"I think it has a lot of basis in fact," saysDaniel H. Choi '94, editor of the Korean-Americanmagazine Yisei.

He has researched the question, he says, and"Asians tend to go into sciences," partiallybecause barriers of language and "glass ceilings"that keep minorities from advancing are seen asless prevalent in science fields.

But even as many Asian-American students rejectthe stereotypes others hold of them, some say theycontinue to face questions of self-definition.

These students say they feel they are in aunique societal position, caught between majorityculture and the consciousness of being a minority.

The perception is that Asian-Americans haveachieved economic success, which in America isequated with societal success, says Eunice Yoon'93, co-chair of the AAA political committee.

"Once you have achieved economic success, youdon't feel as compelled to assert yourself as aminority with minority needs," she says.

David H. Sohn '93, co-president of the KoreanStudent Association (KSA), says he sees peopleforced to make a choice between "being whitewashedand having to be a minority."

"What I'm afraid of is, the 'model minority'stereotype makes people think we're accepted bywhite America when perhaps we really aren't," hesays.

Closely tied to the question of being aminority in American society is the crisis somestudents say Asian-Americans face as members oftwo cultures.

Kim says that in his experience mostAsian-Americans at Harvard are first orsecond-generation immigrants with close ties tothe nation of their family's origin.

"Certain people identify with the Korean sideof it, others identify more with the American sideof it," he says.

"Sometimes I feel that I have been out of touchwith my own culture...usually people have thatcrisis in high school, when they try to decide ifthey're Chinese or American," says Lawrence C.Cheung '94, president of the Hong Kong Club, whohas grown up both in Hong Kong and the U.S.

Being at Harvard can affect the sense ofcultural ties in different ways, students say.

For some, the experience of Harvard's diversityand its strong Asian-American community bringsthem closer to their heritages.

"I think overwhelmingly because of all thisP.C. [political correctness], people have lookedin the mirror and have asked 'What is myethnicity?" says Sandra Chang '93, president ofthe Chinese Student Association (CSA).