{"id":836,"date":"2021-04-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/?p=836"},"modified":"2021-04-05T14:31:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T14:31:15","slug":"wcsu-student-and-faculty-asian-solidarity-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wcsu-student-and-faculty-asian-solidarity-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"WCSU Student and Faculty Asian Solidarity Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WCSU Community,<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are statements from Ethan Chan, Bakhtawar \u201cBaki\u201d Izzat, the Racial Justice Coalition, WCSU-SUOAF, and the Student Government Association President. We are writing to address the murders of Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie \u201cEmily\u201d Tan, Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michels, Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz, Hyun Jung Grant, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, and Yong Ae Yue and stand in solidarity with the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ethan Chan<\/b><\/p>\n

On March 17th, 2021, the Anti-Asian sentiment present in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic came to a head when a mass shooting occurred in Atlanta. Among the victims were 6 Asian women.\u00a0 While mass media outlets were quick to say that the shooting had \u201cnothing to do with race\u201d, the Asian American community knows better.<\/span><\/p>\n

An Asian American woman was set on fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

An Asian American man was punched so hard that he was killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past year, over 3800 instances of anti-Asian hate crimes were reported in the United States, with 500 coming in the past 3 months.<\/span><\/p>\n

There might not be a prevalent Asian American community at WCSU, but to erase their pain and their experience would be indicative of Asian American erasure that has existed since the 1860s with the introduction of the Chinese Exclusion Act.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Universal condemnation of Asian American hate is the only place to start.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Baki Izzat<\/b><\/p>\n

The lives of over 20 million Asian Americans are in your hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of the past year, we have seen countless threats and horrific attacks against our Asian American counterparts. From offensive racial slurs to physical violence, the Asian community has suffered a great deal due to the shared ignorance of, unfortunately, a vast number of Americans.<\/span><\/p>\n

But let\u2019s make one thing clear: ignorance is not, nor should it ever be, an excuse. Violence should have NO home here, and yet, we\u2019re seeing it daily towards Asian Americans. Furthermore, turning a blind eye to the blatant racism and discrimination that our Asian friends are experiencing contributes to, and even inhibits, the issues we are witnessing first-hand today. To not proactively show support for the Asian American community (in other words, beyond posting on social media), means to continue igniting the flames of hate and racism in this country.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is in these moments where \u201ccommunity\u201d and \u201ccompassion\u201d must prevail. In fact, I would see no greater act of patriotism and humanitarianism than to stand with our Asian American brothers and sisters.<\/span><\/p>\n

*** <\/span>Insider<\/span><\/i> lists some impactful ways on how you can support the Asian American community, please click <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> to see how you can contribute<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On behalf of the WCSU Racial Justice Coalition<\/b><\/p>\n

A horrific and heartbreaking surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is happening across the United States.\u00a0 Together, it is our responsibility to condemn hate and create lasting social change.\u00a0 We are committed to rectifying the racial inequalities in our society and stand in solidarity to protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On behalf of the WCSU-SUOAF (State University Organization of Administrative Faculty)<\/b><\/p>\n

WCSU-SUOAF stands in solidarity with the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during this time of heightened racially motivated verbal attacks, physical assaults and murders. We stand against all forms of discriminatory practices and racism.\u00a0 We strive to embrace and celebrate cultural differences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On behalf of the WCSU Student Government Association<\/b><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>National Center for Education Statistics<\/span><\/a>, five percent of WCSU undergraduate students are Asian race\/ethnicity as of Fall 2019. There are currently no active student clubs or organizations for any Asian diaspora. I wanted to utilize this statement as a platform for these voices in the WCSU Community to be brought to the forefront.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Racism against Asians is not new. In the past year alone, we saw them receive blame for the COVID-19 pandemic. While social media is an excellent platform to raise awareness, it is crucial to act in solidarity than passively acknowledge Asian hate. There is no formula or textbook method to do this. We must empower ourselves to disarm prejudice on any scale and level – on campus and off – from microaggressions to blatant discrimination. It is long overdue to condemn harmful acts and speech. Having a \u201cphase\u201d from our childhood or teen years where one was ignorant is not an excuse. Having a \u201cdifferent perspective,\u201d \u201cdifferent opinion,\u201d or playing \u201cdevil\u2019s advocate\u201d does not apply to racism. I ask everyone to check everyone – meaning everyone – including their friends, family, and others in your circle in the observance of racism. Downplaying any harm is enabling and empowering hate. For example, there is no reason to deal with a \u201cbad day\u201d with violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope to have more WCSU Asian voices highlighted. Please email me (<\/span>sgapres@wcsu.edu<\/span><\/a>) or fill out this <\/span>form<\/span><\/a>. Your statement may be shared on our website and\/or social media pages.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In solidarity,<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethan Chan, <\/span>BFA Musical Theatre, Class of 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>chan036@wcsu.edu<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Bakhtawar \u201cBaki\u201d Izzat, <\/span>BA Political Science, Class of 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Izzat003@wcsu.edu<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Racial Justice Coalition |\u00a0<\/span>wcsu.edu\/rjc<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

WCSU SUOAF-AFSCME |\u00a0<\/span>wcsu.edu\/suoaf<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Anna Adebambo, <\/span>President, Student Government Association,<\/span><\/p>\n

sgapres@wcsu.edu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

adebambo001@wcsu.edu<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n



<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WCSU Community, Here are statements from Ethan Chan, Bakhtawar \u201cBaki\u201d Izzat, the Racial Justice Coalition, WCSU-SUOAF, and the Student Government Association President. We are writing to address the murders of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-836","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sga-annoucements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.wcsu.edu\/sga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}