Dear College of Arts and Sciences Faculty, Staff, and Students:

The College of Arts and Sciences joins President Caslen and other members of the university system in expressing support for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities on campus and beyond. We stand in solidarity with you and with people of color communities throughout the United States in condemning the racist hate crimes that we see all too frequently. The murder of six women of Asian descent in Georgia this week continues a pattern of violence towards members of those communities. The trauma of each of these events reverberates for all of us, but particularly for those whose communities are targeted, whatever the reason may be.

Today, we reaffirm that all members of our College of Arts and Sciences learning community are valued. We will not tolerate racist violence of any kind. We will not tolerate any form of violence that seeks to harass, abuse, or assault individuals based on race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or other identities or statuses.

Amidst the hardship and social disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are already struggling to stay connected and healthy. These times have revealed new levels of division and intolerance that can fray the bonds of community along with our individual and collective sense of safety.

It is thus vitally important that we in the College of Arts and Sciences reaffirm our commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. True to the Carolinian Creed and our college’s own diversity values, we reaffirm our commitment to ensure that all persons of our college community, and the larger university community, are safe and secure to work, to learn, and to play. We fundamentally embrace and celebrate the mosaic of differences that comprise our community. And we must be accountable for each other and to each other, especially when any person violates the dignity and well-being of another.

If at any point, you believe you or anyone else in our university community has been harassed or discriminated against, please submit a bias report. It is a confidential means to alert others to investigate such instances. We also remind you if you are experiencing distress, please visit our mental health support site or call UofSC Counseling and Psychiatry at 803-777-5223. Lastly, there are a number of resources the college provides so that we can further build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Carolina.

Please remain both safe and connected.

Sincerely yours,

Joel Samuels
Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

Todd Shaw
Interim Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences