Resolution 22-18: SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE INCLUSION (SAHI)

Number 22-18
Description This resolution asks that The University of Texas at Arlington build and introduce a combined Hindi/Urdu, Hindi, or Urdu program.
Authored by Yaseen Tasnif
Sponsored by Yaseen Tasnif
Date Submitted Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Date Considered Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Committee Academic Affairs
Result Passed By Legislative Branch
Remarks
Whereas The Department of Modern Languages (MODL) at the University of Texas at Arlington currently offers programs in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Localization and Translation, and Modern Language Teaching, and;
Whereas The University of Texas at Arlington (as well as the DFW Metroplex and the State of Texas) has a large and growing community of Asian American and Asian International students, a sizable portion of which are South Asian, more specifically Indian or Pakistani, countries where Hindi/Urdu is the most spoken or official language, and;
Whereas Research shows that learning, relearning, or maintaining knowledge of one's heritage language plays a large role in cultural identity, communication skills, success in professional settings, and the ability to network, and;
Whereas The University of Texas at Arlington does not offer a heritage language of this large community on their campus, therefore depriving them of the opportunity to gain or maintain the benefits of learning it, and;
Be It Further Resolved That The University of Texas at Arlington build and introduce a combined Hindi/Urdu, Hindi, or Urdu program, therefore giving a chance to South Asian students to engage in their heritage and cultural origins, following a requirement of being the AAPI Serving Institution that it claims to be.