Senior nursing major Jason Le laughs after being beaten at poker during the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Le has been a member of the association for two years. His favorite AAA is the lantern festival. (Jacob Sebastian)
Maids and butlers served the WKU community on Thursday during a fundraiser for the Asian American Association.
The executive board of the association baked assorted desserts to raise money for future events. Desserts were sold in a mock maid cafe with male members of the board dressing in traditional maid outfits, while the women wore traditional butler attire.
The club felt that this would be a good opportunity to educate others on why Asian culture is becoming more popular in the cafe scene, according to the Vice President of the Asian American Association and senior biology and Chinese major Brandon Brion.
Senior double Chinese and biology major Brandon Brion pauses his maid duties for a photo during the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Brion was the lead speaker of the event and serves as the vice president of the club. “When I first came in, I didn’t have a sense of belonging on campus… because I am a commuter and didn’t have those friends especially in dorm areas… because of that I decided to join the American Asian Association… I feel like I truly belong there, kind of like a family.” (Jacob Sebastian)
The club showed a video detailing the evolution of Asian cafe culture over the last decade and its rise in popularity in American culture.
After the presentation on maid cafes, the club opened the room for socializing, playing games and buying home-baked treats.
The event drew larger attendance than the club expected, requiring an emergency run for extra tables and chairs to accommodate the number of attendees.
Emily Ferrell, a sophomore graphic design major, attended the event to support one of her friends who is an officer for the Asian American Association.
“It’s really fun,” Ferrell said. “I like that they (the maids and butlers) committed to their roles.”
An array of snacks line a table at the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. The Association’s officers made the snacks themselves the night prior. (Jacob Sebastian)Senior criminology major and maid Edward Kim (white shoes) squares off against an attendee during the “grab the bottle” game at the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. An offside butler would list body parts to touch and say “bottle” at random, where a maid and attendee would then have to fight for control of the bottle to win. Kim has been part of the Association for 2.5 years and an officer for nearly a year. His favorite event has been the mid autumn lantern festival. (Jacob Sebastian)
Tony Nguien, a freshman intern for the association and a maid at the event, expressed his gratitude for the community he’s found on WKU’s campus.
“Ever since I joined this club, I’ve felt very connected to both people who are Asian American, as well as just overall having a sense of belonging here at the university.”
Nguien volunteered to have fun and wanted to get his makeup done and see how well the other members would do his hair. Nguien explained he is “very, very proud of the results” of his maid transformation.
Ouran High School Host Club plays on a computer and projector as background media during the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (Jacob Sebastian)
The club prides itself on the diversity of students they see attending the meetings.
“We want everybody to feel welcome in our community,” Brion said.
The club officers also revealed brand new Topperfellas exclusively made for the club that were given out as prizes in a raffle.
The club plans to use the money from the fundraiser to host more events throughout the semester.
“We are gonna use this as a way to help make our events better and more fun,” Brion said.
Freshman psychological science major Tony Nguyen throws out scissors to sophomore graphic design major Emily Ferrell’s rock during the WKU American Asian Association’s Maid and Butler Cafe in Downing Student Union on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Each table had an assigned maid and game to play where a free treat was awarded if the maid was beaten. Ferrell went on to win the match but had come planning to buy something regardless. (Jacob Sebastian)
