Anti-Asian Bias and Violence
Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,
We write to express sadness and horror over the recent murders of eight people in Georgia, including six Asian women. The reported rise in anti-Asian bias and violence in the U.S. which preceded these incidents is deeply troubling. We stand in solidarity with the members of the Lehigh community who identify as Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander and condemn these acts of anti-Asian discrimination and violence. Identity- and race-based violence have no place in our community, in our state or in our nation.
Reports of such incidents can be traumatizing and unsettling, especially for members of targeted communities. Support services are available and we urge students in need to reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services. Resources for faculty and staff can be accessed through the Employee Assistance Program.
Lehigh University strongly encourages faculty, staff, and students who experience or witness bias, harassment or discrimination to promptly report such conduct so that it can be addressed and resources and support provided by reaching out to the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator (EOCC), reporting incidents through Lehigh’s web-based reporting form or by contacting the Lehigh Univesity Police Department (LUPD) at (610) 758-4200 or through the HawkWatch app.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Outing
Vice President for Equity & Community
Cheryl Matherly
Vice President/Vice Provost, International Affairs
