Diversity Corner: Standing with Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

Recent Events

Our Dear Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Colleagues,

Today and every day we stand with you, in solidarity against all hate crimes that are rising in the Asian, Asian American and the Pacific Islander community. This can also be a very strenuous time, so we also remind our students that Drs. Brandon Knettel and Sean Convoy are ready and willing to help in the Student Success Center. In addition, there are many services within Student Affairs (https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps) including Counseling & Psychological Services. Our staff and faculty colleagues can access PAS. 

If you feel unsafe, please use all the resources available to you including your local police and Duke police. Activate your Live Safe app, so you can call for help should you need it when on/around campus. There is also advocacy and activism.

There are many ways to engage in supporting ways to end hate against the Asian community. Stop APPI Hate is an organization where you can report, get tips for safety and also contribute as an advocate. The ODEI is also working on creating a panel to discuss how we can address this within our community. Details will soon be available. We will continue to stand up to and denounce all levels of hate against these communities, and we will always stand by you and support you.

We had a very open, vulnerable, painful yet informative discussion in Diversity Conversations. We have a few tangible ways in which we can demonstrate support to our Asian community colleagues:

1. Demonstrate empathy (quietness does not mean things are okay).
2. Encourage our faculty to reach out and ask how we can support students and staff. If assignments are due, consider granting extensions and acknowledge that these events in society cause great pain, trepidation and fear.
3. Have methods to share before things occur within society.
4. Consider mandatory racial bias training and other courses that discuss racial bias and discrimination within all of our diverse communities.
5. Have Asian representation on DEI counsel and in trainings to share life experiences and examples.
6. Be allies for one another.
7. Reach out if you feel unsafe, and ask for help. There are community members who have offered to escort you to places if you do not feel comfortable/safe going alone.
8. Reach out to Duke and local police to identify other strategies to increase safety within our community and the local Durham area.

These are only a few, and we welcome any other feedback on how to advocate for and support our Asian community. Our strength comes from the diversity within the walls of DUSON and the world. We stand in solidarity with you always.

In unity,

Brigit Carter

Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

To learn more about these incidences, consider reading this NPR piece entitled, "The Rise In Anti-Asian Attacks During The COVID-19 Pandemic."

"How Policy Informs Sexuality and Gender Within Healthcare"

A panel of speakers will present on a wide range of topics that highlight the importance of being involved with policy and how policy influences the lives of LGBTQIA+ community and health care for the "How Policy Informs Sexuality and Gender Within Healthcare" on March 31 at 6 p.m. This event is presented by the Student Success Center, DUSON Spectrum, Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Register online.