In Support of Whitman’s Asian Community

Dear Members of the Whitman Community,

Like many of you, I am horrified by the violence in Atlanta we witnessed this week and deeply saddened by the lives lost to violence. While police are still investigating the crime and the motive of the gunman, what we do know is that the overwhelming majority of the victims were of Asian descent.

I wanted to take a moment to directly address the students, faculty and staff who are of Asian descent. We are with you. Whitman would not be the college it is today without you as a part of our community.

This week’s shootings are the latest in a string of hate, violence and racism aimed at members of the Asian and Asian American community in the past year.

As a Whitman community, we condemn these acts and stand with our Asian students, colleagues, and neighbors. We acknowledge the fear these members of our community may be feeling and offer our support. We are committed to their safety and well-being.

But it is important for us to do more than just offer our support. Together, we must vow to stand against racism and hate in all its forms.

Whitman takes all forms of bias and discrimination seriously. Anyone who has been a victim or a witness is encouraged to report any incidence of bias immediately. If you are struggling in the wake of this violence, I encourage you to reach out to your support networks, including our on-campus resources, to talk about your feelings and get the help you need.

Kathy Murray