Solidarity with Campus Communities Impacted by Global Conflicts

Dear campus community,

As we enter the last weeks of the semester, I find myself once again writing to you to raise awareness about troubling incidents that are affecting members of our campus community, local community and global community. We express solidarity with those in our communities who are gravely impacted by these incidents. 

Five days ago, on the final Friday of the observance of Ramadan, Israeli police entered Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a site holy to Muslims to clear the mosque of Palestinian worshippers. Scores of Palestinians were injured many of them protesting the plans for evictions of Palestinian families from homes from which they have lived for generations in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. We understand that our Palestinian students, faculty, and staff are experiencing fear, grief, and anger. 

The situation of serial retaliations and escalation continues daily with rockets fired from Gaza into Israel and airstrikes from Israel from Gaza, all numbering in the hundreds, the most firepower since 2014. As of this morning the death toll has risen to 53 in Gaza (14 children) and to six in Israel raising fear, anxiety, and anger for Palestinians and Jews in the region, around the world and for students, faculty and staff on our campus who have ties to these communities. There is growing concern that the conflict will continue to escalate and spread into a war. 

Four days ago in Kabul, Afghanistan, 85 people were violently killed and 147 injured by a terrorist car bombing of a girls’ high school. The victims were mostly school girls from the ethnic minority community of Hazara Shia Muslims. This attack impacts members of our Afghan American community as well as Shia Muslim communities from other ethnic groups with ties to this area and all who have supported the education of girls in Afghanistan. Communities are experiencing grief, shock, anger and fears of more similar bombings. 

It is difficult to publicly acknowledge the tragedies, grave conflicts, and issues that impact our campus communities. For a significant number of our community these incidents are part of a larger conversation on global and regional conflict that imbues our national discussions on our nation state, military engagement, and political, diplomatic and economic relations that are fraught with difficulties that stretch over generations and regions. Please know that our role in a public university is to provide resources, outreach, space for discourse, and connection to support you and provide a sense of belonging in a large complex institution nested in a larger complex global community.  

I know that there is a sense of outrage fatigue, a sense of yet another horrible incident. For some, these incidents bring but a brief notice, maybe even sadness, but for some the pain, grief, and suffering stretches over days, months, years, and generations. It is important to know that in this global and local community of San José State University that many of the world’s troubles impact various members of our campus community at different times. And while some may read this message as just another message in the long line of messages on mass shootings, conflict, killing, violence, death from COVID-19, each message helps us make visible and give voice to the stresses and grief of different communities. It is my hope that we may continue to exercise grace, provide support, and even give ourselves grace as we try to show up and do our work whether we are students, staff, faculty or administrators. 

As you finish out the final weeks of your semester please know that the concerns we have for the well-being of our students, faculty and staff are shared by our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and by our campus leadership. Please reach out if you see someone from our community who may be in need of support during these difficult times as we continue many of our interactions remotely. 

As always, SJSU has resources available for our students and for our employees should members of the Spartan community experience emotional distress or trauma. Detailed information on our resources is listed below.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Wong(Lau)

Chief Diversity Officer

___________________________________

For students

If you have a mental health emergency and need immediate assistance please contact Counseling and Psychological Services.  There is always a staff member available to assist you. Please call 408-924-5910 or visit us at sjsu.edu/wellness.  All of our services are being offered online through confidential video or phone sessions.  

For after-hours emergencies, please call 911. If you live on campus, please call campus police at 408-924-2222. You may also call our main number 408-924-5910 after hours and press 4 to connect with the after-hours crisis service.

Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7. In addition, you may send a text for help: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. 

International students who need assistance regarding restrictions on travel and other issues can find resources from SJSU’s International Students and Scholars Services.

For employees:

Counseling for Faculty and Staff

Visit LifeMatters®  online for more information. Password: SPARTANS

To speak to someone from LifeMatters® confidentially, call 800-367-7474.

Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. 

 

Anti-Asian Hate and Atlanta Mass Murders

Dear campus community,

Late Tuesday night, the nation has learned about the horrific details of the killings in Atlanta of eight individuals, six of whom are Asian American women at the hands of a young white male gunman. These victims were targeted at three Asian owned small businesses. We are writing to condemn these murderous acts and to stand in solidarity with the victim’s families, their friends, and our greater APIDA community who feel the frightening and chilling impact of these brutal killings. 

Regardless of the ongoing investigation, we are writing because of the impact these murders are having on Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities across the country including those who are part of our Spartan community. 

These killings come on the heels of years of rising hate motivated attacks against APIDA individuals throughout the U.S. and especially here in the Bay Area. These attacks have escalated exponentially in the last six months with many of the comments insinuating that people of Asian descent are to be blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The most important thing to understand is that hate incidents and racist incidents have wide reaching impacts no matter how geographically near or far in location. They have the potential to negatively and seriously impact individuals and communities in their homes, workplaces, and  everyday lives out in the world. 

As an educational institution we want to frame these incidents in a context to understand their impact, particularly at a time when our campus is actively working to address systemic racism and particularly anti-Black racism. Here is an introduction to the historical perspectives and context to understand the current anti-APIDA hate attacks:

  • They are a part of a long history of systemic anti-Asian hate in the U.S., particularly in California and the U.S. West since the arrival of APIDA communities in the 1800s.
  • Our relations and conflict with Asian countries has been repeatedly weaponized to perpetuate anti-APIDA hate.
  • APIDA communities are viewed  as “forever foreign in the United States, rather than contributing members of our society; regardless of citizenship or immigration status.” 
  • APIDA women have been targeted over twice the rate of others in racist attacks often hyper-sexualized by stereotypes.
  • Anti-APIDA hate must be understood within the larger context and dynamics of historical White Supremacy. 
  • Words matter, language matters, climate matters.

Unfortunately, as we have seen over the years, these hate motivated attacks are increasing toward many communities. As a community we must be vigilant and continue to come together; not just as these incidents are happening to each community, but to reach out to each other in our everyday work, education, and lives. We need to further our worldviews and understand how we can be active allies to each other so we can support our diverse and intersectional community. 

For more information on anti-APIDA hate incidents go to Stop AAPI Hate

Processing Space-Monday March 22nd

In order to support our APIDA campus community, we invite members of our APIDA community of staff, faculty, and students to a processing space scheduled on Monday, March 22 at 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This space is being collaboratively supported by our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Counseling and Psychological Services; Mosaic Cross Cultural Center; Asian Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association; and the APID/A Task Force. We welcome our community members to join in this group space to share their thoughts, express their feelings, and come together in community. Please register for this space by clicking the button below.

Please note that this processing place is not designed to address those who may be having an urgent mental health crisis.

For Students:

If you have an emergency and need immediate assistance during our hours of operation, there is always a staff member available to assist you either on the phone or in person. Please call 408-924-5910 or visit us in the Student Wellness Center, Room 300B.

For after-hours emergencies, please call 911. If you live on campus, please call campus police at 408-924-2222. You may also call our main number 408-924-5910 after hours and press 4 to connect with the after-hours crisis service.

The County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text ANSWER to 839863. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. They will help get you through it. 

For Employees:

Counseling for Faculty and Staff

Visit LifeMatters® online for more information. Password: SPARTANS

To speak to someone from LifeMatters® confidentially, call 800-367-7474.

The County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text ANSWER to 839863. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. They will help get you through it.

Stop AAPI Hate

Dear campus community,

Late Tuesday night, the nation has learned about the horrific details of the killings in Atlanta of eight individuals, six of whom are Asian American women at the hands of a young white male gunman. These victims were targeted at three Asian owned small businesses. We are writing to condemn these murderous acts and to stand in solidarity with the victim’s families, their friends, and our greater APIDA community who feel the frightening and chilling impact of these brutal killings. 

Regardless of the ongoing investigation, we are writing because of the impact these murders are having on Asian Pacific Islander Desi American communities across the country including those who are part of our Spartan community. 

These killings come on the heels of years of rising hate motivated attacks against APIDA individuals throughout the U.S. and especially here in the Bay Area. These attacks have escalated exponentially in the last six months with many of the comments insinuating that people of Asian descent are to be blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The most important thing to understand is that hate incidents and racist incidents have wide reaching impacts no matter how geographically near or far in location. They have the potential to negatively and seriously impact individuals and communities in their homes, workplaces, and  everyday lives out in the world. 

As an educational institution we want to frame these incidents in a context to understand their impact, particularly at a time when our campus is actively working to address systemic racism and particularly anti-Black racism. Here is an introduction to the historical perspectives and context to understand the current anti-APIDA hate attacks:

  • They are a part of a long history of systemic anti-Asian hate in the U.S., particularly in California and the U.S. West since the arrival of APIDA communities in the 1800s.
  • Our relations and conflict with Asian countries has been repeatedly weaponized to perpetuate anti-APIDA hate.
  • APIDA communities are viewed  as “forever foreign in the United States, rather than contributing members of our society; regardless of citizenship or immigration status.” 
  • APIDA women have been targeted over twice the rate of others in racist attacks often hyper-sexualized by stereotypes.
  • Anti-APIDA hate must be understood within the larger context and dynamics of historical White Supremacy. 
  • Words matter, language matters, climate matters.

Unfortunately, as we have seen over the years, these hate motivated attacks are increasing toward many communities. As a community we must be vigilant and continue to come together; not just as these incidents are happening to each community, but to reach out to each other in our everyday work, education, and lives. We need to further our worldviews and understand how we can be active allies to each other so we can support our diverse and intersectional community. 

For more information on anti-APIDA hate incidents go to Stop AAPI Hate

Processing Space-Monday March 22nd

In order to support our APIDA campus community, we invite members of our APIDA community of staff, faculty, and students to a processing space scheduled on Monday, March 22 at 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This space is being collaboratively supported by our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Counseling and Psychological Services; Mosaic Cross Cultural Center; Asian Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association; and the APID/A Task Force. We welcome our community members to join in this group space to share their thoughts, express their feelings, and come together in community. Please register for this space by clicking the button below.

Please note that this processing place is not designed to address those who may be having an urgent mental health crisis.

For Students:

If you have an emergency and need immediate assistance during our hours of operation, there is always a staff member available to assist you either on the phone or in person. Please call 408-924-5910 or visit us in the Student Wellness Center, Room 300B.

For after-hours emergencies, please call 911. If you live on campus, please call campus police at 408-924-2222. You may also call our main number 408-924-5910 after hours and press 4 to connect with the after-hours crisis service.

The County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text ANSWER to 839863. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. They will help get you through it. 

For Employees:

Counseling for Faculty and Staff

Visit LifeMatters® online for more information. Password: SPARTANS

To speak to someone from LifeMatters® confidentially, call 800-367-7474.

The County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text ANSWER to 839863. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365. They will help get you through it.