[Important Information for Employees] Supporting our Chinese and Asian-Descent Community Members

[Office of the President]

Dear Campus Community,

As we process the disturbing news of the senseless murders that occurred in
Atlanta, we are once again faced with tragedy which often follows hateful
rhetoric and ideas of supremacy.

More than ever, our community members of Asian and Pacific Islander
descent need our support and care. Please extend empathy, understanding and
speaking up on their behalf.

Name-calling, shunning, assault, and murder made up almost 3,800 hate
incidents reported against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in the
U.S. over the past year, according to Stop AAPI Hate. The New York Times
reported the organization was formed last March to prevent discrimination
during the coronavirus pandemic. It collects data on hate and harassment
incidents against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. According to the
group, most of the incidents took place against women, in businesses and on
public sidewalks or streets. Incidents also included civil rights
violations such as workplace discrimination or refusal of service and
online harassment.

Stop AAPI Hate called the shootings “an unspeakable tragedy” for the
victims’ families and an Asian-American community that has “been reeling
from high levels of racist attacks.”

As COVID-19 developed last spring, we added a statement to our website
extending our concern. *It is online here about midway down the page*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/covid-19/index.html>. From that, I want to
share here this section:

Making broad generalizations that people of Asian descent are dangerous or
sick, or making assumptions about a person’s nationality based on their
physical features perpetuates long-standing histories of xenophobia and
racism, whether intentional or not. Our Asian students, faculty and staff
are valued members of the SUNY Plattsburgh community. We want to emphasize
and highlight the following:

If you or someone you know has experienced bias or discrimination please
report incidents of bias on the *diversity incident reporting form*
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/health-safety/bias/reporting-form.html>
and
connect with someone you trust for social support.

   - Seek assistance from the *Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion*
   <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/index.html>. It is a
   campus resource.
   - Reach out to a member of *DIRECT*
   <https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/diversity/direct.html> (Diversity
   Incident Response, Education and Communication Team) to report an inciden
   t.
   - Recognize that acts of bias can negatively affect your physical and
   mental health. Know it is okay to seek medical and mental health care as
   needed and seek the Student Health and Counseling Center if you are a
   student and our EAP resource if you are an employee.

If you find that you are maintaining distance from or worried about
interacting with people of Asian descent we urge you to strongly consider
the following:

Avoid the inclination to make broad stereotypes about people of Asian
descent, and explore the root cause of your fears and disdain.

   - Exercise empathy, compassion and a sense of community.
   - Educate and maintain perspective

Our Cardinal Spirit is one of inclusion and belonging. Take extra steps to
live this out.

Alexander Enyedi
President
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