Finding Belonging: South Asian Life at Princeton

Princeton’s undergraduate body includes many students of Asian heritage. 27.1% of students identify as Asian American. Students have formed cultural groups to share food, dance, and conversation. The South Asian Students Association was founded in 1986 and is open to students with varied backgrounds. Some students have chosen Princeton’s Bridge Year program and spent a year in India before starting classes; that experience has shaped how they talk about identity.

Campus life has been shaped by student clubs and university events. The Center for Global India convened a panel on March 2 and 3, 2023, which brought faculty, students, and community members together to discuss law and citizenship. While groups offer belonging, broader stereotypes persist outside campus; the model minority myth has been widely discussed in U.S. media and can make real pressures for Asian American students. Princeton has hosted talks and has published reports that show efforts to support diverse students. Therefore, students and staff continue to work on creating spaces where questions about cultural identity and emotional life can be discussed openly. Furthermore, student groups organize festivals where families are invited. These conversations have sometimes been difficult, but they have helped build understanding.