Over the past year, we have witnessed the senseless and horrific uprising of racism and violence against the Asian communities.
The hostility was fueled with the emergence of COVID-19 and has escalated from acts of bullying and verbal harassment to stabbings and beatings and the most recent terrifying shootings in Atlanta that killed eight innocent people, six of whom were of Asian descent.
Hate has no place at Ohio State, and acts of racism and violence against any group will not be tolerated. We're encouraged by President Kristina Johnson's and President Joe Biden's statements about this issue.
We stand by our Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian American communities, as well as all our international students, faculty and staff who may be touched by this tragedy, and we offer our unwavering support.
In the midst of our disbelief, pain and sadness over these tragic events, we must find productive solutions through continued dialogue across our campus and the nation.
For those of you seeking support, Ohio State offers the following programs and services:
The compassion, understanding and guidance we share with the students we serve every day are positive and important steps in the healing process.
We must always remember that diversity and inclusivity are two of our shared values at Ohio State. And together, we are committed to providing a safe and harmonious campus for all.
Gil Latz, PhD
Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs