Condemning Anti-Asian Violence
Last week, Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun wrote an important message to the Northeastern community condemning the rise in violence and harassment against Asian Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
“I join with all members of the Northeastern community in condemning these racist acts. As a global community, we welcome and celebrate people from all backgrounds and ethnicities. Doing so makes us stronger as a community and elevates the impact of our teaching and research,” President Aoun wrote.
Northeastern University in Toronto joins President Aoun and our entire global network in a commitment to create and support a university culture that welcomes everyone. This culture not only creates space for all but also serves as a means of support and advocacy for our community members. The Toronto campus denounces racism, vitriolic language, and violent acts. We stand in solidarity with the Asian community at Northeastern University and abroad.
We want to share with you the following university resources that are available to members of the Northeastern community:
- Northeastern Asian American Center
- Find@Northeastern provides 24/7 mental health support, including five free counseling sessions with local or video counseling.
- Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service offers regular sessions for meditation and mindfulness along with confidential support and spiritual advising.
- For confidential support or spiritual advising, please contact CSDS staff at the email addresses below or reach out to any of our spiritual advisors.
- CSDS’ Executive Director and lead spiritual advisor Alex Levering Kern [email protected]
- CSDS’ Senior Assistant Director Sagar Rajpal at [email protected]
- CSDS’ Assistant Director Soo Laski at [email protected]
University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS)
The We Care program is a support system for students during times of difficulty or challenge.
Additional Resources
It can be hard to know what to do at times like this. One tangible step is to educate yourself about the communities impacted by this violence. The Gardner Center for Asian Art and Ideas (a part of the Seattle Asian Art Museum) is a robust resource for learning about Asian culture including a Saturday University Lecture Series on a wide range of topics.
You can also learn more about the history of racism and violence against the AAPI community using the links below:
- Stop AAPI Hate
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
- Asian American and Pacific Islander
- AAPI Progressive Action
- Anti-Asian Attacks Rise During Pandemic. Read NPR’s Stories On The Surge In Violence
We also have some book and podcast recommendations you might find useful:
Books:
Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia
China Boy by Gus Lee
All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Chop Suey Nation by Ann Hui
How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
Ru by Kim Thúy
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Podcasts:
Still Processing,
This American Life,
This Matters’ ,
They Call Us Bruce,
The Chinese Exclusion Act: A Special Presentation of American Experience