Dear Whittier College Community: As we continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic and the different obstacles it has brought to the world, hate crimes against the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community have increased. Just in the past week, horrific attacks against elderly API individuals resulted in hospitalizations and even death. A recent report from the American Journal of Criminal Justice stated that between March and June 2020, there were 2,100 reported anti-Asian hate crimes related to COVID-19. The report also stated that Asian American students are more likely than other students of color to be targets of hate crimes in school.
These hate crimes are a direct result of the hateful rhetoric that has been spurred by public leaders. This rhetoric is filled with xenophobic language that exposes our country’s history of racism and violence against the API community. Organizations such as Stop AAPI Hate and Stand Against Hatred provide places where those who have experienced anti-Asian bias or hate incidents can anonymously report their experiences.
Whittier College, the Division of Student Life, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion strongly condemn the violence that members of the API community continue to face. Racism, discrimination, violence, and oppression have no place at Whittier College or this country. Whittier is a community that values individuality, tolerance is cherished—the things that make each of us unique are invaluable tools. As a community of diverse backgrounds and experiences, we must uphold and respect every member of our community. There is power in diversity and beauty in equity. It is our responsibility to one another to cultivate and protect one another.
We would like to make you aware of the following resources that are available:
Bias Incident Reporting | Whittier College C.A.R.E. Program | Whittier College Counseling Center | Whittier College Contact the Dean of Students Office | Whittier College Office of Equity and Inclusion | Whittier College In community, Bruce Smith, Ph.D. Vice President and Dean of Students
Deanna Merino Contino, Ed.D. Associate Dean for Student Life
Francisco Gomez, MA. Assistant Director of Student Engagement
