Voices of Utah student-journalists focused on Asian Americans in Utah during spring semester 2022.

Their reporting was inspired and informed by the anti-Asian rhetoric and violence that began after the coronavirus was identified in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Once U.S. politicians began calling COVID-19 the “China virus” and “China flu” and disinformation spread via some media channels, racist acts and violence escalated.

According to an April 2020 Center for Public Integrity/Ipsos poll, about 3 in 10 Americans blamed China or Chinese people for the pandemic. Human Rights Watch in May 2020 urged government leaders to “take urgent steps to prevent racist and xenophobic violence and discrimination linked” to the pandemic. The investigative organization also called on leaders to prosecute racial attacks against Asians and people of Asian descent.

The House and Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in early 2021, which was signed by President Biden. The bill created a position within the Department of Justice to review and expedite processing of reports of hate crimes against Asians and Asian Americans. Some organizations are saying the bill does not go far enough to protect people against the rise in targeted attacks. Both the FBI and a coalition tracking racism and discrimination against Asian Americans have reported significant upticks in hate-crime incidents.

Organizations including the University of Utah have issued statements expressing support of — and solidarity with — the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

With this context, the Voices of Utah team of student-journalists invites you to read the wide-ranging stories published on the site. Topics include: diversity efforts in the College of Nursing; action to combat a racist incident at the Japanese Peace Garden; worship at the Wat Dhammagunaram temple in Layton; a woman-owned tattoo shop; Asian Americans and fashion; a profile of the activist-educator Floyd Mori; UMFA’s acquisition of artwork by Chiura Obata; Mushin Self Defense and its culture of care and empowerment; and the Kakehashi Project, a cultural exchange program that builds bridges between Japan and the U.S.

Student-journalists were: Asia Bown; India Bown; Leyre Casarin; Carlene Coombs; Kristan Ehorn; Andre Montoya; Devin Oldroyd; Alexis Perno; Rose Shimberg; Kristine C. Weller; Kenzie Wilkinson; Brooke Williams; Jiyoon Yu. Click on the names to find links to all their stories. Articles also can be located by clicking on a Tag or selecting a topic such as Education from the Categories box.

Fall 2010, Spring 2010

Back row, from left: Dana Igo, Lauren Carter, Rich Fahey, Professor Kimberley Mangun, and Chloe Nguyen. Front row, from left: Kendra Wilmarth, Karen Holt Bennion, Shaantai Leary, and Tauna Lynne Price. Photo by Hilary Utley.

Students covered Asian Americans in Utah during fall semester 2010. Their wide-ranging stories included features about people, restaurants and a proposed Chinatown in South Salt Lake; a piece about Chinese-language instruction in Utah high schools; a story about gay bullying; and a feature about the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple.

Student-journalists were: Karen Holt Bennion; Lauren Carter; Rich Fahey; Dana Igo; Shaantai Leary; Chloe Nguyen; Tauna Lynne Price; and Kendra Wilmarth.

Find links to their stories and read their blogs and bios by clicking on a name above, or by selecting Blogs & Bios from the drop-down box, at left. Stories also can be located by clicking on a Tag or selecting a topic such as Education from the Categories box.

Multimedia storytelling:

• Watch Jerry Rapier direct a play reading for the 2010-2011 season of Plan-B Theatre Co.
• Catch a glimpse of Jim Groethe teaching Chinese at Bingham High School
• Read the proposal plan for South Salt Lake City’s new Chinatown
• Watch a mini-documentary about the former Japantown in Ogden
• See Kenshin Taiko in performance at Utah Valley University

STUDENTS ALSO COVERED Asian Americans in Utah during spring semester 2010. Their stories included a profile of a Chinese woman who was persecuted because she practices Falun Gong; a piece about the Global Artisans project; and an article about the annual Festival of Colors, or Holi Festival.

Student-journalists were: Keith R. Araneo-Yowell, Andreas Rivera, and Emily Rodriguez-Vargas.

Find links to their stories and read their blogs and bios by clicking on a name above, or by selecting Blogs & Bios from the drop-down box, at left. Stories also can be located by clicking on a Tag or selecting a topic such as Education from the Categories box.

Multimedia storytelling:

• Watch Asian Students in Utah, a mini-documentary by Andreas Rivera and Emily Rodriguez-Vargas
• Virtually attend the 2010 Festival of Colors