Dear LIM Community,
As the LIM College community took a brief Spring Break moment to catch its breath, our country once again was reminded that the work to end racism and hate is far from over. The senseless murders of eight individuals in Georgia, six of whom were Asian women, are just the latest example of the global rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, fueled by racist and inflammatory rhetoric in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US has a long history of scapegoating its Asian citizens. Over the last 365 days, the New York Times reports that “3,800 hate-related incidents” targeting Asian-Americans took place. These crimes have denied Asian-descended individuals the dignity, respect, and voice that is their right. Last week’s shootings in Georgia also brought to light the ways in which race, gender, and social class intersect to stigmatize those most vulnerable in our society.
LIM College stands in solidarity with our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander community and mourns victims in the tragic shooting in Atlanta. It is a brutal reminder that we must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to denounce racism of all kinds and to seek new ways to open dialogue, encourage understanding, and embrace solidarity. We strive to make all of our community members feel safe, included, and heard. We at LIM condemn racism and hate crimes of all kinds and this rise in anti-Asian acts of violence is just the latest example of how much work is left to be done.
If you have experienced or witnessed anti-Asian violence or harassment, would like information about Counseling and Wellness support or the Employee Assistance Program, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@limcollege.edu or the Office of Human Resources at humanresources@limcollege.edu, or reach out to the New York Attorney General's Office through their hotline at 1-800-771-7755 or civil.rights@ag.ny.gov.
In addition, this is a comprehensive external resource with a great deal of helpful information on the topic. It was shared by Time from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).
I long for the day when emails of this kind will no longer be necessary. But until that time, LIM College will continue its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and encourages everyone to get engaged in this important work. For more information, please visit the diversity, equity, and inclusion page on our website.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth S. Marcuse, LIM College President
Intro Title
A message from President Marcuse.
