According to NBC News, hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community increased over 150% in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic was speculated to have begun in Wuhan, China and remarks from former president Donald Trump, including calling the disease the “China Virus/Flu” have encouraged hate crimes and racism against Asian Americans, which have anything but subsided since President Biden’s inauguration as president.
People all over the country are feeling the impact of these heinous actions, including the Smith College community, where both students and faculty are taking action to spread awareness and share their experiences and thoughts. Academic institutions have a responsibility to their students, to ensure their safety and expression, regardless of their racial or ethnic identities.
President Kathleen McCartney and the Wurtele Center for Leadership sent out emails a month ago, sharing a video from the YouTuber Half My Seoul. The email said the video was about “supporting and standing in solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.”
McCartney wrote in an email to the Smith community, “We are committed to ensuring that every member of our community is safe, supported and able to focus on the learning and work they are here to do.”
This draws the question, is this assurance mutually felt by AAPI members of the Smith community? Penelope Phan ‘24, a Vietnamese-American student, offered their thoughts on the matter. “Northampton and Smith College is a predominantly white area that automatically makes it unsafe for students of color. Being a student of color at Smith feels like such a risk because we cannot hide or blend in with the student body, we simply stick out like a sore thumb.”
Attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) such as Smith adds pressure to students of color and of marginalized ethnic identities, and recent racial turmoil only makes it more difficult. Phan notes that two of their six courses this semester discussed the incidents against the AAPI community and they feel that “administration at Smith has done little to nothing to help support Asian students and staff during this moment in time.”
Sara DaSilva ‘24, a Chinese-American student adds that, “Continuing to address AAPI hate crimes by hosting town halls, events centered on race, support groups, and drop-in office hours are just a few ways Smith can support AAPI students.”
When asked what they think non-Asian people can do to show solidarity, Phan said, “I know that my non-Asian friends have been supportive in making sure that I am okay physically, emotionally, and mentally. I hope that non-Asian students are checking in on their Asian friends right now.”
DaSilva agrees, stating, “I also think standing up for students of color whether that be on the street, in a social situation, in class, or literally anywhere is really important… A lot of people don’t have this luxury of just moving on from the issue at hand.”
(Image via the Hampshire Gazette)
