The nation has experienced an eruption of hate from the shooting in Atlanta significantly impacting the AAPI community, continued racialized violence toward Black and Latino individuals (most recently Daunte Wright and Adam Toledo, respectively), and the looming judgment in the Derek Chauvin case. We would like to say that these issues are solitary, confined to rare instances, but we all know that this is the reality of the world in which we live. Not only do these racially charged incidents create trauma for our BIPOC community, it also brings to the forefront the fact that systemic racism is still very much alive in the nation most of us call home.
We recognize that these senseless deaths can impact folks in a myriad of ways. Some folks may be grieving, some may be angry; while emotions can range, one thing remains the same: our institutional commitment to supporting and working alongside the BIPOC community to create intentional change. We recognize there is much work to be done, but we are committed to continuing to work toward creating a more inclusive environment, accepting of all intersecting identities.
The frequency by which blatant racism and violent acts against BIPOC is reported is steadily rising with the increase in access to information via social media outlets, etc. As you can imagine, acknowledging all the atrocities can be a daunting task. We recognize that sometimes messages fall short, either due to timing, not addressing all moments of violence, or folks feeling as though their needs have not been acknowledged. Determining when and how and who should send the message of support is challenging at best. The bigger call is to move beyond statements into action. In order to create a campus community that is welcoming to all, more than words are needed.
We want to ensure that everyone is aware of immediate resources that are available. For students in need of additional support, we want to remind you of the resources available through the College, including the Counseling and Personal Development Center and the IDEAS Center. For employees in need of additional support, please reach out to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (odei@allegheny.edu).
As a campus community, let’s continue to offer compassion and support for one another where we can. Allow space in your classrooms, meetings, and daily operations for others to process these tragedies. Provide opportunities for dialogue with one another. Connect with each other and collaborate on ways to hold and value one another. We may never have the right words to express and acknowledge how deep an impact racialized violence has, but we show each other through our actions how much this all matters.