Oberlin Shansi's Statement on Anti-Asian Hatred (Harassment, and violence)

Oberlin Shansi unequivocally condemns harassment, discrimination, and violence against Asian and Asian-American communities in the United States. The rise in anti-Asian hatred since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, including violence directed at elderly members of Asian American communities and the mass shooting that occurred north of Atlanta on March 16th, 2021, is an alarming reminder of the pervasiveness of xenophobia, racism, and misogyny in our society.

Shansi's staff and Board of Trustees recognize that the work of "joining worlds" can and should start at home. We are in the process of engaging with campus partners, student leaders, and faculty to discuss concrete approaches to build awareness and dialogue. Moving forward, we are exploring a grants program to support academic, creative, and community engaged projects that highlight Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander voices and activism in North America. We are also committed to continue providing financial and logistical support for on-campus events and publications that support anti-racism and address Asian American issues. We will provide more details about these efforts in the next two weeks.

We stand in solidarity with Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American community members and organizations battling discrimination and violence.