Statements from Kelley students in solidarity with the AAPI Community

 

As representatives of the broader Asian and International student body, we whole-heartedly believe that our presence here has brought diversity in the forms of new perspectives, empathy, and purpose. Together, we’ve celebrated each other’s cultures, united communities through our actions, embraced each other’s commonalities, and have learned to love each other as humans. As horrific events arise around the world, we know that the bond and camaraderie that we’ve built here will withstand the forces and hatred that look to divide us.

From 2020 to the present, thousands of anti-Asian hate crimes have emerged from our Asian communities and have traumatized millions of our people, making them feel alone, angry, and scared to live their lives. Our Asian friends and classmates are not immune to these emotions – Over 47% of our students have experienced some type of discrimination, racism, and bias towards them because of their race with several of these instances being in our own Bloomington community. This is absolutely unacceptable.

To this end, we are united to fight against all forms of racism, discrimination, and bias towards our Asian and International people, and we ask that you stand with us.

STAND WITH US

We call on this community and allies to support us in our stand against xenophobia, racism, and discrimination of all kinds, especially towards Asians. Our intent with this statement is to share information in regard to the rise in conflicts and emotions, the history of our people, and ways you can help. We’re calling on our Kelley friends to amplify our voices and commitments towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

We ask that you help us take action on the following:

1. Spread Awareness – Share this statement on your networks to help drive awareness across our communities. Use your social media networks to post and re-post messages condemning racism.

2. Advocate Against Anti-Asian Sentiments – Condemn, influence, and stand up against acts of anti-Asian racism and violence within your communities.

3. Educate Ourselves and Each Other – Learn about the racial discrimination against Asians, and how policies and DEI initiatives can bring equality and equity to all minority groups. Have more open dialogue around racism towards Asians in our Kelley community.

4. Report – Report all incidents of racism, discrimination, and hate crimes through both national sites and IU resources.

5. Donate – Support organizations that are actively fighting Anti-Asian racism in the United States and individuals who have been directly affected by hate, assault, and death.

SUPPORT RESOURCES

If you, or someone you know, had an incident with racism, discrimination, or hate crime, please use these resources below:

1. Report Incidents to Stop AAPI Hate – Organization that was established during the pandemic to raise awareness and combat Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate crimes in the United States.
2. Fighting Racism in COVID-19 Times – This is a list of resources for students, faculty, staff, and community member’s page. The page provides links to report bias incidents and hate crimes, ways to respond and stand against racism, and additional readings.
3. Guardian – Available across all IU campuses, the Guardian safety app now offers students, faculty, and staff access to personal safety resources and the ability to reach police more easily.
4. Reporting incidents at IU – Indiana University does not tolerate acts of discrimination, hate, harassment, retaliation, or any other act that is damaging to our safe, civil, and inclusive community—and neither should you.

Read the full statement here. 

---

 

Statement in Solidarity with the AAPI Community from The Equity and Inclusion Committee, on behalf of Kelley Student Government

On the evening of March 16th, eight people, 6 of whom were Asian, lost their lives in a senseless attack on Atlanta area massage parlors. Without a doubt, this was a hate crime targeting the Asian American community. In the last year, the world has seen an increase in anti-Asian actions and rhetoric. Kelley Student Government strongly condemns yesterday’s racist attacks, as well as all others towards the Asian community. The murders committed by Robert Long were clearly motivated by white supremacy and racist sentiments toward the Asian-American community.

At the Kelley School of Business, we value the diversity, equity, and inclusion of ALL students. Today, in particular, Kelley Student Government is dedicated to ensuring that it is providing an inclusive environment for our Asian American students to be heard, protected, and valued.

To our Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Kelley Student Government stands with you in this fight. We are your active allies, on whom you can count on to stand up for what is right. With this statement, we are by no means attempting to speak for this community. Instead, we vow to listen and aid in any way we can as allies.

To our non-Asian students, faculty, and staff: stand with us to be actively anti-racist. It is not enough to be “not racist”. Condemn these acts, educate yourselves, and use what you have learned to take action.

To help in this fight against anti-Asian racism, here are a few tangible steps that you as an ally can take:

1. Attend Bystander Intervention to stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment hosted by the Great Lakes Asian American Student Services
2. Sign the petition to Indiana Governor requesting that he condemn racism directed towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
3. Educate yourself with media, literature, or academic resources pertaining to the Asian American experience
4. Read:
   • Essay collection by Cathy Park Hong: Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning
   • National Geographic article by Nina Strochlic: America’s Long History of Scapegoating its Asian Citizens
5.  Watch:
   • PBS documentary: Asian Americans
   • Youtube Series: Asian American Stories in the Time of Coronavirus