Emory had a yearly tradition called Unity Week that celebrated the diversity of the student population. Unity Week began in 1991 and is organized through a joint effort between OMPS and the student body. In 1994, OMPS partnered with SAAAC to host 1994’s Unity Week celebrations.

Many of SAAAC’s core demands emerged throughout that year’s Unity Week messaging, especially after keynote speaker and Asian American historian Ronald Takaki emphasized the importance of multicultural education in institutions of higher learning. Takaki spoke on many points, arguing that America’s racial tensions were at their peak since the Civil War and that only a deeper education on racial histories could provide a better understanding of both one’s peers and the current situation.

Just 3 days later, Emory administration announced that they would begin developing a proposal for an Asian Studies program. They did not respond to SAAAC’s demands for Asian American Studies.