­
trial systems engineering. She hasn't looked back since.
"Engineering is just awesome," she enthused with a
smile. "It solves the world's problems!"
Ricafort seems to live two very distinct lives - perform­
er and engineer - that luckily balance each other out. Her
acting, singing and dancing is grounded by her involve­
ment in the merifresearchprogram at the Viterbi School
ofEngineering, where she investigates how to improve
runway safety at airports.
burning passIon for the
"It becomes a lot to handle at times," she admits. "Peo­
ple are like, 'How do you have a social life?' because I don't
have time for one. All my activities are my social life!"
Ricafort excels in each of the myriad activities she '
juggles. Case in point: at this year's "Absolute A Cappella"
competition, she won best female soloist for her rendition
of "Lady Marmalade:'
As for post-graduation plans, Ricafort will spend her
summer performing in the musical "Cats" in her home­
town, Thousand Oaks. Never the underachiever, she'll also
be interning with the business analyst team at DirecTV.
"So it's like engineering by day and performing at
night," she said. My mind immediately pictured a caped
crusader tackling crimes of mathematical inefficiencies
while belting "All That Jazz:'
Ricafort plans to spend a couple years pursuing the­
atre full-time while she works on her progressive master's
degree at USc. Eventually she wants to switch into a solid
engineering job. As a performer, she hopes to land a big
show, preferably her dream role ofMs. Saigon, in New York
or on a national tour.
"I only realized recently, after I've been here for four
years, that I do just have this burning passion for the arts
that I can't get over, and I kind of need to get it out of my
system," she said.
For someone as motivated and multitalented as Rica­
fort, engineering and performing arts provide the perfect
challenge.
"I like having definite rules and things to go by but also
haVing a little creativity," said Ricafort. '~t heart I'm not
just an artist - I'm also sort of a nerd!"
She encouraged incoming freshmen to try something
they've never considered before. Then, she paused and
shrugged, laughing off the question.
"Who knows ifI did it right! Who am I to give advice?"
she asked.
Maybe. But with such a long list of successes trailing
in her wake at USC, it's evident that somewhere along the
way, Catherine Ricafort did something right.
April 2009 I BAMBOO OFFSHOOT I 9
DOWNTOA

. ; ~

.... \--~ .
Ii,
" .,
Exclusive Nordstrom T-Shirts
Nordstrom partnered with designers Koi
Suwannagate and Anna Sui to produce
three limited edition T-shirts. They will
be sold online and at 15 nationwide
Nordstrom locations (including The
Grove at Farmer's Market) throughout
the month ofMay. All proceeds will
benefit the Organization of Chinese
Americans Scholarship Program.
--DaphneHo

QRffKSPEA BY ALYSON O WYANG

Particularly during the peak of rush, sorority girls and
fraternity guys can be seen roaming campus in hopes of
snagging a few new students to their pledge classes. At first
glance, the matching sweatshirts and T-shirts can make
both the Asian and non-Asian Greek organizations look
quite similar. However, there's something a little deeper
distinguishing these young adults sporting oversized sun­
glasses and trendy tees.
Like other Greek organizations, Asian-interest Greek
organizations pride themselves on doing community ser­
vice, working at internships, and participating in a myriad
of other extracurricular activities. The Asian sororities
and fraternities encourage the pursuit of multiple other
interests in order to produce experienced reputable young
adults.
"I believe the members of Delta Phi Kappa are ambi­
tious, well-rounded, and respectable women. I cannot
think of a single active member who is only involved with
our organization; said Erin "Hi'iler' Morimoto, a senior
and the president of Delta Phi Kappa.
Battling against stereotypes and reputations of harsh
hazing traditions, Asian-interest Greek organizations are
trying to move away from conventional images ofAsians.
"We're honestly just a regular fraternity with Asians.
We don't dress up as dragons and celebrate Chinese New
Year. That's not USj that's CASA;' commented David Yoo, a
sophomore in Beta O mega Phi.
Contrary to som e popular belief, the Asian-interest
fraternities and sororities embrace women and men of all
ethnic backgrounds to join. The meshing of ethnic and

10 I BAMBOO OFFSHOOT I APRIL 2009

 ADAYI HE DAVID LAU CAPTURES THE HECTIC( & THRI ~UN G'l}
PACE OF COLLEGE.
LFEO TROY
GREEK I CONT. FROM PAGE 10
cultural backgrounds is just one ingredient that adds to
the close-knit ties in these organizations.
"As an Asian-interest fraternity, we pride ourselves on
being culturally and ethnically diverse. We resemble the
epitome of the American melting pot, having no preju­
dice toward race or culture. It is quite a beautiful sight
to see when you have so many different typ es of people
working together to build a lifetime of brotherhood;' said
Vincent Cheng, a junior and the president oEB ta Omega
Phi.
With membership typically ranging from 30 to 40
students, the Asian Greek sororities and fraternities benefit
from efforts to get to know one another on various differ­
ent levels. The significantly fewer number of members· is
a distinct difference that places Asian Greek organizations
apart from other non-Asian Greek organizations.
Asian Greek organizations don't necessarily focus
on shared Asian culture; they are shaped by individual
members' unique personalities, experiences, and interests.
Asian-interest Greek life encourages the development of
well-rounded young adults who gain experience from jobs,
internships, clubs, and whatever else interests them.
April 2009 I BAMBOO OFFSHOOT III
~'THE NEW FACE OF THE
CAM PU S LE FT . CAM PUS
PROGRESS HAS PROVIDED
PROGRESSIVE STUDENTS
WITH TOOLS THEY'VE NEVER
HAD BE FORE."
- THE NATION

"A SOCLALlST SMEAR GROUP. H

- YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNO,.\TION

FIND OUT
THE FUSS