March 17, 2021
Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,
We mourn the senseless killing of eight people in metropolitan Atlanta last night, among them six Asian women. While the act has not yet been ruled a hate crime, we cannot ignore the fact that the murders took place in the context of a year that has seen a steep rise in anti-Asian racism and violence.
Next week's PAUSE gathering, scheduled for Thursday, March 25 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom, will offer space to honor the lives of those who died in Atlanta and to call attention to the specific issue of rising anti-Asian sentiments in the United States. Join the College Chaplains and your colleagues in acknowledging this important social issue.
Our community will not tolerate anti-Asian sentiments or racist acts. We strongly condemn racism and all forms of oppression within and outside of the Conn community. We also seek your help in challenging peers and colleagues to call attention to microaggressions against Asian and other BIPOC members of our community. These daily slights and insults have the effect of creating a wholly unwelcoming environment. They are unacceptable. They go against the values of this College.
There are many ways that you can report this kind of behavior, and we encourage you to do this, whether you have experienced it personally or witnessed it happening to someone else.
We also encourage you to take the time to complete the HEDS survey that was sent to you on March 15. This will provide another opportunity for you to share feedback that can aid our efforts to create a more inclusive campus.
If you need immediate support, please know that you can reach out to the professional staff in the division of institutional equity and inclusion, Student Counseling Services, the College chaplains, and the College’s Employee Assistance Program.
Thank you for playing an active role in upholding the values of our College and our commitment to equity and inclusion.
Sincerely,
Katherine Bergeron
President
John McKnight
Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion