PROGRESS TOWARD EQUITY The Chinese Club designed and sold pins in support of the Pan Asian community.
Supporting our Diverse Community A
C R O S S T H E U. S . , A N T I - A S I A N
and anti-Asian American violence escalated during the pandemic. Far from being an isolated phenomenon, race-based scapegoating has extensive historical precedent during times of epidemic disease. While the true origin story of the SARS CoV-2 virus is as yet unknown, finger-pointing, prejudice, and violence are all too real. This spring, the Hotchkiss community took steps to ensure that those on campus who identify as members of the Pan-Asian community feel safe, seen, and supported. Head of School Craig Bradley reiterated the School’s intolerance of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination in any form and spoke earnestly against ongoing violence perpetrated against Asians and Asian Americans during an All-School address in March. Several weeks later, six women of Asian descent were murdered in the Atlanta-area mass shooting. Following this brutal event, the student Asian American Advocacy Club, which is known as Triple A, acted quickly to
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organize a virtual, School-wide forum. It was attended by more than 500 community members, making it one of the largest nonmandatory school gatherings of the year. For several days after the shootings, Pan-Asian faculty members continued to hold virtual gatherings to provide space for Pan-Asian and Asian American students to safely explore their feelings. Pierre Yoo, instructor in chemistry, Peggy Hsia, senior associate director of admission, and Nora Yasumura, outgoing director of student clubs and affinity groups and prep class dean, dedicated hours of their personal time to the work.
A Month of Awareness
The month of May, during which Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage is celebrated, offered an ideal opportunity to focus on equity and inclusion for the Pan-Asian community at Hotchkiss. The School hosted numerous campus events to honor the AAPI community, including two virtual panel discussions
with professionals from the Asian American Bar Association of New York. The first addressed the legal aspects of anti-Asian hate crimes, while the second focused on careers and opportunities in the field of law. The School also sponsored its first AAPI Heritage Month guest speaker, Justine Ang Fonte, who is a wellness educator. Students were highly engaged in observing AAPI Heritage. Triple A co-hosted a discussion with the Hotchkiss affiliate of Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental wellness. The Chinese Club sold buttons in support of Stop AAPI Hate, a national organization that tracks racism and xenophobia. Other student clubs also rallied in support. Hillel, which celebrates Jewish faith and culture, co-hosted meetings on Asian and Jewish intersectionality, scapegoating, and the struggles of both communities. Alumni also took part. Yuna Hur ’14 sponsored a virtual run to raise awareness and uplift the AAPI community. (See p. 72 in Class Notes for more information.)
