Exotic food, dancing, cinema and fashion are just a few of the features on display at the Ohio Union Ballrooms today.

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and kicking it off is the Asian Food and Cultural Festival. Each year the festival attracts about 700 people, but student organizers of the event expect a crowd of around 1000.

The theme for the month is “As I Am,” which is taken from the abbreviated form of “Asian American.”

“Asian Americans have two different identities, one being Asian and the other being American,” said APAHM steering committee member Angela Chang. “Most of the time we’re classified in one way even though there are so many different ethnicities within the Asian community. We want to show who we are to the rest of campus.”

A number of Asian-American and International Asian student organizations are involved; the festival will have something for everyone.

One big attraction is the food. People will be able to sample a variety of Asian cuisine offered by each individual organization. The food booths will be set up from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Also during that time, “The Barrier Device,” a movie by director Grace Lee, will be shown.

A talent showcase at 6:30 p.m. will feature a mix of traditional Asian culture and contemporary American culture. Scheduled performances include Philippine, Indian and Chinese dancing, a martial arts demonstration, a musical act and various others.

“There is a very narrow stereotype for Asians at OSU,” said Kay Fukuda, coordinator of Asian American Student Services. “The talent showcase is an opportunity for students to express their creativity and dissolve some of those stereotypes.”

To complete the evening, the annual fashion show will begin at 9 p.m. This year’s show has four categories of clothing: traditional, formal, casual and clubbing. Preparation for the show began before Christmas break.

“We have been working tirelessly for this event and can’t wait to see all our models up there having fun,” said fashion show chairwoman Clarlin Cayayan.

Thirty student models will be involved. They will model clothes from private owners and from the show’s main sponsor, Aeropostale.

“In the past, there have been mostly Asians in attendance at the festival,” Chang said, “but we want more people of other backgrounds to come and experience these cultures.”

The goals of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month are to raise awareness and educate the campus community to the diversity of Asian American and International Asian cultures. It is also an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to share and learn from one another.

Some other events of the month include movie screenings, visiting speakers, a talent show and a photo-journalism exhibit.