"Now more than ever it is vitally important to celebrate the many wonderful stories and achievements of our fellow Asian and Pacific Islander alumni."
Dear Fellow Alumni,
Ordinarily, this would be an upbeat letter marking the beginning of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and highlighting the achievements of our vibrant community of AAPI alumni. But this year, as we all know, has been far from ordinary.
Like other communities of color, Asian Americans have disproportionately suffered in various and unexpected ways due to the pandemic. For example, we are overrepresented within our nation’s ranks of exhausted healthcare workers and devastated small business owners, and we are currently grappling with staggering rates of unemployment.
These hardships though pale in comparison to the horrifying increase in anti-Asian bigotry and violence this past year. The attacks on our elders have felt particularly vicious and painful, and most frustratingly, are often not labeled for what they are − hate crimes.
The shootings of eight people in Atlanta, including six Asian women at their respective workplaces, was the spark that both devastated and energized our community. An outpouring of grief and anger spurred hundreds of thousands – many of whom were activated and educated by the Black Lives Matter movement – to take to the streets, organize, and get loud.
For many of us, we chose Columbia specifically for its diversity, as well as New York’s vibrance and multiculturalism. We made friends of all backgrounds, explored the city's many neighborhoods, and expanded our perspectives in life-changing ways, including with regard to issues of race and injustice.
It is in this spirit that we ask the entire College community to stand with us this AAPI Heritage Month and actively support efforts to #StopAsianHate. Some ways you can support are by learning more, speaking out, donating to organizations, attending bystander intervention training, and advocating for expanded civil rights protections and the inclusion of Ethnic Studies in your local educational institutions. We have included a number of helpful resources for you to review, below.
And of course, now more than ever it is indeed vitally important to celebrate the many wonderful stories and achievements of our fellow alumni.
We look forward to the next 12 months of energy and solidarity and hopefully a more positive letter next May.
Roar!
Joanne Kwong CC'97
Board Member, Columbia College Alumni Association
Ying Yen CC'95
Vice President, Asian Columbia Alumni Association (ACAA)
Ex-Officio Board Member, Columbia College Alumni Association
Board Member, Columbia Alumni Association
Resources
Further Reflections from the Community
Hyun Bo Sim CC’96“While dodging missiles by crouching for hours in concrete bunkers, I sometimes reflected on why I work in war zones. Through my Columbia Core and history classes, I realize that I serve America's ideals, which have been denied to many groups, but have also remained fluid, resilient through constant reinvention and incorporating different voices through time. Although horrified by recent anti-Asian slurs and violence, I hope that these incidents will unify the API community, increase awareness, and lead to a more just, equitable, and inclusive country.”
Christine Lai CC’95“As an Asian-American woman who grew up in the Midwest during the 1980s, Columbia represented my “escape” and was the first place I truly felt at home. I remember clearly the feeling of relief that washed over me on the approach to LGA the first time, and every time, I returned to school from home during college. A few weeks ago, my family and I made our first trip to the city since the pandemic began and chose to spend the day up at Columbia, reliving my college memories and feeling safely cocooned in the CU community. My children, who were apprehensive about their first visit the city since March 2020, felt at home and safe in Morningside Heights. So that’s what I reflect on and remember after this year and during this current turmoil - the home that Columbia is and was to me then and now.”
David Lin CC’96“We have grown closer and become more resilient and understanding of each other this year. We’ve also seen how much our diverse communities can support one another and how interdependent we are.”