Dear Stephens,
The murder of eight people in Atlanta, six of them women of Asian descent, inspires our deep sorrow for the victims, their families, and their communities. We are outraged over the devastating implications of gender-based violence, anti-immigration bias, and systemic racism.
These events are only the most recent of a growing number of violent attacks reported against members of the Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native communities since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. A recent study from California State University’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism reported that hate crimes against Asian Americans in 16 of the country’s largest cities skyrocketed nearly 150 percent. On Tuesday, nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate revealed that it had received nearly 3,800 reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans in the past year.
As our nation, our Columbia community, and our campus continue to work together to confront the consequences and trauma of systemic racism, we stand with all of our students, faculty, staff, alumnae and neighbors of Asian descent who have been traumatized and threatened by the increase in anti-Asian rhetoric and violence.
On the individual and communal levels, we commit to creating an environment free from intimidation, harassment, and violence. That may include reporting concerns to the Equity Offices + Compliance (ADA, DEI, Title IX) by accessing the contact information available at https://www.stephens.edu/about-stephens/equity-offices/ or by emailing [email protected].
On the organizational level, Stephens College remains dedicated to the social justice for all demanded by our Ten Ideals.
Dr. Dianne Lynch, President
Mark Taylor, Chair, Board of Trustees
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