Two Ethnic Groups Create Guidebooks to Help First-Years Adjust to Harvard Life

Asian-American and African-American first-years will have a little extra help adjusting to Harvard life, thanks to guidebooks being published this week and next fall by two student organizations.

The "Handbook to Asian-American Life at Harvard," written by members of the Asian American Association (AAA), will be mailed sometime next week to all Asian-American first-years and AAA members. The Black Students' Association (BSA) will be releasing a similar guide next fall to all students.

AAA's guide contains a directory of resources and community organizations and information about Asian-American student groups, Asian language courses and Asian restaurants in the area.

The guide will be helpful to all Asian-American students, though it is particularly aimed at first-year students, who have some special concerns and often find adjusting to Harvard "a little bewildering," said AAA Co-President Sharon W. Gi '98.

The AAA book's extensive restaurant guide should supplement the Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard, which, for example, doesn't include Ta-Sheng, widely considered one of the best Chinese restaurants in Harvard Square, Gi said.

About 1,500 copies of the AAA handbook will be mailed free of charge. It is funded by advertising revenue and a grant from the Harvard Foundation.

The guide was edited by Brian S. Im '98 and Jennifer 8. Lee '98-'99, who is a Crimson editor.

The Black Students Association guide, which is not yet titled, will be aimed primarily at black first-years offering advice on "little things which are not included in the Unofficial Guide," including tips on restaurants, barber shops, clubs and radio stations, according to BSA President Derrick N. Ashong '97.

It will contain information about black faculty members and student organizations and will also discuss the Department of Afro-American Studies and the program in African studies.

BSA's guide, edited by Dolyta B. Avant '99, is based on a smaller previous edition, which was discovered in the club's archives.

In order to expand and improve the guide, the current board decided to take a year to research and write the 1997 version.

AAA's previous guide dealt mainly with Asian-American campus groups and language courses. But it, too, was less comprehensive than the new edition.The Asian American Guide to Harvard

It will contain information about black faculty members and student organizations and will also discuss the Department of Afro-American Studies and the program in African studies.

BSA's guide, edited by Dolyta B. Avant '99, is based on a smaller previous edition, which was discovered in the club's archives.

In order to expand and improve the guide, the current board decided to take a year to research and write the 1997 version.

AAA's previous guide dealt mainly with Asian-American campus groups and language courses. But it, too, was less comprehensive than the new edition.The Asian American Guide to Harvard