March 19, 2021
Dear L&S colleagues and students,
I was appalled by the mass shooting this week in Atlanta that took the lives of eight people, six of them women of Asian descent. Perpetuating violence against a particular group due to bias and hatred grounded in racism and misogyny is, sadly, not new in America, but the fact that hate crimes have risen to their highest level in more than a decade, including a steep rise in anti-Asian bias crimes, must be a call to action for all of us.
Campus leaders spoke out last year against anti-Asian bias, overt as well as insidious, that crept into conversations around the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, many of our international students could not get home to their families. It was heartbreaking to learn that on top of their anguish and worry about the virus, many feared that they would be subject to anti-Asian bias, as well.
As individuals, and as a campus community, we must reject acts of bias and hatred. Tolerating jokes and perpetuating stereotypes can lead to harmful impacts on our fellow students, faculty and staff. We must stand up and speak out when we see others engaging in hurtful language and behavior, whether in person or behind the backs of those who are targeted. We must protect one another.
I join our Interim Chief Diversity Officer Cheryl Gittens and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor in their statement of solidarity with our Asian and Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi American (APIDA) communities. We mourn for the victims of these attacks, and encourage you to seek support and community in ways that feel right to you:
- Dean of Students Office, 608-263-5700
- UHS Mental Health Services, 608-265-5600 (option 9)
- Employee Assistance Office, 608-263-2987
- Resources to Support Our APIDA Community
Should you or anyone you know experience an incident of hate or bias, please file a Bias Incident Report with the Dean of Students Office.
Please follow the Multicultural Student Center and APIDA Student Center social media for processing space opportunities soon.
All self-identified Asian and APIDA students are invited to discuss the impact of recent and increasing violence in a Zoom session March 19 at 4:00 pm CT facilitated by Gabe Javier, Student Affairs, and Egg Guo, UHS-Mental Health Services.
Pre-registration is required at go.wisc.edu/APIDAspace
DDEEA holds a monthly affinity group space for faculty and staff members of the campus APIDA community and welcomes all who identify with the community to join the group on April 8 at 2 pm CT.
To register: https://diversity.wisc.edu/aff...
Words I’ve shared with you before bear repeating: I do not know what it will take or how long it will take. But I do know that it will be harder and take longer if we are not all dedicated to ending bias and injustice all the time. Let us commit ourselves to that cause.
Eric M. Wilcots
Dean and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison