Message from Dean Steven Fluharty

Like all of you, I am pained and angered by the news of the horrific violence in Atlanta that targeted and took the lives of several women of Asian descent. This tragedy is made worse by the knowledge that it is part of a sharp increase in incidents of verbal and physical assault against members of Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities across our country over the past year.

The School of Arts and Sciences emphatically condemns this xenophobia and hatred and stands in resolute solidarity with our AAPI colleagues and friends, who are cherished members of our community. We redouble our commitment to ensuring that every single person in the School feels safe, respected, and supported here, every single day.

There are many resources available to those seeking to process and heal from these difficult events. One of them is each other: These pandemic times can be isolating, and we hope you will seek out those who may be hurting to lend an ear and express your support. The Task Force on Supporting Asian and Asian American Students and Scholars at Penn (TAASS) offers several resources and programmatic opportunities, including a series of restorative practice circles for those with direct lived experiences of anti-Asian racism, bias, or harassment.