Alumni Profile: John Liu '88 breaks ethnic barriers as a front-running Asian American candidate for the New York City Council.

Breaking ethnic barriers in the world of New York City politics

John Liu '88, a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has received national media attention as a candidate in this year's race for New York City Council. An article in the Los Angeles Times hailed Liu as a front-runner, a groundbreaking achievement in light of the fact that no Asian American has ever served on the New York City Council.

Liu's campaign received a tremendous boost in May with the formal endorsement of the Democratic Party.

Following are a few of Liu's responses to questions about the race, his candidacy and his goals.

Q. It is surprising that no Asian American has ever served on the New York City Council before now. How can that be, in a city with such a long-established Asian American population?

A. Part of it is, it takes new immigrants a generation or two to get up to speed on how to take part in our system of democracy. The other is that it's always been hard to beat incumbents. The new term limits kicking in this year afford the opportunity for groups who haven't had representation to gain seats on city council.

Q. Do you believe Asian American involvement in government and politics in this country is a growing trend?

A. Yes, absolutely. We've made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go. For the first time we have two Asian Americans in the President's cabinet: Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. Gary Locke, governor of the state of Washington, is the first Asian American governor to serve on the mainland.

Q. The New York City Council's new term-limit laws are forcing out 36 of the 51 members. How this is opening the door for candidates of color, and what impact do you foresee this as having on New York City?

A.The people who are running are extremely qualified. I know a lot of the candidates who are likely to be elected, and they're a pretty impressive bunch. There will be a learning curve, but they'll learn the ropes very quickly. Some people predict wholesale chaos; I believe that the lack of continuity will have a small impact and will be more than made up for in new energy and new ideas.

Over the years we've always heard about things that can't be done or changed: "We've tried it and it won't work." You'll hear that sentence less with the council of 2002. We'll bring a new perspective that's healthy for government. It's an exciting time to be running.

Q. Is there anything about this race that has surprised you?

A. No, it's pretty predictable. It's my second time around: I ran in '97 against the incumbent, Julia Harrison. Five people were running in the Democratic primary; Julia came in first, I came in second. I learned the ropes then. This campaign is entirely on track. We had a four-year plan, plenty of time to grow a support base. It's working out very well.

Q. I understand the area that you are campaigning to represent -- Flushing, the 20th District -- is very diverse. Will you be able to represent the broad interests of the people who would become your constituency?

A. The district I wish to represent is very diverse -- Asian, Latino, African American, Jewish, Irish. I can represent them because the issues I'm talking about are important to everybody -- issues like the budget, land use, recycling, reduction of wastewater, protecting the environment.

My campaign supporters are very diverse as well. Granted, a large proportion of my campaign contributions are from Asian Americans. That is due to a pride factor and wish to finally gain somebody on city council who's Asian American. We're no different from any other immigrant group in that respect. Ethnic politics are inseparable from New York City politics.

Q. What has driven your interest in seeking this office, and what will your priorities be, should you be elected?

A. I want to give back something to the city of New York. I've been a long-time resident, very active locally as well as on city-wide ideas. I believe I can add a lot of value to the way the city is run.

One of my priorities is public schools. I want to get away from distractions such as charter schools and school vouchers. I think education is really in a crisis situation in New York City, and part of the problem is the distractions of trying newfangled ideas. We have to go back to a bread-and-butter approach.

Our schools are sorely lacking in basic supplies. We don't have up-to-date textbooks; we don't have enough paper. Our teacher shortage is already a real problem, and massive numbers of teachers are ready to retire. Many others are leaving for the suburbs. In a city where we spend $3 out of $10 on public schools, in addition to federal and state resources, it seems to me the money is not allocated properly. We spend $8,000 per student per year, and our kids don't have textbooks published after 1980; some are 1970s texts. They don't have access to the Internet, and that's not effectively preparing them for life in the 21st century. We have a shortage of school seats -- not enough schools. [We will be] short 60,000 in Queens in 2007. Big problem. I suspect too much money is going to the central board of education. If I'm elected, I will try to get at the heart of these problems.

Q. In what way, if any, did your education at Binghamton University prepare you for your career, encourage you to become so actively involved in your community or spur your interest in politics?

A.. My experiences at Binghamton University were formative. I consider the education I got as president of various student organizations, as well as executive vice president of the Student Association, part of my real education. I got my BA in mathematical physics, but when I say that the education I got from Binghamton University absolutely prepared me for this, I mean the entire environment of the University -- course load, activities and the encouragement of the exchange of ideas.

John Liu has remained involved with Binghamton University as an alumnus: He has participated in the Metro Career Fair 10 years. Thanks to John Choe '93, Liu's supporter and fellow Binghamton alumnus, for scheduling this interview and for sending photos.

Staff Profile: Parviz Morewedge, director, Global Publications

Walk into the offices of Global Publications in the basement of the library tower, and you'll find yourself in the middle of a bustling production facility. The main room is dominated by a huge oak pedestal table piled high with new book catalogs, where three students are preparing a mailing. Another student, seated at a computer behind them, designs the cover for a new title. In a smaller adjacent room, two more students sit at a computer making editors' corrections to the proofs of an ancient Chinese text.

The whirring of high-speed copiers in another room resonates throughout the suite, accompanied by the shuffling of papers, click of keyboard strokes and buzzing of the fax machine. This business-like atmosphere is softened by the Oriental carpets on the floors, graceful vases perched atop bookshelves and walls adorned with porcelain and prints of artwork from around the world. In the midst of it all is the glass-enclosed office where Director Parviz Morewedge talks on the phone at a desk stacked with books and papers, while another student squeezes past him to fax information to a client.

Staffed primarily by student interns who work under the direction of faculty from 12 different departments and research centers on campus, Global Publications emerged in 1992 under the leadership of Morewedge, who inherited a number of titles formerly published by the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CEMERS). Now, the press also coordinates the publication and distribution of scholarly texts and journals for the Institute of Global Cultural Studies (IGCS), the Asian and Asian American Studies (AAAS), and several international learned societies and academic institutions independent of Binghamton University.

This year, the press added four new series in Judaic and religious studies to its roster and became "one of the world’s principal media for the publication of scholarship on Judaism," in the words of Jacob Neusner, general editor for the series.

"While Binghamton University is growing in other areas -- the sciences, engineering, management, athletics -- Global Publications is playing a major role as an internationally recognized center of organized research in humanities and global studies," said Morewedge. "Members of Global Publications feel privileged to serve Binghamton University and these international scholarly pursuits."

During the academic year 2000-01, Global Publications published more than 120 books and nine biannual scholarly journals, including about 60 titles in Judaic studies. Many texts are bilingual reprints that include English translations of ancient classics from cultures around the world, including Arabic, Persian, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chinese, Africana Sanskrit, Italian and Hispanic texts. In fact, says Morewedge, "Binghamton University is emerging as a center for bilingual classics."

Several of these publications have noteworthy sponsors. "The Holy See in Rome sponsors the publication of several Latin and Greek texts," said Morewedge. "The Arabic and Persian bilingual texts are sponsored by the Church of Latter Day Saints." In May, Morewedge traveled to Egypt to speak at a celebration of several newly published bilingual texts at the invitation of the Church of Latter Day Saints. He has also officiated at similar ceremonies at the British Museum in London, the United Nations and at the Jordanian embassy.

Morewedge's curriculum vitae reveals a professorial career at the nation's most prestigious universities that spans more than 30 years. He is the executive secretary and treasurer of the Society for the Study of Islamic Philosophy and Science; he has published 10 books, 40 articles, essays and reviews; and he has organized 20 international conferences on Greek, Jewish, Christian and Islamic philosophical traditions. He serves on the board of the International Society for Neoplatonic Studies and also on the editorial boards of several scholarly series, including the position of editor-in-chief of the Islamic Translation Series.

Don't ask Morewedge when he sleeps. "I work all the time; I'm up at all hours," he said, smiling and gesturing broadly through the air. "Working just gives me more energy to work--don't you find that's so?"

Global Publications captures international spotlight

The international news network catapulted Parviz Morewedge and Global Publications into the spotlight in 1997 when Morewedge announced the publication of Hope and Challenge: The Iranian President Speaks, a collection of essays by then newly elected President Mohammad Khatami. The book marked the first time that the views of the new, politically moderate president of Iran were compiled and published in English. At the time, Morewedge was interviewed by The New York Times, Time magazine, Newsweek, C-SPAN, Reuters News Service, the Financial Times of London, the BBC and National Public Radio.

In an August 1997 interview for Inside Binghamton University, Morewedge, whose ties in the Middle East made it possible for him to secure the Khatami manuscripts, said he sees the publishing of the book as part of the sacred task of academics.

"We neither praise nor blame, but we have a duty to inform people about what is new in the world and in the thoughts of the leaders of the world," he said. "There are 2 billion people in China, 2 billion in India and 1.5 billion Muslims. Our children will have to deal with the reality of the non-Western world. They can deal through war in which they could be killed, or, even worse, become murderers. Or they can learn cooperation.

"Cooperation cannot come unless the citizens are educated and wise," he said.

Since then, Global Publications has published several additional collections of writings by Mohammed Khatami, including Islam, Liberty and Development (1998), which is used as a textbook at 10 universities, including Columbia, Colgate, the Naval War College, Georgetown and UCLA.