Dear MBU Community:
This past week, we were once again reminded in the starkest of terms that hate and violence remain a fixture in our society. The murder of eight people, six of whom were Asian American women, at Asian-owned businesses in Georgia marked yet another act of violence against a community of color. We grieve for these innocent victims, their families, friends, and neighbors, and we pray for justice and an end to these senseless acts that stain our nation and leave indelible scars on the communities targeted for their perceived otherness.
While not new, we live in a time that has given rise to emboldened displays of intolerance, racism, and white supremacy. They can manifest in a dramatic range, from microaggressions to murder in the most extreme situations. It is alarming and repugnant, and it underscores that perhaps now more than ever, we must foster and promote our fundamental Mary Baldwin values of inclusivity, diversity, respect, and compassion.
Mary Baldwin University stands in solidarity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, faculty, and staff and condemns racism, intolerance, and violence in no uncertain terms.
Please know that your MBU family is here to support you and ensure that you do not have to navigate this difficult time alone. The Offices of Inclusive Excellence and Student Engagement stand ready to assist and provide a host of resources. MBU Counseling Services are available at 540-887-7281 and you may also wish to connect with University Chaplain Katie Low. Importantly, if you believe you have experienced an act of discrimination at MBU, you should contact the Office of Inclusive Excellence and they will assist you in navigating the reporting process.
In response to this most recent tragedy, AAPI students are invited to participate in a conversation hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence early next week. This will be followed by an event on Wednesday, March 31 for the campus to show its support for the AAPI community and memorialize those lost. Please look for additional details on these events from the Office of Inclusive Excellence in the near future.
As we process the events of the last week – and so many before – we may find hope and comfort in the words of National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb”:
“That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried…”
Pamela R. Fox
President, Mary Baldwin University