Dear King’s community,
Last week the senseless killing of eight people, including six Asian women, in Atlanta, USA, placed a spotlight on anti-Asian violence and discrimination. Attacks of this sort are sadly not isolated, or new. Incidents of anti-Asian discrimination and violence in the US, Canada and elsewhere have been on the rise during the pandemic, with a surge in the shameful blaming and scapegoating of the Asian community. This has instigated and encouraged a zealous wave of xenophobia.
The University of King’s College condemns racism and discrimination—in all its forms. We stand in solidarity with King’s Asian students, and with all Asian members of the King’s community.
It is not enough to denounce discrimination beyond King’s. We have to recognize it and address it within King’s. Last fall, the Board of Governors endorsed the review I wrote in the wake of the murder of George Floyd on equity, diversity and inclusion at King’s, which can be found here. The primary conclusion of that review is that we have much progress to make if we are to be the inclusive and safe community for everyone we aspire to be and are called to be by our core values and our mission as a university. The recent anti-Asian violence and discrimination and its misogynistic overtones must reinforce our dedication to making that progress happen while it reminds us of the importance of what I described in my review as “an inclusive approach to diversity.”
I look forward to continued work with all my colleagues on faculty, staff, administration and the Board, as well as with students and alumni, in pursuing the goals of inclusive diversity.
Sincerely,
Bill
William Lahey
President and Vice Chancellor
