We Stand With Our AAPI Community and Against Hate

Re: We Stand With Our AAPI Community and Against Hate

To: All campus

March 19, 2021

 

Dear Campus Community,

 

We have witnessed a recent, disturbing rise in unprovoked violence and harassment toward Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) across the nation — including the homicides in Georgia this week of eight people, six of Asian descent. We, both as a society and as individuals, must reject acts of violence in all their forms. UC Merced unequivocally condemns them.

 

As reported by STOP AAPI HATE Organization , discrimination against the AAPI community has increased: verbal harassment (68.1%) and shunning (20.5%) make up the two largest categories of the total incidents and physical assault (11.1%) comprise the third largest category. Attacks against the AAPI community are not new; they have experienced a long history of racism and discrimination in our nation. The pandemic has only exacerbated this anti-Asian rhetoric and xenophobia. If we want to succeed in ending hateful attacks against any of our communities, we must stand together, work together and denounce racism together.

 

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion shares this list of anti- racism resources on its website. There is a curated section on Anti-Asian hate to be specifically responsive to these atrocities.

 

The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion will also be holding Virtual Community Healing sessions at 1 p.m. Monday, March 22 and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, in partnership with the Office of Social Justice Initiatives and Identity Programs to provide a space where we can all heal and reflect collectively.

 

Although we cannot be together physically right now, you are not alone during these unsettling times. It is important to remember resources are available. You can contact UC Merced Counseling and Psychological Services 24 hours at (209) 228-4266 to schedule an appointment to talk with a counselor over the phone. The Ombuds office is also here to support the campus community, as well as the Employee Assistance Program for staff and faculty. We encourage you to join our efforts to ensure that UC Merced remains a safe and supportive environment that lifts up our AAPI community, which deserves our steadfast advocacy as we lift up each other.

 

Sincerely,

 

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.

Chancellor

 

Gregg Camfield, Ph.D.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

 

Dania Matos, J.D.

Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer

She/Her/Ella