An affinity for SASA

Around 30 students gather together for a South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) meeting each Wednesday to share South Asian snacks and culture. The leaders, Vik Bakaya ’26, Lyla Kavanagh ’26, Samaya Sayana-Manchanda ’26, Sahana Gupta ’26 and Nikhil Sarvaiya ’26, aim to create more inclusive and safe spaces for conversation about South Asian narratives.
The club also aims to bring awareness to racism and prejudice against South Asians. Leaders debuted the first club meeting with a video about stereotypes in the media about South Asians. Not only does the club represent the more serious side of an affinity group, but it also allows South Asian students to share their culture, food, and music. Their most recent meeting ended off with delicious, homemade samosas, a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling. Their upcoming goal is to raise awareness and money to donate to the people affected by September’s flooding in Pakistan.
Kavanagh said she aims to “create a better community for South Asians who have felt they do not have a place in their communities.”