Dear UConn Community,

One of the most alarming and upsetting developments of the past year stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic has been a surge of hate crimes, bias incidents, and racist bullying directed against the Asian community throughout our country. Since the pandemic began last year, many Asians and Asian Americans around the United States have been the target of acts of hate and violence, with a disturbing number of crimes directed against the elderly.

Make no mistake: The hatred that lies behind these crimes is not new. Violence against Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities has deep roots in the history of the United States. It is the duty of each one of us to face up to that history, and to the contemporary manifestations of it that happen on our streets, businesses, and schools every day.

As a scholarly community devoted to the highest principles of human achievement, UConn must stand resolutely against hatred, discrimination, and violence when directed at Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, or anyone else targeted by these malignant forces.

We can start by doing something as simple as reaching out to our friends, fellow students, and colleagues to offer our support, friendship, and care. The pressure that the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander members of our community are facing is intense, and by refusing to be bystanders to hate, by offering to stand in solidarity with our fellow Huskies, we can help ease that pressure.

Additionally, I am encouraging all of us to attend the virtual seminar Asians in America: Anti-Asian Violence & the Fight against Invisibility, scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at 5 p.m. We should all also become familiar with the resources and perspectives of the Asian American Cultural Center, which provides a welcoming and sustaining environment for students, faculty, and staff. Another important resource is the Asian and Asian American Studies Institute, which is at the center of intellectual efforts to advance knowledge related to the experiences of people of Asian descent. This institute has been a vital partner in the mobilization of responses to anti-Asian violence and a longtime advocate for racial justice.

The national surge in hate crimes and bias incidents can be severely damaging to mental health, even for those who have not directly been victims. We are a community that cares for each other. As such, remember to seek help if you need it. UConn offers a number of resources to provide support during this time, including Student Health and Wellness, the Dean of Students Office, and our Cultural Centers. Faculty and staff can seek support from the Employee Assistance Program. Support and resources for faculty and staff can also be found through campus affinity groups. All of these resources are available whether you are located on campus or remotely.

Most importantly, I want to offer my personal commitment to the Asian and Asian American members of the UConn community: You are seen and heard. Your history, your struggle, and your contributions are not invisible, but an essential and indispensable part of the University of Connecticut. This is a painful time, but I know that together we will overcome this challenge.

Sincerely,
Tom

Thomas Katsouleas
President, University of Connecticut

This message was sent to Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Heads

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share an update on two recent bias incidents on the Storrs campus.

On Friday, a swastika was found drawn on the wall of the men’s bathroom in the Biology/Physics Building. Later that day, the University was also informed of graffiti of an anti-Black racial slur discovered in the same facility. These actions are abhorrent and harmful to the diverse students, faculty, and staff who call UConn home.

We are appreciative of the individuals who reported the graffiti to the University through inform.uconn.edu. The UConn Police are investigating the incident and University administration is following bias response protocol. The graffiti has been removed, after the police were able to document it. At this time, the individual or individuals responsible have not been identified. Although it is likely that additional investigative leads will be limited, should the individuals responsible be identified, we will share that information.

Our bias response protocol has several objectives, including raising awareness when these incidents occur, providing information about the University’s response, and offering resources to support affected communities and educate our community. Given the public location of this incident, we cannot determine all of the populations who may have encountered this graffiti, so we are reaching this broader group to ask for your help in sharing this information and resources with your faculty, staff, and students.

A list of resources to consult:

InForm
Office for Diversity and Inclusion
African American Cultural Center
Africana Studies Institute
Dean of Students
Faith at UConn
Hillel
Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Life
These incidents are troubling and show we still have work to do in building a community and culture that is inclusive of all our diverse members. We appreciate your partnership as leaders in identifying bias incidents and connecting your communities to resources to recognize and respond to acts that threaten the safety and well-being of members of our community.

If you have further questions, you are welcome to reach out to any member of the Provost’s Office leadership team, the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and the Dean of Students.

Sincerely,
Carl

Carl Lejuez
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

To the UConn Community:

As you know, last weekend the word “Black,” in the “Black Lives Matter” message that was painted on the Spirit Rock on the Storrs campus was scratched out and replaced with “All,” altering the statement to read “All Lives Matter.”

We write to share an update: After reviewing the incident, including video footage in which the license plate of the individual responsible was visible, the university determined that the person has no known current connection to UConn – meaning they are not a student or an employee – and they do not live in Mansfield.

While we are relieved that the person responsible is not a member of our community, that doesn’t change what took place, which we saw as an unmistakable attempt to antagonize and demean people on our campuses, especially in the context of national events. We deeply regret the harm that this incident has had on members of our community.

After consulting with the state’s attorney’s office, it was determined that this harmful act didn’t constitute a crime under state statute and no charges would apply. Even so, painting the Spirit Rock is a campus tradition that is intended solely for UConn students and student organizations. We will update our policy on the rock to reflect this. While that by itself won’t prevent something similar from happening, it is our hope that it will give the university greater leverage in addressing it.

Sincerely,

Franklin Tuitt, VP & Chief Diversity Officer

Michael Gilbert, VP for Student Affairs